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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
1,827 miles · Aug 28, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN BURNING/CONSUMING OIL SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO HELP ME AND HAS DIRECTED ME TO NISSAN CORPORATION. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL THEM VARIOUS TIMES BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION. THEY HAVE ALSO FAILED TO CONTACT ME. I FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS A RECA…

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MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN BURNING/CONSUMING OIL SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO HELP ME AND HAS DIRECTED ME TO NISSAN CORPORATION. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL THEM VARIOUS TIMES BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION. THEY HAVE ALSO FAILED TO CONTACT ME. I FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS A RECALL AND THAT IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE. I WOULD THINK THAT NISSAN WOULD BE CONCERN ENOUGH FOR MY SAFETY TO AT LEAST SEND ME A LETTER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10166796

10,000 miles · Aug 28, 2006
Power Train

POWER TRAIN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY/ PEDAL/ LINKAGE I RECENTLY BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SER IN 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR ONLY 3 MONTHS, I LOST TOTAL ACCELERATION RESPONSE. DRIVING THE CAR FROM A DEAD STOP TO 60 MPH TOOK NEARLY A MILE, I WAS SO AFRAID THE CAR WOULDN'T MAKE IT OVER A BRIDGE. DRIV…

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POWER TRAIN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY/ PEDAL/ LINKAGE I RECENTLY BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SER IN 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR ONLY 3 MONTHS, I LOST TOTAL ACCELERATION RESPONSE. DRIVING THE CAR FROM A DEAD STOP TO 60 MPH TOOK NEARLY A MILE, I WAS SO AFRAID THE CAR WOULDN'T MAKE IT OVER A BRIDGE. DRIVING THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS A NIGHTMARE, I WAS SO SCARED WHILE ACCELERATED THAT ANYONE DOING THE SPEED LIMIT WOULD CRASH INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. THE DEALER TOOK 2-3 DAYS JUST TO INFORM ME MY CLUTCH WENT BAD. THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH FOR $1000 AND THE FLYWHEEL FOR $500 BOTH NOT UNDER WARRANTY. MIND YOU THE $30,000.00 DOLLAR CAR IS ONLY 3-4 MONTHS OLD WITH A 10 YEAR/100K WARRANTY. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PREAMBLES, I FEEL NISSAN NEEDS TO ORDER A RECALL ON NISSAN CLUTCHES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166745

15 miles · Aug 28, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ON MY NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2006, RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE INFORMING ME TO CHECK OIL EVERY 700 MILES DUE TO A DEFECT. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE OIL ONLY TO FIND MY ENGINE CONTAINED NO OIL. BROUGHT TO NISSAN DEALER WHO REFILLED ENGINE. CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK 4 TIMES FOR L…

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EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ON MY NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2006, RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE INFORMING ME TO CHECK OIL EVERY 700 MILES DUE TO A DEFECT. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE OIL ONLY TO FIND MY ENGINE CONTAINED NO OIL. BROUGHT TO NISSAN DEALER WHO REFILLED ENGINE. CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK 4 TIMES FOR LOW OIL. NISSAN CORPORATION HAS NOT HELPED AND SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS. NISSAN HAS NOT CONTACTED ME SINCE APRIL WHEN THEY SENT NOTICE TELLING ME THAT A FIX WOULD BE IN AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED WITHIN 60 DAYS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO THE THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS WHO HAS PURCHASED THESE VEHICLES TO BE DRIVING THEM LONG DISTANCES. I DRIVE SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES A MONTH WITH WORK AND AM BEING INCONVENIENCED DUE TO THIS ALONG WITH PUTTING MY SAFETY AT RISK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166737

8,400 miles · Aug 25, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

TO EVERYONE OUT THERE THAT IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH NISSAN USA REPLACING YOUR FAULTY 2.5L ALTIMA ENGINE AND HAVE RECEIVED THE "OIL CONSUMPTION" LETTER...GET IN-TOUCH WITH THE BBB AUTO SECTION. THEY WERE AWESOME WITH HANDLING MY CASE...RECEIVED MY NEW ENGINE TWO DAYS AGO...HASSLE FREE. OF COURSE THIS WAS AFTER TRYING TO WORK A…

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TO EVERYONE OUT THERE THAT IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH NISSAN USA REPLACING YOUR FAULTY 2.5L ALTIMA ENGINE AND HAVE RECEIVED THE "OIL CONSUMPTION" LETTER...GET IN-TOUCH WITH THE BBB AUTO SECTION. THEY WERE AWESOME WITH HANDLING MY CASE...RECEIVED MY NEW ENGINE TWO DAYS AGO...HASSLE FREE. OF COURSE THIS WAS AFTER TRYING TO WORK A DEAL WITH NISSAN USA CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS. THE BBB DID IT IN FIVE DAYS AFTER RECEIVING MY PACKAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166536

16,000 miles · Aug 25, 2006
Electrical SystemFire

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT END, BELOW THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, AND BRIEF FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HOOD WAS OPENED TO REVEAL THE BATTERY HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SER…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT END, BELOW THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, AND BRIEF FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HOOD WAS OPENED TO REVEAL THE BATTERY HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER TESTED AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. THERE WAS NO DETERMINATION MADE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION.

