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2005 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Altima years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Altima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 231.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

908 reports with mileage · 183 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.

  • Structure. Review the 351 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 259 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 141 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

48 crash reports18 fire reports44 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

47 reports
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20,000 miles · Dec 28, 2006
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicInjury

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM MY 2005 ALTIMA THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN SEPT 05. THE FIRST WEEK I OWNED THE VEHICLE MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY SLUGGISH FROM TAKEOFF, I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL NISSAN ARE SLUGGISH AND NEED TO BE DRIVEN TO GET THE "NE…

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I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM MY 2005 ALTIMA THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN SEPT 05. THE FIRST WEEK I OWNED THE VEHICLE MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY SLUGGISH FROM TAKEOFF, I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL NISSAN ARE SLUGGISH AND NEED TO BE DRIVEN TO GET THE "NEWNESS FROM THE VEHICLE" WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THAT. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES ARE SQUEALING AND MY TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, I DON'T EVEN HAVE 20K MILES ON MY VEHICLE SO THIS IS VERY MYSTERIOUS TO ME. NISSAN IN MY OPINION DOES NOT LISTEN TO ITS CUSTOMERS AND CLAIMS TO BE THE VERY BEST TOWARDS THEIR CUSTOMERS ON THE COMMERCIALS BUT IN REALITY THEY ARE JUST ANOTHER BIG COMPANY MAKING MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF "USE TO BE LOYAL" CUSTOMERS". EVERY COMPLAINT ON THIS BOARD I CAN AGREE WITH WHICH IS SAD FOR I TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SEAT BELTS, SHARP BAR UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT, ENGINE AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT SO BASICALLY ALL WE HAVE IS AN EXPENSIVE GOOD LOOKING NON-WORKING PIECES OF CRAP. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH NISSAN. SIGNED - WILL NEVER EVER EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN IN MY LIFE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10177226

2,000 miles · Jun 14, 2006
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering

NEW 2005 ALTIMA 3.5 SE BOUGHT AUGUST 2005 1ST MONTH I HAD NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND THE VEHICLE PULLING/DRIFTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THIS CONCERN MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE A SENSE OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING, IN ADDITION WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIM…

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NEW 2005 ALTIMA 3.5 SE BOUGHT AUGUST 2005 1ST MONTH I HAD NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND THE VEHICLE PULLING/DRIFTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THIS CONCERN MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE A SENSE OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING, IN ADDITION WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THE VIBRATION IN THE WHEEL MAKES YOUR HANDS AND ARMS FALL ASLEEP. IT IS ALWAYS NECESSARY AFTER AN HOUR OR HOUR AND A HALF TO PULL OVER AND GIVE YOUR ARMS/ HANDS A REST. THE DEALER ADDRESSED THIS CONCERN BY BALANCING THE WHEELS BY ROAD FORCE BALANCE (CORRECTED SPECS - 21LBS ROAD FORCE DOWN TO 7LBS) NO ALIGNMENT ISSUES WERE NOTICED. AFTER 3 TIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE VIBRATIONS I HAD NOTICED A CLUNK IN THE FRONT END, IT ENDED UP BEING A STRUT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH THE NEXT TRIP THE DEALERSHIP THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WAS NOW EVIDENT AT ALL SPEEDS, IT WAS STILL DRIFTING, AND A NEW "HUM" HAD DEVELOPED AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER UNABLE TO VERIFY ANY OF MY CONCERNS SUGGESTED THAT I GO FOR A RIDE WITH THE SERVICE MANGER. AFTER THAT RIDE HE SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE MY TIRES SWAPPED FOR NEW ONES OF ANOTHER BRAND. ON MY NEXT TRIP TO THE DEALER THEY SWAPPED ALL 4 OF MY TIRES FOR ANOTHER BRAND NAME AND RE-ALIGNED THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND FRONT END. THROUGHOUT THE WINTER THE CAR RAN OK OTHER THAN SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT WOULD KILL MY BATTERY AND THE REAR PILLAR AIRBAGS COMING OUT. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE SPRING THAT I WAS FORCED TO BRING MY CAR DOWN AGAIN FOR THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CLUNK IN THE FRONT END. THE DEALER COULD NOT VERIFY ANY CLUNK IN THE FRONT END BUT AGREED THAT THERE IS AGAIN A VIBRATION AND REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BY ADJUSTING THE STEERING RACK PRE-LOAD. INITIALLY THE VIBRATION WAS REDUCED, BUT WITHIN A MONTH IT WAS BACK. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THAT ADJUSTING THE STEERING RACK PRE-LOAD WAS ONLY A "TEMPORARY FIX" A "BANDAID FOR THE PROBLEM". *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159797

