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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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183,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND HESITATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD DETACHED AND CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND HESITATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD DETACHED AND CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,300. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541777

60,000 miles · Aug 27, 2013
EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR STALLED OUT... ALMOST GOT HIT.... HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED..LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR MODEL AND PART...GOT IN TOUCH WITH NISSAN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR VIN..FROM WHAT I READ ALL NISSAN ALTIMA'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PART..I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE. CAN …

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THE CAR STALLED OUT... ALMOST GOT HIT.... HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED..LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR MODEL AND PART...GOT IN TOUCH WITH NISSAN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR VIN..FROM WHAT I READ ALL NISSAN ALTIMA'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PART..I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE. CAN SOMEONE CHECK THIS VIN AST SAFERCAR.GOV AND LET ME KNOW ...THANK YOU...PS THIS CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537556

100,000 miles · Aug 13, 2013
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE THREE OCCUPANTS EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND FLAMES …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE THREE OCCUPANTS EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND FLAMES WERE NOT PRESENT; HOWEVER, PARTS OF THE ENGINE DETACHED ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO EXCESSIVE LOW OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10535099

97,000 miles · Aug 5, 2013
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED TWO COILS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED TWO COILS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE COILS AND THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533621

94,000 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Engine

GOT THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON 07/31/2013 AND THE NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE WAITING IN THE RED SIGNAL. THE LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD THE CODE P0335 WAS BEING RETURNED WHICH MEANT CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS FAILED. SINCE THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME MODEL AND PROBLEM, I CONTACTED THE NISSAN CUSTOMER CAR…

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GOT THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON 07/31/2013 AND THE NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE WAITING IN THE RED SIGNAL. THE LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD THE CODE P0335 WAS BEING RETURNED WHICH MEANT CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS FAILED. SINCE THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME MODEL AND PROBLEM, I CONTACTED THE NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SAID THIS VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN. GOING TO CHECK WITH THE LOCAL DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE ECM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533081

54,000 miles · Jul 23, 2013
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10526311

54,000 miles · Jul 23, 2013
Engine

DEAR SIR/MADAM, I WAS CHECKING OUTSTANDING RECALLS FOR NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 SL MODELS AND I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR ALL ALTIMA'S BUILT-IN JAN'14 2004 - OCT23 '2006. FOR CRANKSHAFT SENSOR ISSUE. I SEE A LETTER IN SAFERCAR.GOV FOR 49 CFR PART 573. I SEE CORRESPONDENCE LETTERS BETWEEN NISSAN AND NATIONAL HIGHWAY…

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DEAR SIR/MADAM, I WAS CHECKING OUTSTANDING RECALLS FOR NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 SL MODELS AND I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR ALL ALTIMA'S BUILT-IN JAN'14 2004 - OCT23 '2006. FOR CRANKSHAFT SENSOR ISSUE. I SEE A LETTER IN SAFERCAR.GOV FOR 49 CFR PART 573. I SEE CORRESPONDENCE LETTERS BETWEEN NISSAN AND NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. CAN YOU PLEASE SUGGEST NISSAN TO FIX MY CAR FOR THIS RECALL. I AM SEEING "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" AND ERROR CODE I AM SEEING IS P0335 I.E FOR SAME RECALL. YOU CAN REACH ME AT[XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10526309

62,000 miles · Jul 15, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10524998

74,000 miles · Jun 26, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECURRENTLY FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT REFERENC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECURRENTLY FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #10521918

66,300 miles · Jun 24, 2013
Engine

I WAS DRIVING A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA (SE-R V6 WITH ONLY 66,000 MILES ON IT) AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH MY WIFE AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE RIGHT AWAY. IT'S NOW HARD TO START UNLIKE BEFORE AND IT SO…

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I WAS DRIVING A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA (SE-R V6 WITH ONLY 66,000 MILES ON IT) AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH MY WIFE AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE RIGHT AWAY. IT'S NOW HARD TO START UNLIKE BEFORE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE STARTING A CAR WITH A WEAK BATTERY ON IT BUT I KNOW MY BATTERY IS STILL GOOD THAT'S WHY I SUSPECTED SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. FINALLY AFTER 3 SECONDS THE ENGINE STARTED BUT THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT TURNED ON. WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE AS IT DID BEFORE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. THE FOLLOWING DAY I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. AFTER RUNNING SOME DIAGNOSTICS, THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I ASK IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ISSUE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID NONE. THE CALCULATED TOTAL COST WAS $631.00. AFTER FURTHER NEGOTIATION THE PRICE WENT DOWN TO $550.00. WHILE WAITING FOR THE SERVICE TO BE FINISHED I BROWSED THE NET AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE ALSO THE SAME PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN IF THERE'S REALLY NO RECALL FOR THIS DESPITE OF MANY CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND THEY EVEN PRINTED ME A RESULT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO CAMPAIGN FOR THIS ISSUE. I WENT HOME WONDERING WHY THERE IS NO "RECALL" MADE TO FIX THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521511

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.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems