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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Engine complaints

30 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2023
EngineFuel/propulsion System

The car has a fuel problem and crankshaft position sensor issue causing the car to die and also not start up normal idling. When I do get it to start up it idles very groggy.

NHTSA ODI #11543061

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2023
Electrical SystemEngine

The crankshaft position sensor (cps) was not responsive when the repair shop was testing the vehicle because of the "service engine soon" light came on. After a short search online they 1.) Had no signal to the cps from the pcm 2.) That there was also a voluntary recall by nissan for this issue covering this make an model. I ca…

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The crankshaft position sensor (cps) was not responsive when the repair shop was testing the vehicle because of the "service engine soon" light came on. After a short search online they 1.) Had no signal to the cps from the pcm 2.) That there was also a voluntary recall by nissan for this issue covering this make an model. I called nissan and told me that the recall wasn't for that car but the vehicle was in fact built in the years covered and also had the exact issues the recall covered

NHTSA ODI #11524912

200,000 miles · Jan 24, 2018
Engine

ENGINE STALLS DURING DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY. CAM SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11064596

214,000 miles · Sep 11, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE BURNED TOO MUCH FUEL TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE BURNED TOO MUCH FUEL TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC WHERE THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE SAME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORT WORTH NISSAN (3451 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION AND EXHAUST FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.

NHTSA ODI #11022609

192,000 miles · Aug 29, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE EXTENDED CRANK FAILED TO SPARK THE CRANK SENSOR. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED MIDDLETOWN NISSAN AT 860-632-6…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE EXTENDED CRANK FAILED TO SPARK THE CRANK SENSOR. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED MIDDLETOWN NISSAN AT 860-632-6550 (LOCATED AT 1153 NEWFIELD ST, MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

NHTSA ODI #11020426

1,361 miles · Jun 22, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE MANIFOLD, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND A COMPUTER CHIP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE MANIFOLD, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND A COMPUTER CHIP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,361.

NHTSA ODI #11000672

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2017
Engine

"TAKATA RECALL"TENGO PROBLEMA CON MI CARRO DESDE Q LO AGARRE SIEMPRE FALLABA DE LO MISMO ENGINE Y HASTA AHORA SE DESCOMPUSO Y NO PUEDO ARREGLARLO Q TENGO Q HACER O SOBRE EL PROGRAMA RECALL .GRACIAS

NHTSA ODI #10944951

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2017
EngineUnknown Or Other

MI CARRO TIENE PROBLEMAS CON LAS CABEZAS .Y AHORITA NO LO PUEDO USAR PORQ ESTA PARADO POR NO ARREGLARLO TODAVIA QUISIERA SABER SOBRE RECALL.GRACIAS

NHTSA ODI #10939520

92,000 miles · May 7, 2016
Engine

FOR THE 2ND TIME CAR RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND STALLING. HAD IT SERVICED SEEMS THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DESTROYED AND NOT FUNCTIONING. PAID OVER $500 FOR MECHANIC TO PUT IN NEW PLUGS NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SEEMS THERE IS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN QR25DE POWER VALVE. CAMPAIGN ID P5202. A BOLT FROM MANIFOLD IS FALLING INTO CYLINDER AN…

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FOR THE 2ND TIME CAR RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND STALLING. HAD IT SERVICED SEEMS THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DESTROYED AND NOT FUNCTIONING. PAID OVER $500 FOR MECHANIC TO PUT IN NEW PLUGS NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SEEMS THERE IS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN QR25DE POWER VALVE. CAMPAIGN ID P5202. A BOLT FROM MANIFOLD IS FALLING INTO CYLINDER AND BLOWING OUT SPARK PLUG AND CAUSING INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE, MY MECHANIC PUT CAMERA IN CYLINDER. CAR IS RUNNING BUT IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TO CYLINDER 1 AND 4. NEXT TIME MY 22 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY ON HER HIGHWAY COMMUTE. HOPEFULLY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER CAN RECTIFY PROBLEM BEFORE THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE SERIOUS. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAYS TO SERVICE ENGINE SOON, IT IS STILL ON...FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND ONLINE SOUNDS LIKE POWER VALVE SCREWS ARE COMING OUT AND CREATING ENGINE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10863752

56,000 miles · Jan 1, 2016
Engine

STALL AT STOP AND IDLE WHEN ENGINE IS HOT.

NHTSA ODI #10817299

Official recalls

1

06V242000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems