The 1999 Nissan Altima has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake squeal, vibration and wear.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1999 Nissan Altima.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
13 NHTSA complaints · 1999-11 → 2002-11
“THE BRAKES CONSISTENTLY SQUEAL AND NOW THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPLOYS TO THE FLOOR; NISSAN OF SMITHFIELD NOTIFIED”
“DRUMS AND ROTORS SLIGHTLY OUT OF ROUND AND CAUSED VIBRATION UPON BRAKING”
“WHEN THE CAR HAS A PANIC STOP THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES LOCK UP, BUT NOT THE OTHERS”
TIRES
10 NHTSA complaints · 2000-09 → 2002-08
“WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. TIRE COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED”
“WHILE DRIVING, TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P195/65R15, CLAIM 35-W494-385”
“AFTER THIRD INCIDENT TIRE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TREADS WERE SEPARATING FROM TIRE, TIRE WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED”
VISIBILITY
4 NHTSA complaints · 2004-11 → 2006-01
“THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE WHEN IT WAS PULLED DOWN FOR USE. THE VISOR NOW BLOCKS THE CONTACTS FIELD OF VISION WHEN DRIVING”
“BOTH ALTIMA SUNVISORS ( PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE) KEEP FALLING DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES”
“THE SUNVISOR BRACKET ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA BROKE, CAUSING THE SUN VISOR TO FALL ON MY ARMS WHILE I WAS DRIVING”
VISIBILITY
3 NHTSA complaints · 2001-03 → 2003-08
“MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. LUCKILY, I HAD THE COVER CLOSED”
“OWNER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS SUNROOF BEING REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO THE ROOFS CRACKING/SHATTERING”
“WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY A LOUD AND UNSUAL NOISE OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER POWER OPERATED SUN ROOF WINDOW SHATTERED, CAUSE UNKNOWN”
SUSPENSION, WHEELS
4 NHTSA complaints · 2006-02 → 2018-05
“BROKEN AND COLLAPSED COIL SPRING ON FRONT SUSPENSION”
“BROKEN AND COLLAPSED COIL ON LEFT FRONT TIRE SUSPENSION IN CARPORT STATIONARY POSITION”
“BROKEN COIL AND FRONT SUSPENSION EXPLODED ALSO CAUSING TIRE TO FLATTEN SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF”
AIR BAGS
9 NHTSA complaints · 1999-05 → 2007-05
“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
“WHILE DRIVING FORTY MILES PER HOUR THIS VEHICLE REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS TOTALLY SMASHED, BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED”
“WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP HER VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. HER AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4 NHTSA complaints · 2003-04 → 2009-06
“FUEL FILLER PROBLEM: THE VEHICLE (1999 NISSAN ALTIMA) WILL ONLY TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL AT A TIME (LENGTH OF FILLER NECK) AND THEN PUMP SHUTS OFF AS THE FUEL OVERFLOWS AND DRAINS INTO TANK”
“THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER TUBE WAS RUSTED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO BE FILLED, WITHOUT FUEL ESCAPING FROM THE TANK”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5 NHTSA complaints · 2000-01 → 2010-03
“AS DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE FOOT WAS STILL ON BRAKES”
“MOTOR BEGAIN RACING WHILE TURNING, CAR VEERED AND TOOK OFF, HITTING 3 CARS”
“CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE GAS PEDAL STICKING”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$360–$500
Shop
~$255–$355
DIY
~$80–$180
CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
271 crashes 1990–2024
How the 271 occupant deaths break down
196
driver deaths
74
passenger deaths
1
not recorded by seat
271
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1999 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
24
complaints mentioning a crash
3
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 1999 Nissan Altima reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.