← 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
62,113 miles · Jul 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BACK UP, WAITED 10 MINUTES AND IT FINALLY STARTED BACK UP. DROVE 1 BLOCK AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A FAULTY CAM AND CRA…

Read full complaint

ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BACK UP, WAITED 10 MINUTES AND IT FINALLY STARTED BACK UP. DROVE 1 BLOCK AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A FAULTY CAM AND CRANK SENSOR AND IT WAS $258 TO REPLACE IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT THE SAME PART, CAM AND CRANK SENSOR, WAS RECALLED ON PRIOR AND LATER ALTIMA MODELS, BUT 2004 MODELS WERE EXCLUDED. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPEATED OVER AND OVER ON SAFECAR.GOV AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER WEBSITES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WHERE I TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE SEEMINGLY CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS PART ON THE ALTIMAS AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO NISSAN. I CONTACTED NISSAN DIRECTLY AND MY FILE WAS ESCALATED TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER WHO REQUESTED THAT I FAX HIM THE INVOICE RECEIPT FOR PAYMENT AND MY VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND HE WOULD HAVE IT REVIEWED TO SEE IF IT QUALIFIED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HE TELEPHONED ME 2 DAYS LATER AND INFORMED ME THAT I DID NOT MEET THE QUALIFICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND MANY, MANY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH. NOT PLACING A RECALL ON THIS PART IS PUTTING MANY LIVES IN DANGER AS THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT WHATSOEVER. EVEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND YOU CANNOT STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING TO REPLACE A PART THAT IS FAULTY AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233775

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA, IN APRIL 07 I EXPERIENCED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND PAID TO HAVE THE CRANK SENSOR REPLACED. I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND CONTACTED NISSAN WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER FAXING ALL THE RELEVANT…

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA, IN APRIL 07 I EXPERIENCED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND PAID TO HAVE THE CRANK SENSOR REPLACED. I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND CONTACTED NISSAN WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER FAXING ALL THE RELEVANT INFORMATION, I WAS TOLD AFTER WAITING 3 MONTHS THAT I WAS DENIED A REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE RECALL TIME HAD LAPSED. I DON'T THINK I WAS TREATED FAIRLY AS NOWHERE IN THE RECALL LETTER IT STATED ANY EXPIRATION DATE. I DO BELIEVE I AM DUE A REIMBURSEMENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. THANKS MUCH YVETTE BUCKLAND *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233712

74,000 miles · Jul 2, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD SCREECH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESET THE BRAKE SENSORS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THE FAILURE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD SCREECH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESET THE BRAKE SENSORS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THE FAILURE. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND, INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE LOSING SPEED AND EVENTUALLY COMING TO A STOP, IT JUST MADE A SCREECHING NOISE AND CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE NISSAN DEALER, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #10233002

70,000 miles · Jun 29, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WAS RECALLED ON MY NISSAN 2004 ALTIMA. I TOOK THIS IN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS FIXED.......EXCEPT 2 WEEKS AFTER MY CAR BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THE IT WAS ALREADY DOING. IT GOES DEAD WHEN I AM PULLING AWAY AT A RED LIGHT OR TURNING. WHEN I TAKE IT BACK, THEY JUST RESET THE SENSOR SWITCH AND WITHIN 1 WEEKS MY C…

Read full complaint

THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WAS RECALLED ON MY NISSAN 2004 ALTIMA. I TOOK THIS IN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS FIXED.......EXCEPT 2 WEEKS AFTER MY CAR BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THE IT WAS ALREADY DOING. IT GOES DEAD WHEN I AM PULLING AWAY AT A RED LIGHT OR TURNING. WHEN I TAKE IT BACK, THEY JUST RESET THE SENSOR SWITCH AND WITHIN 1 WEEKS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON AND THE CAR STARTS GOING DEAD ON ME AGAIN. I AM NEARLY BEEN RAN OVER MY OTHER CARS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT IF THIS TYPE CAR. I HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM AFTER THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232648

79,000 miles · Jun 23, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) TO REPROGRAM THE ECM. IN DECEMBER OF 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL E…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) TO REPROGRAM THE ECM. IN DECEMBER OF 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS STILL SHUTTING OFF. ON JUNE 21, 2008, THE ECM WAS REPLACED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,613 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10232024

121,000 miles · Jun 8, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 2.5 LITRE NISSAN ALTIMA ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 60 MPH I FELT AN ABRUPT JERK LIKE NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION, ALMOST EVEN LIKE A MISFIRE OF SOME SORT. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT WAS ODD AND DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HAS STAYED ON. WHILE MY CAR DID NOT S…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 2.5 LITRE NISSAN ALTIMA ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 60 MPH I FELT AN ABRUPT JERK LIKE NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION, ALMOST EVEN LIKE A MISFIRE OF SOME SORT. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT WAS ODD AND DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HAS STAYED ON. WHILE MY CAR DID NOT STALL OR IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN, IT WAS HARD TO CRANK AFTER SHUTTING DOWN. I HAD DIFFICULTY CLIMBING HILLS AS THE CAR LACKED THE POWER AND DIFFICULTY SHIFTING DOWN. IN TROUBLESHOOTING THIS PROBLEM, I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE GAS CAP. THIS DID NOT SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I TOOK IT INTO THE MECHANIC. HE HAS HAD MY CAR FOR TWO DAYS. HE FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND HE SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET TO FOR REPAIR AS WELL AS HAVING PROBLEMS REMOVING IT. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A BILL FOR THIS REPAIR BUT WITH THE LABOR INVOLVED TO REMOVE THIS SENSOR, IT WON'T BE CHEAP. WHY ON EARTH ARE MANUFACTURERS PUTTING PARTS INTO PLACES THAT ARE DIFFICULT AND COSTLY TO REPAIR. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE AVERAGE "JOE" WHO LIKES TO WORK ON HIS OWN CAR, CAN'T EVEN DO THIS ONE! NOW, THE OTHER LUDICROUS PROBLEM IS THAT NISSAN APPEARS TO NOT HAVE INCLUDED THE 2004 NISSAN 2.5 ALTIMA IN THE "RECALL" CAMPAIGN FOR THIS FAULTY SENSOR. THAT SPELLS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND COMPLAINTS TO MY ATTORNEY GENERAL AND BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THERE IS NO WAY, THAT I OR ANYONE HAVING BOUGHT A 2004 NISSAN 2.5 ALTIMA SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF COSTS INVOLVED INTO THIS ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230250

69,000 miles · Jun 2, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OR LOWER, THE VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT WILL SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT EVEN START. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT EXCEED 30 MPH. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE JERKS BACK A…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OR LOWER, THE VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT WILL SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT EVEN START. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT EXCEED 30 MPH. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE JERKS BACK AS IF IT WILL SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ODI #10229476

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2008
Visibility

WE BOUGHT A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA, IT HAS POWER WINDOWS, THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATICALLY GOES UP (CLOSES) WITH A HIT OF A BUTTON AND DOES NOT COME DOWN IF THERE IS A RESISTANCE, THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE A CHILD CAN HIT THAT BY ACCIDENT WHILE LOOKING OUT, AND CAN CAUSE DEATH, THE WINDOWS SHOULD GO DOWN AUTO…

Read full complaint

WE BOUGHT A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA, IT HAS POWER WINDOWS, THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATICALLY GOES UP (CLOSES) WITH A HIT OF A BUTTON AND DOES NOT COME DOWN IF THERE IS A RESISTANCE, THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE A CHILD CAN HIT THAT BY ACCIDENT WHILE LOOKING OUT, AND CAN CAUSE DEATH, THE WINDOWS SHOULD GO DOWN AUTOMATICALLY BUT NOT UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228107

44,000 miles · May 5, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON A FEW OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEARS SLIPPED AND JOLTED WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DIMMED BRIEFLY, AND HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVER SINCE. HER VIN WAS N…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON A FEW OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEARS SLIPPED AND JOLTED WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DIMMED BRIEFLY, AND HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVER SINCE. HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10226686

65,000 miles · Apr 23, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND VICE VERSA, THERE IS A HARD JERK. IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO DROP. THE FAILURE OCCURS ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER WHEN THE CONTACT BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND VICE VERSA, THERE IS A HARD JERK. IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO DROP. THE FAILURE OCCURS ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER WHEN THE CONTACT BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE DEALER FIRST SUGGESTED THAT A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS NEEDED, BUT LATER STATED THAT A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONE WAS FAILING. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10225493

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