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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

276 reports
93,000 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A SPARK PLUG WAS REPLACED. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A SPARK PLUG WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BUTTERFLY SCREWS FRACTURED FROM THE POWER VALVES AND BECAME LODGED INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10352372

141,500 miles · Aug 20, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA IS STALLING AT RED LIGHTS AND WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT SINCE IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR WITH MY CAR UNTIL THE RECALL WORK FOR THE ECM REPROGRAMMING WAS DONE. BUT, IT HAS BEEN …

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MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA IS STALLING AT RED LIGHTS AND WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT SINCE IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR WITH MY CAR UNTIL THE RECALL WORK FOR THE ECM REPROGRAMMING WAS DONE. BUT, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THEN. SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECT MORE THAN ONCE, AND NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE HAS STOPPED THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350854

133,000 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND REPAIRS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND REPAIRS WOULD FALL AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 133,000.

NHTSA ODI #10349610

39,554 miles · Aug 14, 2010
SuspensionCrash

CAR ACCIDENT IN MAY 26 OFF 2010 THE BEN REPAIR I NOT SATISFY HAVE SAM EXTRAYER NOISES WAS NEVER HAVE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY DO NOT WANT PAID FOR THE REPAIRS THEY SAID IS NOT PART OFF THE ACCIDENT THE NOISE NEVER EXISTING BEFORE THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349384

35,466 miles · Aug 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA ENGINE FAILURE AFTER ONLY 35,000 MILES. THE ENGINE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL (LEAVING SLUDGE AND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN). TOOK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT THE OIL NEED TO BE CHANGED (CHANGED PRIOR TO THIS EVENT APPROX. 3,500 MILES BEFORE THIS EVENT). WAS CHARG…

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2004 NISSAN ALTIMA ENGINE FAILURE AFTER ONLY 35,000 MILES. THE ENGINE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL (LEAVING SLUDGE AND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN). TOOK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT THE OIL NEED TO BE CHANGED (CHANGED PRIOR TO THIS EVENT APPROX. 3,500 MILES BEFORE THIS EVENT). WAS CHARGED $2,300.00 FOR OIL CHANGE AND OTHER MAINTENANCE. HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AGAIN. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS NO GOOD AND TO GET RID OF THE CAR. THIS COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND FIRE. MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SOME 2002 & OTHER YEAR NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFERED ABSOLUTELY NO HELP OR OFFERS OF ANY KIND. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS STRUNG ME ALONG FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS AND THEN WITH A PHONE CALL (AFTER I TRIED TO CONTACT THEM SEVERAL TIMES FOR UPDATES TO NO AVAIL, I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. WAS TOLD TO EITHER PURCHASE NEW ENGINE ($4,500) OR GET RID OF THE CAR BY THE DEALER. PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, ESPECIALLY OIL CHANGES. THE CAR IS 1 YEAR OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346727

51,413 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON SIX …

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2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WAS LOOSE, THE SUN ROOF HAD A RATTLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD GO UP, BUT AT TIMES IT WOULD COME BACK DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR MOTOR. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10344375

90,000 miles · Jul 15, 2010
Electrical System

MY 04 NISSAN ALTIMA V6 ONE DAY BEGAN TO BUCK WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I MADE IT HOME, THEN WHEN I WENT TO START IT WOULDN'T. BASICALLY EVER SINCE THAT DAY IT'S BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM W/ NOT STARTING, SHUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AND COMPLETELY LOCKING UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER AND DANGEROUS. AT ONE POIN…

