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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

824 reports
84,000 miles · Nov 7, 2012
Structure

MY NISSAN HAD EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT FLOOR PANS. IT WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALER. NISSAN WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE CAR IS OVER 80,000 MILES. THIS DAMAGE DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE LAST 4,000 MILES. FILED A CLAIM WITH NISSAN, AGAIN THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. I WAS TOLD TO SEND A LETTER TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA C…

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MY NISSAN HAD EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT FLOOR PANS. IT WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALER. NISSAN WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE CAR IS OVER 80,000 MILES. THIS DAMAGE DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE LAST 4,000 MILES. FILED A CLAIM WITH NISSAN, AGAIN THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. I WAS TOLD TO SEND A LETTER TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. I WAS TOLD BY A BODY SHOP THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR WAS NOT SEALED PROPERLY RIGHT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WATER ENTERED THROUGH THE FLOOR PAN SEAMS AND THE PLUG UNDER THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483661

46,000 miles · Nov 3, 2012
Steering

WHEN I TURN A CORNER THE STEERING IS STICKING. FEELS LIKE IT IS LOCKING UP THEN GO LOOSE. THE POWER FLUID IS FULL THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483251

120,000 miles · Oct 8, 2012
Engine

MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL APPEARS TO BE PART OF A RECALL (NTB06-028) FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CAR BEGAN EXHIBITING THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL CONCERNING EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING AT 120K MILES IN LATE JUNE 2012. THE PROBLEM STARTED SUDDENLY, BURNING ONE QUART EVERY 600 MILES AND WITH IN TWO WEEKS ONE QUART EVERY 300-350…

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MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL APPEARS TO BE PART OF A RECALL (NTB06-028) FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CAR BEGAN EXHIBITING THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL CONCERNING EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING AT 120K MILES IN LATE JUNE 2012. THE PROBLEM STARTED SUDDENLY, BURNING ONE QUART EVERY 600 MILES AND WITH IN TWO WEEKS ONE QUART EVERY 300-350 MILES. THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR THE VEHICLE HAD ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AT MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. AT 138K MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A BAG TRAPPED UNDERNEATH THE CAR. JUST AFTER ARRIVING HOME, THE CAR EXPLODED IN THICK, BLACK SMOKE THAT BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V223000 CLEARLY STATES THAT, ?CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION?. THE EXTREME CONSEQUENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IS ENGINE DAMAGE AND FIRE. ACCORDING TO MY RECORDS THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR ON 4/24/08 AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HOWEVER MY INITIAL CONTACT AT NISSAN CORPORATE SAID THAT THE CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. LATER, ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON 4/26/06 (THIS PREDATES THE NHTSA A PRELIMINARY DEFECT REPORT). AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS AND CONVERSATIONS I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT NISSAN WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY RECALL FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479287

71,000 miles · Oct 1, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A HOLE WAS FOUND ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10478141

129,000 miles · Sep 19, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475987

114,000 miles · Sep 19, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING ON THE I95 THE CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART AT 55MPH. THANK GOD, I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE GUARDRAIL. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC THAT INFORMED ME IT APPEARED TO BE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND SAID SINCE IT WAS A RECALL ITEM I SHOULD HAVE IT BROUGHT TO MY LOC…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE I95 THE CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART AT 55MPH. THANK GOD, I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE GUARDRAIL. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC THAT INFORMED ME IT APPEARED TO BE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND SAID SINCE IT WAS A RECALL ITEM I SHOULD HAVE IT BROUGHT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MILLER NISSAN IN FAIRFIELD CT AND INFORMED THEM OF MY MECHANICS FINDINGS. THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED IT EVEN WITH ME EXPRESSING THAT MY CURRENT MECHANIC ALREADY CHECKED THAT. AFTER REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID IT STILL WASN'T WORKING. IT ENDED UP BEING THE ECM ALONG WITH ANOTHER SENSOR!! I EXPRESSED HOW UPSET I WAS THAT THIS SENSOR FAILED WHY I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY! I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH NISSAN CORPORATE RECALL DEPARTMENT BECAUSE EVERYTHING I'M READING IS STILL INDICATING THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR COULD CAUSE MALFUNCTIONS IN OTHER SENSORS IN THE CAR!! I'M NOT HAPPY THAT NISSAN IS CHARGING ME FOR THE NEW FUEL PUMP THEY INSTALLED ALONG WITH THE SENSORS TOTALING $1,943,00!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475943

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475860

65,000 miles · Sep 18, 2012
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE LURCHED FORWARD, AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING GAS. I MADE IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. I THOUGHT I HAD PURCHASED BAD GAS. THE NEXT MORNING MY CAR WOULD NOT START, IT TOOK SEVERAL TIMES FOR IT TO FINAL START. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I RAN A SCAN AND THE SCAN SAID I…

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MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE LURCHED FORWARD, AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING GAS. I MADE IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. I THOUGHT I HAD PURCHASED BAD GAS. THE NEXT MORNING MY CAR WOULD NOT START, IT TOOK SEVERAL TIMES FOR IT TO FINAL START. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I RAN A SCAN AND THE SCAN SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WHICH I DID AND IT DID NO GOOD. THE ENGINE IS VERY HARD TO START AND IS CONSUMING A LOT OF GAS. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE ENGINE STARTED TO BUCK WHEN IDLING IN TRAFFIC. I WAS AFRAID THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO DIE AND CATCH FIRE. I FOUND A PREVIOUS RECALL THAT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE MINE WITH THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID MY ENGINE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THIS ANGERED ME THAT THEY DO NOT TAKE THESE THINGS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO INCLUDE ALL 2.5L ENGINES FOR THAT YEAR. THE RECALL ID # 67703 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING IS THE ONE I'M REFERRING TOO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475825

142,000 miles · Sep 17, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE WARRANTY MILEAGE AND THE CONTACT WAS THE SECOND OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE WARRANTY MILEAGE AND THE CONTACT WAS THE SECOND OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO STATED A PATCH AND REPAIR WITH WELDING OF A NEW FLOOR BOARD WOULD BE REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475670

106,000 miles · Sep 16, 2012
Engine

MY VEHICLE IS HAVING TROUBLE WHEN STARTING AND I HAD A SCAN CODE DONE BY AUTO ZONE WHICH SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA FOR THIS PROBLEM SO I WENT TO THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475531

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