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2004 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

225 reports with mileage · 51 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

32 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2023
Electrical SystemEngine

The crankshaft position sensor (cps) was not responsive when the repair shop was testing the vehicle because of the "service engine soon" light came on. After a short search online they 1.) Had no signal to the cps from the pcm 2.) That there was also a voluntary recall by nissan for this issue covering this make an model. I ca…

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The crankshaft position sensor (cps) was not responsive when the repair shop was testing the vehicle because of the "service engine soon" light came on. After a short search online they 1.) Had no signal to the cps from the pcm 2.) That there was also a voluntary recall by nissan for this issue covering this make an model. I called nissan and told me that the recall wasn't for that car but the vehicle was in fact built in the years covered and also had the exact issues the recall covered

NHTSA ODI #11524912

240,600 miles · Apr 10, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

CAR WAS STALLING 2 DAYS AGO SHUT IT OFF AND DROVE AWAY JUST FINE NOT EVEN 4 HOURS LATER MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME HE CAME UP AROUND A HILL /BEND ON A CITY STREET THE CAR LOCKED UP ON HIM ALONG WITH THE OIIL BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT THE BREAKS WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING CAR WOULDN'T STOP HE ENDED UP GOING HEAD ON INTO A TREE IN…

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CAR WAS STALLING 2 DAYS AGO SHUT IT OFF AND DROVE AWAY JUST FINE NOT EVEN 4 HOURS LATER MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME HE CAME UP AROUND A HILL /BEND ON A CITY STREET THE CAR LOCKED UP ON HIM ALONG WITH THE OIIL BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT THE BREAKS WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING CAR WOULDN'T STOP HE ENDED UP GOING HEAD ON INTO A TREE IN THE NEIGHBORS YARD. CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE CAR SOMEWHERE AND I BELIEVE THE SECURITY OF THE CAR OR THE ECM IS WHAT LOCKED IT UP ON HIM THERE WAS NO STEERING IN THE CAR AS WELL. NO RECALLS POP UP WITH MY VIN # BUT I AM SUSPECTED TO BELIEVE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG INTERNALLY. IT WAS AT 240,700 MILES.HE WAS EXPECTIDLY ONLY GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR BUT WITH THE PICTURES IM ATTACHING IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMPUTER TOOM OVER THE SPEED CONTROL

NHTSA ODI #11084423

214,000 miles · Sep 11, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE BURNED TOO MUCH FUEL TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE BURNED TOO MUCH FUEL TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC WHERE THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE SAME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORT WORTH NISSAN (3451 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION AND EXHAUST FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.

NHTSA ODI #11022609

1,361 miles · Jun 22, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE MANIFOLD, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND A COMPUTER CHIP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE MANIFOLD, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND A COMPUTER CHIP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,361.

NHTSA ODI #11000672

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR NOT LONG AFTER I HAD IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662407

103,000 miles · Aug 5, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING 60-65 MPH, WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND MY NEWBORN DAUGHTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITH A RIVER OF TRAFFIC SURROUNDING AROUND ME. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR FINALLY STARTED BACK UP & RAN FINE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR BECAME HARDER TO START A…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING 60-65 MPH, WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND MY NEWBORN DAUGHTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITH A RIVER OF TRAFFIC SURROUNDING AROUND ME. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR FINALLY STARTED BACK UP & RAN FINE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR BECAME HARDER TO START AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ON THE INTERSTATE ONCE AGAIN. I GOT THE ENGINE CODE, CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS P0340 (CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR). UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON NATIONWIDE PROBLEM. NOT ONLY DOES THE ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING, IT COMPLETELY CAUSES THE MOTOR TO SHUT OFF! THE MOTOR IN A VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF WHILE GOING DOWN A JAMMED INTERSTATE OR GOING ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO NOT GET RECOGNIZED. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS HORRIBLE SITUATION, AND VIEWING THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AS WELL. I AM FLABBERGASTED THE CAM/CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FOR THE 2002-2005 ALTIMA HAS YET TO BE RECALLED. THE CHANCE OF THE PART BEING DEFICIENT IS ABNORMALLY HIGH. THE PART IS INCAPABLE OF PERFORMING IT PURPOSE, BECAUSE ONCE REPAIRED IT CONTINUOUSLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. NISSAN DOES STATE THAT THIS IS A DEFICIENT PART AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. BUT A SERVICE BULLETIN DOES NOT DO ANYONE ANY JUSTICE WHEN THE SENSORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ONCE A YEAR!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533581

10,000 miles · Aug 14, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineCrash

NISSAN ALTIMA JUST DIED ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND WE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. WE BOTH SUSTAINED MULTIPLE SURGERIES AND WAS ADMITTED FOR ABOUT A WEEK. CALLED NISSANUSA TO INFORM THEM, BUT THEY DON'T CARE. THERE WERE SUPPOSE TO GET BACK TO US AND NOBODY DID. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN.…

