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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.

About this comparison →

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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57,000 miles · Dec 28, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AS IT CHANGED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10490316

66,000 miles · Nov 21, 2012
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ENGINE SHUT OFF, WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS THE MOST SCARY EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. THE SES LIGHT CAME ON ONLY AFTER LOOSING ALL CONTROL. I WAS TOLD AT THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH…

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WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ENGINE SHUT OFF, WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS THE MOST SCARY EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. THE SES LIGHT CAME ON ONLY AFTER LOOSING ALL CONTROL. I WAS TOLD AT THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH SOME ALTIMAS AND THAT THEY HAD A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485449

75,000 miles · Nov 20, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND SHIFT OUT OF GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND SHIFT OUT OF GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10485252

88,000 miles · Nov 16, 2012
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN TO CREAK WHEN DEPRESSED AND WOULD BEGIN TO ENGAGE VERY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR WHEN CAR WAS DRIVEN IN TOWN AND REACHED NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. FIRST FAILURE WAS SHORTLY AFTER THAT WHEN RETURNING FROM A FAMILY TRIP TO MISSOURI TO COLORADO. CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR AND REMAINED THERE, PREVENTING A DOWNSHIFT …

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CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN TO CREAK WHEN DEPRESSED AND WOULD BEGIN TO ENGAGE VERY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR WHEN CAR WAS DRIVEN IN TOWN AND REACHED NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. FIRST FAILURE WAS SHORTLY AFTER THAT WHEN RETURNING FROM A FAMILY TRIP TO MISSOURI TO COLORADO. CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR AND REMAINED THERE, PREVENTING A DOWNSHIFT OR TO NEUTRAL. "FLOATED" THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED PEDAL BACK UP WITH MY FOOT. WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME BY LIFTING THE PEDAL AFTER EVERY SHIFT. REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDERS, AND WELDING THE HOUSING OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL DUE TO (STRESS FRACTURES) RESOLVED THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT 11 MONTHS/15,000 MILES, WHEN THE ISSUE BEGAN AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MORE MONTHS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH SYSTEM; CLUTCH PLATE (NOT WORN OUT), CLUTCH COVER, FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY, MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER, PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND RUBBER HYDRAULIC LINE WERE REPLACED. THE SYSTEM WAS THOROUGHLY FLUSHED AND BLED FOR TRAPPED AIR. ISSUE WAS RESOLVED UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO (6 MONTHS AFTER REPLACING THE SYSTEM) WHEN THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. BLEEDING OF THE SYSTEM WAS AGAIN PERFORMED WITH NO CHANGE: PEDAL WILL FALL TO THE FLOOR AND STAY THERE IF HELD FOR 1-2 SECONDS. IF THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ABOUT 1-2 INCHES AND HELP FOR A FEW SECONDS, IT WILL BEGIN TO PULL ITSELF TO THE FLOOR WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE DRIVER AT ALL. I AM PLANNING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM ONCE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484987

87,989 miles · Oct 24, 2012
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON OCTOBER 6, 2012 WITH THE ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOOD AND STRONG. MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND UPON ARRIVING HOME SHE SAID THAT IT WAS DRIVING ROUGH. NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT VEHICLES, SHE STATED THAT IT DROVE LIKE SOMEONE LEARNING TO DRIVE A MANUAL CAR…

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON OCTOBER 6, 2012 WITH THE ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOOD AND STRONG. MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND UPON ARRIVING HOME SHE SAID THAT IT WAS DRIVING ROUGH. NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT VEHICLES, SHE STATED THAT IT DROVE LIKE SOMEONE LEARNING TO DRIVE A MANUAL CAR. SHE SAID THAT IT WAS JERKING AND SHIFTING HARD LIKE IT WAS IN THE WRONG GEAR(ESPECIALLY UPON ACCELERATING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP, DOWNSHIFT IS REALLY HARD. ALSO COMING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, IT WOULD IDLE AS IF IN NEUTRAL WHEN PRESSING THE GAS THEN SUDDENLY JUMP VERY HARD INTO ACTUAL DRIVE). SHE BECAME TO FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THE CAR. IN MEANWHILE I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER(NOT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM) TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS SAID THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP OUT IN GWINNETT, GEORGIA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT. I TOOK IT NOT KNOWING IF IT WOULD EVEN MAKE IT. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND INDEED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT RESUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIXING MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT "AS IS". AS I READ THE CMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND ABOUT A PENDING CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST NISSAN FOR FAULTY TRANSMISSION DESIGN IN THE 2005-2006 ALTIMAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES, IT IS APPARENT TO ME, THAT THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT AND GETS KILLED. NISSAN KNOWS THIS TRANSMISSION IS POORLY DESIGNED AND HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT TAKE PEOPLES MONEY IN REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION A $3,000-$4,000 COST. USUALLY AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. ONE MORE THING, THERE IS NO WARNING THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, NO SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT -NOTHING. HELP!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482159

113,892 miles · Sep 28, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMIS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION AUTO CENTER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,800. ...UPDATED11/21/12 *BF UPDATED 11/30/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10477382

