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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

18 reports
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124,000 miles · Mar 24, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE WARNING PANEL ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED OR MEDICAL ATTENTION REQUIRED. A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE WARNING PANEL ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED OR MEDICAL ATTENTION REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10701353

128,821 miles · Feb 14, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

ON A RECENT TRIP FOR OIL CHANGE I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT A SPOT OF RUST ON THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. THEY SAID A BRACKET WAS RUSTING THAT HOLDS THE REAR QUARTER PANEL ON. THE REAL PROBLEM, THEY POINTED OUT WAS THE SEVERE RUST UNDER THE FRONT FLOORBOARDS, BOTH PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS HOPING TO GET ABOUT 6,000 FOR …

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ON A RECENT TRIP FOR OIL CHANGE I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT A SPOT OF RUST ON THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. THEY SAID A BRACKET WAS RUSTING THAT HOLDS THE REAR QUARTER PANEL ON. THE REAL PROBLEM, THEY POINTED OUT WAS THE SEVERE RUST UNDER THE FRONT FLOORBOARDS, BOTH PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS HOPING TO GET ABOUT 6,000 FOR THE CAR TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW ONE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE RUNS GREAT IT IS VERY UPSETTING TO KNOW THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY SAID THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THE RUST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683442

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

MY DASHBOARD IS CRACKING UP N I FOUND MYSELF CONSTANTLY BUYING GLUE IT WONT START EVEN AFTER I DONE HAD IT SERVICED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618331

83,000 miles · May 9, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling

MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON, CALL STALLS, AND CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329445

37,210 miles · Mar 18, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR SPUTTERED ALMOST STALLING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR PARTS STORE AND BORROWED THEIR COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS DEVICE AND FOUND OUT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE ESM, BUT NOTHING GOING TO THE ROOT OF THE …

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR SPUTTERED ALMOST STALLING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR PARTS STORE AND BORROWED THEIR COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS DEVICE AND FOUND OUT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE ESM, BUT NOTHING GOING TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM (THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR). THROUGH MY RESEARCH I FOUND THE PROBLEMS ATTRIBUTED TO THIS PART ARE NOT STARTING, SPUTTERING WHILE DRIVING AND/OR SHUTTING-OFF WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS FOR NOT STARTING, BUT NO DIAGNOSIS COULD BE ATTAINED BY NISSAN. AFTER SPEAKING WITH DIFFERENT LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, THE SERVICE TECH ADMITTED THE PROBLEM IS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILING. I FEEL NISSAN IS PUTTING A BAND-AID ON THE REAL PROBLEM DISGUISING IT WITH THE ESM REPROGRAM. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE DRIVING AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON FORUMS, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND APPARENTLY NISSAN HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ALTIMA AS FAR BACK AS THE '03 MODEL YEAR. IT WAS ALSO STATED ON THE FORUMS THAT MULTIPLE SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OVER AND OVER. I AM NOW WORRIED ABOUT MYSELF AND MY YOUNG CHILD'S SAFETY AS THIS CAR IS OUR MAIN SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262257

40,000 miles · Jul 28, 2008
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROUTE WHILE OPERATING THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235960

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2008
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

AROUND SEPT 7, 2007 I WAS DRIVING MY CARE AND IT STALLED THEN STOPPED ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD A TOE TRUCK COME AND PICK THE CAR UP AND TAKE IT TO W.O. BANKSTON NISSAN DALLAS. THEY PERFORMED THE CONSULT DIAG AND FOUND DTC FOR CRANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THE CRANKSHAFT REPA…

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AROUND SEPT 7, 2007 I WAS DRIVING MY CARE AND IT STALLED THEN STOPPED ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD A TOE TRUCK COME AND PICK THE CAR UP AND TAKE IT TO W.O. BANKSTON NISSAN DALLAS. THEY PERFORMED THE CONSULT DIAG AND FOUND DTC FOR CRANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THE CRANKSHAFT REPAIR DONE. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR 2005 ALTIMA STATING THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT STOP RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE PROGRAM IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ENGINE COMPUTER). AND THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO MY CAR AND I AM TRYING TO SEE HOW I CAN GET A REFUND ON THE PREVIOUS SERVICE. I DID TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT NISSAN WOULD HAVE TO GIVE ME MY REFUND. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS CORRECT OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216158

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2007
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 2.5S IN MAY 04'...I'VE BEEN HAVING IGNITION/SENSOR PROBLEMS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM: WHEN I TRY TO CRANK THE ENGINE USING THE KEYS PROVIDED (AT PURCHASE) THE CAR WILL HESITATE (SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL) I EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY RELATED ISSUE AND CHANGED THE BATTERY…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 2.5S IN MAY 04'...I'VE BEEN HAVING IGNITION/SENSOR PROBLEMS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM: WHEN I TRY TO CRANK THE ENGINE USING THE KEYS PROVIDED (AT PURCHASE) THE CAR WILL HESITATE (SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL) I EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY RELATED ISSUE AND CHANGED THE BATTERY...ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAD TO CRANK IT NEARLY 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. I ADDRESSED MY ISSUES WITH THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MANY OCCASIONS BUT THEY WILL ONLY ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF/WHEN IT HAPPENS THERE. RECENTLY, I WAS INFORMED THAT A SIMILAR RECALL HAD TAKEN PLACE ON THE 2003-2004 MODELS BUT THAT THE 2005-2006 DID NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE...NOT!...I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN'S APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM. IN FACT, AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO FIND OUT WHEN THE PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD BE SEVERAL MORE WEEKS (DECEMBER 10,2007). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210153

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