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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 · Feb 2, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT LOW SPEED DUE TO AN OVERHEATED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. NISSAN SAYS MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446312

137,000 miles · Dec 29, 2010
Electrical System

WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT I NOTICED THE LIGHTS DIM IN THE REFLECTION OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I ALSO SAW A RED LIGHT ON THE DASH WHICH I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE NEAR THE TOP ABOVE THE GEAR INDICATOR. THEN WHEN I APPROACHED THE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED THE LIGHTS DIM AGAIN AS MY RPM'S DROPPED BELOW 1000. ALL WAS FINE O…

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WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT I NOTICED THE LIGHTS DIM IN THE REFLECTION OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I ALSO SAW A RED LIGHT ON THE DASH WHICH I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE NEAR THE TOP ABOVE THE GEAR INDICATOR. THEN WHEN I APPROACHED THE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED THE LIGHTS DIM AGAIN AS MY RPM'S DROPPED BELOW 1000. ALL WAS FINE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I GOT OFF AT AN EXIT NEAR MY HOUSE WHEN SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT ON MY ROAD THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. COMPLETELY DEAD ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF NO RADIO NO HEAT NOTHING! I SHIFTED IT OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER TRIED TO TURN MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND THEY DID NOT WORK EITHER. I COULD NOT SHIFT IT OUT OF N/D WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS WAS AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE AS I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AND PISSED OFF A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AS I WAS IN A DARK INTERSECTION FOR ALMOST 5 MINUTES IN A BLACK CAR. I TRIED TURNING THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND NOTHING HAPPENED ? IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER THAT I COULD HEAR SOME ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY (THE KEY WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION) AND THEN SOME LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS LATER I COULD START THE CAR AND GO ON MY WAY. ALL ELECTRICAL SETTINGS WERE RESET TO FACTORY DEFAULTS ALL RADIO PRESETS ETC THE RADIO AND HEAT WERE POWERED OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373378

51,413 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON SIX …

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2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WAS LOOSE, THE SUN ROOF HAD A RATTLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD GO UP, BUT AT TIMES IT WOULD COME BACK DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR MOTOR. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10344375

90,000 miles · Jul 15, 2010
Electrical System

MY 04 NISSAN ALTIMA V6 ONE DAY BEGAN TO BUCK WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I MADE IT HOME, THEN WHEN I WENT TO START IT WOULDN'T. BASICALLY EVER SINCE THAT DAY IT'S BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM W/ NOT STARTING, SHUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AND COMPLETELY LOCKING UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER AND DANGEROUS. AT ONE POIN…

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MY 04 NISSAN ALTIMA V6 ONE DAY BEGAN TO BUCK WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I MADE IT HOME, THEN WHEN I WENT TO START IT WOULDN'T. BASICALLY EVER SINCE THAT DAY IT'S BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM W/ NOT STARTING, SHUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AND COMPLETELY LOCKING UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER AND DANGEROUS. AT ONE POINT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I AM THE MOTHER OF AN INFANT SO UNTIL I FIND A RESOLUTION I NEED TO BORROW CARS TO TRAVEL WITH HIM. I HAVE REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WHICH WERE THE CODES THAT CAME UP AND STILL I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR. I THEN RESEARCHED MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AND FOUND I WAS NOT ALONE. MANY OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUES AND HAVE YET TO REACH A RESOLUTION AND APPARENTLY NISSAN IS NOT DECLARING A RECALL ON 2004'S BUT HAVE ON "02" AND "03" WHICH HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUY PARTS AND TRY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS DEFECTIVE AS I READ MANY OTHERS HAVE DONE. I PLAN ON CONTACTING THE BBB AND TAKING IT FROM THERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. SO HERE I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR MY CHILD AND I AND NO ANSWERS ON WHY THESE CARS ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND CONTINUING TO READ CAMSHAFT...ETC EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED???? PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343539

115,000 miles · Jun 17, 2010
Electrical System

CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAR ALSO DOESN'T START UP RIGHT AWAY. TRIED TO BRING IT TO NISSAN BUT THEY SAID MY VIN# WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE WELL KNOWN RECALL (CAMSHAFT SENSOR). BS IF YOU ASK ME! THEY'RE GOING TO PUT PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK. SO I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS STORE AND GOT THE CODE READ AND IT WAS A P-03040 WHICH WAS …

