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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
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2008
Power Train

MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA (6,500 MILES) WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. DURING THE PAST MONT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY CLUTCH PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSED AND NOT RETURNING. I CHECKED ON LINE AND IDENTIFIED THAT APPARENTLY WITH THE 6 CYL. ENGINE AND STANDARD TRANSMISSION THIS IS A COMMON PROB…

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MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA (6,500 MILES) WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. DURING THE PAST MONT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY CLUTCH PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSED AND NOT RETURNING. I CHECKED ON LINE AND IDENTIFIED THAT APPARENTLY WITH THE 6 CYL. ENGINE AND STANDARD TRANSMISSION THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BREAK DOWN OF THE DOT 3 BRAKE FLUID THAT IS USED IN THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. MANY SITES RECOMMEND THE HIGHER BOILING TEMPERATURE OF THE DOT 4 OR 5.1. THE DEALERSHIP INSISTS THAT DOT 3 IS SUFFICIENT HOWEVER IN TALKING TO OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS ON LINE IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230459

60,000 miles · Jun 9, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

SUBJECT CRANK POSITION SENSOR. SUBJECT CAR 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5. RECALL WAS RECEIVED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE CAR STARTED DYING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE WILL DIE CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND POWER STEERING STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WHEN TRAVELING AT …

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SUBJECT CRANK POSITION SENSOR. SUBJECT CAR 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5. RECALL WAS RECEIVED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE CAR STARTED DYING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE WILL DIE CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND POWER STEERING STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WHEN TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, THE CAR LOOSES POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS THEN VIOLENTLY JERKS REGAINING POWER. NISSAN DEALER HAS STATED THAT THIS IS AN ECM PROBLEM AND THAT A REPROGRAM WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THE REPROGRAM OF THE ECM WAS COMPLETED. NOW THE CAR DIES MORE FREQUENTLY AND NOW IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE CRANKING TO START THE CAR WHEN WARM. APPROXIMATELY 2 MIN. TO RESTART. NISSAN HAS TRIED TO "BAND AID" A FAULTY CRANK POSITION SENSOR WITH AN ECM REPROGRAM THAT IS NOT WORKING. THE CAR ABRUPTLY DYING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CAN EASILY LEAD TO UNCALLED FOR INJURIES AND DEATHS STEMMING FROM THIS FAULTY SENSOR. I AGREE THAT THE UPGRADED ECM PROGRAM SHOULD READ BOTH THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AND CRANK POSITION SENSOR IN TANDEM AS A REDUNDANT FEATURE BUT IF THE PROBLEM IS WITH A LEAKY SENSOR OR A BAD SOLDER JOINT IN THE SENSOR, THE SENSOR SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230382

53 miles · Jun 6, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, FIRST, MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNTIL ABOUT THE FIFTH OR SEVENTH TRY..TOOK AND GOT THAT FIXED THEN THE DEALER HAD TO RE-PROGRAM MY KEY.. THEN AFTER ONE WEEK OF DRIVING.... IT JUST WOULDN'T START AT ALL. ALL WITH-IN A THREE PERIOD. SO IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW. 6/06/2008...EVER SINCE 06/03/2008. CAN YOU …

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I HAVE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, FIRST, MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNTIL ABOUT THE FIFTH OR SEVENTH TRY..TOOK AND GOT THAT FIXED THEN THE DEALER HAD TO RE-PROGRAM MY KEY.. THEN AFTER ONE WEEK OF DRIVING.... IT JUST WOULDN'T START AT ALL. ALL WITH-IN A THREE PERIOD. SO IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW. 6/06/2008...EVER SINCE 06/03/2008. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230135

30,000 miles · Jun 3, 2008
Power Train

2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SER CLUTCH SINKS TO THE FLOOR AND PREVENTS USE OF GEARS. HAPPENS ONCE A MONTH IN TRAFFIC OR ON HOT DAYS. NISSAN HAS NOT YET FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS BEING STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229803

5,000 miles · May 8, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING LOUDLY. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES. THE SECOND TIME, THEY COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE, AND CURRENTLY, THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING LOUDLY. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES. THE SECOND TIME, THEY COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE, AND CURRENTLY, THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ODI #10227024

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE ILLUMINATION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, JERKED, AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURS THE MOST WHEN AT A STOP OR APPROACHING A STOP. THE CONTACT MUST PULL OFF THE ROAD AND MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE ILLUMINATION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, JERKED, AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURS THE MOST WHEN AT A STOP OR APPROACHING A STOP. THE CONTACT MUST PULL OFF THE ROAD AND MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER THE STALLING OCCURS. THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10226901

30,000 miles · Apr 30, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SHUT OFF GOING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS 18 WHEELER ON 3 LANE INTERSTATE 35. HAD HEADLIGHT REPLACED 4 DAYS BEFORE INCIDENT AND WAS ADVISED ABOUT A RECALL, CHOOSE TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE AT THAT TIME ALSO. SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED THAT THE RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MALFUNCTION, SAID THEY HAD TR…

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ENGINE SHUT OFF GOING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS 18 WHEELER ON 3 LANE INTERSTATE 35. HAD HEADLIGHT REPLACED 4 DAYS BEFORE INCIDENT AND WAS ADVISED ABOUT A RECALL, CHOOSE TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE AT THAT TIME ALSO. SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED THAT THE RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MALFUNCTION, SAID THEY HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE CAR STARTED AND NOTED SOMETHING ABOUT THE RPM'S, SAID THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND IT HASN'T STALLED. SAID THEY KNOW IT HAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE IT. TODAY IS 04-30-08, THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 04-19-08. SERVICE ADVISOR STOPPED CALLING ON 04-24-07. HAVE COMPLAINED TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO FINALLY RETURNED MY CALL TODAY STATING THAT THEY TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES TOTAL AND THEY CLAIM THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, THAT THEY TEST DROVE IT 90 MILES AND CLEARED SOMETHING FROM THE AIR INTAKE. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER TOLD ME THIS STORY AND STOPPED CALLING ME ON 04-24-07. WHEN I ASKED THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS LADY IF SHE WOULD LOAD UP HER KIDS IN THE CAR AND GO DOWN THE INTERSTATE DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC? SHE HESITATED AND SAID YES SHE WOULD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226342

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A ENGINE RECALL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WORK. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE HAS BEEN WORK DONE TO FIX THE ENGINE AND WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE RECALL. *KB THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10226211

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

COMING HOME FROM GRADUATE SCHOOL EARLY EVENING, DOG CAME OUT OF NO WHERE RAN INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR, THE AIR BAG WENT OFF, FRACTURED MY ELBOW- HAD TO HAVE A SPECIALIST DO SURGERY ON THE ELBOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225649

3,000 miles · Apr 22, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON MAY 25, 2008, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WAS NO STEERING POWER OR BRAKING ABILITY. IN ORDER TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A NEARBY ALLEY AND CLIPPED THE FRONT END OF A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL I…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON MAY 25, 2008, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WAS NO STEERING POWER OR BRAKING ABILITY. IN ORDER TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A NEARBY ALLEY AND CLIPPED THE FRONT END OF A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A POLE. SHE CALLED THE POLICE AND HER INSURANCE AGENT TO REPORT THE CRASH, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $9,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT FOR FIVE DAYS BECAUSE THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALER WAS CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY, THEY KEPT IT FOR 32 DAYS. IN APRIL OF 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIRS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESCAN THE ENGINE COMPUTER AT THE COST OF $119. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #10225377

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