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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
53,000 miles · Apr 21, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE IN FOR EMISSION TESTING; HOWEVER, IT FAILED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WARNING AND CRANK ANGLE SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE THEN RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE MAN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE IN FOR EMISSION TESTING; HOWEVER, IT FAILED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WARNING AND CRANK ANGLE SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE THEN RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT SHE RECEIVED THE NOTICE IN ERROR. ALTHOUGH HER VIN WAS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL LETTER, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. SHE HAS A COPY OF THE NOTICE AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

NHTSA ODI #10225260

91,687 miles · Apr 14, 2008
Electrical System

MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA SIMPLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART IT, IT ACTED LIKE THERE WAS NO 'SPARK' BUT IT DID TURN OVER. AFTER A LITTLE COOL DOWN, IT CRANKED AS NORMAL. SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THIS, WHILE EITHER DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGH…

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MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA SIMPLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART IT, IT ACTED LIKE THERE WAS NO 'SPARK' BUT IT DID TURN OVER. AFTER A LITTLE COOL DOWN, IT CRANKED AS NORMAL. SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THIS, WHILE EITHER DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT WOULD SHUT DOWN JUST LIKE TURNING OFF THE SWITCH. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT WOULD START NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AT MY EXPENSE ($197.38) EVEN THOUGH I PROTESTED THAT THERE WERE COMPLAINTS AN EVEN RECALLS ON OTHER ALTIMAS IN THE SAME SERIES. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD REIMBURSE ME CONSIDERING THE ONSLAUGHT OF COMPLAINTS AND POTENTIAL DANGER WHEN THIS OCCURS. (THE POWER STEERING FAILS TO WORK!) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224452

46,543 miles · Mar 25, 2008
Steering

STEERING BECOMES TIGHT TURNING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. BETTER WHEN IT'S WARM, WORSE WHEN IT'S COLD. OVER THE COURSE OF 4 WEEKS THE TIGHTENING HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT WHEEL CAN ONLY BE TURNED WITH BOTH HANDS AND PULLING HARD. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT WON'T TURN AT ALL, THEN LOOSENS BACK UP JUST ENOUGH TO COMPLETE TURN. INDEPENDENT …

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STEERING BECOMES TIGHT TURNING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. BETTER WHEN IT'S WARM, WORSE WHEN IT'S COLD. OVER THE COURSE OF 4 WEEKS THE TIGHTENING HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT WHEEL CAN ONLY BE TURNED WITH BOTH HANDS AND PULLING HARD. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT WON'T TURN AT ALL, THEN LOOSENS BACK UP JUST ENOUGH TO COMPLETE TURN. INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP DIAGNOSED IT INCORRECTLY, DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT CORRECTLY BUT THE PART TO FIX IT IS BACK ORDERED FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BECAUSE SO MANY CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD TO PREPAY TO ORDER THE PART, AND SCHEDULE THE REPAIR. HAD TO DRIVE AROUND FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS WAITING FOR THE PART AND HOPING THE STEERING DOESN'T LOCK UP COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222316

84,000 miles · Mar 21, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DEFECT, BUT HER V…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DEFECT, BUT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10221925

67,000 miles · Mar 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSORS. ON MARCH 14, 2008, THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSORS. ON MARCH 14, 2008, THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS EXHAUST FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, PURCHASE DATE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10221210

66,000 miles · Mar 4, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS A RECALL TO RESET THE ECM THAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS RECALL BUT NOW LEARN THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE SYSTEM RESET I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OUT ANY MONEY. BUT NOW THAT THE PROBLEM HAS ARISEN AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME, THIS CAUSED THE "CHECK ENGINE…

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CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS A RECALL TO RESET THE ECM THAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS RECALL BUT NOW LEARN THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE SYSTEM RESET I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OUT ANY MONEY. BUT NOW THAT THE PROBLEM HAS ARISEN AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME, THIS CAUSED THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" TO COME ON. NOW I MUST PAY TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED NOT JUST RESET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220025

41,596 miles · Feb 29, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NISSAN AND PAID $284.60 FOR THE REPAIR. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND FAXED THE REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION TO THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER 3 FAXES, 2 DEALERSHIP REPAIR DOCUMENTATION AND NUMEROUS HOURS SPENT WITH INDIA…

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I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NISSAN AND PAID $284.60 FOR THE REPAIR. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND FAXED THE REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION TO THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER 3 FAXES, 2 DEALERSHIP REPAIR DOCUMENTATION AND NUMEROUS HOURS SPENT WITH INDIA NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REFUND FROM NISSAN AS PROMISED BY SEVERAL REPRESENTATIVES AND MANAGERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219708

86,000 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SHUTS OFF ON ME WHILE I'M DRIVING OR PARKED AT A STOP LIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN LAST YEAR FOR A ECM REPROGRAM RECALL LAST YEAR. NOW I'VE HEARD THAT CERTAIN YEARS MODELS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM 2005, 2006, POSSIBLY A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I SEARCHED FOR A RECALL FOR MY PARTICULAR CAR AND I HAVE NOT FIND …

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2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SHUTS OFF ON ME WHILE I'M DRIVING OR PARKED AT A STOP LIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN LAST YEAR FOR A ECM REPROGRAM RECALL LAST YEAR. NOW I'VE HEARD THAT CERTAIN YEARS MODELS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM 2005, 2006, POSSIBLY A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I SEARCHED FOR A RECALL FOR MY PARTICULAR CAR AND I HAVE NOT FIND ONE. ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219551

73,480 miles · Feb 19, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING MY GIRLFRIENDS 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON 2/15/2008 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AND THEN DIRECTLY UPSHIFTED HARD. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR WHEN I LEFT IT CRANKED LONGER THAN USUALLY, IN FACT UNUSUALLY LONG BUT IT DID START UP. I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY TO GO HOME…

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I WAS DRIVING MY GIRLFRIENDS 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON 2/15/2008 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AND THEN DIRECTLY UPSHIFTED HARD. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR WHEN I LEFT IT CRANKED LONGER THAN USUALLY, IN FACT UNUSUALLY LONG BUT IT DID START UP. I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY TO GO HOME AND WHILE GETTING ON THE ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I DID WHAT I COULD TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND WAITING A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR. I DID GET IT RESTARTED AND TOOK CITY STREETS TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THE CODES READ FROM THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. I HAD 2 CODES, ONE BEING P0725 AND P0355. I ONCE AGAIN TOOK CITY STREETS HOME TO AVOID THE SAME THING HAPPENING GOING 70MPH. I GOT IT HOME THAT FRIDAY THE 15TH AND PUT IT IN THE GARAGE. I GOT ONLINE AND WENT TO NISSANCLUB.COM AND RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THAT THE P0335 IS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND THAT CAUSED MY CODE OF P0725 BEING THE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR. THROUGH RESEARCHING THIS IS A VERY BIG PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002-2006 ALTIMAS, MAINLY THE 2.5 4CYLINDERS. NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2002-2005 AND 2006 ALTIMAS BUT FAILED TO INCLUDE THE 2003 AND 2004 IN IT. NOW WHY WOULD THEY NOT PUT THE SAME FAULTY SENSORS IN THE 2003'S AND 2004'S AND SKIP AHEAD AND PUT THEM IN THE 05'S AND 06'S. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY THE 18TH TO VERIFY HER CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND IT WASN'T. THIS IS NISSANS DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO NOT TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS PUT IN THE 2002-2006 ALTIMAS. I PAID FOR THE $30.00 SENSOR, ALSO ANOTHER $30 SENSOR THAT IS RECOMMENDED REPLACED WITH THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND SPENT 3 1/2 HOURS OUTTA MY DAY TO REPLACE THE HARD TO GET SENSOR. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO INCLUDE THE 2003 AND 2004 ALTIMAS IN THE RECALL WITH THE 2002-05, 06. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218564

83,000 miles · Feb 19, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON 2/5/08 WE STARTED OUR 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. UPON OBSERVATION THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS NOT TURNING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT ON THE MAIN PULLEY ON THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FALLEN OUT AND THE PULLEY HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE CRANKSHAFT. HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE IN…

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ON 2/5/08 WE STARTED OUR 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. UPON OBSERVATION THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS NOT TURNING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT ON THE MAIN PULLEY ON THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FALLEN OUT AND THE PULLEY HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE CRANKSHAFT. HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN HORRIFIC POSSIBLY LEADING TO FATALITIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218541

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