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NISSAN ALTIMA JUST DIED ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND WE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. WE BOTH SUSTAINED MULTIPLE SURGERIES AND WAS ADMITTED FOR ABOUT A WEEK. CALLED NISSANUSA TO INFORM THEM, BUT THEY DON'T CARE. THERE WERE SUPPOSE TO GET BACK TO US AND NOBODY DID. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN. THEY ARE CRAP CARS!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470659

80,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
Electrical SystemCrashFireInjury

THE VEHICLE KEPT SHOWING CODES P1148, P1278 AND P1279. TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CHANGED MAF SENSOR, ALL OXYGEN SENSORS, FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING BUT THE CODE KEPT SHOWING UP. THE VEHICLE FINALLY SHUT OFF ON THE PARKWAY WITHOUT WARNING AND WE WERE REAR ENDED. LUCKILY WE WERE ONLY TWO IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE…

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THE VEHICLE KEPT SHOWING CODES P1148, P1278 AND P1279. TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CHANGED MAF SENSOR, ALL OXYGEN SENSORS, FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING BUT THE CODE KEPT SHOWING UP. THE VEHICLE FINALLY SHUT OFF ON THE PARKWAY WITHOUT WARNING AND WE WERE REAR ENDED. LUCKILY WE WERE ONLY TWO IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. WE BOTH HAVE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES FROM THIS ACCIDENT. THE NISSAN ALTIMA IS A DEATH TRAP. NISSANS IS A BAD COMPANY....BEWARE!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468515

27,000 miles · Jul 30, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE THEN BEGAN TO PERFORM WITH A REDUCTION IN POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED THREE TIMES AS WELL AS THE ALTERNATOR BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE THEN BEGAN TO PERFORM WITH A REDUCTION IN POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED THREE TIMES AS WELL AS THE ALTERNATOR BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND A CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468223

142,041 miles · Mar 16, 2012
Electrical System

WE HAVE HAD THE SAME SENSOR RELATED COMPLAINT WITH THIS CAR MORE THAN 3 TIMES NOW. THE 1ST 2 TIMES WE TOOK TO A LOCAL GARAGE, BUT THE SAME ISSUE CAME UP A YEAR LATER. SO WE WENT TO WOODFIELD NISSAN, HOPING THAT THE DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH COSTS ALOT MORE, CAN DEAL WITH THE ISSUE BETTER. BUT JUST AS THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY EXPIRED, T…

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WE HAVE HAD THE SAME SENSOR RELATED COMPLAINT WITH THIS CAR MORE THAN 3 TIMES NOW. THE 1ST 2 TIMES WE TOOK TO A LOCAL GARAGE, BUT THE SAME ISSUE CAME UP A YEAR LATER. SO WE WENT TO WOODFIELD NISSAN, HOPING THAT THE DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH COSTS ALOT MORE, CAN DEAL WITH THE ISSUE BETTER. BUT JUST AS THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE ISSUE PRESENTED ITSELF AGAIN, WE WENT AGAIN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP - BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY , EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WITHIN THE MILEAGE (BUT PAST THE 12 MONTHS). WE HAVE NOW SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS CRANK/CRAM SHAFT SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD US THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR DRIVING OR CARE, THIS ISSUE WILL OCCUR EVERY YEAR OR SO AND WE WILL HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED OR CAR WILL STALL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT WE CAN PAY THEM TO TAKE OUR CAR TOTALLY APART AND THEN THEY CAN TRY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM - BUT I CANNOT SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SPEND HOURS LOOKING INTO MY CAR SO THEY CAN MAYBE FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET NISSAN TO HELP - BUT NOBODY RETURNS MY CALLS. I ALSO TRIED THE DEALERSHIP - BUT THERE TOO - NO ONE ANSWERS OR RETURNS MY CALLS. I WANT NISSAN TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE AND FIX IT. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND I CANNOT DO WITHOUT A CAR AND CERTAINLY CANNOT PAY SO MUCH TO KEEP GETTING IT REPAIRED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR REPAIRED FOR THE SAME STUFF 4 TIMES. IT HAS STALLED AND WE HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT. OUR SCHEDULES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED. I HAVE BEEN LATE TO PICK UP MY CHILDREN, WE HAD TO CANCEL THEIR ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL OR IN THE SHOP. WE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY TO GET IT TOWED EVERYTIME IT STOPPED. I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME NISSAN TOOK CARE OF ITS PRODUCT. I CAN UNDERSTAND WEAR AND TEAR - BUT THIS IS BEYOND ANYTHING. NISSAN HAS TO HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10451924

Official recalls

1

06V242000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jul 7, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems