1993 Nissan Altima GXE from North America - Comments

The entire steering column had to be replaced while still under warranty.

I've had brakes replaced numerous times.

The rear passenger power window is broken; it needs a new motor which will cost $700 approximately I am told.

A few months later, the passenger side front window stopped working. The dealer says it needs repair, approximately $300.

The cigarette lighter broke around 55000 miles.

The rubber lining around the windows has come unglued several times.

The "service engine" light has come on several times over the years. The service department tried a few times to fix it, but it was only temporary. Eventually, fixing the problem cost around $700 plus towing when my car just stopped on the freeway. (This was a day after the dealer had worked on it.) Prior to that, I had paid another $200 for them to fix it which didn't work.

The key insert in the trunk suddenly isn't working (since 75000 miles), or will only open after much jiggling. Nissan Service lubricated it, but believes I need to have it repaired, at around $200.

Despite all the repairs, the car is in pretty good shape and still handles well on the highway.

This is my second Altima. I had less problems with the first. This is also my last Altima, I think I will try something else. Nissan Service has been so-so, depending on which technician I am assigned. I was treated pretty badly on my last visit and was upset enough to request the manager's name - something I never do.

I have the same problem with the locks on my Altima I have to struggle to open my drivers door with my key. I also am not happy with Nissan service. My head light shorted out, and the car made a loud buzzing sound when the lights were off. I is so irritating. I took it to Nissan paid over a $100 and the same thing happened the next day. Parts are also expensive, but the car hasn't had many problems so I'm happy. Over all it is still a great car for the money.

I have had the same problems with my rear windows. Mine was not the motor itself though. I noticed that after a rain my window would roll down without pressing the button. I could bring them up, but they would automatically roll back down. Upon further investigation I notics that the controller appeared to be shorting out from the water. I bought another controller and it quickly shorted as well. Just rolled the windows up, turned the car off, removed the controller and the windows stayed up was my solution.

My'93 Altima is having power window problems. It has started with my rear passenger window first and now rear driver side window. It will just roll down on it's own after the key is turned on. While it is down, it sounds like the window motor is skipping gears. Then when you roll it up it goes up fine, but as soon as it is up it rolls itself back down and makes the gear skipping noise until you roll it up or turn off the key.

It appears to me to be a short in the wiring or switches.

I have also noticed that a rubber seal is ripping and not doing it job of guiding the window and or protecting it from the rain.

Can anyone give any good advise that you have experienced and or know of?

Thanks Rick (:>)

Hey rick:

I am having the same problem with my 93 altima. For the past year, the passenger windows just go up or down on their own. I closed them and then depressed the window security lock, and they stay up. Only problem, is that I cannot use them, as the lock is on. Any idea on the problem and have your's been repaired??? Anyone else have a solution??? Thanks, Craig.

My 93' Altima had the same power window problems, as well. The back window on the drivers side would always roll itself down. I had to wait for the motor in the window to stop so I could roll it back up, because it would try to still go down as I would be trying to roll it up. Kinda irritating! Very disappointing was the service I received from my local Nissan dealership. I took my car up there to have a diagnostic ran because it had overheated and wouldn't start. They told me it was the distributor, and they were going to charge over $600 for just that. So I had taken it to another shop that agreed to replace it for a mere $265. Come to find out that replacing the distributor still wouldn't make my car start, and that they had discovered nothing wrong with the disributor at all. Instead it had 'severe internal engine problems'. When I went back to Nissan to get my money back for the wrong diagnostic, they treated me like an idiot. One man said that he wouldn't see any reason for a blown head gasket to keep my car from running! Furthermore, they refused to give me a refund, even with the other shops diagnostic report. Needless to say I do not intend on ever owning another Nissan!

I to have a '93 Nissan Altima and I had the same problems with the Power windows and I found the solution. So I began to investigate. If you remove the door panel and reach inside the door you'll find a small 2"x1"x1" black box and it is called a power window relay, they are hard to find and if you want a new one they must be shipped from japan for around $100 or go to a wrecking yard and find. Beware I think it is '95 and newer that did not require these. Before removal you must undo the wiring harness from the relay.