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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

Electrical System complaints

97 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

HI, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2008. I REVIEWED SERVICE RECORDS FROM 2005 PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY LARGE AMOUNT OF ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH IS THE "GREY" AREA OF THE ECM ISSUE IN COORDINATION WITH FAMOUS THE CAMSHAFT CRANKSHAFT FAULT P…

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HI, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2008. I REVIEWED SERVICE RECORDS FROM 2005 PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY LARGE AMOUNT OF ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH IS THE "GREY" AREA OF THE ECM ISSUE IN COORDINATION WITH FAMOUS THE CAMSHAFT CRANKSHAFT FAULT P0355 & P0131. I'M AN ENGINEER AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF A VEHICLE. THIS SENSOR WAS A FAULTY DESIGN FROM THE BEGINNING IN WHICH OIL COULD ENTER INSIDE THE SENSOR, THEREFORE CAUSING A SHORT AND DISABLING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO ME AND WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. TO FIX THE ISSUE CHEAPLY, NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE ECM IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE THE ?FAULTY? CRANKSHAFT SENSOR PART. BUT IN ORDER TO SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, NISSAN WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE WARRANTIED REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR DESIGN (MAGNET SENSOR). INSTEAD, THE CONSUMER (MYSELF) WOULD HAVE TO PAY BETWEEN $300 & $450 TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED WITH THE ?NEW & IMPROVED VERSION?. NEW AND IMPROVED MEANS THE PROPERLY DESIGNED VERSION. THE INITIAL DESIGN SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT IT WASN'T. IT DOESN'T TAKE AN ENGINEER TO FIGURE THIS OUT BUT I AM ONE AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ?BIG PICTURE? OF THE RECALL AND LACK OF INCLUSION OF THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPAIRS. I AM REQUESTING NISSAN TO COVER THE FULL COST OF THE CAMSHAFT & CRANKSHAFT SENSOR & THE ASSOCIATED LABOR. I WAS PUT IN HARM?S WAY DURING THE INITIAL RECALL ISSUE IN WHICH MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THAT IS A BAD ENOUGH EXPERIENCE. I AM NOT WILLING TO ALSO PAY NISSAN $400 TO REPAIR THE FAULTY SENSOR WHICH WAS A LARGE PART OF WHY THIS OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563501

46,500 miles · Dec 23, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED MY VEHICLE STALLING AS I WAS DRIVING. IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES FOR ME TO RESTART LEAVING ME VENERABLE TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE SAME EVENING I LEARNED OF RECALL# 07V527000. THE FOLLOWING DAY I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL RESOLVED. THEY ADVISED THE RECALL ONLY COVERS REPROGRAMM…

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I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED MY VEHICLE STALLING AS I WAS DRIVING. IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES FOR ME TO RESTART LEAVING ME VENERABLE TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE SAME EVENING I LEARNED OF RECALL# 07V527000. THE FOLLOWING DAY I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL RESOLVED. THEY ADVISED THE RECALL ONLY COVERS REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER NOT REPLACING DEFECTIVE CRANK SENSOR. I FEEL THAT REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER WILL NOT RESOLVE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD FAIL EVEN WITH REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER. I WAS CHARGED 96.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PART. TO MY UNDERSTANDING MANY OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT FAIL.DEALER DID NOT OFFER TO REPROGRAM COMPUTER THEY INSISTED THAT ONLY REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART WOULD RESOLVE MY ISSUE WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557123

119,000 miles · Dec 2, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2005 ALTIMA AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS. I REPALCED THE SENORS BASED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC READING FROM TWO REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOPS. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING BACK ON. I GOOGLED AND FOUND OUT THAT SEVERAL ALTIMA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD BASED ON MY VIN #, I'…

