← New search

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
60,000 miles · May 13, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THERE WAS A RECALL 06V242000 FOR THE ECM SENSOR (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR N…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THERE WAS A RECALL 06V242000 FOR THE ECM SENSOR (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10330249

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2010
Power Train

2004 ALTIMA CLUTCH LOOSES PRESSURE AND UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330219

80,000 miles · May 6, 2010
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

ON MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5, DUE TO SOME ONE CRASHING INTO ME , THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329164

58,000 miles · May 5, 2010
Steering

A DEFECTIVE STEERING UNIVERSAL ASSEMBLY. OCCURRED SUDDENLY. I COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS . THANK GOODNESS IT HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY.58,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WROTE NISSAN CANADA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY CONTACTED ME BY TELEPHONE. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN DIDN'T CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM,…

Read full complaint

A DEFECTIVE STEERING UNIVERSAL ASSEMBLY. OCCURRED SUDDENLY. I COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS . THANK GOODNESS IT HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY.58,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WROTE NISSAN CANADA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY CONTACTED ME BY TELEPHONE. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN DIDN'T CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM, THE REPAIR COST ME $539.00. IT'S NOT THE REPAIR COST THAT IS IMPORTANT, IT'S THE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC; NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, BUT TO THIRD PARTIES. I HAVE SINCE L,EARNED OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT IS JUST ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329049

80,000 miles · Apr 11, 2010
Steering

PROBLEM VEHICLE IS 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 80,000 MILES. NOTICED WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AFTER CAR HAD SIT OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS BINDING WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE. DURING THE COURSE OF THE DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BIND BOTH DURING TURNING AND WHEN RETURNING TO STRAIGHT. THE BINDING CAUS…

Read full complaint

PROBLEM VEHICLE IS 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 80,000 MILES. NOTICED WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AFTER CAR HAD SIT OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS BINDING WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE. DURING THE COURSE OF THE DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BIND BOTH DURING TURNING AND WHEN RETURNING TO STRAIGHT. THE BINDING CAUSED EXTRA EFFORT (REQUIRING BOTH HANDS) TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO REQUIRED EXTRA EFFORT TO RETURN THE WHEELS TO STRAIGHT BECAUSE THE BINDING PREVENTED THE WHEELS FROM RETURNING TO STRAIGHT ON THEIR OWN. THE BINDING WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THE DIFFICULTY IN STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS TO STOP TURNING. THE BINDING FORCE WAS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMED TO BE RELATED TO CERTAIN PLACES IN THE ORIENTATION OF THE WHEEL. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH SIMILAR YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR AND THEY ALL REFERENCED THE LOWER UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE STEERING LINKAGE AS THE PROBLEM PART (NISSAN PART 48080-8J000). WHEN I REMOVED THE PART IT WAS RUSTY AND EXTREMELY TIGHT (I WILL HOLD ONTO THE OLD PART IN CASE ANYONE WANTS TO SEE IT OR USE IT AS EVIDENCE). THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS BACK ORDERED BY NISSAN WHEN I ORDERED IT FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SELLING LOTS OF THIS PART AND THE PART HAS BEEN TAKING A FEW DAYS TO TWO WEEKS TO ARRIVE DUE TO HIGH DEMAND. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THIS PART. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE NEW PART (48080-8J000 LOWER STEERING U-JOINT) AND INSTALLED IT THE STEERING WORKED SMOOTHLY AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324923

70,885 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

JUST AS DOZENS OTHERS HAVE ALREADY FILED AS COMPLAINTS I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CAMSHAFT/CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ORIGINALLY THIS SENSOR WENT BAD IN JUNE, 2008 AT 49,000 MILES. I HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED AND THE ECM REPROGRAMMED ACCORDING RECALL 06V242000. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT AND A…

Read full complaint

JUST AS DOZENS OTHERS HAVE ALREADY FILED AS COMPLAINTS I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CAMSHAFT/CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ORIGINALLY THIS SENSOR WENT BAD IN JUNE, 2008 AT 49,000 MILES. I HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED AND THE ECM REPROGRAMMED ACCORDING RECALL 06V242000. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT AND AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH THEY AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR (APPROX. $500). ON MARCH 3RD, 2010 AT 70,885 THE CAR WOULD NOT START SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED IT WITH A BAD CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. THE REPAIR COST ME $265. CLEARLY THERE IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THESE SENSORS AND REPROGRAMMING THE ECM IS NOT A PROPER FIX. APPARENTLY EVEN REPLACING THE SENSOR ONCE (BY A NISSAN DEALER) DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POOR CHOICE IN COMPONENTS AND PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION AND COMPENSATION FOR AFFECTED CONSUMERS. I WILL BE CONTACTING NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10317634

74,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FUEL GAUGE READS THE CAR HAS GAS WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY EMPTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10316226

62,000 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL, AND I PRESS THE STEERING-WHEEL MOUNTED "COAST" BUTTON, THE CAR - OCCASIONALLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY - ACCELERATES HARD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, PROMPTING ME TO HIT THE BRAKES. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS THE CRUISE…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL, AND I PRESS THE STEERING-WHEEL MOUNTED "COAST" BUTTON, THE CAR - OCCASIONALLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY - ACCELERATES HARD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, PROMPTING ME TO HIT THE BRAKES. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT/INDICATOR WAS NOT BLINKING, THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THE DEALER'S STATEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10312796

65,000 miles · Jan 18, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WITH OUT WARNING, NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT SEEMS TO WANT THE REPAIR REVENUE MORE THAT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10300156

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

NISSAN ALTIMA 2004 WITH ABOUT 77,000 MILES. WAS PART OF RECALL FOR ECM AND I HAD THIS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP WINTER OF 2006. WAS TO PREVENT CAR FROM STALLING. THIS RECALL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. 12/31/2009 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. CAR STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WITHOUT WARNING…

Read full complaint

NISSAN ALTIMA 2004 WITH ABOUT 77,000 MILES. WAS PART OF RECALL FOR ECM AND I HAD THIS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP WINTER OF 2006. WAS TO PREVENT CAR FROM STALLING. THIS RECALL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. 12/31/2009 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. CAR STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE NISSAN ALTIMAS - 2002 TO 2006. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR APPEARS TO DRIVE WELL AND IT JUST SHUTS OFF. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP YET FOR REPAIR, SENT AN EMAIL TO NISSAN. RECALL FOR ECM TO REPROGRAM TO PREVENT STALLING, BUT THE REAL ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE SENSOR THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL ALL ALTIMAS 2002-2006 AND HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297743

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