Illustration2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FUEL GAUGE READS THE CAR HAS GAS WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY EMPTY. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
3025–50K
6350–75K
5075–100K
47100–150K
13150K+
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
4 reportsDT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IT BEGAN TO LEAK AND SMOKE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 39,400 MILES. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS THAT CAME ON PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2005. THIS WAS THE NINTH TIME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS PRO…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IT BEGAN TO LEAK AND SMOKE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 39,400 MILES. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS THAT CAME ON PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2005. THIS WAS THE NINTH TIME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION, FUEL PUMP, AND AXLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE THIS NEW TRANSMISSION HAS ONLY ABOUT 5000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION FIVE TIMES. *AK
2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED TO CRANK ON COLD MORNINGS 5 TIMES. IN AND OUT OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FINALLY REPLACED FUEL CONTROL MODULATOR. NEXT MORNING CAR CRANKED IN 29 DEGREE WEATHER AND NOW IS SMOKING (BLACK SMOKE). RETURNED CAR TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 1-31-04 ALONG WITH A CLOTH CONTAINING THE RESIDUE FROM THE TAIL PIPES. *…
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2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED TO CRANK ON COLD MORNINGS 5 TIMES. IN AND OUT OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FINALLY REPLACED FUEL CONTROL MODULATOR. NEXT MORNING CAR CRANKED IN 29 DEGREE WEATHER AND NOW IS SMOKING (BLACK SMOKE). RETURNED CAR TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 1-31-04 ALONG WITH A CLOTH CONTAINING THE RESIDUE FROM THE TAIL PIPES. *JB
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, HAS SEVERE DIFFICULTY STARTING AND JERKS IN SECOND GEAR. CAR IDLES AT ABOUT 100-200 RPM. *AK
Official recalls
106V242000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.