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2005 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Altima years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Altima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 231.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

908 reports with mileage · 183 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.

  • Structure. Review the 351 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 259 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 141 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

48 crash reports18 fire reports44 injury reports

Engine complaints

141 reports
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100,677 miles · May 5, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR, EVEN IF YOU TRY TO DOWNSHIFT IT MANUALLY IT WOULDN'T COME OUT OF 5TH GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586654

105,000 miles · Apr 23, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

ABOUT 2 YRS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY NISSAN. I TOOK IT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT CAME UP WITH TWO CODES THAT AT THIS POINT I DON'T REMEMBER. HOWEVER, WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT I NEEDED MY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED. I CHECKED ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SENSOR AND I CAME ACROSS A RECALL FOR THIS SENSOR. AROUND THE SA…

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ABOUT 2 YRS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY NISSAN. I TOOK IT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT CAME UP WITH TWO CODES THAT AT THIS POINT I DON'T REMEMBER. HOWEVER, WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT I NEEDED MY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED. I CHECKED ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SENSOR AND I CAME ACROSS A RECALL FOR THIS SENSOR. AROUND THE SAME TIME MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED BURNING OUT BULBS ALSO. I ALSO NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL ON A HEADLIGHT ISSUE. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO CHECK MY VIN TO SEE IF I QUALIFIED FOR THE RECALL AND I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS SUPPOSEDLY ONE OF THE IMPACTED ONES. WHICH IS TOO COINCIDENTAL. MY CAR STALLS WHILE RUNNING AND AT TIMES WILL NOT START. AND I SAY WILL, BECAUSE, I BROUGHT IT IN TO 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS FOR REPLACEMENT AND NEITHER COULD FIND A COMPATIBLE SENSOR. THEY EVEN ORDERED ONE FROM NISSAN AND IT DID NOT FIT AND WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. THEY APOLOGIZED AND SAID THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY NEED TO SOMEHOW REPLACE IT. I HAVE SINCE CONTINUED DRIVING IT, AS IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND TURNS OFF MY OFTEN. I AM ASKING FOR SOME TYPE OF HELP. I AM OUT OF OPTIONS. I AM AFRAID IT WILL ONE DAY SHUT OFF AS I DRIVING AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584428

50,000 miles · Apr 17, 2014
Engine

NISSAN SAID MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE CAMSHAFT AND SENSOR..WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED..DUE TO THE VECHILE JUST STALLING ALL OF A SUDDEN...VERY DANGEROUS..IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR A PART...THEN THERE IS A RECALL..IT CANNOT BE EITHER OR. PLEASE RESPOND

NHTSA ODI #10583243

109,000 miles · Apr 16, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10583157

158,000 miles · Apr 12, 2014
Engine

ERRATIC IDLE, RANDOM MISFIRE, BAD MPG, CAR IS SLUGGISH I BELIEVE THE POWER VALVE IS THE ISSUE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579328

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

HI, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2008. I REVIEWED SERVICE RECORDS FROM 2005 PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY LARGE AMOUNT OF ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH IS THE "GREY" AREA OF THE ECM ISSUE IN COORDINATION WITH FAMOUS THE CAMSHAFT CRANKSHAFT FAULT P…

