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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
200,600 miles · May 10, 2014
EnginePower Train

ON MY WAY HOME I WAS GOING ABOUT 25MPH, THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND STARTED TO STALL. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT STARTED FINE. I MADE IT TO NAPA AND ONE OF THE GUYS TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T MOVING. SO I GOT THAT AND HAD MY …

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ON MY WAY HOME I WAS GOING ABOUT 25MPH, THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND STARTED TO STALL. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT STARTED FINE. I MADE IT TO NAPA AND ONE OF THE GUYS TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T MOVING. SO I GOT THAT AND HAD MY FATHER PUT THAT PART ON AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND IT STILL DID NOTHING. I PARK IT BACK IN THE DRIVEWAY AS I NORMALLY WOULD WITH THE LITTLE POWER THAT IT DID HAVE, AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST MADE A LOUD THUMP. MY FATHER TELLS ME TO START IT UP AND I STARTED IT UP AGAIN AS I NORMALLY WOULD AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTS WHINING. THIS JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE, THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING ABOUT TO HAPPEN. NO LIGHTS WERE ON, NO WEIRD NOISES, AND THE POWER WAS DOING COMPLETELY FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587556

67,000 miles · Apr 18, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ELEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ELEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10583480

175,000 miles · Jan 3, 2014
Structure

RUSTING TO FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE. APPROXIMATELY 6 INCH WIDE HOLE IN FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE WHICH FROM OTHER NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET IS A PROBLEM WITH NISSAN'S FROM 2002 TO 2007. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558421

75,000 miles · Oct 30, 2013
Structure

THREE OF THE FOUR EXTERIOR CAR-DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF IN THE PAST YEAR, INCLUDING TWO IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. I'VE NOTICED THAT OTHER ALTIMA'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. A TOW-TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THE SAME THING ON OTHER ALTIMA'S THAT HE TOWS ALL OF THE TIME. THESE THINGS SHOUL…

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THREE OF THE FOUR EXTERIOR CAR-DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF IN THE PAST YEAR, INCLUDING TWO IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. I'VE NOTICED THAT OTHER ALTIMA'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. A TOW-TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THE SAME THING ON OTHER ALTIMA'S THAT HE TOWS ALL OF THE TIME. THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT BREAK. I'VE NOTICED NOW, THAT NISSAN HAS SINCE STARTED USING A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TYPE OF EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON THEIR NEWER MODEL ALTIMA'S IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. NISSAN NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON ALL OF THEIR ALTIMA CARS THAT HAVE THESE FAULTY DOOR HANDLES. THE COST TO REPLACE ONE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS IN EXCESS OF $140, BRINGING THE COST TO REPLACE TO REPLACE ALL FOUR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES IN EXCESS OF $560!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550267

89,000 miles · Oct 18, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ECM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ECM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI #10548389

150,000 miles · Sep 28, 2013
EngineFire

ON 9/19/2013, WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 21 HIGHWAY, I WAS ON MY WAY TO RUTGERS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ENGINE WAS FULL OF SMOKE, MY RADIATOR BLEW UP ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY AND EVEN WORSE MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF INSTANTLY. THE GUY BEHIND ME WAS VERY CLOSE TO HITTING MY CAR BUT LUCKILY HE HAD TO SLAM HIS BRAKE…

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ON 9/19/2013, WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 21 HIGHWAY, I WAS ON MY WAY TO RUTGERS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ENGINE WAS FULL OF SMOKE, MY RADIATOR BLEW UP ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY AND EVEN WORSE MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF INSTANTLY. THE GUY BEHIND ME WAS VERY CLOSE TO HITTING MY CAR BUT LUCKILY HE HAD TO SLAM HIS BRAKES VERY HARD. I WAS SO CLOSE TO THE DIVIDER THANK GOD I DID NOT SLAM INTO IT OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. ANOTHER MAN CAME OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT DOWN MY CAR. A POLICE OFFICER AND OTHER MEN PUSHED MY CAR TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. ANOTHER INCIDENT, 9/21 AS I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM A MECHANIC THAT REPLACED MY RADIATOR, ON ROUTE 17 MY CAR WAS DRIVING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND STALLED. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT BACK ON AND ENTERED A LANDMARK PARKING LOT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT ON NHTSA.GOV THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR PARTS: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME MY CAR ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO COOL SO A TOW TRUCK TOOK MY CAR TO MEADOWLANDS NISSAN DEALER IN NJ AND THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE "ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING" RECALL CLAIMING THAT THEIR ECM RECALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TEMPERATURE AND DRIVE-ABILITY. I MENTIONED THAT ON THE GOVERNMENT SITE IT CLEARLY STATES "ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING" BUT THEY STATED THAT NISSAN DEALERS ARE PRIVATE DEALERS AND DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE SAYS. THE MAN TOLD ME THEY FOLLOW WHATEVER THEY HAVE IN THEIR NISSAN SYSTEM, NOT THE GOVERNMENT. I AM SO OFFENDED THAT MY LIFE WAS ON THE LINE TWICE OVER NISSAN'S HAZARDOUS RECALLS. YET, THEY ARE REFUSING TO MAKE MY CAR A SAFE VEHICLE. I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE I'M ONLY 21 I"M WAY TOO YOUNG TO DIE OVER A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE ENGINE. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND I WANT THEM TO FOLLOW GOVERNMENT RECALLS AND MAKE THEIR VEHICLES SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546022