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I HAVE A 2005 ALTIMA AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS. I REPALCED THE SENORS BASED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC READING FROM TWO REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOPS. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING BACK ON. I GOOGLED AND FOUND OUT THAT SEVERAL ALTIMA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD BASED ON MY VIN #, I'M NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THAT MAKES NO SENSE. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME AN ARM AND A LEG AND WILL ONLY DO IT FOR FREE IF NISSAN SAYS SO. I'M SO FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554428

107,800 miles · Jun 21, 2013
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I HAVE A 2005 ALTIMA SE-R 3.5 V6 I WAS LEAVING A MCDONALD'S PARKING LOT AND AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE WAS A HARD JERK AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE CAR REVERSED AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE A HARD JERK AND THE CAR WAS IN 5TH GEAR. NO OTHER GEARS WERE AVAILABLE. I PARKED T…

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I HAVE A 2005 ALTIMA SE-R 3.5 V6 I WAS LEAVING A MCDONALD'S PARKING LOT AND AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE WAS A HARD JERK AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE CAR REVERSED AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE A HARD JERK AND THE CAR WAS IN 5TH GEAR. NO OTHER GEARS WERE AVAILABLE. I PARKED THE CAR AND SHUT IF OFF...AFTER A FEW SECONDS I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THREW IT IN REVERSE AND GOT THE SAME RESULT, I PUT IT IN DRIVE THEN TIPTRONIC AND SAW A 5 (5TH GEAR). I CALLED A COUPLE FRIENDS AND MECHANICS THEY SAID IT A FAIL SAFE. SO I WAITED AGAIN AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT TOOK A GOOD 10-15 SECONDS TO CRANK AND AFTER I REVERSED THE CAR WOULD DIE. I WAS ONLY TRYING TO GET HOME (1 MIKE DOWN THE ROAD) BECAUSE I DID NOT TRUST THIS CAR TO BRING ME ANYWHERE AT THIS POINT. AFTER A COUPLE START THEN SHUT DOWNS AND LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AND DRIVING IN ALL THE GEARS. I GOT ON THE BOULEVARD AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 20-30 AND THE CAR DIES ON ME. LUCKILY IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THE WAS NO TRAFFIC. I RESTART THE CAR AND ITS RUNNING IN 5TH GEAR FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND THEN I SEE MY RPMS GOING UP AS SPEED GOING DOWN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGING AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG AT THIS POINT. I PULL TO THE SIDE AND POP THE HOOD, THE WAS SO MUCH HEAT BUT THE CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING. I CALL MY MECHANIC AND HE SAYS LET IT SIT A BIT. 20 MINUTES LATER, CAR COOLED DOWN A BIT AND A RELIABLE FRIEND AND MECHANIC COME HELP ME PUSH THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT. WE LATER FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. FLUID WAS STILL RED, NOT BURNED BUT SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING ON INSIDE. $2000+ LATER AND A REPLACEMENT TRANNY THE CAR IS UP BUT STILL DYING AT RANDOM TIMES, WON'T START. DIAGNOSIS CRANK AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO GOES STRAIGHT TO 5TH GEAR AND CAR STALLS IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521012

50,000 miles · Jun 3, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND DANGEROUSLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF TRYING TO START IT, IT FINALLY DID AND I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 10 MILES WITHOUT NO FURTHER INCIDENTS. *TR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS THE FAILURE OF THE CRANK SHAFT POS…

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VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND DANGEROUSLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF TRYING TO START IT, IT FINALLY DID AND I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 10 MILES WITHOUT NO FURTHER INCIDENTS. *TR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS THE FAILURE OF THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH HAD EARLIER BEEN REPROGRAMMED IN 2008 DUE TO A RECALL TO AVOID SUCH A SUDDEN STALL FROM HAPPENING. NISSAN WAS NOT HELPFULL OTHER THAN REPLACING THE SAME SENSOR FROM AND CHARGE YOU A BOMB FOR IT. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CAN A DO A BETTER JOB WHEN ADDRESSING THEIR RECALLS RATHER THAN PROVIDING A BAND AID SOLUTION TO THEIR RECALLS. DURING THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN, THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THIS SENSOR FROM THE GET GO RATHER THAN JUST REPROGRAMMING THE ECM WHICH STILL DIDNT ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUE OF SAFETY FOR SUCH A SENSOR FAILING WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

