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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
112,000 miles · Jan 8, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPSTREAM OXYGE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPSTREAM OXYGEN SENSOR AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V223000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #11061098

121,500 miles · Dec 25, 2017
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA1N4AL11D... SLOW TO ACCELERATE AFTER A TURN OR FROM A FULL STOP. SLOW TO ACCELERATE WHEN SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO DURING DRIVE TIME. VEHICLE SPEEDS UP EVEN WHEN BRAKE APPLIED CAUSING JERKING MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11056368

180,000 miles · Dec 4, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #11052370

145,000 miles · Nov 16, 2017
Structure

THERE IS A HOLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR PAN FROM THE RUST. THIS WAS NOT KNOW UNTIL MECHANIC SHOWED ME.

NHTSA ODI #11046566

152,000 miles · Nov 8, 2017
StructureUnknown Or Other

UPON INSPECTION PRIOR TO TRYING TO PRIVATELY SELL MY CAR, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FLOORBOARDS WERE RUSTING OUT AND THERE ARE ACTUAL HOLE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. APPARENTLY, UPON ME GOOGLING, THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE (RATHER THAN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR) FOR NISSANS BETWEEN 2002-2006. TO FIX THE CAR WILL COST ME MORE THAN IT …

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UPON INSPECTION PRIOR TO TRYING TO PRIVATELY SELL MY CAR, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FLOORBOARDS WERE RUSTING OUT AND THERE ARE ACTUAL HOLE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. APPARENTLY, UPON ME GOOGLING, THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE (RATHER THAN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR) FOR NISSANS BETWEEN 2002-2006. TO FIX THE CAR WILL COST ME MORE THAN IT IS WORTH. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HOLES IN THE FLOORBOARDS ARE ALSO A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #11044716

8,000 miles · Nov 3, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

CAR SHUTS DOWN NO POWER WILL NOT START. BACK UP ON THE FREEWAY IT JUST SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM WILL KILL ME OR PPL AROUND ME ON THE ROAD. IT WILL STOP AND YOU CAN'T PUT ON YOUR BRAKES NOR STEER TO MOVE TO A SAVE PLACE

NHTSA ODI #11043125

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2017
Structure

HOLE ON PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO RUST/CORROSION

NHTSA ODI #11043123

152,000 miles · Oct 27, 2017
Air BagsStructureUnknown Or Other

I HAD A BIG HOLE ON MY PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS DRIVER SIDE ON FLOOR. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHTS ON. IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME OUT THAT WILL BE SO USEFUL FOR ME. PLEASE TAKE AN ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANKS.

NHTSA ODI #11040306

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE; VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER ON HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS. CAMSHAFT SENSORS; SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TRAVELING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, UNEXPECTED STALLING OR ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN AND NOT RESTART. BOTH VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU ALMOST GET RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU. TH…

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TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE; VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER ON HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS. CAMSHAFT SENSORS; SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TRAVELING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, UNEXPECTED STALLING OR ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN AND NOT RESTART. BOTH VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU ALMOST GET RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU. THEY COME UP ON YOU TOO FAST, CONTINUING THEIR NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS NOT REALIZING YOUR VEHICLES LOSS OF POWER UNTIL THEYRE RIGHT UP ON YOU THEN HAVE TO EITHER SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES OR MAKE SUDDEN LANE CHANGE WITHOUT PROPERLY SIGNALING WARNING OTHER DRIVERS. TIMING CHAIN GUIDE AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS; WEAR OUT PREMATURELY CAUSING LOOSENING OF THE TIMING CHAIN, MAKES A VERY LOUD CLANKING OR TICKING SOUND ASBIT HITS THE GUIDE AND CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. STRUTS MOUNTS; CORRODE AND WEAR OUT CREATING A ROUGH AND UNSTABLE STEERING CONTROL AND CLANKING SOUND AS THE STRUTS HIT WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROADWAYS, CRACKS, DRIVEWAYS AND SPEED BUMPS. MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER CAUSE THE VIBRATION AND RATTLING IN THE FRONT END. THIS OCCURS IN THE 3.5 LITER ENGINE. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN SERVICE BULLETINS AND RECALLS ON THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE BUT NOT 3.5. THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME FOR BOTH ENGINES. THE SAME PARTS/MANUFACTURERS ARE USED ON BOTH YET THE 3.5 LITER WASNT INCLUDED. PROBLEMS ARE ONGOING DAILY. ITS VERY UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI #11031940

135,000 miles · Oct 2, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE CAR STALLED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CALLED AAA AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO VILLAGE AUTO IN CHESTER NY .THERE THEY REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS.I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEMS.SOME OF THE CARS WERE VOLUNTARY RECALLED. I CALLED NISSAN TO REPORT TH…

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THE CAR STALLED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CALLED AAA AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO VILLAGE AUTO IN CHESTER NY .THERE THEY REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS.I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEMS.SOME OF THE CARS WERE VOLUNTARY RECALLED. I CALLED NISSAN TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL GOES BY VIN NUMBER NOT BY THE MAKE AND MODEL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE RECALLED CARS YET MY CAR ISN'T BEING RECALLED. IT'S LUCKY THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN AT NIGHT AND MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A POLICE TURNAROUND AND FIND A LITTLE SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI #11030789

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