1996 Nissan Altima problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1996 Nissan Altima have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 1996 Nissan Altima. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Q: What gas mileage does the 1996 Nissan Altima get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 1996 Nissan Altima at about 23 mpg combined (20 city / 27 highway).

1996 Nissan Altima at a glance

Safety recalls2

Owner complaints109

Combined23 mpg

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

1996 Nissan Altima recalls 2

Suspension NHTSA Campaign #10E002000 · 11/02/2010

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

Fix: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E026000 · 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

1996 Nissan Altima common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 109 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Suspension

Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

Exterior Lighting

Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

Fuel System

Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

Gasoline

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

1996 Nissan Altima MPG & running costs

Combined23 mpg

City20 mpg

Highway27 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$2,750

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1996 Nissan Altima costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,750

Fuel only$13,750

Per mile$0.18

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1996 Nissan Altima trims & engines on record

Trims

GXE · XE

Engines

2.4L 4-cyl

1996 Nissan Altima vehicles on record

1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31D0TC191718 1996 Nissan Altima XE1N4BU31D1TC182185 1996 Nissan Altima XE1N4BU31D2TC179912 1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31D1TC190643 1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31DXTC177115 1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31D8TC145716 1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31DXTC133891 1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31D3TC116754 1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31D3TC160107 1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31D3TC190580 1996 Nissan Altima GXE1N4BU31D7TC178674

Other Nissan Altima model years

1996 Nissan Altima — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Nissan Altima have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 1996 Nissan Altima. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Nissan Altima?

Based on 109 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, suspension, exterior lighting.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Nissan Altima get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 1996 Nissan Altima at about 23 mpg combined (20 city / 27 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.