NHTSA ODI #10514858

140,000 miles · May 19, 2013
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. AT TIMES THEVEHICLE TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512706

106,000 miles · Nov 26, 2012
Electrical System

I ALREADY WENT THOUGH P0420 ISSUE FEW YEARS BACK AND I GOT IT AGAIN. NISSAN DEALER CHARGED ME WHOLE LOTTA MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE AND THE WARNING SIGN CAME BACK AGAIN. WENT TO LOCAL AUTO ZONE AND IT SHOW P0420 AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. I READ SO MANY ARTICLES ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT ALL ALTIMA HAS THIS ISSUE (CRANKSHAFT, O2 SENSOR, ETC…

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I ALREADY WENT THOUGH P0420 ISSUE FEW YEARS BACK AND I GOT IT AGAIN. NISSAN DEALER CHARGED ME WHOLE LOTTA MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE AND THE WARNING SIGN CAME BACK AGAIN. WENT TO LOCAL AUTO ZONE AND IT SHOW P0420 AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. I READ SO MANY ARTICLES ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT ALL ALTIMA HAS THIS ISSUE (CRANKSHAFT, O2 SENSOR, ETC.). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486142

66,000 miles · Nov 21, 2012
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ENGINE SHUT OFF, WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS THE MOST SCARY EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. THE SES LIGHT CAME ON ONLY AFTER LOOSING ALL CONTROL. I WAS TOLD AT THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH…

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WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ENGINE SHUT OFF, WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS THE MOST SCARY EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. THE SES LIGHT CAME ON ONLY AFTER LOOSING ALL CONTROL. I WAS TOLD AT THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH SOME ALTIMAS AND THAT THEY HAD A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485449

97,000 miles · Apr 27, 2012
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AT 70 MPH, MY CAR BUCKED AND THEN SHUT DOWN. LOSING ALL CONTROL, IT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. WHILE OFF YOU LOSE POWER-STEERING, ABS ETC. LUCKILY I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. CAME TO A COASTING STOP. WHEN TO START MY CAR AGAIN, AND IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO TURN OVE…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AT 70 MPH, MY CAR BUCKED AND THEN SHUT DOWN. LOSING ALL CONTROL, IT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. WHILE OFF YOU LOSE POWER-STEERING, ABS ETC. LUCKILY I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. CAME TO A COASTING STOP. WHEN TO START MY CAR AGAIN, AND IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO TURN OVER. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD ROUTINELY BUCK, AND HICCUP AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO SHUT ITSELF OFF. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER, HAVE THE ECM REPROGRAMMED, AS THEY THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE ISSUE. GOT IT DONE, AND A DAY LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED, MY CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I GOT IT RUNNING, AND THEN AS I GOT NEARER HOME, THE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN AT AN INTERSECTION. I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T GET IN A WRECK. FURIOUSLY, I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER, AND BROUGHT IT BACK IN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT WAS NOTED THE CAM/CRANKSHAFT SENSORS WERE BAD. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY NISSAN, AS THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR 2000 - 2003 MODELS OF THEIR CARS IN THE PAST. I GOT THEM REPLACED AND PAID OUT OF POCKET TO DO SO. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY WERE DISRESPECTFUL AND NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. THEY KNOW THAT THE ISSUE IS STILL ONGOING WITH THEIR VEHICLES. ITS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND SHOULD NOT BE UP TO THE CONSUMER TO FIX THE ISSUE AS ITS A FLAW IN THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS RIGHT AWAY AS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456705

78,000 miles · Apr 23, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BAD, PART HAS A KNOWN DEFECT FROM THE SUPPLIER YET NISSAN WILL NOT REPLACE OR CALL RECALL NOTICE. CAR CAN SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, HIGH RISK FOR FATALITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456199

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