1996 Nissan Altima / Stanza

No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Airbags & Restraints

Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 38 of 92 complaints (41%) mention it.

Complaints filed fell from 180 in 1995 to 92 in 1996.

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 3 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category	1995	1996	1997	vs. 1996 Compact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	2,600–2,950	2,600–2,950	2,600–2,950
Combined MPG	21–24	21–24	21–24
City / Highway MPG	18–21 / 26–28	18–21 / 26–28	18–21 / 26–28
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	370–423	370–423	370–423
Complaints filed	180	92	108	Not compared
Recalls issued	5	2	3	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	37	21	31	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	8	5	5	Not compared
Injuries reported	30	14	24	Not compared
Deaths reported	0	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	2	2	2

2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

Airbags & Restraints: 38 of 92 NHTSA complaints (41%) mention it.

EPA rates it 21–24 MPG combined across 2 configurations.

EPA estimates $2,600–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic 4-spd	4	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Compact Cars	18 mpg (low)	26 mpg (low)	21 mpg (low)	$2,950 (high)	423 g/mi (high)
Configuration 2	Manual 5-spd	4	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Compact Cars	21 mpg (high)	28 mpg (high)	24 mpg (high)	$2,600 (low)	370 g/mi (low)

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	8	0	1	0
Transmission & Drivetrain	7	1	0	1
Fuel System	4	0	0	0
Electrical	11	1	2	0
Brakes	5	2	0	1
Steering	3	1	0	1
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	5	1	0	0
Airbags & Restraints	38	19	1	13
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	6	0	0	0
Body, Seats & Latches	6	1	1	1
Visibility & Lighting	9	0	0	0
Other	5	0	0	0

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

SUSPENSION · Campaign 10E002000 · Feb 11, 2010
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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 · Campaign 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006
Defect: 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.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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.