The Nissan Altima has consistently been one of the best-selling cars in the U.S. market ever since its debut in the early 1990s.
Like any other vehicle, it can suffer from alarm-related issues.
If your Altima’s alarm system keeps going off, this article should help figure things out!
Table of Contents
Why Does My Nissan Altima Alarm Keep Going Off?
A Nissan Altima alarm is usually triggered by a faulty door switch or hood switch as these sensors are prone to defects or damage through years of use. Other common causes include car battery issues, drained key fob battery, and an incorrectly installed aftermarket alarm system.
1. Faulty Door Switches
Faulty door switches (including the rear hatch) are a common cause of random alarms. If damaged, faulty, or dirty, they can send false readings thereby triggering the alarm.
Door switches are a common point of failure as they are subject to wear and tear due to the doors being continually opened/closed/slammed etc.
The door latches and door switches can get dirty too which can cause issues, so the first thing you should do is give all door latches a good clean and spray some WD-40 on the latch and work it in to see if that helps.
Also check the wiring leading from the body into the door for any signs of damage, it should be in a flexible hose on the hinge side of the door.
If you suspect the alarm issues are linked to the door switch, ask your dealer to run a diagnostic test to try and pinpoint the fault.
One owner had this to say on NissanClub.com:
“I had the same thing happen to me and it turned out to be a malfunctioning trunk release mechanism which was replaced. It was sending an electrical signal somewhere, indicating the trunk was open or being opened.”
Over at the r/Nissan subreddit, one owner suggests this:
“Check your doors for dents where the button for the door switch is. Most likely one of them will have a dent caused by a seat belt that got slammed in the door when someone was closing it.”
2. Faulty Hood Switch
A faulty hood switch is a common cause of unwanted alarms for this type of vehicle.
The switch is typically embedded in the hood latch.
The small electronic device is designed to detect whether the hood is open or shut and is an important part of the car’s alarm system – if it is broken, loose or dirty it can send false readings to the car’s computer thus triggering the alarm.
- Pop the hood and locate the hood switch.
- Check for any obvious damage, rust or loose connections.
- Give the hood switch a clean too (use contact cleaner), as dirt and grime can cause issues.
- You can test the switch with a continuity tester.
If you are well-versed mechanically, you can buy a new hood switch online and replace it yourself. Otherwise, we’d advise visiting your local mechanic.
Owners on NissanClub.com shared the following:
“One of the pin switches for the hood, trunk, or doors is not making full contact or is erratic. This will cut off the ground needed for the alarm system and that is why it sometimes disarms itself…”
“Yeah, it sounds like a problem with the hood pin. You’ll be able to tell if that is indeed the problem by putting a jumper wire between the pin wire and chassis ground. If the problem goes away permanently then the pin is the problem. There is also a chance that the wire got scraped somewhere along the fender line and is making a bad connection.”
Related: 11 Most Common Nissan Altima Problems (Explained)
3. Loose or Bad 12V Battery Connections
Loose or bad 12V battery connections can cause a number of problems, including triggering the alarm of your vehicle.
A bad connection can be caused by dirt or gunk buildup.
The terminals may have come loose from driving and vibrations etc.
Make sure the engine is off before doing any work on the battery.
- Inspect the battery and look for any signs of damage, dirt build-up, rust, or corrosion.
- Disconnect the battery and loosen the nuts on the clamps using a wrench.
- Remove the negative clamp, marked with a – symbol first.
- Clean the terminals with a toothbrush dipped in a mix of baking soda and water, rinse with distilled water and dry with a cloth.
- Reconnect the battery, ensuring tight connections.
4. Drained 12V Battery
A faulty or weakened car battery causes a variety of problems, including accidentally triggering the alarm.
The best thing to do is take your unit for a battery health check, these are usually quite inexpensive or sometimes free such as at AutoZone.
Or you can test it yourself with a multimeter (see the guide at the end of this article).
A healthy 12V battery should be about 12.6 to 12.8 volts while a weakened battery reads below 12 volts.
We found this suggestion on the r/altima subreddit:
“ … I’d also disconnect the car battery cable for a few minutes and reconnect it. Kind of like rebooting your computer.”
5. Key Fob Running on Low Battery
A common cause of mysterious alarms is a low key fob battery. Similarly, if the fob is dirty or dusty this can also cause alarm issues.
Give the inside of your fob a clean and replace the battery to eliminate this possible cause. It’s worth spending a bit extra for a good brand of battery.
- To open your key fob, stick your prying tool into the slit or gap between the two halves of the outer casing and gently apply upward pressure to pop open the device.
- Remove the battery.
- Give the key fob a good clean to remove any dirt or fluff – a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol should do the trick.
- Check for damage, rust or loose connection (you may need a new key fob depending on what you find).
- Be sure to insert the new battery facing the right way up.
- Assemble the outer casing of your key fob by clamping them back together.
