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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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40,500 miles · Feb 2, 2011
Power Train

MANY TIMES AFTER OWNING MY 2005 NISSAN, I STARTED HAVING TO CRANK THE ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR THAT WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING. ALSO THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHICH IT HAS BEEN DOING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS. I JUST P…

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MANY TIMES AFTER OWNING MY 2005 NISSAN, I STARTED HAVING TO CRANK THE ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR THAT WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING. ALSO THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHICH IT HAS BEEN DOING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS. I JUST PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE THEN PARK TO TAKE THE KEY OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10380004

88,000 miles · Nov 12, 2010
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL LOSES PRESSURES AND STAYS DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365473

127,563 miles · Sep 11, 2010
Power Train

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R MAN TRANSMISSION. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A ONE YEAR PERIOD. I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED ONCE AND THE SLAVE CYLINDER ONCE. THE PEDAL IS STARTING TO STICK AGAIN. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR DRIVING. I DROVE TO A MOVIE, WENT TO LEAVE AND THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. W…

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2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R MAN TRANSMISSION. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A ONE YEAR PERIOD. I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED ONCE AND THE SLAVE CYLINDER ONCE. THE PEDAL IS STARTING TO STICK AGAIN. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR DRIVING. I DROVE TO A MOVIE, WENT TO LEAVE AND THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE PEDAL STICKS IT WILL NOT COME OUT OR GO INTO GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER, SLAM IT IN NEUTRAL AND ENDED UP DRIVING HOME IN FOURTH GEAR. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL NISSAN FORUM SITES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SE-R OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355035

40,000 miles · Aug 30, 2010
Power Train

THE CLUTCH IN MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA STICKS TO THE FLOOR; NO PRESSURE WHAT SO EVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES BEFORE. THIS TIME IT HAPPENED ON A BRIDGE IN A ONE WAY STAND ALONE LANE. IT HAD LOST MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF ITS PRESSURE. GOOD THING I WAS WEARING SANDALS. WAS ABLE TO LIFT THE CLUTCH WITH MY TOES AND MAKE …

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THE CLUTCH IN MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA STICKS TO THE FLOOR; NO PRESSURE WHAT SO EVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES BEFORE. THIS TIME IT HAPPENED ON A BRIDGE IN A ONE WAY STAND ALONE LANE. IT HAD LOST MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF ITS PRESSURE. GOOD THING I WAS WEARING SANDALS. WAS ABLE TO LIFT THE CLUTCH WITH MY TOES AND MAKE IT OFF THE BRIDGE. ONCE I GOT OFF, THE CLUTCH WAS NOT RESPONSIVE WHAT SO EVER. I PULLED OVER AND PARKED WITH THE CAR OFF FOR 20 MINS. CLUTCH STARTED TO WORK AGAIN'A MIRACLE. LAST TIME, IT TOOK OVER 5 HOURS FOR THE CLUTCH TO START WORKING AGAIN. IF I WAS IN TRAFFIC OR HAD TO MAKE AN A BRUNT STOP, BRAKING WITHOUT THE CLUTCH WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352753

102,500 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL LOSES PRESSURE AND CAR CANNOT BE PUT INTO GEAR. HAPPENS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349797

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA.THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE CLUTCH WOULD DROP TOO QUICKLY TO THE FLOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA.THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE CLUTCH WOULD DROP TOO QUICKLY TO THE FLOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED TROUBLE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL MOVED TOO QUICKLY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SPRING RETAINER WAS REPLACED. A BEARING-CLUTCH AND LIMITED SLIP WERE ALSO INSTALLED. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,200.

NHTSA ODI #10344953

116,000 miles · Jun 15, 2010
Power Train

BEFORE I REPLACED MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE'S ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, INJECTORS, MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY, AND CLUTCH, I WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CLUTCH LOSING PRESSURE. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO NISSAN I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. I HAD IT REPLACED ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE SHORTLY AFTER WITH OTHER MAJOR ENGI…

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BEFORE I REPLACED MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE'S ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, INJECTORS, MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY, AND CLUTCH, I WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CLUTCH LOSING PRESSURE. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO NISSAN I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. I HAD IT REPLACED ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE SHORTLY AFTER WITH OTHER MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS DUE TO A BLOWN MOTOR AT 100,000 MILES. NOW MY CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP AND AFTER TWO MONTHS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AMONG OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I LOST PRESSURE AGAIN YESTERDAY AND DROPPED MY CAR OFF THIS MORNING. THEY WANT $370.00 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, I FEEL THAT THEY ARE DEAD ON TRACK WITH THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME ITS HAPPENED TO ME EITHER. WHY HASN'T THIS ISSUE BEEN RESOLVED BY NISSAN, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A TREND. DO I HAVE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS? MAYBE IT WILL BE YOUR FAMILY WE CRASH INTO?!! CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW NEEDS TO CHANGE BECAUSE APPARENTLY VERY LITTLE IS BEING DONE WITH RECALLING DEFECTIVE AUTOMOTIVE PARTS. 3 TIME IRAQ WAR VETERAN! -USMC *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336349

45,000 miles · May 27, 2010
Power Train

1. NISSAN ALTIMA S 2005 MANUAL. WAS DRIVING IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 30 MIN WITH A/C WORKING. CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME VERY LIGHT AND THEN STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR WAS LEFT ON A GEAR. HARDLY AVOIDED ACCIDENT BY BRAKING WITH WORKING ENGINE AND THEN SHUTTING DOWN WITH KEY. 2. IT OCCURS AGAIN WHEN THE CAR WAS LEFT IN HOT SUN AFT…

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1. NISSAN ALTIMA S 2005 MANUAL. WAS DRIVING IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 30 MIN WITH A/C WORKING. CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME VERY LIGHT AND THEN STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR WAS LEFT ON A GEAR. HARDLY AVOIDED ACCIDENT BY BRAKING WITH WORKING ENGINE AND THEN SHUTTING DOWN WITH KEY. 2. IT OCCURS AGAIN WHEN THE CAR WAS LEFT IN HOT SUN AFTER DRIVING IN A TRAFFIC. 3. DID NOT DO ANYTHING YET. BUT WILL GO TO MECHANIC IF IT OCCURS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332551

42,000 miles · May 2, 2010
Power Train

I OWN A NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R, I PURCHASED THE CAR PRE-OWNED WITH 42K MILES ON IT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR JUST A MONTH THE CLUTCH WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO ANY GEARS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR AND ITS GOING TO BE 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR THIS SUMMER. MANY…

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I OWN A NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R, I PURCHASED THE CAR PRE-OWNED WITH 42K MILES ON IT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR JUST A MONTH THE CLUTCH WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO ANY GEARS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR AND ITS GOING TO BE 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR THIS SUMMER. MANY OF THE TIMES THE CLUTCH HAS LOST PRESSURE GOING OVER BRIDGES AND STOPPING TO PAY TOLLS AND DURING TRAFFIC. HOW CAN I OPERATE MY VEHICLE CORRECTLY IF THE CLUTCH KEEPS LOOSING PRESSURE BECAUSE THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER LOOSES PRESSURE. HOW SAFE IS THAT FOR NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATORS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328425

400 miles · Apr 20, 2010
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED FROM THE DESIRED GEAR SELECTION WITH MINIMAL FORCE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED FROM THE DESIRED GEAR SELECTION WITH MINIMAL FORCE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10326577

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