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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.

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

What owners actually said

1,091 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HOWEVER, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A JUMP START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HOWEVER, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A JUMP START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11322151

72,000 miles · Mar 11, 2020
Structure

SAW SOMETHING HANGING FROM BENEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. KNEEING I FOUND RUSTED METAL HANGING AND CARPETING HANGING THROUGH A RUST HOLE. CHECKING I FOUND THE SAME RUSTING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD.

NHTSA ODI #11317597

170,000 miles · Dec 28, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

RECENTLY IVE BEEN GETTING THE RED AIRBAG SIGNAL THAT KEEPS FLASHING AND WONT GO OFF. IVE CHECKED THE FUSES. WIRING. RAN DIAHNOSTICS ON IT FOR THAT AND THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AS WELL. THE CAR MAKES A HIGH PITCH SOUND WHEN ITS JUST IDELING THAT SEEMS TO COME FEOM UNDERNEATH THE CAR MAYBE TOWARDS BACK MIDDLE IVE GOTTEN A NEW FUEL PU…

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RECENTLY IVE BEEN GETTING THE RED AIRBAG SIGNAL THAT KEEPS FLASHING AND WONT GO OFF. IVE CHECKED THE FUSES. WIRING. RAN DIAHNOSTICS ON IT FOR THAT AND THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AS WELL. THE CAR MAKES A HIGH PITCH SOUND WHEN ITS JUST IDELING THAT SEEMS TO COME FEOM UNDERNEATH THE CAR MAYBE TOWARDS BACK MIDDLE IVE GOTTEN A NEW FUEL PUMP CHECKED WIRING FUSES AND BOUGHT OTHER NEW PARTS AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. ALSO THE GAS GAUGE WONT READ AFTER THE HALF WAY POINT. IVE TRIED TO RESET IT CALIBRATE IT AND NOTHING. DURING COLD DAYS THE GAS GAUGE READS CORRECTLY UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. MO THS HAVE GONE BY AND NOTHING SO FAR

NHTSA ODI #11291804

116,000 miles · Nov 20, 2019
Structure

GOT 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S, RECENTLY CAME TO FIND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS A FEET SIZED RUST HOLES SHOWING FLOOR CARPET BENEATH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THESE RUST HOLES AT THE BOTTOM OF CAR WERE NOT ONLY CAUSING SAFETY RISK FOR PEOPLE IN THE CAR BUT ALSO SENDS FUMES, CARBON MONOXIDE, FOUL SMELLS, HUMIDITY AND ROAD NOISE INTO TH…

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GOT 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S, RECENTLY CAME TO FIND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS A FEET SIZED RUST HOLES SHOWING FLOOR CARPET BENEATH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THESE RUST HOLES AT THE BOTTOM OF CAR WERE NOT ONLY CAUSING SAFETY RISK FOR PEOPLE IN THE CAR BUT ALSO SENDS FUMES, CARBON MONOXIDE, FOUL SMELLS, HUMIDITY AND ROAD NOISE INTO THE CAR INTERIOR CAUSING HEALTH RISKS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AT QUALITY OF NISSAN'S AUTOMOTIVE AND NISSAN AUTHORIZED DEALERS WHO NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THIS DEFECT AFTER PERFORMING MULTI POINT INSPECTIONS, EVEN WHEN MY CAR WAS WITHIN EXTENDED WARRRANTY PERIOD. I REALLY HOPE TO GET JUSTIFICATION.

NHTSA ODI #11281384

130,186 miles · Nov 19, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

MY CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AS I INCREASE MY SPEED, I HAVE TO DRIVE AT 30MPH OR LESS TO KEEP ME CAR FROM OVERHEATING ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI #11281226

127,000 miles · Nov 6, 2019
Structure

THERE IS CORROSION AND RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE BODY OF THE CAR ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11278424

130,000 miles · Oct 22, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

I'VE CALLED TO SEE IF THERE'S A RECALL ON THE CAR FUEL SYSTEM TO BE EXACT FUEL GAUGE IS READING FULL IS BROKEN.READS FULL WHEN THERE'S ONLY 5 TO 6 GALLONS OF GAS.THEY WON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT FREE OF CHARGE TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS.THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING OR SITTING.

NHTSA ODI #11270127

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2019
Structure

FLOOR RUSTING OUT ON FRONT DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE. BROKEN FRAME IN REAR. JUST BOUGHT CAR. UPON FIXING FLOOR ON DRIVER SIDE, DISCOVERED LARGER HOLE ON PASSENGER SIDE. THOUGHT ISSUE IN BACK WAS SUSPENSION, BUT BUT UPON INSPECTION BROKEN FRAME.

NHTSA ODI #11266797

50,000 miles · Sep 27, 2019
Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

1. THREE HANDLES ON THE NISSAN ALTIMA ON MY CAR HAVE SNAPPED OFF WHEN OPENING. EVEN AFTER REPLACING THEM THEY STILL SNAP OFF PROBABLY BECAUSE IN COLD WEATHER THEY BECOME BRITTLE. IF HE HANDLES WERE METAL THEY WOULD NOT SNAP OFF. MY CONCERN IS IF DURING AN ACCIDENT BEFORE EMERGENCY VEHICLES COULD ARRIVE THAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO…

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1. THREE HANDLES ON THE NISSAN ALTIMA ON MY CAR HAVE SNAPPED OFF WHEN OPENING. EVEN AFTER REPLACING THEM THEY STILL SNAP OFF PROBABLY BECAUSE IN COLD WEATHER THEY BECOME BRITTLE. IF HE HANDLES WERE METAL THEY WOULD NOT SNAP OFF. MY CONCERN IS IF DURING AN ACCIDENT BEFORE EMERGENCY VEHICLES COULD ARRIVE THAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO TRY TO ASSIST GETTING ME OUT OF THE CAR THE HANDLES WOULD SNAP OFF AND THEY COULD NOT REMOVE ME FROM THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THE HANDLES ON CARS SHOULD NOT SNAP OFF AND PLASTIC HANDLES ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN ALL CLIMATES. 2. I HAVE HAD MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS CLEANED THREE TIMES AND THEY ALWAYS FOG UP WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS OF CLEANING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID IT IS FAULTY DESIGN AND TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS IS CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS WITH 1 YEAR GUARANTEE WHICH IS VERY COST PROHIBITIVE. I HAVE SEEN CARS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD WITH OPAQUE HEAD LAMPS THIS IS UNACCETABLE AND DANGEROUS THAT LIGHTS CAN NOT PROJECT LIGHT APPROPRIATELY AND THIS IS ON MOST MODELS OF CARS. IF YOU ARE IN RURAL AREAS AND THE LIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT LIGHT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT METAL HANDLES AND DURABLE HEADLIGHT COVERS THAT DON'T FOG ARE NOT REQUIRED OF THESE COMPANIES. UNTIL THE LAST 15-20 YEARS THIS WAS NEVER A PROBLEM BUT CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE OPTING FOR CHEAP MATERIALS THAT CAN HAVE LETHAL REPERCUSSIONS FOR CRUCIAL SAFETY ITEMS. CAR HANDLES AND HEAD LAMPS AS FAR AS SAFETY ARE AS CRUCIAL AS PROPER AIRBAG FUNCTION. HANDLES SHOULD NOT SNAP OFF IN YOUR HANDS AND HEADLAMPS IF CLEANED SHOULD REMAIN CLEAN AND NOT FOGGY AND THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #11258505

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2019
Unknown Or Other

HELLO BACK DOOR NOT OPENING AND IT IS NOT UNDER JUN TAMONTE IT IS CARLOS .

NHTSA ODI #11258446

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