Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
3025–50K
6350–75K
5075–100K
47100–150K
13150K+
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 · Mar 11, 2015
Steering
PROBLEM VEHICLE IS 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 50,000 MILES. NOTICED WHEN DRIVING THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS BINDING WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE. SEEMS LIKE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED WITH FLUID AND POWER STEERING PUMP. NOT THAT SO DURING THE COURSE OF THE DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BIND BOTH DURING T…
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PROBLEM VEHICLE IS 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 50,000 MILES. NOTICED WHEN DRIVING THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS BINDING WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE. SEEMS LIKE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED WITH FLUID AND POWER STEERING PUMP. NOT THAT SO DURING THE COURSE OF THE DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BIND BOTH DURING TURNING AND WHEN RETURNING THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHT. THE BINDING (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 . THE BINDING IS BAD ENOUGH THAT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. BECAUSE OF THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THE DIFFICULTY IN STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS. 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 ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH SIMILAR YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE MAJOR ACCIDENTS COULD HAPPEN. I AM AFRAID THE STEERING IS GOING TO GO OUT COMPLETELY AND CAUSE A HEAD ON COLLISION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10693712
202,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,000.
NHTSA ODI #10691753
136,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING LOT, MY CAR JUST CUT OFF. I HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO EVEN TAKE IT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT UNTIL RECENTLY AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH OF MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE GOING BAD AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1100 TO GET IT FIXED. SO I CHECKED ONLINE TO SEE IT WAS ANY RECALLS ON IT AND IT WAS SEVER…
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WHILE I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING LOT, MY CAR JUST CUT OFF. I HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO EVEN TAKE IT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT UNTIL RECENTLY AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH OF MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE GOING BAD AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1100 TO GET IT FIXED. SO I CHECKED ONLINE TO SEE IT WAS ANY RECALLS ON IT AND IT WAS SEVERAL BUT WAS TOLD IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY CAR. SINCE THE FIRST TIME THAT IT CUT OFF IT HAS DONE IT AT LEAST 6 MORE TIMES. ONCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE RECALLS SAY MY MAKE AND MODEL AND MILEAGE OF MY ALTIMA BUT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE MY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10676717
Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System
WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR NOT LONG AFTER I HAD IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10662407
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2014
Structure
I NOTICED ONE DAY SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDER MY DRIVER SIDE UNDER BODY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICE THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE UNDER BODY TO BE CORRODED OUT WITH ABOUT A 5 X 11 HOLE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND THINK NISSAN SHOULD BE SENDING OUT A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10659178
110,000 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 20, 2014 AND MY INSURANCE CONSIDERED CAR AS " TOTAL LOSS" AFTER APPRAISAL BUT AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SEVERE DAMAGE AS I REAR ENDED CAR IN FRONT. I DID SUFFER MUSCLE ACHE FOR COUPLE OF DAYS BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED EVEN MY PRESCRIPTION GLASSES FOR DISTANCE BROKE WITH IMP…
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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 20, 2014 AND MY INSURANCE CONSIDERED CAR AS " TOTAL LOSS" AFTER APPRAISAL BUT AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SEVERE DAMAGE AS I REAR ENDED CAR IN FRONT. I DID SUFFER MUSCLE ACHE FOR COUPLE OF DAYS BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED EVEN MY PRESCRIPTION GLASSES FOR DISTANCE BROKE WITH IMPACT PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR " SENSOR" ISSUES EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH CAR AND I HAD TO BEAR THE EXPENSES EVERY TIME THE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED ALMOST EVERY YEAR FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND I COMPLAINED TO NISSAN BUT THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT & NOW WITH AIR BAG NOT OPENING WITH TOTAL DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS VERY WORRISOME. I DO HAVE PICTURES / POLICE REPORT FOR ACCIDENT & NISSAN REPAIR WORK DONE IN PAST FOR SENSOR ISSUES IF NEEDED THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING..UPDATED 12/05/14*BF
NHTSA ODI #10654686
200,000 miles · Nov 6, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #10652956
113,000 miles · Oct 6, 2014
Structure
I HAVE TWO SAFETY RELATED ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. 1) THE FRONT SUBFRAME HAS HOLES DUE TO RUST. 2) THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD IS RUSTED THROUGH WITH A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 10" X 20". I TOOK THAT CAR TO FRED MARTIN NISSAN FOR AN INSPECTION. THEY STATED THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, RECALL OR GOODWILL CAMPA…
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I HAVE TWO SAFETY RELATED ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. 1) THE FRONT SUBFRAME HAS HOLES DUE TO RUST. 2) THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD IS RUSTED THROUGH WITH A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 10" X 20". I TOOK THAT CAR TO FRED MARTIN NISSAN FOR AN INSPECTION. THEY STATED THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, RECALL OR GOODWILL CAMPAIGN. THESE ISSUES APPEAR TO BE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10641698
85,000 miles · Oct 2, 2014
Engine
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARED DOING HIGHWAY SPEED. GARAGE REPLACED CAM SHAFT SENSOR. 2 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. GARAGE REPLACED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. PROBLEM RESOLVED BUT THIS SEEMS TO COME UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. WHEN LIGHT WAS ON THERE WAS SEVERE LOSS OF POWER SINCE THE BAD SENSOR WAS …
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SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARED DOING HIGHWAY SPEED. GARAGE REPLACED CAM SHAFT SENSOR. 2 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. GARAGE REPLACED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. PROBLEM RESOLVED BUT THIS SEEMS TO COME UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. WHEN LIGHT WAS ON THERE WAS SEVERE LOSS OF POWER SINCE THE BAD SENSOR WAS CONFUSING THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. DANGEROUS SITUATION DEMONSTRATING NEED FOR RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10640949
130,000 miles · Sep 17, 2014
Structure
DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AS I WAS TRYING TO ENTER VEHICLE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, ANOTHER BROKE OFF. THERE IS SHARP PLASTIC WHERE IT WAS BROKEN AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT CUTTING YOURSELF. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE QUICKLY AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS NOT…
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DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AS I WAS TRYING TO ENTER VEHICLE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, ANOTHER BROKE OFF. THERE IS SHARP PLASTIC WHERE IT WAS BROKEN AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT CUTTING YOURSELF. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE QUICKLY AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS NOT SAFE. *TR
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 ↗