DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
View on NHTSA →2007 Nissan Altima steering problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 17 steering complaints filed for the 2007 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
View on NHTSA →SERVICE INFORMATION When servicing run flat tires or low profile tires: - Special equipment and procedures are required to avoid damage. - Specifically, Tire Pressure Monitor transmitters (TPMS sensors) can be damaged when improperly dismounting and
View on NHTSA →SERVICE INFORMATION When diagnosing possible power steering gear (rack and pinion steering rack, or steering rack) leak issues, it may appear the steering rack is leaking when actually, it?s not. Use this service bulletin to help make a more accurate diagn
View on NHTSA →SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categ
View on NHTSA →Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The overwhelming majority of complaints center on rear sway bar failures. Owners report the bar—designed as a hollow tube—snapping in two or breaking at the bushing mounting point during ordinary driving, often without hitting a pothole or other obstacle. The broken piece hangs low beneath the vehicle and rattles against suspension components. Owners consistently note they found online communities with numerous identical failures on 2007 Altimas, suggesting a systemic design or manufacturing issue. One owner warns the dragging metal could spark a roadside fire. Affected handling is universal: increased body roll, looser suspension feel in turns, and harder vehicle control.
Separate complaints describe steering wheel lock-up or sudden loss of control on the highway, with one driver crashing into a median wall and another experiencing a metal-to-metal grinding sound; one independent mechanic attributed that case to a fractured steering rod from corrosion.
One owner discovered a crack running left-to-right around the Nissan symbol on the steering wheel at the airbag deployment point—with no accident to cause it—and a dealership service adviser initially agreed it looked unsafe before reversing course when the vehicle wasn't under recall.
A final complaint describes progressive power steering hardness that made steering nearly impossible, forcing the driver onto a sidewalk.
No recalls exist for any of these issues, and Nissan dealerships deny warranty coverage.
Same Nissan Altima steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Rear sway bar (stabilizer bar) fracture
The rear sway bar snaps or breaks in two, typically at the bushing/bracket mounting point or mid-span. Owners report the bar is manufactured as a hollow tube rather than solid, and the failure occurs during normal driving with no apparent cause—no potholes hit, no collision, no aggressive driving. Multiple owners found online communities describing identical failures. One owner noted the broken piece hangs low beneath the vehicle and rattles against suspension components.
When: Varies; some owners notice immediately during or shortly after a turn or bump; others find it days or weeks later. One complaint at 44,000 miles, others do not specify mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden snap or 'pop' sound while driving or turning; Broken piece hanging down, visible from underneath; Rattling, banging, or rubbing noise from underneath during bumps; Increased body roll and looser suspension feel during turns; Potential sparks from dragging metal; Difficulty controlling vehicle in turns
Repairs/costs cited: Aftermarket replacement part available; costs not specified by owners. Nissan dealerships deny warranty coverage, claiming no manufacturing defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealership stated no recall exists and claimed no manufacturing defect, though independent mechanic inspection found no surrounding damage and confirmed hollow-tube design of the bar.
Steering wheel lock-up or loss of steering control
The steering wheel suddenly locks up or becomes uncontrollable during highway driving, leaving the driver unable to steer. One owner reported the steering wheel locked, then started spinning uncontrollably, causing a median wall collision. Another owner experienced sudden loss of steering with a metal-to-metal sound; independent mechanic attributed this to a fractured steering rod from rust corrosion.
When: One incident at 125,000 miles; another at low speed (20 mph); one on expressway with no mileage noted.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden steering wheel lock-up or inability to turn; Loss of steering control; Steering wheel spinning uncontrollably; Metal-to-metal grinding sound from outside vehicle; Driver forced to brake and maneuver to roadside
Repairs/costs cited: One case repaired by independent mechanic after fractured steering rod was identified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case; no recall mentioned.
Steering wheel split/crack around airbag area
Crack appears in the steering wheel material around the Nissan symbol in a perfect seam pattern from left to right, at the location where the airbag would deploy. No specific incident caused the crack—it was simply noticed during normal inspection. Nissan dealership service adviser initially agreed the situation looked unsafe, then reversed position when informed the vehicle was not under recall and owner refused to pay for repair.
When: Noticed 11/17/2014; brought to dealership 11/18/2014.
Symptoms owners cite: Visible crack separating in a perfect seam around the Nissan symbol on steering wheel; Crack runs from far left to far right across the wheel; Separation of wheel materials
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealership quoted over $1,000 for complete steering wheel replacement. Owner declined repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No active recall found in Nissan system. Dealership service adviser initially acknowledged safety concern but later claimed nothing unsafe about the situation.
Power steering failure or degradation
Power steering system becomes increasingly difficult to operate, requiring excessive force to turn the wheel. One owner reports steering became so hard to turn that the driver ended up on a sidewalk while attempting to navigate.
When: Noticed approximately 2 years after purchase; exact mileage not specified.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering becomes progressively harder to turn; Excessive force required to steer vehicle; Loss of power assist
Rubbing or scraping noise when steering
Rubbing or scraping sound audible from the front of the vehicle only when the steering wheel is turned during low-speed maneuvers (backing up or turning from a stop). Sound resembles tire rubbing against fender, but physical inspection reveals adequate clearance in fender wells. Nissan dealership could hear the noise but could not isolate or diagnose the cause.
When: Occurs during turning or backing up; no mileage specified.
Symptoms owners cite: Rubbing or scraping sound from front when turning steering wheel; Noise during backing up or low-speed turning from a stop; Sound resembles tire rubbing; No visible tire contact with fenders
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealership unable to isolate or repair.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
2007 Nissan altima 3.5se rear sway bar snapped in two while driving. There were no damage to the surrounding area where the bar snapped. At close inspection, the bar is hollow inside. There are web blogs that I have found where other owners have experienced the same problem. Please see here... Http://wiki.answers.com/q/should_the_2007_nissan_altima_rear_sway_bar_be_recalled. Please look into…
On 12/13/2008 at 9:00 a.m. My 24 year old daughter entered her 2007 Nissan altima and was going x-mas shopping. The entrance to the expressway is less then one quarter mile. She entered the expressway and changed lanes to the far left. Approximately one mile of driving on the expressway her steering wheel locked and she was unable to navigate the steering. She started to brake and as she was…
Had steering trouble with your 2007 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2007 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 45,000 and 89,954 miles, with the median around 72,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 89,954. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.