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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
80,000 miles · Aug 31, 2018
Structure

I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED TO FIND HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THE FLOORS OF OUR CAR. AS I RESEARCHED I HAVE FOUND THIS A HUGE PROBLEM, EVEN COVERED BY MAJOR TV NETWORKS. ...I REACHED OUT TO NISSAN AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI #11123601

146,820 miles · Aug 28, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemCrash

MY DTE SAID 180 MILES, WITH ALMOST A HALF TANK OF GAS, CAR STOPPED ON ME ON FREEWAY, NO WARNING LIGHT OF LOW FUEL. CAR STOPPED AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DTE OR GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ ACCURATELY. PLEASE I NEED HELP

NHTSA ODI #11123051

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2018
Engine

DAMAGA MOTOR MOUNTS IT KEEP GETING DAMAGE

NHTSA ODI #11115709

116,000 miles · Jul 14, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH, WHEN MY CAR'S ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I PANICKED AND HAD TO COAST OVER A LANE TO GET TO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. MY CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND I HAD TO CALL FOR TOWING. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A BAD CAM SHAFT SENSOR. I HAVE REPLACED THIS SENSOR AT LEAST 4 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT CLEARLY IS A …

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I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH, WHEN MY CAR'S ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I PANICKED AND HAD TO COAST OVER A LANE TO GET TO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. MY CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND I HAD TO CALL FOR TOWING. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A BAD CAM SHAFT SENSOR. I HAVE REPLACED THIS SENSOR AT LEAST 4 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT CLEARLY IS A DEFECT BY THE MAKER. NISSAN SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THEIR RECALL, YET SO MANY NISSANS ARE STILL HAVING HE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11111355

167,000 miles · Jun 27, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

AFTER THE ENGINE HAS STARTED IT MAY SHUT DOWN RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. IF THE CAR IS SHUT DOWN FOR ANY REASON IT WILL NOT START BACK UP FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THE CAR FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000. IT HAS SHUT DOWN TWICE NOW WHILE DRIVING AT LESS THEN 40 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA ODI #11104224

151,000 miles · Jun 22, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

VEHICLE WAS BEING DROVE DOWN MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT LOSES ALL POWER, GET OFF HIGHWAY ON EDGE PUT IT IN PARK, TURN KEY COMPLETELY OFF AND TRY TO RESTART CAR FAILS TO START CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS. GET CODE PULLED SHOWS CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A. GET THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED AND COD…

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VEHICLE WAS BEING DROVE DOWN MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT LOSES ALL POWER, GET OFF HIGHWAY ON EDGE PUT IT IN PARK, TURN KEY COMPLETELY OFF AND TRY TO RESTART CAR FAILS TO START CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS. GET CODE PULLED SHOWS CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A. GET THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED AND CODE CLEARED. HEAD HOME WITH CAR, DOES SAME EXACT THING THAT HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IN TOWN. HAVE HAD EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKED AT AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAR ACTS AS IF IT'S HARD TO START EVER SINCE THIS HAPPENED. DEFINITELY WON'T BE TAKING IT OUT OF TOWN UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE. CAR WILL SIT AND CRANK AND CRANK THEN EVENTUALLY DECIDES TO START. STARTER ISN'T ISSUE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS AGO DUE TO IT GOING OUT.

NHTSA ODI #11103497

125,000 miles · Jun 18, 2018
Engine

EXCESS ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION RECALL #06V223000 - I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE MY VEHICLE RAN OUT OF OIL ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE LOW OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON TO LET ME KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE. DURING EACH OCCASION, I PULLED OVER BECAUSE I HEARD A LOUD "KNOCKING' SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGI…

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EXCESS ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION RECALL #06V223000 - I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE MY VEHICLE RAN OUT OF OIL ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE LOW OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON TO LET ME KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE. DURING EACH OCCASION, I PULLED OVER BECAUSE I HEARD A LOUD "KNOCKING' SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AS I WAS DRIVING AND BECAME WORRIED. EACH TIME THE ISSUE OCCURRED BEFORE THE 3 MONTH/3,000 MILE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC LOCATED AN EXTERNAL OIL LEAK ON THE 1ST OCCASION AND REPAIRED THE EXTERNAL LEAK. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS WHEN THE PROBLEM OF RUNNING OUT OF OIL CONTINUED TO OCCUR; HOWEVER, NO ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL LEAKS WERE LOCATED. MY MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT I CONTACT NISSAN REGARDING THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I WAS ADVISED BY A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY FIXED THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE FOR MY VIN AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT OR REPAIR THAT ISSUE AGAIN WITHOUT ME PAYING A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #11102275

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2018
Power Train

NEWLY PURCHASED USED CAR....A SLIGHT HESITATION AND THEN SUDDEN SURGE TYPE FEEL UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #11100621

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2018
Seat Belts

TAKATA RECALL. MY BACK SEAT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE SEAT BELT BROKE

NHTSA ODI #11097766

131,500 miles · May 11, 2018
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LITHIA NISSAN OF FRESNO, 5580 N BLACKSTONE AVE, FRESNO, CA 93710) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LITHIA NISSAN OF FRESNO, 5580 N BLACKSTONE AVE, FRESNO, CA 93710) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER A DECADE OLD; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,500.

NHTSA ODI #11093348

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