NHTSA ODI #10166513

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE IS PART OF THE NISSAN CAMPAIGN #06V223000. CHECKED ENGINE OIL AND WAS FOUND TO BE TWO QUARTS LOW. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND WE ARE NEEDING TO CHECK THE ENGINE OIL ONCE A WEEK TO VERIFY IT IS OK AND TAKE IT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT FILLED. IN THIS CASE, AFTER ADDING TWO QUARTS OF OIL, THE DEALER FORGOT TO PUT THE CAP …

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VEHICLE IS PART OF THE NISSAN CAMPAIGN #06V223000. CHECKED ENGINE OIL AND WAS FOUND TO BE TWO QUARTS LOW. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND WE ARE NEEDING TO CHECK THE ENGINE OIL ONCE A WEEK TO VERIFY IT IS OK AND TAKE IT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT FILLED. IN THIS CASE, AFTER ADDING TWO QUARTS OF OIL, THE DEALER FORGOT TO PUT THE CAP BACK ON AND AFTER A DAY OF DRIVING (120 MILES), ALL THE OIL WAS GONE AND THE ENGINE WAS DRY. LUCKILY WE NOTICED IT AND DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO NISSAN TO GET OIL AND FILL IT UP BEFORE DRIVING IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166295

600 miles · Aug 19, 2006
Power Train

I OWN A NISSAN ALTIMA 2006 BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. IT HAS NOW BEEN 2 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY WHERE THEY DETECTED TRANSMISSION FAILURE... IT WAS FIXED , YET IN THE MIDDLE OF MY HECTIC DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK IT STOPS GAINING SPEED CAUSING MAJOR TRAFFIC BACKUP I'M JUST LUCKY NO ONE CRASHED IN TO ME! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165993

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT MY FIRST 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S IN MAY OF 2006. JUST AFTER A 2 WEEKS OF HAVING THIS CAR, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN MOTORS THAT YOUR CAR CAN USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND AS A RESULT CAN BLOW UP. AND THEY ARE TELLING ME TO CHECK THE OIL EVERY 700 MILES TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BLOW UP. AFTER ALL I DIDN'T SPENT $…

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I BOUGHT MY FIRST 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S IN MAY OF 2006. JUST AFTER A 2 WEEKS OF HAVING THIS CAR, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN MOTORS THAT YOUR CAR CAN USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND AS A RESULT CAN BLOW UP. AND THEY ARE TELLING ME TO CHECK THE OIL EVERY 700 MILES TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BLOW UP. AFTER ALL I DIDN'T SPENT $20,000 TO CHECK OIL EVERY 700 MILES AND HOPING IT DOESN'T BLOW UP WHILE I AM DRIVING. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT LOTS OF OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINT LIKE THIS. I CONTACTED NISSAN MOTORS ON THE 800 NUMBER THAT WAS ON THE LETTER AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY WILL NOTIFY ME WITH THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROBLEM WITHIN 60 DAYS. I RECEIVED THIS LETTER ON JUNE 9, 2006 AND TODAY IS AUGUST 15, 2006. IT HAS BEEN MORE THEN 60 DAYS AND I STILL DON'T HAVE ANY REPLY BACK FROM NISSAN MOTORS. I STRONGLY THINK THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM NISSAN SHOULD NOT ONLY REPLACE THE ENGINE OR FIX WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS. BUT, THEY SHOULD GIVE 100% REFUND INCLUDING THE FEES LIKE DESTINATION CHARGE OF $605. THIS IS NOT A SMALL PROBLEM, NO ONE SHOULD SPEND $20,000 AND STILL HAVE TO HOPE IF THEY WON'T BLOW UP WITH CAR WHILE DRIVING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165488

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

2006 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS SOLD TO CONSUMER WHILE ON HOLD FOR A RECALL. CONSUMER WANTED TO EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE FOR A PROBLEM FREE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURN THE CONSUMER'S CALL. *KB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165843

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH 2006. IT'S NOW AUGUST 2006, AND I AM EXPERIENCING AN OIL LEAK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE SEAL. NOW MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FELL IN THE RANGE OF THE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NI…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH 2006. IT'S NOW AUGUST 2006, AND I AM EXPERIENCING AN OIL LEAK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE SEAL. NOW MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FELL IN THE RANGE OF THE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NISSAN CORPORATE TOLD HIM JUST TO REPLACE THE SEAL. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT RESPONSE. I WAS NEVER OFFERED A NEW MOTOR. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN THEY ARE PLAYING ME FOR DUMB. I HAVE ALSO BEEN DEALING WITH SQUEALING BRAKES THAT I HAVE REPORTED TO THE TECHNICIAN WHICH HE KEEPS DISMISSING AS THE HOT WEATHER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165116

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