← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

259 reports
Clear category filter
110,000 miles · Feb 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND MOMENTS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILUR…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND MOMENTS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10303569

95,000 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE IS DRIVING HER VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC AND IT STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CAM SHAFT POSITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CALLED AND THEY SENT A $250 VOUCHER TO CONTACT FOR FUTURE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE IS DRIVING HER VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC AND IT STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CAM SHAFT POSITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CALLED AND THEY SENT A $250 VOUCHER TO CONTACT FOR FUTURE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI #10302545

43,000 miles · Jan 21, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V-223. *NJ THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH ENGINE STALLING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF AND AFTER WAITING NEARLY TWO HOURS, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED TO PREVENT STALLING OF THE ENGINE IN THE EVENT OF…

Read full complaint

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V-223. *NJ THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH ENGINE STALLING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF AND AFTER WAITING NEARLY TWO HOURS, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED TO PREVENT STALLING OF THE ENGINE IN THE EVENT OF A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION FROM THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR. THE CONSUMER WAS REASSURED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND DIDN'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE ENGINE RANDOMLY STALLING. ON NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RE-START THE VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP, AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF THE MONIES THAT WERE SPENT AT THE MECHANIC'S SHOP IN THE AMOUNT OF $315.33. THE REPROGRAMMING OF ECM DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AS THE DEALER ORIGINALLY STATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10300648

62,300 miles · Jan 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 IS CONSUMING EXCESS OF OIL. 5 LITERS DURING 6 HOURS DRIVING CAUSING OVERHEATING THE MOTOR OR POSSIBLE FIRE. DURING MY TRIP A HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED AND STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR HAD TO TOWARD TO THE DEALER BUT THEY JUST SAY THIS ISSUE WAS A DESIGN ISSUE ON THIS ALTIMA MOTOR MODEL. THIS HAPPEN WHEN CAR IS…

Read full complaint

MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 IS CONSUMING EXCESS OF OIL. 5 LITERS DURING 6 HOURS DRIVING CAUSING OVERHEATING THE MOTOR OR POSSIBLE FIRE. DURING MY TRIP A HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED AND STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR HAD TO TOWARD TO THE DEALER BUT THEY JUST SAY THIS ISSUE WAS A DESIGN ISSUE ON THIS ALTIMA MOTOR MODEL. THIS HAPPEN WHEN CAR IS DRIVING TO HEIGHT SPEED. OIL CAN NOT FLOW PROPERLY THROUGH MOTOR AND IT GOES OUT THROUGH AIR DUCT. COVER OF MOTOR WAS DISASSEMBLED IN SEVERAL HOLES WERE MADE INTERNALLY TO LET OIL FLOW PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298835

53,000 miles · Jan 5, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA - WHEN GOING UP A GRADE THE VEHICLE DIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES ON TIOGA PASS, ON THE BAY BRIDGE, ON HWY 46 IN THE FOG, ON THE 580 ECT. MECHANIC INDICATES THAT THE COMPUTER CODE IS P2135 - THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, MECHANIC STATES THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE C…

Read full complaint

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA - WHEN GOING UP A GRADE THE VEHICLE DIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES ON TIOGA PASS, ON THE BAY BRIDGE, ON HWY 46 IN THE FOG, ON THE 580 ECT. MECHANIC INDICATES THAT THE COMPUTER CODE IS P2135 - THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, MECHANIC STATES THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED EMISSION WARRANTY. I'LL BE DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR AND SOMETIMES WHEN GOING UP A HILL THE CAR WILL DIE, THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STAY ON BUT THEIR IS NO POWER. I HAVE TO PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTART THE CAR. A NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAPPENED IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS LIKE ON THE BAY BRIDGE WHERE THERE ISN'T ROOM TO PULL OVER. LAST NIGHT I WAS ON CA 46AND IT WAS VERY FOGGY. THE CAR DIED AND THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON. I HAD TO STOP IN THE LANE AND RESTART THE CAR, IN THE DARK AND FOG, ON A CURVY AND BUSY HWY. MY MECHANIC INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH NISSAN ALTIMA'S. NO RECALLS/MANDATORY FIXES HAVE BEEN ISSUED. I'M LOOKING AT A $544 REPAIR BILL. I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT MIGHT BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DON'T HAVE THE VIN # BECAUSE THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP. I CAN GET THAT INFO TOMORROW IF YOU NEED IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298360

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE HAVE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH THE 2.5 MOTOR, CARS ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, AND TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER, AND ALL THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ECM, AND THAT WAS ALL., NOTHING ABOUT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I …

Read full complaint

WE HAVE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH THE 2.5 MOTOR, CARS ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, AND TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER, AND ALL THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ECM, AND THAT WAS ALL., NOTHING ABOUT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I TOLD THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER THAT RECALL. HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN THERE IS A RECALL FOR THAT YEAR, THAT MODEL, AND THAT MOTOR. I EVEN CALLED A NISSAN REP; AND HE TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I HAD TO HAD TO HAVE MY CAR THAT WEEKEND SO I TOOK IT BACK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE SENSOR AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. I THINK I GOT '!@#$% BY NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297669

77,000 miles · Dec 16, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS : - VEHICLE LOSES ENGINE POWER ON HIGHWAY (CRUISE SET TO 65, DROOPS TO 55 AND THEN PICKS UP AGAIN) - VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS - VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STARTING AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT (LESS THAN 30 MINS) PERIOD OF TIME. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY MEINEKE AS A FAILED CRANKSHAF…

Read full complaint

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS : - VEHICLE LOSES ENGINE POWER ON HIGHWAY (CRUISE SET TO 65, DROOPS TO 55 AND THEN PICKS UP AGAIN) - VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS - VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STARTING AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT (LESS THAN 30 MINS) PERIOD OF TIME. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY MEINEKE AS A FAILED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. A RECALL AFFECTING THIS CAR (07527000) WAS ISSUES BY ONLY TO FIX THE ECM, NOT THE SENSOR WHICH WAS AFFECTED AS WELL. I HAVE SEVERAL OTHER EXAMPLES OF SENSOR FAILURES ON THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED AND ARGUING WITH NISSAN TO MAKE THE REPLACEMENT FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296132

680,000 miles · Nov 19, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292922

55,000 miles · Nov 13, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAS FAILED, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL #07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY, SO NO REPAIRS…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAS FAILED, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL #07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY, SO NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10292049

84,000 miles · Nov 4, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR IS CUTTING OFF COMPLETELY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND THEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX 84,00 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON BUT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR WILL START BACK UP. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT NOTICE A…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR IS CUTTING OFF COMPLETELY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND THEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX 84,00 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON BUT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR WILL START BACK UP. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT NOTICE AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME TO PULL OVER. AFTER TAKING CAR INTO DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $300. THERE IS A RECALL TO HAVE THE CRANKSHAFT REPROGRAMMED BUT IT DOES NOT COVER REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291007

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