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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

Equipment complaints

8 reports
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95,000 miles · Feb 14, 2012
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 02/22/12 *BF THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE AC LINE THAT WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 03.05.12

NHTSA ODI #10447966

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2007
EquipmentStructureVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS ADVISED TO GO TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEE TO REPAIR THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER WOULD BE FREE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS CHARGE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS ADVISED TO GO TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEE TO REPAIR THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER WOULD BE FREE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS CHARGED $185.44. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN AND THEY WERE EQUIPPED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, HAS YET TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THEY COULD ONLY INFORM HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERNAL. THE POWERTRAIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,135. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN THE DEALER STATED REAR WINDOW OPERATES REALLY SLOW, AND PILLAR/ROOF KEEPS COMING A LOOSE. UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207544

41,000 miles · Sep 21, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL OR OIL PLUGS IN THE VEHICLE. HE REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NISS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL OR OIL PLUGS IN THE VEHICLE. HE REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN, WHERE IT WAS REGULARLY SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING OIL OR OIL PLUGS. THEY ALSO INFORMED HER THAT SOMEONE HAD TAMPERED WITH HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS SPOKEN WITH NISSAN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HAS BEEN WITHOUT HER VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS. SHE BELIEVES THEY ARE GIVING HER THE RUN-AROUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000. * UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DEALER STATED PASSENGER WINDOW MAKES NOISE, AND REMOTE SWITCH IS INOPERABLE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10203611

14,000 miles · Dec 14, 2006
Electrical SystemEquipment

HELLO IN 2006 AUGUST, MY 2005 BRAND NEW ALTIMA'S BATTERY EXPLODED AND IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT ME AND MY FRIEND DID NOT GET HURT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER THE BATTERY. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A THIRD PARTY SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACE MY BATTERY FUSE (WHICH I WAS TOLD CAUSED THE EXPLOSION) AND M…

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HELLO IN 2006 AUGUST, MY 2005 BRAND NEW ALTIMA'S BATTERY EXPLODED AND IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT ME AND MY FRIEND DID NOT GET HURT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER THE BATTERY. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A THIRD PARTY SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACE MY BATTERY FUSE (WHICH I WAS TOLD CAUSED THE EXPLOSION) AND MY BATTERY. WHEN I WENT OVER THE DEALERSHIP LATER THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD'VE BROUGHT THE CAR OVER THERE. THEY CLAIMED I WAS LYING WHENI SAID I WAS TOLD BY THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY DON'T COVER THE BATTERY AND DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. NOW, MY FRONT BUMPER IS COVERED IN BATTERY ACID AND IS NOT REPAIRABLE. I CALLED THE CUSTEMR SERVICE DID EVERYTHING I COULD BUT THEY SIMPLY WON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I WOULD IF THEY DIDN'T TOLD ME THEY DID NOT COVER THE WARRANTY ON THE PHONE. I HAVE MY RECEIPT OF THE BATTERY FUSE AND BATTERY REPLACEMENTS BUT I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE OLD BATTERY. I'M VERY DISSAPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED BY THIS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'M NOT LOOKING TO GET ANY KIND OF MONEY OUT OF THIS BUT I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW NOT TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY A BATTER EXPLODING TO MY AND MY FRIENDS FACE. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10176181

2,820 miles · Oct 8, 2005
EquipmentTires

WHILE IN PARK, CAR ROLLED OFF JACK ONTO EVEN SURFACE PAVEMENT DURING TIRE CHANGE. AUTOMOBILE IS 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA AND NISSAN HAS BEEN INFORMED. OWNERS MANUAL RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FOLLOWED. HAD THE TIRE NOT BEEN LEFT ON THE VEHICLE, OR HAD LEGS OR ARMS BEEN UNDER CHASSIS, INJURY MAY HAVE OCCURRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10139104

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2005
EquipmentInterior Lighting

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA - THE RADIO PRODUCES AN ACCEPTABLE SOUND BUT THE FACE PLATE LACKS SUFFICIENT LUMINOSITY & CONTRAST FOR THE INFORMATION TO BE SEEN. TYPICALLY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING AS YOU MUST FACE DIRECTLY IN-LINE WITH THE UNIT. NISSAN WAS CONTACTED 3/4/05 AND ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND …

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2005 NISSAN ALTIMA - THE RADIO PRODUCES AN ACCEPTABLE SOUND BUT THE FACE PLATE LACKS SUFFICIENT LUMINOSITY & CONTRAST FOR THE INFORMATION TO BE SEEN. TYPICALLY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING AS YOU MUST FACE DIRECTLY IN-LINE WITH THE UNIT. NISSAN WAS CONTACTED 3/4/05 AND ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY WERE THE RESULT OF THE RADIO BEING LOCATED TOO HIGH RESULTING IN SUNLIGHT "WASHING" OUT THE DISPLAY. I STATED THE PROBLEM EXISTS AT NIGHT AS WELL AND A CONTRAST/ILLUMINATION ADJUSTMENT WOULD HELP. I ASKED NISSAN TO REPLACE THE RADIO WITH A DIFFERENT UNIT AND THEY REFUSED BUT INDICATED THERE WOULD BE A REDESIGN IN 2006.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10112554

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2005
Equipment

I BOUGHT MY 2005 ALTIMA MAY 3, 2005, SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO. IF YOU PUT ON THE REAR DEFROSTER THE RADIO GOES TO 100% PURE STATIC. ALSO WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO GREGORIS NISSANS SVC DEPT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO REPLACE MY REAR WINDOW! THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE BEEN …

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I BOUGHT MY 2005 ALTIMA MAY 3, 2005, SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO. IF YOU PUT ON THE REAR DEFROSTER THE RADIO GOES TO 100% PURE STATIC. ALSO WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO GREGORIS NISSANS SVC DEPT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO REPLACE MY REAR WINDOW! THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH THIS CAR IS YOU CAN NOT READ THE DISPLAY OF THE RADIO WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUT. ALSO I HAVE A RATTLE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHEN THE RADIO IS ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY SPEAKER AND THEY WOULD ORDER ME ONE. FIRST OF ALL IT'S NOT THE SPEAKER IT IS THE DOOR! I AM DONE WITH NISSAN AND THEIR PRODUCTS. IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME I WOULD APPRECIATE IT*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108071

60 miles · Jul 25, 2004
Equipment

THE CAR RADIO FOR THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IS DEFECTIVE. I SPOKE TO NISSAN DIRECTLY AFTER THE DEALER COULDN'T FIX IT. I WAS GIVEN CASE # 4564607 ON 6/8/04 WHEN THE CAR HAD 2,650 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THAT NISSAN WAS REDESIGNING THE RADIO WITH ITS ENGINEERS + WOULD HAVE IT IN A MONTH. IT'S NOW 7/25/04 + I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. …

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THE CAR RADIO FOR THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IS DEFECTIVE. I SPOKE TO NISSAN DIRECTLY AFTER THE DEALER COULDN'T FIX IT. I WAS GIVEN CASE # 4564607 ON 6/8/04 WHEN THE CAR HAD 2,650 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THAT NISSAN WAS REDESIGNING THE RADIO WITH ITS ENGINEERS + WOULD HAVE IT IN A MONTH. IT'S NOW 7/25/04 + I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. I STILL HAVE A DEFECTIVE RADIO ON A BRAND NEW CAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10082606

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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