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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

What owners actually said

1,091 reports
16,100 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,100.

NHTSA ODI #10621854

120,000 miles · Aug 10, 2014
Structure

JUST FOUND OUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR IS RUSTED, AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I LEARN THAT MOST NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS SAME SAFETY ISSUE! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE INSIDE FLOOR BECOMES WEAK AND CAN CAVE IN FROM THE RUST IF NOT REPAIRED. REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE IS COSTLY AND I'VE READ THAT NISSAN DOES NO…

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JUST FOUND OUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR IS RUSTED, AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I LEARN THAT MOST NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS SAME SAFETY ISSUE! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE INSIDE FLOOR BECOMES WEAK AND CAN CAVE IN FROM THE RUST IF NOT REPAIRED. REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE IS COSTLY AND I'VE READ THAT NISSAN DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A CRAFTSMANSHIP ISSUE BUT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF 20TH CENTURY CARS RUSTING OUT IN THIS MANNER, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN NOT BACKING THEIR PRODUCT!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621240

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRYING TO LEAVE FOR WORK ONE MORNING AND MY CAR STOPS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TRY TO TURN IT ON, AND IT DOES BUT AS I START SPEEDING UP IT TURNS OFF AGAIN (AT THE INTERSECTION) AND NOW THE CHECK ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. IT ALMOST CAUSED THE CAR BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME BUT HE SWERVED TO AVOID AN ACCIDE…

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TRYING TO LEAVE FOR WORK ONE MORNING AND MY CAR STOPS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TRY TO TURN IT ON, AND IT DOES BUT AS I START SPEEDING UP IT TURNS OFF AGAIN (AT THE INTERSECTION) AND NOW THE CHECK ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. IT ALMOST CAUSED THE CAR BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME BUT HE SWERVED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND OUT IT WAS A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT FROM THE MECHANIC AND TOLD ME TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL. L CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL BUT NOT ON MY CAR (DIFFERENT YEAR), INSTEAD THEY SAID THEY COULD CHANGE THE PART FOR $350 WITH LABOR. SO I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED SOMEONE OR VISE VERSA AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT? I'M AM SO UPSET ABOUT HOW THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT FOR MAKING PARTS THAT DON'T WORK AND AT THE END THEY AREN'T LIABLE...UPDATED 09-24-14 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621091

87,000 miles · Aug 7, 2014
SeatsStructure

YESTERDAY, AUGUST 6TH 2014 I HAD A GENTLEMAN COME UP TO ME WITH MY FRIENDS. HE TOLD ME HIS WIFE HAD THE SAME MODEL NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I HAVE. HE LOOKED UNDER MY CAR AND TOLD ME, HIS WIFE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM OF RUSTING OUT FLOOR PANS UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED NISSAN AND GOT A CASE NUMBER, IN THE MEAN…

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YESTERDAY, AUGUST 6TH 2014 I HAD A GENTLEMAN COME UP TO ME WITH MY FRIENDS. HE TOLD ME HIS WIFE HAD THE SAME MODEL NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I HAVE. HE LOOKED UNDER MY CAR AND TOLD ME, HIS WIFE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM OF RUSTING OUT FLOOR PANS UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED NISSAN AND GOT A CASE NUMBER, IN THE MEANWHILE I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND IT IS NOT JUST RUST, THERE IS A HOLE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY MECHANIC SAID IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND IT IS DANGEROUS! I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM MY EX HUSBAND'S ESTATE. HE BOUGHT IT NEW FROM GERALD NISSAN IN NORTH AURORA, IL . HE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE CAR. I GOT IT WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 MILES. I DID PROCEED TO HAVE THE NISSAN MECHANICS LOOK IT OVER TO REPORT BACK TO NISSAN AND IT IS THE WHOLE PAN COVERING THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR, COST $3,000. I LISTED A CONSUMER COMPLAINT, BUT NISSAN DOES NOT SEE THESE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MY EXACT CAR ON THIS SITE. I DO NOT THINK THAT HAVING MY SAFETY THREATENED BY THIS COMPANY'S NEGLECT IS A LAUGHING MATTER. I AM A REAL ESTATE BROKER AND USE MY CAR FOR BUSINESS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND BEING A CORPORATE ENTITY, THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ERRORS. I AM 68 YEARS OLD AND I WANT TO LIVE. CAN YOU HELP ME?

NHTSA ODI #10619488

10,700 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Engine

VEHICLE ENGINE STOPS. NISSAN WILL ONLY FIX PART OF THE CAUSE. EXPECTS CLIENTS TO FIX THE ACTUAL SENSOR. WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANOTHER NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618882

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

107,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 12 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGIN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 12 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617986

108,000 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Structure

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 108K. JUST NOTICED THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR BOARDS ARE GONE. RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH, THE ONLY THING THERE IS THE CARPET BACKING MATERIAL SHOWING UNDER THE CAR. THIS IS CRAZY TO HAVE A CAR WITH JUST OVER 100K AND HAVE THE STEEL FLOOR GONE. MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617474

80,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART THE DA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART THE DAY AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE ON THE SPARK PLUGS, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE CYLINDERS UNDER THE TIMING BELT WERE CRACKED AS A RESULT, THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND THAT THE DEBRIS FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DRAWN UP INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDERS IN THE MOTOR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE MOTOR WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.....UPDATED 04/08/15 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10615442

76,000 miles · Jul 20, 2014
Structure

I WAS LOOKING AT MY CAR AND NOTICE THAT THE FLOOR PANELS FOR THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER ARE ROTTED AWAY. AFTER LOOKING AT THE REST OF THE CAR ITS CLEAR THAT ITS NOT YOUR EVERYDAY RUST. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH NISSAN ALTIMA'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL BY NOW. …

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I WAS LOOKING AT MY CAR AND NOTICE THAT THE FLOOR PANELS FOR THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER ARE ROTTED AWAY. AFTER LOOKING AT THE REST OF THE CAR ITS CLEAR THAT ITS NOT YOUR EVERYDAY RUST. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH NISSAN ALTIMA'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL BY NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614785

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