IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
6 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT VISIBLE AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED THE C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT VISIBLE AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
CAR SHUTOFF WHEN DRIVING. *TR
I WAS COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT IN THE MICKOSUKEE GAMING, AND THE CAR FAILED TO BE BRIGHTLY LIT SO THAT I COULD SEE AS I TURNED . I COULD NOT SEE THE WALL IN FRONT OF ME AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR OF MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS DAMAGED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO LOW BATTERY POWER. HE PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, BUT THE LIGHTS STILL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A BLOWN FUSE THAT WAS CAUSIN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO LOW BATTERY POWER. HE PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, BUT THE LIGHTS STILL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A BLOWN FUSE THAT WAS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. THE FUSE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR SAFE NIGHT DRIVING. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NOT THE MANUFACTURER.
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.