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CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAR ALSO DOESN'T START UP RIGHT AWAY. TRIED TO BRING IT TO NISSAN BUT THEY SAID MY VIN# WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE WELL KNOWN RECALL (CAMSHAFT SENSOR). BS IF YOU ASK ME! THEY'RE GOING TO PUT PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK. SO I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS STORE AND GOT THE CODE READ AND IT WAS A P-03040 WHICH WAS A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTION. I GOOGLED A BIT AND FOUND OUT THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I EVEN CALLED NISSAN AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. OUTRAGEOUS DIAGNOSTIC FEE ALSO. $105 JUST TO PLUG IN A OBD READER. YOU CAN BUY YOUR OWN OBD READER FOR THAT PRICE. OR JUST GO TO YOUR LOCAL AUTO STORE AND GET IT CHECKED FOR FREE!!! NOT HAPPY. NISSAN ALSO SOUNDED LIKE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH ME SINCE I DON'T BRING MY CAR TO NISSAN FOR OIL CHANGES/REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336828

71,000 miles · Aug 15, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

CAR SHUTOFF WHEN DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280503

45,000 miles · Jun 14, 2009
Electrical System

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN JUST DYING OUT FOR NO REASON, VERY DANGEROUS, IN TRAFFIC CAR JUST STALLS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273764

58,000 miles · Apr 7, 2009
Electrical SystemInjury

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE ON THE RUN DUE TO FAULTY CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND CAM SHAFT SENSOR. I FIXED CRANK SENSOR 2 YEARS BACK AFTER A DEATH INCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST MONTH. THIS TIME ITS THE SENSOR NEXT TO THE OTHER. THE CAM SENSOR. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN …

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2004 NISSAN ALTIMA ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE ON THE RUN DUE TO FAULTY CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND CAM SHAFT SENSOR. I FIXED CRANK SENSOR 2 YEARS BACK AFTER A DEATH INCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST MONTH. THIS TIME ITS THE SENSOR NEXT TO THE OTHER. THE CAM SENSOR. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2002 TO 2008 ALTIMAS AND SENTRAS. AND NISSAN CONTINUE TO MAKE FAULTY CHEAP SENSORS TO PUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT RISK AND NOT EVEN CARED ABOUT HAVING A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264435

58,000 miles · Mar 21, 2009
Electrical SystemPower Train

WE PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM CRATE LAKE MAZDA, MEDFORD, OR JAN 31,2009. TWO WEEKS AFTER WE HAD THE VEHICLE IT STARTED TO BUCK AND ACT LIKE IT WANTED DIE WHEN YOU STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE SALES PERSON THAT SOLD US THE CAR AND WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WARRANTY WE HAD TO PAY. WE TOOK IT TA A ME…

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WE PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM CRATE LAKE MAZDA, MEDFORD, OR JAN 31,2009. TWO WEEKS AFTER WE HAD THE VEHICLE IT STARTED TO BUCK AND ACT LIKE IT WANTED DIE WHEN YOU STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE SALES PERSON THAT SOLD US THE CAR AND WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WARRANTY WE HAD TO PAY. WE TOOK IT TA A MECHANIC AND THEN WENT BACK TO DEALER AND HE DIDN'T SEEM INTERESTED IN HELPING WE WERE MADE TO FEEL IT WAS OUR FAULT. I THEN CALLED NISSAN AND FOUND OUT THAT WERE 2 RECALLS OUT ON THIS CAR. THE ONE WAS FOR A POWER VALVE FAILURE WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH OUR VEHICLE. THIS ENDED UP COSTING US $785.00. WE HAD NOT EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT ON THIS CAR. WE THOUGHT WE HAD PURCHASED A GOOD CAR AND WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS WHOLE MESS. WE ARE SENIORS AND ON A LIMITED INCOME THIS REPAIR WAS RATHER DEVASTATING TO US. OUR MECHANIC USED ALL NISSAN FACTORY PARTS AND TO THEIR SPECS. THIS HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY THE NISSAN DEALER IN GRANTS PASS, OR. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262651

32,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Electrical System

WHEN REAR DEFROSTER WINDOW IS TURNED ON, RECEPTION OF RADIO FUZZES OUT. TOLD THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRENTEE EVEN THOUGH WARRENTEE STATES AUDIO AND ELECTRIC COVERAGE, WINDOW IS NOT DAMAGED.

NHTSA ODI #10237804

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.

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