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2012
EnginePower Train

RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE, UNUSUAL ENGINE VIBRATION AND MUFFLER SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS THIS SCREW IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE AND COULD CAUSE $7500 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE. IF THIS SCREW WAS TO COME LOOSE IT COULD RUIN ENGINE COMPRESSOR, DESTROY THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, O2 SENSOR AND POWER VALVE PLATES. I SEARCH TO S…

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RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE, UNUSUAL ENGINE VIBRATION AND MUFFLER SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS THIS SCREW IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE AND COULD CAUSE $7500 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE. IF THIS SCREW WAS TO COME LOOSE IT COULD RUIN ENGINE COMPRESSOR, DESTROY THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, O2 SENSOR AND POWER VALVE PLATES. I SEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND IT SEEM TO BE OR TALK OF IT. CALL DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED. SOME WEBSITE SUGGEST THERE WAS ONE, WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO QUALITY PRODUCTS. IF THERE WAS ONE THEY ARE NOT UPHOLDING IT. RECALL SHOULD NEVER EXPIRE, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR..UPDATED 10/24/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RETRACT HER COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/25/12

NHTSA ODI #10477058

75,000 miles · Sep 9, 2012
EnginePower Train

AFTER 20 MIN OR SO OF IDLING IN TRAFFIC, THEN A 10 MINUTE FREEWAY DRIVE AT LEGAL SPEEDS I WAS APPROACHING THE OFF RAMP AND THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT INCIDENT AND PULL OVER. AFTER 10 MIN OF TALKING TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A TOW, I NOTICED PARTIA…

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AFTER 20 MIN OR SO OF IDLING IN TRAFFIC, THEN A 10 MINUTE FREEWAY DRIVE AT LEGAL SPEEDS I WAS APPROACHING THE OFF RAMP AND THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT INCIDENT AND PULL OVER. AFTER 10 MIN OF TALKING TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A TOW, I NOTICED PARTIAL PRESSURE RESTORED AND DROVE SLOWLY HOME. NOW, WITH RESEARCH, I HAVE SEEN THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON AND DANGEROUS. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED ONLINE AND WITH NISSAN, YET THERE IS NO RESOLUTION AND WHAT'S WORSE, NO SPECIFIC ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. I HOPE NHTSA DOESN'T WAIT FOR A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO OCCUR BEFORE THIS IS LOOKED INTO, A GOOGLE SEARCH OF ALTIMA CLUTCH RECALL BRINGS UP OVER A DOZEN FORUMS WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474367

94,526 miles · Aug 23, 2012
Power TrainSuspensionCrashInjury

THE CLUTCH PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AFTER IDLING FOR OVER THIRTY MINUTES, WHILE IN TRAFFIC, AND AFTER THE ENGINE HAS GOTTEN HOT AND BEING DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE PEDAL WILL FALL TO THE FLOOR AND YOU CANNOT SWITCH GEARS. THE STICK SHIFT WON'T EVEN MOVE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR JERKS REALLY HARD. IT WILL SOMETIMES CUT OFF IN …

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THE CLUTCH PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AFTER IDLING FOR OVER THIRTY MINUTES, WHILE IN TRAFFIC, AND AFTER THE ENGINE HAS GOTTEN HOT AND BEING DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE PEDAL WILL FALL TO THE FLOOR AND YOU CANNOT SWITCH GEARS. THE STICK SHIFT WON'T EVEN MOVE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR JERKS REALLY HARD. IT WILL SOMETIMES CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IF YOU DON'T REACH DOWN AND PULL THE PEDAL UP WITH YOUR HAND. THIS HAS CAUSE ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT DOWN SHIFT OR GO INTO NEUTRAL, I RECENTLY ENDED UP TAPPING THE REAR OF SOMEONE ELSES VEHICLE AT WHICH MY DAUGHTER IS STILL COMPLAINING HER NECK HURTS. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART DEALING WITH THE HYDRAULICS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. A LAWSUIT IS SURE TO BE ON THE WAY NOW THAT I HAVE WEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT WON'T DO IT FOR THEM. ALL NISSAN FORUMS ARE FILLED WITH CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THESE YEAR MODEL CARS. NISSAN IS ABOUT TO KILL SOMEBODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472118

90,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
Power Train

CLUTCH LOSES PRESSURE AND SITS ON THE FLOOR. SHIFTING IS MINIMAL AND EXTREMELY FORCED TO GET IN TO GEAR. THIS HAPPENED FROM A STOP, GETTING ON A HIGHWAY. A MONTH LATER, IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN, THIS MAKES ME NERVOUS TO DRIVE WITH THEM IN THE CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF C…

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CLUTCH LOSES PRESSURE AND SITS ON THE FLOOR. SHIFTING IS MINIMAL AND EXTREMELY FORCED TO GET IN TO GEAR. THIS HAPPENED FROM A STOP, GETTING ON A HIGHWAY. A MONTH LATER, IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN, THIS MAKES ME NERVOUS TO DRIVE WITH THEM IN THE CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE YET?? I SUGGEST IT BECOMES ONE, BEFORE NUMEROUS LAWSUITS, FROM ACCIDENTS, OCCUR..... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468441

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