170,000 miles · Aug 12, 2013
Engine

THE IGNITION COILS KEEP BLISTERING AND BUBBLING/MELTING AFTER REPLACING NEW ONES. IT IS NEVER ENDING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534929

102,436 miles · Aug 6, 2013
Engine

ON 7/29/2013, MY 2004 ALTIMA WAS LOSING POWER, FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY HEADING TOWARDS WORK. THE ISSUE WAS DOING THE SAME ON THE WAY HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK CAR INTO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC RAN A TEST AND IT SAID I HAD A MISFIRE ON NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG. …

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ON 7/29/2013, MY 2004 ALTIMA WAS LOSING POWER, FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY HEADING TOWARDS WORK. THE ISSUE WAS DOING THE SAME ON THE WAY HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK CAR INTO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC RAN A TEST AND IT SAID I HAD A MISFIRE ON NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG. HE PULLED OUT THE PLUG AND GAP WAS PUSHED TOGETHER. ALL FOUR SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL LATER THAT NIGHT AND THE SAME ISSUE WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. HE GOT THE SAME READING, MISFIRE IN SPARK PLUG 4. HE PULLED OUT SPARK PLUG AND THE GAP WAS PUSHED TOGETHER. WE LOOKED UP TO SEE WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS. WE FOUND OTHER WERE HAVING A ISSUE OF A SCREW CAN COME LOOSE FROM THE POWER VALVE INTAKE. HE TOLD ME TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID ON 8/4/2013. THEY DID THEIR OWN TEST AND EVEN SCOOP THE ENGINE AND DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SCREW MISSING. THEY FOUND THE SCREW MISSING HAD COME FROM THE POWER VALVE INTAKE IN THE POWER VALVE. EVEN FOUND PART OF THE PLATE HAS BROKEN AND ENTERED THE ENGINE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON SUCH ISSUE. SINCE I PURCHASE THE CAR IN 2011, NOT SURE IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF. BUT SINCE IT HAPPEN I DON'T THINK THEY DID. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS P5202. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533911

103,000 miles · Aug 5, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING 60-65 MPH, WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND MY NEWBORN DAUGHTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITH A RIVER OF TRAFFIC SURROUNDING AROUND ME. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR FINALLY STARTED BACK UP & RAN FINE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR BECAME HARDER TO START A…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING 60-65 MPH, WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND MY NEWBORN DAUGHTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITH A RIVER OF TRAFFIC SURROUNDING AROUND ME. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR FINALLY STARTED BACK UP & RAN FINE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR BECAME HARDER TO START AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ON THE INTERSTATE ONCE AGAIN. I GOT THE ENGINE CODE, CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS P0340 (CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR). UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON NATIONWIDE PROBLEM. NOT ONLY DOES THE ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING, IT COMPLETELY CAUSES THE MOTOR TO SHUT OFF! THE MOTOR IN A VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF WHILE GOING DOWN A JAMMED INTERSTATE OR GOING ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO NOT GET RECOGNIZED. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS HORRIBLE SITUATION, AND VIEWING THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AS WELL. I AM FLABBERGASTED THE CAM/CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FOR THE 2002-2005 ALTIMA HAS YET TO BE RECALLED. THE CHANCE OF THE PART BEING DEFICIENT IS ABNORMALLY HIGH. THE PART IS INCAPABLE OF PERFORMING IT PURPOSE, BECAUSE ONCE REPAIRED IT CONTINUOUSLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. NISSAN DOES STATE THAT THIS IS A DEFICIENT PART AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. BUT A SERVICE BULLETIN DOES NOT DO ANYONE ANY JUSTICE WHEN THE SENSORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ONCE A YEAR!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533581

95,000 miles · Jul 22, 2013
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED EIGHT DIFFERENT TIMES BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10526125

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