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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

Power Train complaints

115 reports
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88,000 miles · Jun 9, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 25 MPH AND THE CAR LOST ALL SPEED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE IMPLIED AND ALMOST CAUSED A THREE CAR PILE UP. NOW THE CAR IS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. I AM REALLY WORRIED BECAUSE MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596980

30,000 miles · Jun 4, 2014
Power Train

THIS ISSUE HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. THE ISSUE IS WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IN THE 3.5 SE-R MODEL OF THE CAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SINCE 2009 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HAS BROKEN 8 TIMES. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HAS NEEDED REPLACING 5 TIMES. THE…

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THIS ISSUE HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. THE ISSUE IS WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IN THE 3.5 SE-R MODEL OF THE CAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SINCE 2009 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HAS BROKEN 8 TIMES. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HAS NEEDED REPLACING 5 TIMES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT (MAY 2014) THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED 2 MONTHS AFTER GETTING IT FIXED AND THEN AGAIN 3 DAYS LATER AFTER THAT. THE LAST 2 TIMES, IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, AND WHEN IT FAILED I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN IT FAILS IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR. HONESTLY, I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED I WASN'T KILLED IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595964

65,498 miles · May 6, 2014
EnginePower Train

PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE X2. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586828

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

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2014
Power Train

MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM STARTING AT 20000 MILES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET AND BLOGS WITH OTHER NISSAN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM CAUSING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND OTHER SAFETY PROBLEMS LIKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKS LEAKING INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563559

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

80,000 miles · Jul 30, 2013
Power Train

I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW. A LITTLE AFTER IT WAS 3 YEARS (08)THAT I HAD IT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. NISSAN TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS OVER MILEAGE SO I WAS RESPONSIBLE OUT OF POCKET. SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC 1200 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR (09), SAME PROBLEM ANOTHER 1200, IN 2012 ONCE AGAIN ANOTHER 1000 A…

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW. A LITTLE AFTER IT WAS 3 YEARS (08)THAT I HAD IT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. NISSAN TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS OVER MILEAGE SO I WAS RESPONSIBLE OUT OF POCKET. SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC 1200 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR (09), SAME PROBLEM ANOTHER 1200, IN 2012 ONCE AGAIN ANOTHER 1000 AND NOW AS OF LAST MONTH TRANSMISSION NUMBER 4 ANOTHER 1000. AS OF TODAY JULY 30. 2013 THE CAR ONCE AGAIN IS STALLING. FRIEND OF MIND TOLD ME BOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BOUT THE NISSANS TRANS. AS A WOMAN WHO DEPENDS ON HER CAR ALOT I CAN TELL YOU THAT OWNING THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN PLEASANT AT ALL. I HAVE HAD IT STALL ON ME AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS, HIGHWAYS, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NITE WHILE WORKING. NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO REALIZE THAT THEIR WAY OF DOING BUSINESS AND HIDING THE TRUTH BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES IS AND CONTINUES TO PUT PEOPLE LIVES IN JEOPARDY. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS THEIR PRODUCT BEING OUT ON THE STREET. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT SUCH A PRETTY CAR WAS A PIECE OF CRACK, I WOULD HAVE SPENT ALOT LESS THAN 20000 DOLLARS ON A NEW CAR THAT WAS SO CALLED GOOD QUALITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532706

107,800 miles · Jun 21, 2013
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I HAVE A 2005 ALTIMA SE-R 3.5 V6 I WAS LEAVING A MCDONALD'S PARKING LOT AND AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE WAS A HARD JERK AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE CAR REVERSED AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE A HARD JERK AND THE CAR WAS IN 5TH GEAR. NO OTHER GEARS WERE AVAILABLE. I PARKED T…

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I HAVE A 2005 ALTIMA SE-R 3.5 V6 I WAS LEAVING A MCDONALD'S PARKING LOT AND AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE WAS A HARD JERK AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE CAR REVERSED AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE A HARD JERK AND THE CAR WAS IN 5TH GEAR. NO OTHER GEARS WERE AVAILABLE. I PARKED THE CAR AND SHUT IF OFF...AFTER A FEW SECONDS I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THREW IT IN REVERSE AND GOT THE SAME RESULT, I PUT IT IN DRIVE THEN TIPTRONIC AND SAW A 5 (5TH GEAR). I CALLED A COUPLE FRIENDS AND MECHANICS THEY SAID IT A FAIL SAFE. SO I WAITED AGAIN AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT TOOK A GOOD 10-15 SECONDS TO CRANK AND AFTER I REVERSED THE CAR WOULD DIE. I WAS ONLY TRYING TO GET HOME (1 MIKE DOWN THE ROAD) BECAUSE I DID NOT TRUST THIS CAR TO BRING ME ANYWHERE AT THIS POINT. AFTER A COUPLE START THEN SHUT DOWNS AND LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AND DRIVING IN ALL THE GEARS. I GOT ON THE BOULEVARD AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 20-30 AND THE CAR DIES ON ME. LUCKILY IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THE WAS NO TRAFFIC. I RESTART THE CAR AND ITS RUNNING IN 5TH GEAR FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND THEN I SEE MY RPMS GOING UP AS SPEED GOING DOWN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGING AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG AT THIS POINT. I PULL TO THE SIDE AND POP THE HOOD, THE WAS SO MUCH HEAT BUT THE CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING. I CALL MY MECHANIC AND HE SAYS LET IT SIT A BIT. 20 MINUTES LATER, CAR COOLED DOWN A BIT AND A RELIABLE FRIEND AND MECHANIC COME HELP ME PUSH THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT. WE LATER FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. FLUID WAS STILL RED, NOT BURNED BUT SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING ON INSIDE. $2000+ LATER AND A REPLACEMENT TRANNY THE CAR IS UP BUT STILL DYING AT RANDOM TIMES, WON'T START. DIAGNOSIS CRANK AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO GOES STRAIGHT TO 5TH GEAR AND CAR STALLS IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521012

33,000 miles · Jun 12, 2013
EnginePower Train

AFTER DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON A VERY HOT DAY, THE CLUTCH PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO USE AND SHIFT GEARS. THE PEDAL LOST ALL BUT THE LAST AMOUNT OF PRESSURE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. ALWAYS OCCURS IN WARM, HUMID WEATHER AND HEAVY USAGE. COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF …

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AFTER DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON A VERY HOT DAY, THE CLUTCH PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO USE AND SHIFT GEARS. THE PEDAL LOST ALL BUT THE LAST AMOUNT OF PRESSURE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. ALWAYS OCCURS IN WARM, HUMID WEATHER AND HEAVY USAGE. COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF ALL PRESSURE IS LOST AND SHIFTING IS IMPOSSIBLE. THIS MUST BE CORRECTED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519470

95,470 miles · May 21, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CAR FELT HOT EVEN AFTER SITTING AND WHEN WEATHER WAS COOL. CAR CUT OFF ON ME AT A STOPLIGHT, AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE STOPPED. CAR SEEMED TO SLIP GEARS A FEW TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512933

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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