IllustrationMY VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 35MPH. THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING IN THAT SEAT. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
2004 Nissan Altima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
3025–50K
6350–75K
5075–100K
47100–150K
13150K+
225 reports with mileage · 51 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
11 reportsMY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR !
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY'S ON ALL THE TIME WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING
WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR NOT LONG AFTER I HAD IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. *TR
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 20, 2014 AND MY INSURANCE CONSIDERED CAR AS " TOTAL LOSS" AFTER APPRAISAL BUT AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SEVERE DAMAGE AS I REAR ENDED CAR IN FRONT. I DID SUFFER MUSCLE ACHE FOR COUPLE OF DAYS BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED EVEN MY PRESCRIPTION GLASSES FOR DISTANCE BROKE WITH IMP…
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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 20, 2014 AND MY INSURANCE CONSIDERED CAR AS " TOTAL LOSS" AFTER APPRAISAL BUT AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SEVERE DAMAGE AS I REAR ENDED CAR IN FRONT. I DID SUFFER MUSCLE ACHE FOR COUPLE OF DAYS BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED EVEN MY PRESCRIPTION GLASSES FOR DISTANCE BROKE WITH IMPACT PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR " SENSOR" ISSUES EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH CAR AND I HAD TO BEAR THE EXPENSES EVERY TIME THE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED ALMOST EVERY YEAR FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND I COMPLAINED TO NISSAN BUT THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT & NOW WITH AIR BAG NOT OPENING WITH TOTAL DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS VERY WORRISOME. I DO HAVE PICTURES / POLICE REPORT FOR ACCIDENT & NISSAN REPAIR WORK DONE IN PAST FOR SENSOR ISSUES IF NEEDED THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING..UPDATED 12/05/14*BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH MAKING A U TURN, AND SUDDENLY ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT WEBBING FAILED TO TIGHTLY SECURE THE CONTACT'S BODY DURING THE IMPACT AND ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH MAKING A U TURN, AND SUDDENLY ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT WEBBING FAILED TO TIGHTLY SECURE THE CONTACT'S BODY DURING THE IMPACT AND ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY AND DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 01/10/12
HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS TRAVELING 15MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 30MPH! THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED... *TR
ON MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5, DUE TO SOME ONE CRASHING INTO ME , THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ANOTHER VEHICLE DID A ILLEGAL U-TURN IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO T-BONE HER. APPROX MPH 30-35. *TR
TL*- THE AIR BAG COVER ON THE DASHBOARD IS OPEN AND AIRBAG CAN DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. DEALER TOLD HER IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUES. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS TURNED ON AS WELL.
Official recalls
106V242000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Jul 7, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE 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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.