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HI, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2008. I REVIEWED SERVICE RECORDS FROM 2005 PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY LARGE AMOUNT OF ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH IS THE "GREY" AREA OF THE ECM ISSUE IN COORDINATION WITH FAMOUS THE CAMSHAFT CRANKSHAFT FAULT P0355 & P0131. I'M AN ENGINEER AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF A VEHICLE. THIS SENSOR WAS A FAULTY DESIGN FROM THE BEGINNING IN WHICH OIL COULD ENTER INSIDE THE SENSOR, THEREFORE CAUSING A SHORT AND DISABLING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO ME AND WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. TO FIX THE ISSUE CHEAPLY, NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE ECM IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE THE ?FAULTY? CRANKSHAFT SENSOR PART. BUT IN ORDER TO SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, NISSAN WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE WARRANTIED REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR DESIGN (MAGNET SENSOR). INSTEAD, THE CONSUMER (MYSELF) WOULD HAVE TO PAY BETWEEN $300 & $450 TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED WITH THE ?NEW & IMPROVED VERSION?. NEW AND IMPROVED MEANS THE PROPERLY DESIGNED VERSION. THE INITIAL DESIGN SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT IT WASN'T. IT DOESN'T TAKE AN ENGINEER TO FIGURE THIS OUT BUT I AM ONE AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ?BIG PICTURE? OF THE RECALL AND LACK OF INCLUSION OF THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPAIRS. I AM REQUESTING NISSAN TO COVER THE FULL COST OF THE CAMSHAFT & CRANKSHAFT SENSOR & THE ASSOCIATED LABOR. I WAS PUT IN HARM?S WAY DURING THE INITIAL RECALL ISSUE IN WHICH MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THAT IS A BAD ENOUGH EXPERIENCE. I AM NOT WILLING TO ALSO PAY NISSAN $400 TO REPAIR THE FAULTY SENSOR WHICH WAS A LARGE PART OF WHY THIS OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563501

162,000 miles · Dec 27, 2013
Engine

DRIVING TO WORK...AT 25 MPH .... THE ENGINE CAME ON .....ALONG WITH THE OIL LIGHT....AND ALL OF THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD....AND THEN THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I THE MIDDLE OF STREET. THERE WERE FIVE CARS BEHIND THAT HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557391

46,500 miles · Dec 23, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED MY VEHICLE STALLING AS I WAS DRIVING. IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES FOR ME TO RESTART LEAVING ME VENERABLE TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE SAME EVENING I LEARNED OF RECALL# 07V527000. THE FOLLOWING DAY I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL RESOLVED. THEY ADVISED THE RECALL ONLY COVERS REPROGRAMM…

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I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED MY VEHICLE STALLING AS I WAS DRIVING. IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES FOR ME TO RESTART LEAVING ME VENERABLE TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE SAME EVENING I LEARNED OF RECALL# 07V527000. THE FOLLOWING DAY I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL RESOLVED. THEY ADVISED THE RECALL ONLY COVERS REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER NOT REPLACING DEFECTIVE CRANK SENSOR. I FEEL THAT REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER WILL NOT RESOLVE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD FAIL EVEN WITH REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER. I WAS CHARGED 96.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PART. TO MY UNDERSTANDING MANY OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT FAIL.DEALER DID NOT OFFER TO REPROGRAM COMPUTER THEY INSISTED THAT ONLY REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART WOULD RESOLVE MY ISSUE WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557123

92,000 miles · Nov 25, 2013
EnginePower Train

THIS RECALL NUMBER, #03V084 DESCRIBES MY SITUATION PRECISELY. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 97,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING (OVER THE LAST COURSE OF A YEAR) SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION. SOON AFTER I CHANGED MY OIL IN MAY OF 2013, I BEGAN TO NOTICE UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE DISCO…

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THIS RECALL NUMBER, #03V084 DESCRIBES MY SITUATION PRECISELY. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 97,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING (OVER THE LAST COURSE OF A YEAR) SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION. SOON AFTER I CHANGED MY OIL IN MAY OF 2013, I BEGAN TO NOTICE UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT MY MOTOR WAS ONLY RUNNING ON A QUART AND A HALF OF OIL. THE MECHANIC REPLENISHED MY OIL TO ITS NORMAL LEVEL AND SINCE THEN, THE MOTOR CONSUMES OIL AT AN ABNORMALLY RAPID RATE. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA??S RECALL #03V084, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DISINTEGRATES AND THE PARTICLES OF THE CONVERTER ARE DRAWN BACK INTO THE MOTOR, WHICH CAUSES SCARING ON THE CYLINDER WALLS. THIS PROBLEM IS THE ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR MY VEHICLE'S RAPID OIL CONSUMPTION. IT??S MY INTENTION TO APPROACH NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553770

111,000 miles · Sep 24, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL SERVICE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL SERVICE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,143.

NHTSA ODI #10545113

Official recalls

1

07V527000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 14, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION 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. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. 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.

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