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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 And Engine Cooling complaints

259 reports
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103,000 miles · Jul 1, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 AND IN NOV OF 2009 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR DUE TO A ECM REPROGRAM(CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODE R0712).ON JUNE 27 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AT 10MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF,IT RESTARTED BACK UP RITE AWAY SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT.HOWEVER THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGA…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 AND IN NOV OF 2009 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR DUE TO A ECM REPROGRAM(CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODE R0712).ON JUNE 27 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AT 10MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF,IT RESTARTED BACK UP RITE AWAY SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT.HOWEVER THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND IT DIDN'T RESTART RIGHT AWAY.ON MONDAY JUNE 29TH I CALLED NISSAN AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT.I TOOK MY CAR IN TO NISSAN OF HAYWARD CA ON JUNE 30TH AT 8:30AM DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM, THE GUY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED IN THE RECALL(WHICH I KNEW WAS UNTRUE) BUT THAT THERE WAS A UPGRADE THAT HAD TO BE DONE ON THE CARS COMPUTER BUT THAT IT MITE NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR.AFTER THE REPROGRAMMING WAS COMPLETE I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER CODES THAT CAME UP AND THAT REPROGRAMMING THE ECM FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE OK.UNFORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBAND TO WORK AND SOON AS WE WERE TAKING OFF FROM THE LIGHT THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN AND DID NOT RESTART FOR 10 MINUTES.NISSAN REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER IN MY CAR AND PROBABLY IN MANY OTHER 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA'S HOWEVER JUST LIKE IN MY CASE REPROGRAMMING THESES COMPUTERS ISN'T ENOUGH BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE CAR AND I FEEL LIKE NISSAN SHOULD TAKE MORE CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY THAN JUST REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER WHEN IT CLEARLY ISN'T FIXING THE VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT THESE VEHICLES IMPOSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO MY FAMILY AND OTHERS AS MY CAR IS JUST SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON BEHALF OF NISSAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ASSISTED IN THE PROPER MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275431

97,000 miles · Jun 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST OR ASSUME LIABILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THERE WERE RECALLS LISTED FOR THE SAME FAILURES FOR PREVIOUS YEAR VEHICLES (SAME MAKE AND MODEL), BUT NONE FOR THE 2005 ALTIMA. THE DE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST OR ASSUME LIABILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THERE WERE RECALLS LISTED FOR THE SAME FAILURES FOR PREVIOUS YEAR VEHICLES (SAME MAKE AND MODEL), BUT NONE FOR THE 2005 ALTIMA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF MORE THAN $200. THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10274145

91,000 miles · Jun 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAR FAILED TO START AFTER REPEATED TRIES, THEN FINALLY STARTED. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. I HAD IT REPAIRED, AND THE REPAIRMAN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF SOME 2005 NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THIS PROBLEM…

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THE CAR FAILED TO START AFTER REPEATED TRIES, THEN FINALLY STARTED. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. I HAD IT REPAIRED, AND THE REPAIRMAN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF SOME 2005 NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. THE SYMPTOMS I EXPERIENCED ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN NHTSA RECALL NOTICE 07V527000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273643

73,000 miles · Jun 9, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC YESTERDAY; ENGINE STALLED TWICE NEARLY CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. AUTO WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALER TODAY FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273180

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10272936

199,750 miles · Jun 2, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO PAY $700 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD THE FINAL DECISION TO EITHER CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 199,750.

NHTSA ODI #10272622

150,000 miles · Jun 1, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE EXPERIENCED A NO-START CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE EXPERIENCED A NO-START CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. HE WAS INFORMED THAT BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10272533

70,300 miles · May 28, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5SL. LAST YEAR I GOT A RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE ECM FIXED ON MY CAR. MY CAR WAS SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER THE RECALLED WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, THIS STOPPED HAPPEN UNTIL YESTERDAY. I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FIXED, THEN MY CAR JUST RAND…

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5SL. LAST YEAR I GOT A RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE ECM FIXED ON MY CAR. MY CAR WAS SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER THE RECALLED WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, THIS STOPPED HAPPEN UNTIL YESTERDAY. I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FIXED, THEN MY CAR JUST RANDOMLY STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CRANK IT BACK UP AND TRIED TO GIVE IT GAS IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I THOUGHT THE REASON FOR THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN WHO ADVISED ME IT WAS SOMETHING CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ECM REPROGRAMMING RECALL EVEN THOUGH NISSAN HAD A RECALL ON CRANKSHAFT SENSORS IN 2007. AND AFTER READING HERE AND OTHER PLACES I FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM NISSAN SINCE 2002. SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT WAS THE RECALL FOR IF IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND WHY AM I BEING CHARGE TO GET A NISSAN ERROR REPAIRED THAT APPARENTLY ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING. THIS IS INSANE!!! DOES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THE REAL PROBLEM? WILL IT TAKE A LAW SUIT? I THINK THE CRANKSHAFT SENSORS ARE FAULTY AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10270184

77,200 miles · Apr 30, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CODES WERE READ IT IS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SEEMS THE ONLY RECALL FOR THIS WAS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR THAT WAS REPROGRAMMED, NOT REPLACED. THERE SEEMS TO BE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DON…

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CAR HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CODES WERE READ IT IS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SEEMS THE ONLY RECALL FOR THIS WAS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR THAT WAS REPROGRAMMED, NOT REPLACED. THERE SEEMS TO BE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON REPLACING THE SENSOR NOT JUST REPROGRAMMING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267406

55,000 miles · Apr 29, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE CONTACT MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL EVERY FIVE MILES; HOWEVER, IT NEVER COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE CONTACT MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL EVERY FIVE MILES; HOWEVER, IT NEVER COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAULTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD INCLUDE HER VEHICLE IN THE RECALL IF THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT HER EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 05/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/14/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10267257

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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