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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 And Engine Cooling complaints

109 reports
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53,405 miles · Aug 17, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE A HARD SHIFT WHILE I WAS RIDING DOWN THE BELTWAY. THE CAR WOULD SHIFT SO HARD THAT IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HAD HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO SHEEHY NISSAN OF WALDORF AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. THAT COST ME AROUND $170.00. AB…

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MY VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE A HARD SHIFT WHILE I WAS RIDING DOWN THE BELTWAY. THE CAR WOULD SHIFT SO HARD THAT IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HAD HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO SHEEHY NISSAN OF WALDORF AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. THAT COST ME AROUND $170.00. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE HARD SHIFTS WERE BACK. ONE AND A HALF MONTHS LATER MY "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" COMES BACK ON AND THIS TIME MY CAR WILL NOT START. I WAS LITERALLY STUCK UNTIL I WAS INFORMED THAT EVENTUALLY THE COMPUTER WILL CLICK AND LET THE CAR START. I EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO START AND TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS BAD. I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $230.00. TO GET MY CAR BACK. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2002 AND THE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA BUT NOT ON THE 2004. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10199943

95,295 miles · Jul 28, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND RUN VERY ROUGH. NOT LONG AFTER THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT JUST SHUT OFF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AAA TOWED THE CAR TO CERRITOS NISSAN. THE NEXT DAY THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND SAID IT WAS A CHAMBER AND A MASS AIR FILTER AND INJECTOR A. THEY GAVE US…

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MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND RUN VERY ROUGH. NOT LONG AFTER THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT JUST SHUT OFF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AAA TOWED THE CAR TO CERRITOS NISSAN. THE NEXT DAY THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND SAID IT WAS A CHAMBER AND A MASS AIR FILTER AND INJECTOR A. THEY GAVE US THE TOTAL OF $1384. WE HAD NO CHOICE I NEEDED MY CAR, SO WE TOLD THEM TO FIX IT. WHEN WE WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP,WE PAID OUR BILL, I DROVE OFF AND IT STARTED DOING THE SAME EXACT THING. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THE HEAD OF SERVICE WAS THERE. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HIM BUT HE WAS NOT UNDERSTANDING. MY HUSBAND ASK IF HE WOULD GO ON A TEST DRIVE WITH HIM. MY HUSBAND ASKED HIM TO DRIVE. WHEN THEY CAME BACK, MY HUSBAND SAID NOT ONLY WAS IT DOING THE SAME THING BUT IT CUT OFF ON THEM AS WELL. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD WRITE A NOTE ABOUT WHAT IT WAS STILL DOING. WE HAD JUST BEGRUDGINGLY FORKED OUT NEARLY $1400 AND THE CAR WAS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING. WE WERE UPSET AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT DID THEY FIX? HE ASSURED US THAT THEY WOULD FIX IT. HE ASKED US WHAT WE WANTED HIM TO DO. MY HUSBAND SAID THAT WE JUST NEEDED A RENTAL. HE AGREED AND SET US UP WITH ONE. FINALLY WE WERE ABLE TO PICK THE CAR UP AND WHILE IT STILL RAN A BIT ROUGH IT DIDN'T JERK AND IT DIDN'T CUT OFF. WE ASK WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE ENGINE 9500 INT AND ENTERPRISE INV D907447 PO 151165. SO WE ASKED WHY WE WERE CHARGED FOR ALL THAT OTHER STUFF. HE SAID CAUSE IT STILL NEEDED IT. AND AT THIS TIME WE ALSO HAD ASKED ABOUT RECALLS. THEY SAID THERE WERE NONE. IRONICALLY IN GOING THROUGH OUR OLD A FEW MONTHS LATER MAIL WE FOUND A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE THAT TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT MY CAR DID. WE NOTIFIED OUR LAWYER AND ASK IF WE SHOULD PROCEED AND HE TOLD US TO FIRST REPORT IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. ALTHOUGH I REALLY LIKE MY ALTIMA I HAVE HAD TO MANY PROBLEMS. A YEAR AFTER I GOT IT I HAD TO GET THE ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10197724

66,004 miles · Jul 25, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 HAD SEVERE MISSING ISSUE AND DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SCREWS OF THE POWER RING ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE SCREW HAD CAME LOOSE AND DAMAGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. NISSAN HAS VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN QR25DE POWER VALVE ( P5202) FOR THIS ISSUE. MY CAR HAS THE EXACT ISSUE AND THE YEAR AND…

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2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 HAD SEVERE MISSING ISSUE AND DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SCREWS OF THE POWER RING ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE SCREW HAD CAME LOOSE AND DAMAGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. NISSAN HAS VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN QR25DE POWER VALVE ( P5202) FOR THIS ISSUE. MY CAR HAS THE EXACT ISSUE AND THE YEAR AND ENGINE SIZE IS THE SAME. THE VIN NUMBER OF MY CAR IS WITHIN THE POSTED VIN'S OF THIS CAMPAIGN - HOWEVER THEY NOW SAY THE "CAMPAIGN" IS VIN SPECIFIC, AND YOU GUESSED IT - MY VIN ISN'T ON THEIR LIST. $700.00 LATER THE DEALER WON'T PAY, NISSAN AMERICA REFUSES TO HONOR THE FIX LISTED IN THEIR OWN CAMPAIGN THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW ISSUE, SAME CAR, SAME ENGINE SIZE, WITHIN THE VIN NUMBERS LISTED. NO RELIEF. THEY ALSO REPLACED ALL THE SCREWS WITH "UPGRADED SCREWS" AND LOCK EACH SCREW. THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS WITH NO ASSISTANCE. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL !*JB

NHTSA ODI #10197506

48,727 miles · Jun 25, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR FAILED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,727.

NHTSA ODI #10194197

65,856 miles · May 23, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. AFTER EACH OCCASION, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED MOMENTARILY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE W…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. AFTER EACH OCCASION, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED MOMENTARILY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,856.

NHTSA ODI #10191580

38,700 miles · May 22, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE ECM SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL # 03V455000 FOR ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ONLY SA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE ECM SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL # 03V455000 FOR ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ONLY SAFETY RECALL ON HER VEHICLE WAS FOR THE ECM SYSTEM. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,700.

NHTSA ODI #10191435

70,000 miles · May 17, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HOWEVER, SHE HAD THE REPAIR WORK PERFORMED PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE NOTICE. SHE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HOWEVER, SHE HAD THE REPAIR WORK PERFORMED PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE NOTICE. SHE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 06/08/07 FAILED. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10191063

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED IT WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND SOMETIMES SHE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES TO RESTART. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (RECALL #06V242000). THE DEALE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED IT WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND SOMETIMES SHE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES TO RESTART. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (RECALL #06V242000). THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM SENSOR HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANK AND CAM ANGLE SENSOR SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,700.

NHTSA ODI #10190706

59,000 miles · May 7, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS NOTED IN RECALL # 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), A REPAIR WAS PERFORMED TO REPROGRAM THE ENGINE COMPUTER ON MARCH 28, 2007. TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS NOTED IN RECALL # 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), A REPAIR WAS PERFORMED TO REPROGRAM THE ENGINE COMPUTER ON MARCH 28, 2007. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF DUE TO FAILURE BETWEEN THE CRANK AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER. WHEN THE CONTACT HAD IT REPLACED, THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HER TO CONTACT NHTSA DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING ABLE TO REIMBURSE THOSE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED A COPY OF THE INVOICE OF SERVICE AND A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER. UPDATE 05/22/07*TR

NHTSA ODI #10190011

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2004 NISSA ALTIMA AND I HAVE BEEN FEELING BIG JERKS IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE STARTING MY CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND I HAD IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CRANK SENSOR IS SHUT DOWN AND WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE MY CAR NOT START AT ALL AND CAN LEAVE ME STRANDED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS …

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I HAVE A 2004 NISSA ALTIMA AND I HAVE BEEN FEELING BIG JERKS IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE STARTING MY CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND I HAD IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CRANK SENSOR IS SHUT DOWN AND WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE MY CAR NOT START AT ALL AND CAN LEAVE ME STRANDED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR THAT IS A 2004 AND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION THAT WILL COST A LOT OF MONEY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188894

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