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2006 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Altima years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

652 reports with mileage · 172 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 221 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 189 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 166 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

43 crash reports14 fire reports34 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

189 reports
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35,650 miles · Jul 9, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

OUR 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON JULY 6. 2009. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I RESEARCHED RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, AND DISCOVERED A RECALL REQUIRING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK IT INTO TIM DAHLE'S NISSAN IN SANDY, UTAH WHERE WE…

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OUR 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON JULY 6. 2009. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I RESEARCHED RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, AND DISCOVERED A RECALL REQUIRING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK IT INTO TIM DAHLE'S NISSAN IN SANDY, UTAH WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, THEY TOLD US THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEREFORE, NISSAN'S RECALL IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM BY SIMPLY REPROGRAMMING THE ECM. INSTEAD, THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, AND THE CONSUMER IS REQUIRED TO SPEND $200 TO GET THIS REPAIR DONE. THE RECALL SPECIFIES THE PROBLEM, BUT DOES NOT TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276234

40,000 miles · Jun 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SE. MY VEHICLE STALLS WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THE ISSUE IS THE CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS AND THE REPROGRAMMING OF MY ECS. I NOTICED THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ON OTHER 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA'S WITH 2.5L ENGINES. HOWEVER, I AM TOLD THAT MY VIN IS NOT IN…

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I HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SE. MY VEHICLE STALLS WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THE ISSUE IS THE CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS AND THE REPROGRAMMING OF MY ECS. I NOTICED THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ON OTHER 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA'S WITH 2.5L ENGINES. HOWEVER, I AM TOLD THAT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE RESPOND WITH YOUR FINDINGS PLEASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274703

90,000 miles · Mar 2, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXCESSIVE OIL IN CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260506

54,400 miles · Feb 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON SATURDAY, 2/14/09 MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER ON MONDAY, 2/16/09, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ORDER TO REPROGRAM THE ECM REPROGRAMMED. LATER THAT AFTERNOON I WAS ADVISED THAT 2 SENSORS, THE CRANKSHAFT & CAM SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE DE…

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ON SATURDAY, 2/14/09 MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER ON MONDAY, 2/16/09, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ORDER TO REPROGRAM THE ECM REPROGRAMMED. LATER THAT AFTERNOON I WAS ADVISED THAT 2 SENSORS, THE CRANKSHAFT & CAM SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE DEALER COULD PERFORM THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECM; THE COST WOULD BE $394.00. TODAY, 2/17/09, WHILE SURFING THE INTERNET, I CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE THAT POSTS NISSAN RECALL INFORMATION. I FOUND THAT NOV 21, 2007 A MASS RECALL WAS PERFORMED FOR OVER 653,000 VEHICLES, FOR 2002 & 2005-2006 ALTIMA/SENTRA MODELS, WITH 2.5L ENGINES, FOR DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THEN ON NOV 8, 2007, CAMPAIGN #07V527000 WAS INACTED; SUMMARY: 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: THE VEHICLE CAN STOP AND CAUSE A CRASH; MY CONCERN IS: MY VEHICLE IS LISTED UNDER THIS RECALL, BUT NOT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR RECALL. DO THESE TWO NOT GO TOGETHER? IS IT NOT CONSIDERED A DOMINO EFFECT? HOW CAN THE ECM BE REPROGRAMMED IF THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE? HOW IS IT THAT VEHICLES ARE DETERMINED TO BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL? HOW CAN MY VEHICLE BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR? ANY HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259124

42,235 miles · Feb 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA AND WHILE DRIVING 3 DAYS AGO THE CAR STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE SHE WAS ABOUT TO TURN LEFT. SHE WAS THEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I ARRIVED AND WE GOT THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET. TOOK IT TO COURTESY NISSAN IN TAMPA AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE CAM AND CRANK SENSORS. AFTER RES…

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MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA AND WHILE DRIVING 3 DAYS AGO THE CAR STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE SHE WAS ABOUT TO TURN LEFT. SHE WAS THEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I ARRIVED AND WE GOT THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET. TOOK IT TO COURTESY NISSAN IN TAMPA AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE CAM AND CRANK SENSORS. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON AND THAT NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR AWHILE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ECM BUT NISSAN TOLD ME IT DIDN'T COVER THE SENSORS. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR ONLY HAS 42K MILES AND IT COULDN'T BE FROM EXTENDED WEAR AND TEAR AS SUGGESTED...IE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT HAD MANY MORE MILES LISTED. I AM HAVING THE SENSORS REPLACED BUT I THINK IT IS UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS THAT NISSAN IS SELLING THESE CARS WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PROBLEM AND ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN T-BONED SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD LIKE THAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259086

56,000 miles · Feb 2, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE LOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE LOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10257172

33,000 miles · Jan 31, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE ON NISSAN ALTIMA 06 WITH ONLY 33,000 MI DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE THE REASON WHY. FRONT STRUTS NEEDS REPLACING AFTER 39,000. ALSO REPLACE TRANSMISSION SEAL@39,000MI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257004

59,038 miles · Jan 9, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME AT 28,214 MILES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AFTER HOURS. VEHICLE STARTED FOR THEM NEXT DAY. DEALER SUGGESTED IT WAS A SENSOR ACTING UP BUT NO CODE WAS RECORDED. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE SECOND AND THIRD TIMES, I WAS ABLE TO TRICK IT INTO STARTED BY REMOVING SEVERAL F…

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VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME AT 28,214 MILES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AFTER HOURS. VEHICLE STARTED FOR THEM NEXT DAY. DEALER SUGGESTED IT WAS A SENSOR ACTING UP BUT NO CODE WAS RECORDED. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE SECOND AND THIRD TIMES, I WAS ABLE TO TRICK IT INTO STARTED BY REMOVING SEVERAL FUSES AND CLEARING THE ENGINE OF EXCESS FUEL. CAR WOULD START. I READ ABOUT THIS TRICK ON THE INTERNET. FINALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND WAS EVEN HARDER TO START. TOOK VEHICLE IN AT 59,038 TO HAVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254341

38,000 miles · Dec 19, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #10252305

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250194

Official recalls

3

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.

06V223000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jun 21, 2006

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE PISTON RINGS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE OIL IS NOT MAINTAINED AT LEAST AT THE MINIMUM LEVEL, ENGINE DAMAGE CAN OCCUR AND IN EXTREME CASES RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM OR ENGINE COMPUTER). YOUR VEHICLE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING ENGINE OIL AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL BE NEEDED. ON JUNE 9, 2006, NISSAN NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE OIL AT A PROPER LEVEL. FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE STATUS OF THE RECALL WAS SENT DURING AUGUST 2006. FOLLOWUP LETTER TO OWNERS WAS SENT ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

06V046000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 13, 2006

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE REAR SUBFRAME MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRACK IN A BRACKET WHICH HOLDS PART OF THE REAR SUSPENSION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BRACKET IS CRACKED, THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE AFFECTED UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUBFRAME TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006. 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