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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

Seats complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2015
SeatsSteering

FIRST THING I NOTICED THE RUSTING OF THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH THE SCREW BOLTS HOLDING DOWN THE DRIVER SEAT TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED, MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THAT SCREW BOLT SNAPS OR PULL AWAY FROM THE FLOOR BOARD THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE MAKING A TURN AND THE SEAT SLIPS OUT OF PLACE WHILE TURNING. I QUESTIONE…

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FIRST THING I NOTICED THE RUSTING OF THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH THE SCREW BOLTS HOLDING DOWN THE DRIVER SEAT TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED, MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THAT SCREW BOLT SNAPS OR PULL AWAY FROM THE FLOOR BOARD THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE MAKING A TURN AND THE SEAT SLIPS OUT OF PLACE WHILE TURNING. I QUESTIONED THIS AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THIS PAST DECEMBER 2014 WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 61,000 MILE CHECK UP. THEN I ALSO WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING HAD CONTAMINATION IN IT, WHICH FROM JANUARY OF 2005 NISSAN IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT PERFORMS MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. I CAME HOME AND LOOKED THIS UP ON THE INTERNET ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON NISSAN CONCERNING STEERING PROBLEMS. I HAD READ WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN CAR WRECKS CONCERNING THE STEER GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682665

87,000 miles · Aug 7, 2014
SeatsStructure

YESTERDAY, AUGUST 6TH 2014 I HAD A GENTLEMAN COME UP TO ME WITH MY FRIENDS. HE TOLD ME HIS WIFE HAD THE SAME MODEL NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I HAVE. HE LOOKED UNDER MY CAR AND TOLD ME, HIS WIFE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM OF RUSTING OUT FLOOR PANS UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED NISSAN AND GOT A CASE NUMBER, IN THE MEAN…

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YESTERDAY, AUGUST 6TH 2014 I HAD A GENTLEMAN COME UP TO ME WITH MY FRIENDS. HE TOLD ME HIS WIFE HAD THE SAME MODEL NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I HAVE. HE LOOKED UNDER MY CAR AND TOLD ME, HIS WIFE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM OF RUSTING OUT FLOOR PANS UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED NISSAN AND GOT A CASE NUMBER, IN THE MEANWHILE I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND IT IS NOT JUST RUST, THERE IS A HOLE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY MECHANIC SAID IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND IT IS DANGEROUS! I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM MY EX HUSBAND'S ESTATE. HE BOUGHT IT NEW FROM GERALD NISSAN IN NORTH AURORA, IL . HE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE CAR. I GOT IT WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 MILES. I DID PROCEED TO HAVE THE NISSAN MECHANICS LOOK IT OVER TO REPORT BACK TO NISSAN AND IT IS THE WHOLE PAN COVERING THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR, COST $3,000. I LISTED A CONSUMER COMPLAINT, BUT NISSAN DOES NOT SEE THESE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MY EXACT CAR ON THIS SITE. I DO NOT THINK THAT HAVING MY SAFETY THREATENED BY THIS COMPANY'S NEGLECT IS A LAUGHING MATTER. I AM A REAL ESTATE BROKER AND USE MY CAR FOR BUSINESS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND BEING A CORPORATE ENTITY, THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ERRORS. I AM 68 YEARS OLD AND I WANT TO LIVE. CAN YOU HELP ME?

NHTSA ODI #10619488

89,447 miles · Sep 22, 2012
SeatsStructure

VEHICLE FLOOR UNDER BODY BELOW PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT HAS RUSTED AND ABOUT TO GET A HOLE. I CALLED NISSAN SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAY ITS NOT IN WARRANTY. BUT ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MODEL IS JUST 7 YEARS OLD WITH 89000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476749

26,500 miles · Mar 22, 2007
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. AT 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN ICE PATCH AND BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND THE IMPACT CAUSED THE FRONT SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO COMPLETELY RECLINE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. AT 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN ICE PATCH AND BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND THE IMPACT CAUSED THE FRONT SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO COMPLETELY RECLINE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 26500.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10185883

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2006
SeatsInjury

MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND HE HAD THE FRONT DOOR OPEN WHEN I WAS STANDING THERE TALKING TO HIM. I SAW A BOTTLE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT AND REACHED UNDER THE SEAT TO GRAB IT. AND A METAL BAR THAT UNDER THE SEAT CUT MY FINGER AS IF IT WAS A MEAT SLICER. THIS BAR THAT I CUT MY FINGER ON IS ABOUT A 13 INCH BAR AND IT IS AS …

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MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND HE HAD THE FRONT DOOR OPEN WHEN I WAS STANDING THERE TALKING TO HIM. I SAW A BOTTLE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT AND REACHED UNDER THE SEAT TO GRAB IT. AND A METAL BAR THAT UNDER THE SEAT CUT MY FINGER AS IF IT WAS A MEAT SLICER. THIS BAR THAT I CUT MY FINGER ON IS ABOUT A 13 INCH BAR AND IT IS AS SHARP AS A KNIFE..IT CUT SO EASY I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL I PULLED MY HAND OUT AND IT FELT LIKE I JUST GOT FILLETED. THIS BAR IS ATTACH TO THE SEAT. I COULD NOT EVEN THINK IF THIS WAS A CHILD ARM...HOW BAD IT COULD OF BEEN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10152913

4,000 miles · Feb 1, 2006
Fuel System, GasolineSeatsVisibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GAUGES THAT TURN ON THE DEFROSTER CAUSE THE DRIVER TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF OF THE ROAD. THE GAS CAP IS AT AN AWKWARD ANGLE AND TOO HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAS BACK PROBLEMS AND MUST SIT IN THE DRIVER SEAT AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE TOO CLOSE TO THE AIRBAG. UPDATED 03/17/06. …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GAUGES THAT TURN ON THE DEFROSTER CAUSE THE DRIVER TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF OF THE ROAD. THE GAS CAP IS AT AN AWKWARD ANGLE AND TOO HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAS BACK PROBLEMS AND MUST SIT IN THE DRIVER SEAT AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE TOO CLOSE TO THE AIRBAG. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149213

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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