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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

Structure complaints

351 reports
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90,000 miles · Feb 13, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10683261

142,355 miles · Feb 10, 2015
Structure

I SAW A TV NEWS STORY ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH 2002-2006 NISSAN ALTIMAS HAVING RUSTED OUT FLOORBOARDS. I CHECKED UNDERNEATH MY NISSAN ALTIMA AND THE FLOORBOARD IS RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS A HOLE IN IT. YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER IN IT AND CHIP AWAY THE METAL IN THE FLOORBOARD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HOLE IS ONLY GOI…

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I SAW A TV NEWS STORY ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH 2002-2006 NISSAN ALTIMAS HAVING RUSTED OUT FLOORBOARDS. I CHECKED UNDERNEATH MY NISSAN ALTIMA AND THE FLOORBOARD IS RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS A HOLE IN IT. YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER IN IT AND CHIP AWAY THE METAL IN THE FLOORBOARD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HOLE IS ONLY GOING TO GET BIGGER AS THE METAL WILL RUST EVEN MORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682658

80,000 miles · Jan 15, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. DUE TO CORROSION ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, A HOLE DEVELOPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RUST MUST BE REMOVED AND A METAL PLATE MUST BE WELDED TO REPAIR THE HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. DUE TO CORROSION ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, A HOLE DEVELOPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RUST MUST BE REMOVED AND A METAL PLATE MUST BE WELDED TO REPAIR THE HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 3/24/15*CN UPDATED 9/18/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10672661

67,500 miles · Dec 31, 2014
Structure

FLOOR BOARDS UNDERNEATH PASSENGER SIDES ARE ROTTING THROUGH...WHY??!!!!!!!!! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10669247

135,000 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND A HOLE WAS DEVELOPING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ODI #10667765

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2014
Structure

BOUGHT MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA NEW AND REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN CRYSTAL LAKE, IL. IT HAS 111,000 MILES ON IT, GARAGE KEPT AND IN PRISTINE CONDITION. ON OCTOBER 15, 2014 A PRIVATE PARTY INFORMED ME OF MY RUSTED FLOORBOARDS. THE DEALERSHIP IN ALL 9 1/2 YEARS NEVER MENTIONED THIS TO ME. CONTACTED NISSAN CORP…

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BOUGHT MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA NEW AND REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN CRYSTAL LAKE, IL. IT HAS 111,000 MILES ON IT, GARAGE KEPT AND IN PRISTINE CONDITION. ON OCTOBER 15, 2014 A PRIVATE PARTY INFORMED ME OF MY RUSTED FLOORBOARDS. THE DEALERSHIP IN ALL 9 1/2 YEARS NEVER MENTIONED THIS TO ME. CONTACTED NISSAN CORP WHO PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH REGIONAL REP. PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AND ESTIMATE OBTAINED BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM TOLD A TSB WAS ISSUED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10661962

198,000 miles · Nov 26, 2014
Structure

HAD MY NISSAN IN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE FLOOR BOARDS WERE ROTTED OUT. THERE IS NOT ANOTHER SPEC OF RUST ON THIS CAR. THANK GOODNESS FOR CARPET AND FLOOR MATS AS THAT IS ALL THAT IS BETWEEN ME AND THE ROAD. CALLED NISSAN TO REPORT ISSUE/ASK FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD NO. …

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HAD MY NISSAN IN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE FLOOR BOARDS WERE ROTTED OUT. THERE IS NOT ANOTHER SPEC OF RUST ON THIS CAR. THANK GOODNESS FOR CARPET AND FLOOR MATS AS THAT IS ALL THAT IS BETWEEN ME AND THE ROAD. CALLED NISSAN TO REPORT ISSUE/ASK FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD NO. THEY STATED THAT MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AND IS OLD THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT BE OFFERING ME ANY ASSISTANCE. EXPLAINED THAT MY B/F IS A MECHANIC AND HAS BEEN THE ONE MAINTAINING THIS CAR AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS, BUT NISSAN DIDN'T CARE. CONTINUED TO TELL ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OLD THEY WOULD NOT BE OFFERING ASSISTANCE. I LET HIM KNOW THROUGH MY RESEARCH THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING LUCK GETTING NISSAN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND HE SAID HE WOULDN'T CONFIRM THAT WHICH IS WHEN HE POINTED OUT MY SERVICE RECORDS AT A CERTIFIED NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I ASKED HIM IF THAT IS WHY NISSAN WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIRS - B/C I HADN'T GIVEN NISSAN ALL MY HARD EARNED MONEY FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS - THERE WAS SILENCE ON THE OTHER END. FOR A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY THEY SURE NEED TO WORK ON THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR CURRENT CUSTOMERS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA'S. I AM THE 17TH PERSON IS THE PAST 2 MONTHS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YR OF CAR ON THIS SITE ALONE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON OTHER SITES. I SEE A PATTERN HERE!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10661033