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MY 04 NISSAN ALTIMA V6 ONE DAY BEGAN TO BUCK WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I MADE IT HOME, THEN WHEN I WENT TO START IT WOULDN'T. BASICALLY EVER SINCE THAT DAY IT'S BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM W/ NOT STARTING, SHUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AND COMPLETELY LOCKING UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER AND DANGEROUS. AT ONE POINT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I AM THE MOTHER OF AN INFANT SO UNTIL I FIND A RESOLUTION I NEED TO BORROW CARS TO TRAVEL WITH HIM. I HAVE REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WHICH WERE THE CODES THAT CAME UP AND STILL I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR. I THEN RESEARCHED MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AND FOUND I WAS NOT ALONE. MANY OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUES AND HAVE YET TO REACH A RESOLUTION AND APPARENTLY NISSAN IS NOT DECLARING A RECALL ON 2004'S BUT HAVE ON "02" AND "03" WHICH HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUY PARTS AND TRY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS DEFECTIVE AS I READ MANY OTHERS HAVE DONE. I PLAN ON CONTACTING THE BBB AND TAKING IT FROM THERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. SO HERE I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR MY CHILD AND I AND NO ANSWERS ON WHY THESE CARS ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND CONTINUING TO READ CAMSHAFT...ETC EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED???? PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343539

50,000 miles · Jun 22, 2010
Power Train

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 5 SPD MANUAL CLUTCH. LAST WEDNESDAY I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND NOTICED THE CLUTCH WAS GETTING LOWER AND LOWER TO THE FLOOR. I MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION BUT WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO LEAVE, I PRESSED ON THE CLUTCH AND IT JUST STAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR. AFTER THE CAR COOL IT SEEMED TO WORK PROPERLY THE NEXT DAY BU…

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2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 5 SPD MANUAL CLUTCH. LAST WEDNESDAY I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND NOTICED THE CLUTCH WAS GETTING LOWER AND LOWER TO THE FLOOR. I MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION BUT WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO LEAVE, I PRESSED ON THE CLUTCH AND IT JUST STAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR. AFTER THE CAR COOL IT SEEMED TO WORK PROPERLY THE NEXT DAY BUT NOW IT IS HARD TO GO INTO 1ST GEAR AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE TO GO INTO 2ND ALL OTHER GEARS SEEM OKAY. CURRENTLY I HAVE ONLY SEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE APPEARS TO BE MANY. I DO NOT HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A MECHANIC BILL, ACTUALLY TODAY I ONLY HAVE 15.00 TO MY NAME. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS TO GET TO MY JOB THAT PAYS HALF MY BILLS AND AT THIS TIME I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339613

115,000 miles · Jun 17, 2010
Electrical System

CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAR ALSO DOESN'T START UP RIGHT AWAY. TRIED TO BRING IT TO NISSAN BUT THEY SAID MY VIN# WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE WELL KNOWN RECALL (CAMSHAFT SENSOR). BS IF YOU ASK ME! THEY'RE GOING TO PUT PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK. SO I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS STORE AND GOT THE CODE READ AND IT WAS A P-03040 WHICH WAS …

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CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAR ALSO DOESN'T START UP RIGHT AWAY. TRIED TO BRING IT TO NISSAN BUT THEY SAID MY VIN# WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE WELL KNOWN RECALL (CAMSHAFT SENSOR). BS IF YOU ASK ME! THEY'RE GOING TO PUT PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK. SO I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS STORE AND GOT THE CODE READ AND IT WAS A P-03040 WHICH WAS A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTION. I GOOGLED A BIT AND FOUND OUT THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I EVEN CALLED NISSAN AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. OUTRAGEOUS DIAGNOSTIC FEE ALSO. $105 JUST TO PLUG IN A OBD READER. YOU CAN BUY YOUR OWN OBD READER FOR THAT PRICE. OR JUST GO TO YOUR LOCAL AUTO STORE AND GET IT CHECKED FOR FREE!!! NOT HAPPY. NISSAN ALSO SOUNDED LIKE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH ME SINCE I DON'T BRING MY CAR TO NISSAN FOR OIL CHANGES/REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336828

57,000 miles · May 25, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA POWER VALVE SCREW MISSING CAUSING ENGINE TO MISFIRE, STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, VERY SCARY SINCE THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS IN CAR, ENGINE HARD TO START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332272

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