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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
84,000 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON OCTOBER 9, 2008, WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE NORMALLY SHUTS DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSIS, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON OCTOBER 9, 2008, WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE NORMALLY SHUTS DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSIS, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT AND STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10246403

69,266 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,266 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,400. UPDATED 11/17/08 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10246368

109,000 miles · Oct 17, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ENTERING ONTO THE FREEWAY AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND IT IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RESTART. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ENTERING ONTO THE FREEWAY AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND IT IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES BEGINNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED THREE RECALL REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10245837

67,000 miles · Oct 6, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR WOULDN'T START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN EARLY 2007 (FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME). I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL AND THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AFTER THAT WAS DONE, I BROUGHT IT BACK IN 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY SAID THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PAID THEM…

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CAR WOULDN'T START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN EARLY 2007 (FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME). I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL AND THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AFTER THAT WAS DONE, I BROUGHT IT BACK IN 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY SAID THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PAID THEM TO REPLACE IT ($152.07) AND THE ISSUE OF NOT STARTING HAS NOT SINCE REAPPEARED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT RECALLS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR MODEL YEARS 2003, 2005 AND 2006 OF THE ALTIMA TO HAVE THEIR CRANKSHAFT POSITION CENSORS REPLACED, BUT NOT FOR 2004 ALTIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244537

63,000 miles · Sep 22, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THERE'S A RECALL ON A SENSOR IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT NOTICE. I CALLED THE RECALL NUMBER AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR THE RECALL. I EXPLAINED ON HOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE IF IT WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. THEN I WENT TO…

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I OWN A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THERE'S A RECALL ON A SENSOR IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT NOTICE. I CALLED THE RECALL NUMBER AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR THE RECALL. I EXPLAINED ON HOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE IF IT WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. THEN I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK INTO IT BUT, I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO PAY THE SERVICE, WHY I DON'T KNOW, I PAID $330.00 FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS RECALLED AND HAS BEEN POSTED EVERYWHERE ON THE INTERNET WHERE RECALLS ARE POSTED BUT, I WAS STILL CHARGE. NOW I DON'T THINK THAT WAS FARE. WILL BE THE LAST TIME I BUY A NISSAN CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243048

47,542 miles · Aug 24, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

A RECENT 15K MILE SERVICE INTERVAL REVEALS THAT I HAVE 2 MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH ARE THE FLUID TYPE ARE LEAKING BADLY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS MAY BE SAFETY RELATED AS IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MAJOR VEHICLE COMPONENT. MANY BLOGS REVEAL NUMEROUS MOTOR MOUNT ISSUES ON SEVERAL NISSAN MODELS THAT USE THESE FLUID TYPE MOUNTS.…

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A RECENT 15K MILE SERVICE INTERVAL REVEALS THAT I HAVE 2 MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH ARE THE FLUID TYPE ARE LEAKING BADLY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS MAY BE SAFETY RELATED AS IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MAJOR VEHICLE COMPONENT. MANY BLOGS REVEAL NUMEROUS MOTOR MOUNT ISSUES ON SEVERAL NISSAN MODELS THAT USE THESE FLUID TYPE MOUNTS. I FIND THIS VERY UNUSUAL SINCE I ONLY HAD 47,500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I HAD THIS SERVICE DONE IN JUNE 08. ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS I TALKED TO DID INDICATE HE HAS SEEN MANY FAILURES OF THESE MOTOR MOUNTS AS WELL AS THE CRANK CASE SENSOR WHICH NISSAN DID REPLACE AT NO CHARGE BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS. I WOULD LIKE YOUR INPUT AS TO WHETHER THIS MAY BE VIEWED AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALSO IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED PRIOR INQUIRIES INTO THIS VERY PREMATURE ISSUE. THANK YOU, JIM WEEKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10239549

53,000 miles · Aug 22, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAS REPORTED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IS BAD. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE, QUIT GOING DOWN THE ROAD & NOT TO START. WE REPLACED THE SENSOR & WITHIN 2 DAYS THE SES LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THEN BACK TO THE SAME THING! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10239285

100,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS DISPLAYING THE FAILURES NOTED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS DISPLAYING THE FAILURES NOTED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10237891

32,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Electrical System

WHEN REAR DEFROSTER WINDOW IS TURNED ON, RECEPTION OF RADIO FUZZES OUT. TOLD THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRENTEE EVEN THOUGH WARRENTEE STATES AUDIO AND ELECTRIC COVERAGE, WINDOW IS NOT DAMAGED.

NHTSA ODI #10237804

31,446 miles · Aug 9, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR DIED AT STOP LIGHT. "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. CAM SENSOR WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE BY REPAIR SHOP. INTERNET SEARCH FOUND THIS TO BE A RECALL ITEM FOR 2002 AND 2003 MODEL YEAR ALTIMAS, BUT NOT 2004 MODEL YEAR. FAILURE OF THIS PART ON THE HIGHWAY IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND MAY BE AFFECTING LATER MODEL YEA…

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CAR DIED AT STOP LIGHT. "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. CAM SENSOR WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE BY REPAIR SHOP. INTERNET SEARCH FOUND THIS TO BE A RECALL ITEM FOR 2002 AND 2003 MODEL YEAR ALTIMAS, BUT NOT 2004 MODEL YEAR. FAILURE OF THIS PART ON THE HIGHWAY IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND MAY BE AFFECTING LATER MODEL YEARS.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237542

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