“wow the problem was the key’s battery, I swapped it out and it works again. Weird part is it was working fine last night and it just died over night” – NissanClub.com
“I would guess changing the battery in your key fob would correct the issue. You are opening the door, and the car is not detecting the signal from the key fob. So, you must be stealing it.” – NissanClub.com
6. Faulty Key Fob
Another reported cause of nuisance alarms on this vehicle is a faulty key fob.
If you have 2 remotes, try taking the battery out of one and use the other for a while.
If the alarm problems persist, and you have tried cleaning the inside of the fob(s) and changing the battery, the best thing to do is speak with your dealer.
7. Incorrectly Installed Aftermarket Alarm
An incorrectly installed or faulty aftermarket alarm system is a common cause of nuisance alarms.
Aftermarket alarms are typically far more complex than any factory-installed equipment which makes them more prone to issues.
They may also have been installed by incompetent individuals.
If you are experiencing issues with an aftermarket alarm, the best thing to do is speak with a reputable auto electrician.
One experienced owner mentioned this on NissanClub.com:
“Aftermarket alarms are not tested for every car and often go off or don’t even work at all when not installed correctly or if there is an electrical issue with the car that could trip the sensors or gates…”
8. Faulty Body Control Module (BCM)
A faulty body control module can cause a wide range of issues including nuisance alarms.
- The BCM is in charge of electrical communication from different electronic systems.
- This includes the alarm system, lock-unlock functions, climate control etc.
- If you have a faulty BCM you may notice other electrical glitches too
- This can include intermittent operation of various electrical functions, such as the horn, lights, wipers and instrument cluster dials
The signals sent from the doors and hood are sent to the BCM to be interpreted and it is a core part of the alarm system.
The BCM can be connected to a diagnostic scan tool which should uncover any errors or show a lack of communication with the main computer.
If in doubt, speak to your local dealer or a reputable mechanic to carry out the tests for you.
9. Damaged Wiring
Damaged electrical wiring can cause a wide range of problems, it can often be tricky to pinpoint too and you may need to have an auto electrician run some diagnostic tests.
In some instances, rodents may have chewed through an electrical wire.
10. Animals Climbing On The Vehicle
If your alarm has been set off in the middle of the night, it may have been by an animal climbing on the car.
States such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Texas, Wisconsin, and Carolina have large wild raccoon populations.
Have a look for footprints on the hood and the roof.
If you have a CCTV system, examine the footage. These animals usually appear during the night.
11. Not Closing Doors, Hood, or Trunk Properly
Something as simple as not properly closing the doors, hood, or trunk will inevitably trigger the alarm.
Make sure to check if you have closed every point of entry of your vehicle to avoid accidentally tripping your vehicle’s alarm.
“The door ajar switch (the switch that turns the dome light ON) is also used for the alarm system. If the door is out of adjustment or one of the switches is bad, the alarm will go off intermittently. To repair the problem make sure all the doors are closed properly…” – NissanHelp.com
Alternative Suggestions
Check for Recalls or TSBs
By entering your car’s VIN number on Nissan’s recall page or the NTHSA’s Safety Issues & Recalls page you can determine whether or not there is a TSB or recall for your vehicle and if there is you’ll want to get it addressed.
A recall is issued by a vehicle manufacturer for issues that are safety-related, while a TSB covers components that may be malfunctioning but don’t compromise the safety of the vehicle.
Disconnect the Battery
Sometimes mysterious alarm problems can disappear with a simple reboot, there are no guarantees here but it’s worth a try.
Disconnect the battery for 20 seconds and this resets many of the electronics in the vehicle.
Check For Warning Messages
When the alarm occurs can you see any lights or warning messages on the instrument panel?
This can give a clue as to what’s causing the alarm e.g. ‘Hood Ajar’.
Take it to a Nissan Dealership
If needed, take your Nissan to the dealership.
Tell them you are NOT paying for a check on what the problem might be.
Ask them if they will check it for free.
Most dealerships and other places do quick/initial diagnosis for no money as they plan to make money for the repair of your vehicle.
If your unit is still under warranty then they should fix and resolve the issue for free.
How to Test the 12V Battery
How to Test the Battery:
- Before testing, remove the surface charge from the battery, this allows for an accurate reading.
- Simply turn on the headlights for 2 minutes then turn off.
- Set the multimeter dial to the ’20 Volts’ setting.
- Make sure the car is turned OFF.
The multimeter will have a red probe and a black probe.
- The red probe is for making contact with the positive terminal.
- The black probe is for making contact with the negative terminal.
Measure across the battery terminals.
- The meter should display a reading, if the battery is fully charged the voltage should be between 12.2 and 12.6 volts.
- Anything under 12V and the battery should be charged or replaced.
Sources
https://www.nissanusa.com/owners/ownership/manuals-guides.html
https://www.nissanusa.com/recalls-vin.html
