Is the 2000 Nissan Altima a bad year?
159 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Altima years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2000 Nissan Altima are in line with other Altima years.
1st quietest of 20 Altima years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Altima owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 86,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 (23%) | 64k–113k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 25 (16%) | 50k–113k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exhaust | 14 (9%) | 61k–103k miles · around this mileage | Exhaust leak repair $200–$1,500 · Catalytic converter replacement $500–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 21 (13%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 18 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 14 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 12 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 86,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 159 complaints: 25 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 15 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2016.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Service engine light on 2000 Altima gxe . Cylinder #4 mis-fire. Intake manifold gasket same as issue #'s : #10167168 #10145161 #10100639 #10163901.
Car started running rough and shaking at idle. Was concerned car could stall out in an intersection. Took to shop, vehicle was diagnosed to have a faulty intake manifold gasket.
The intake manifold gasket around cylinder #4 failed 2-3 years ago (~65,000 miles), causing rough idle/stalling as well as poor gas mileage and triggering fault code P0304.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 86,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Nissan Altima: 2
Certain eagle eyes headlamp assemblies, p/nos. DS517-B001L and DS517-B001R, sold for use as replacement equipment for the above listed passenger vehicles. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with firestone firehawk GTA-02 , size P205/55R16 89H tires. With increasing mileage, the tires may develop shoulder area cracking. Continued use of a tire with this condition may lead to exposure of the belt edge. Under these circumstances, a belt edge separation is posible, which could resulting in the loss of tire pressure.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 20
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Nissan Altima. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
Identify: A leaking strut or a shock absorber that qualifies for replacement under warranty
Vent control valve replacement
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light on/flashing
Neighbouring years
2001 Altima: 159 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Nissan Altima year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Altima years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2000 Nissan Altima a bad year?
159 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Altima years. At 86,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Nissan Altima?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (36), electrical system (25), exhaust (14), speed control (21), tires (18).
How many recalls does the 2000 Nissan Altima have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 07E074000), Tires (NHTSA 01V-065). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.