15,656 miles · Jun 1, 2006
Air Bags

I OWN A 2005 ALTIMA FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS NISSAN. HOWEVER, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT. WHEN I SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I AM 5'4 AND WEIGH ABOUT 104 LBS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO AUTOWAY NISSAN (TAMPA, FL) TWICE ABOUT THIS …

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I OWN A 2005 ALTIMA FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS NISSAN. HOWEVER, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT. WHEN I SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I AM 5'4 AND WEIGH ABOUT 104 LBS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO AUTOWAY NISSAN (TAMPA, FL) TWICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO GO OFF, I HAVE TO JUMP AROUND IN MY SEAT SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OFF, MOST OF THE TIME IT COMES BACK ON AFTER 10 MINUTES OR SO. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT AUTOWAY NISSAN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION, ONLY TELLING ME THAT IT IS A WEIGHT SENSOR THAT PICKS UP AT 100-110 LBS AND THAT IT CAN NOT BE CALIBRATED. I HAVE EVEN CONTACTED NISSAN AND STARTED A FILE WITH THEM. IT HAS BEEN TWO DAYS NOW, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR THAT SENSOR TO PICK UP ON WEIGHT ONLY. MY HUSBAND'S '04 ACCORD'S SENSOR GOES OFF WHEN I SIT IN HIS PASSENGER SEAT. I KNOW I'M COMPARING APPLES WITH ORANGES, BUT YOU WOULD THINK NISSAN WOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN BUILDING THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10158813

20,000 miles · Nov 8, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG SDEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEPLOYMENT CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONTACT'S HAND. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10142211

3,100 miles · May 31, 2005
Air Bags

DT: 2005, NISSAN, ALTIMA: THE AIR BAG LIGHT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT GO OFF. ONCE SOMEONE SITS IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT WILL NOT GP\O OFF. DEALER IDICATED THAT BECAUSE HIS WIFE DIDN'T WEIGH MUCH THE LIGHT MAY NOT GO OFF. IT OCCURRED ITERMITTENTLY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10122554

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2005
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrash

DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117572

3,550 miles · Feb 14, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC IN SEVIERVILLE, TENNESSEE ON 2/12/2005, MY 2005 ALTIMA WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY A CAR THAT FAILED TO STOP. THE DRIVER OF THAT CAR WAS DETERMINED TO BE AT FAULT BY POLICE. FOUR VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR BEING THE MOST DAMAGED. POLICE ESTIMATED THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS GOING APPROXI…

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WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC IN SEVIERVILLE, TENNESSEE ON 2/12/2005, MY 2005 ALTIMA WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY A CAR THAT FAILED TO STOP. THE DRIVER OF THAT CAR WAS DETERMINED TO BE AT FAULT BY POLICE. FOUR VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR BEING THE MOST DAMAGED. POLICE ESTIMATED THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH. AT IMPACT. THE IMPACT DROVE MY CAR FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE REAR OF MY CAR WAS DESTROYED AND THE FRONT IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH THAT THE RADIATOR WAS BURST AND FRONT SUSPENSION MEMBERS AND THE HOOD WERE CRUMPLED. AT NO TIME DURING THE ACCIDENT DID EITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS IN MY ALTIMA DEPLOY! HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELTS DID LOCK IN POSITION AND PROBABLY SAVED US FROM MORE SERIOUS INJURY. INJURIES FOR THOSE IN MY CAR (FOUR PEOPLE) CONSISTED OF CUTS, SCRAPES AND BRUISES ACCOMPANINED WITH SORENESS. SINCE IT IS ONLY TWO DAYS SINCE THE ACCIDENT, THERE MAY BE OTHER POSSIBLE PROBLEMS ARISE. I THOUGHT AIR BAGS WERE SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY IN CASES SUCH AS THIS? I NOTE FROM RESEARCH THAT NISSAN HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AIR BAG FAILURES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STOP THIS!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10110493

Official recalls

1

07V527000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 14, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION 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. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. 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