1996 Nissan Altima GXE from North America - Comments

Replaced brakes and pads.

Replaced alternator.

Replaced water pump.

This car is very comfortable and is a great first car. I have had it for 3 years now and it was great for the first two years. However, I have had a lot of problems with it in the past year and I no longer feel safe in it.

It has broken down and stalled on me a couple times.

It has bad acceleration and shakes heavily when going 85 miles per hour or more.

Brakes squeak constantly and the heat shield makes for a lot of useless noise, unless removed.

Since you said something about the shaking, I really think you may need a front wheel alignment. You may want to check that out!!

Positive:

Great pickup speed. Fast. Sleek.

Negative:

Replaced alternator thrice in the last 6 years. Replaced brakes. Strut problem.

General:

My husband bought it in '96. We still have it. We have driven it a few times at 90+ mph without problem. It worked fine the first two years. Then problems with brakes and struts began. It has stalled a few times. Replaced alternator thrice in the last three years (by AAA, Pep Boys and an auto shop). Brakes started squeaking a few years ago. We had to get it fixed at Pep Boys. It also has some minor problems like the speakers seem to have some loose connection. The volume keeps switching between high and low. Last week the car died again. I am waiting for a permanent solution to the problem. This time I will not be replacing the alternator without first finding out the exact problem with our car.

I own a 1994 Altima. In January of this year, I had to replace the alternator. I also had to replace the alternator in March, June and again in August. The dealer claims the alternators are the problems, while the shop that has put 4 new alternators in this year (currently under warranty) feels the problem lies elsewhere. The dealer in SD does not wish to search further than alternator replacement, to try to determine what might cause this constant failure. The warning lights came on less than a week after the current replacement, and the dealer's tech said there was too much current coming from this alternator. They only want to replace it, not determine why 5 of these parts have failed in 8 months.

I have a 2000 Altima that also shakes at high speed. The comment that you need a front end alignment sounds wrong to me because any shop manual will tell you the way to test if you need alignment is to get on a level stretch of road an see if it wonders to the left or the right.

Shaking is caused by things such as tires out of balance. Alignment means one wheel is pointing more one direction than another and will tend to pull the car that direction... This condition can occur if you park too hard against a curb and your wheels are turned while impacting the curb.

I bought a used 1994 Nissan Altima in 1999 and have been very unhappy with the results. It would seem that major work needs to be done at least three or four times a year.

An ongoing problem for over a year now has been that the speedometer only kicks on after the car heats up, which in the winter time is often doesn't happen before I reach my destination. When this happens the heads-up display also doesn't work, neither does the odometer, and the check-engine light turns on. Two different mechanics and $400 later and nothing is different.

Other problems recently: had to replace the front brakes for the second time since buying the car, worn out shocks, replaced several fuel injectors, oil leaks, holes in the exhaust and muffler systems (twice). I take good care of the car - it is garaged and gets regular oil changes and tune-ups. I think it is a lemon!

Or, instead of looking for a flat road, some night or early Sunday or sometime when there is nobody around, on a 4 lane highway of some sort try driving in the middle of the 2 lanes and see if it pulls. Since the road is arched, it sometimes causes a car to pull to the right or the left. This can happen on ANY car.

Get new tires. my mazda protege would shake at 60 mph, but getting two new tiers in the front solved it and now I can go 90 (about as fast as the car will go) with out shaking.