2003 Nissan Altima
midsize car / 4-door sedan
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2002-06 models
Tested vehicle: 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door
The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2002 model year.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of the Altima in two 40 mph moderate overlap frontal crash tests into deformable barriers. In the first test, the airbag deployed late. This led Nissan to modify the airbag crash sensors on 2002 models produced after March 15, 2002, plus Nissan initiated a service campaign to modify the sensors at its cost for the models produced earlier.
The Institute tested a second Altima with the modified sensor, and the airbag inflated much earlier. Ratings of the Altima are based on the results of the second test, except structural performance is based on both tests.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics Dummy movement was well controlled in the second test. The dummy rebounded into the seat without its head hitting any stiff structure that could cause injury. However, the driver's seat pitched forward slightly, tipped toward the door, and moved forward slightly on its inboard track, where the safety belt buckle is anchored. |
Action shot taken during the second of two frontal offset crash tests.
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the second crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.
Dummy movement was well controlled in the second test. During rebound, the dummy's head hit only the head restraint.
Intrusion into the footwell was somewhat greater in the second test (pictured) than in the first test, and the brake pedal moved much farther to the left.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CEF0211 | CEF0203 |
|---|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | ||
| Footrest (cm) | 11 | 10 |
| Left (cm) | 15 | 14 |
| Center (cm) | 17 | 14 |
| Right (cm) | 17 | 12 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 19 | 9 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | ||
| Left (cm) | 5 | 2 |
| Right (cm) | 4 | 1 |
| Steering column movement | ||
| Upward (cm) | 3 | 3 |
| Rearward (cm) | 2 | -2 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 2 | 2 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CEF0211 | |
|---|---|---|
| Head | ||
| HIC-15 | 145 | |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact | |
| Neck | ||
| Tension (kN) | 0.1 | |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 15 | |
| Maximum Nij | 0.24 | |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 28 | |
| Legs | ||
| Femur force - left (kN) | 0.6 | |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 2.1 | |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 1 | |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 0 | |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 1.00 | |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 0.69 | |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 1.1 | |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 2.6 | |
| Foot acceleration (g) | ||
| Left | 51 | |
| Right | 50 | |
Side: original test
Rating applies to 2002-06 models
Tested vehicle: 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door without optional side airbags
The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2002 model year. Beginning with 2005 models, door changes were made to improve occupant protection in side-impact crashes. (Nissan reported that these door changes would not significantly affect side-impact performance in models without side airbags; therefore, the overall side impact rating for 2002-05 models without side airbags is the same.)
When side airbags are optional, as in this vehicle, the Institute conducts the test without this option. If a manufacturer offering optional side airbags requests the Institute to conduct an additional test of a vehicle with this option and agrees to reimburse the cost of the vehicle, a second test is conducted. Nissan did not request such a test.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Driver head protection The dummy's head was hit by the intruding barrier, producing high head injury measures. |
|
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Rear passenger head protection The dummy's head hit the window sill of the rear passenger door, producing moderately high neck injury measures. Hitting the window areas should be prevented. |
|
View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing damage to the occupant compartment.
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy's head being hit by the intruding barrier.
A prominent dent indicates where the driver dummy's head hit the barrier.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CES0405 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) | 4.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. | |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CES0405 |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 2,609 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 3.0 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.7 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 57 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 3.0 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 43 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 36 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 6.92 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 1.07 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 5.2 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 3.1 |
| Combined force (kN) | 7.9 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 1.8 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 258 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 55 |
Passenger injury measures
| Test ID | CES0405 |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 443 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 2.3 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.1 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 25 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 43 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.35 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.70 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.6 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.6 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 1.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 109 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -55 |