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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

Steering complaints

31 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2013
EngineSteeringStructure

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I BOUGHT IN 2008 AND HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, FIRST HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS GOING OUT ($400) THAN HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS, STRUTS, INNER/OUTER TIE RODS, I HAVE NO HEAT WHEN AT IDLE, WHILE PUTTING NEW TIRES ON AGAIN, I ALSO LEARNED MY FLOOR BOARDS …

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I BOUGHT IN 2008 AND HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, FIRST HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS GOING OUT ($400) THAN HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS, STRUTS, INNER/OUTER TIE RODS, I HAVE NO HEAT WHEN AT IDLE, WHILE PUTTING NEW TIRES ON AGAIN, I ALSO LEARNED MY FLOOR BOARDS ARE ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH, AND NOW I CAN NOT EVEN DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SUCKING DOWN OIL ( 4 QTS WITHIN A 3-6 HOUR TIME FRAME) AND IT'S SMOKING BAD OUT THE TAIL PIPE BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET/PISTON RINGS CAUSED BY A FAULTY PRE-CAT, AND TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I SEE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2.5L ENGINE FOR THIS ISSUE BUT ON A 2006 MODEL, WHAT ABOUT MY 2005 MODEL WITH SAME ENGINE?? SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FIND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUES IN 2002-2006 ALTIMA'S, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES AND NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497585

64,119 miles · Sep 22, 2012
Steering

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY STEERING GOT VERY HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476747

46,041 miles · Apr 25, 2011
Steering

THE VEHICLE STEERING BINDS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND FAILS TO RECOVERTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT MANUAL ASSIST. REPLACEMENT OF LOWER STEERING JOINT ASSEMBLY AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS REQUIRED.

NHTSA ODI #10397884

136,000 miles · Apr 22, 2011
Steering

THE VEHICLE STEERING BINDS WHEN TURNING AND FAILS TO RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION WITHOUT MANUALLY RETURNING IT TO THE NEUTRAL (STRAIGHT) POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #10397759

108,000 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ABNORMALLY CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD SPRAY WD-40 ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ABNORMALLY CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD SPRAY WD-40 ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FAILURE CAUSING A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ODI #10390593

120,000 miles · Mar 14, 2011
SteeringCrashFireInjury

TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT, ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER, STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND BURNED THE DRIVER'S HANDS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO OTHER INJURIES WERE REPORTED OTHER THAN THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S…

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TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT, ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER, STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND BURNED THE DRIVER'S HANDS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO OTHER INJURIES WERE REPORTED OTHER THAN THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED FOR BODY DAMAGES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10390059

72,000 miles · Jun 25, 2010
Steering

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA, AND I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR IN BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE GOING OUT. THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT ONCE YOU TURN THE WHEEL MORE THAN 1/4 TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARMER, THE PROBLEM IS NOT AS SERIOUS; BUT IN COLD WEATHER, THE CAR BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER. THE NISSAN…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA, AND I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR IN BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE GOING OUT. THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT ONCE YOU TURN THE WHEEL MORE THAN 1/4 TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARMER, THE PROBLEM IS NOT AS SERIOUS; BUT IN COLD WEATHER, THE CAR BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER. THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THE U-JOINT ON THE LOWER SECTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN IS GOING BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DID A SEARCH TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS WERE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM, AND I FOUND SEVERAL BLOGS INDICATING OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE (75,000 MILES). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339992

25 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Steering

OOO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315631

108,215 miles · Apr 9, 2009
Steering

2005 ALTIMA BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT HAD RUSTED AND SEIZED. (HE FELT THE SEALS ON THE SHAFT ARE DEFECTIVE.) HE HAD TO BACKORDER THE PART, SO THERE APPEARS TO BE A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. (ONE DEALER HAD FOURTEEN IN STOCK AND ALL W…

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2005 ALTIMA BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT HAD RUSTED AND SEIZED. (HE FELT THE SEALS ON THE SHAFT ARE DEFECTIVE.) HE HAD TO BACKORDER THE PART, SO THERE APPEARS TO BE A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. (ONE DEALER HAD FOURTEEN IN STOCK AND ALL WERE ACCOUNTED FOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264838

90,000 miles · Mar 27, 2009
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER FAILED. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COUPLER AT THE COST OF $300, BUT IT IS CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER. A REPORT W…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER FAILED. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COUPLER AT THE COST OF $300, BUT IT IS CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK FROM A REPRESENTATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10263269

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