74,000 miles · Nov 21, 2014
Structure

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I HAD ASSUMED IT WAS A BRANCH OR SOMETHING AS SIMPLE. I ASKED A COUPLE OF CO-WORKERS IF THEY WOULDN'T MIND CHECKING IT OUT FOR ME. BOTH TOLD ME IT WAS A PIECE OF METAL HANGING BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT…

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A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I HAD ASSUMED IT WAS A BRANCH OR SOMETHING AS SIMPLE. I ASKED A COUPLE OF CO-WORKERS IF THEY WOULDN'T MIND CHECKING IT OUT FOR ME. BOTH TOLD ME IT WAS A PIECE OF METAL HANGING BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS PUT ON A LIFT TO BE INSPECTED. I ALSO LOOKED AT THE CAR ALONG WITH THE SHOP'S OWNER AND OTHER MECHANIC. THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR, A HOLE LARGE ENOUGH TO PUT ONE'S FOOT THROUGH IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE CARPETING. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS EXAMINED THEN THE BODY. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SIGN OF RUST ON THIS VEHICLE WHATSOEVER. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS MODEL FOR THE EXACT SAME TYPE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660023

90,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON MAY 21, 2014. SHE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN WHICH SHE RECEIVED BACK, LEG AND KNEE INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT HARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN CLEARLY IT SHOULD HAVE BY THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE…

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MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON MAY 21, 2014. SHE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN WHICH SHE RECEIVED BACK, LEG AND KNEE INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT HARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN CLEARLY IT SHOULD HAVE BY THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE SPEED OF THE OTHER DRIVER. TO ADD, MY DAUGHTER WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND THANK GOD THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE FOR AIRBAG ISSUES. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT IF SO. IN DOING RESEARCH I AM FINDING OUT ABOUT THE AIRBAG ISSUES AFFECTING PAST AND CURRENT NISSAN MODELS. THE CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD DEPLOY WHEN THE RESTRAINT CONTROLLER DETECTS A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL COLLISION. IN MY RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY BECAUSE AUTO MANUFACTURERS ATTEMPTS TO CUT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR AIRBAG SYSTEMS, WHICH IN TURN REDUCES THE QUALITY OR THE QUANTITY OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I AM OUT A CAR AND STRONGLY CONSIDERING RETAINING AN ATTORNEY TO HANDLE THE CASE..,.UPDATED 12/03/14 *BF *TR UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10659727

90,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON MAY 21, 2014. SHE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN WHICH SHE RECEIVED BACK, LEG AND KNEE INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT HARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN CLEARLY IT SHOULD HAVE BY THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE…

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MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON MAY 21, 2014. SHE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN WHICH SHE RECEIVED BACK, LEG AND KNEE INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT HARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN CLEARLY IT SHOULD HAVE BY THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE SPEED OF THE OTHER DRIVER. TO ADD, MY DAUGHTER WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND THANK GOD THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE FOR AIRBAG ISSUES. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT IF SO. IN DOING RESEARCH I AM FINDING OUT ABOUT THE AIRBAG ISSUES AFFECTING PAST AND CURRENT NISSAN MODELS. THE CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD DEPLOY WHEN THE RESTRAINT CONTROLLER DETECTS A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL COLLISION. IN MY RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY BECAUSE AUTO MANUFACTURERS ATTEMPTS TO CUT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR AIRBAG SYSTEMS, WHICH IN TURN REDUCES THE QUALITY OR THE QUANTITY OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I AM OUT A CAR AND STRONGLY CONSIDERING RETAINING AN ATTORNEY TO HANDLE THE CASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659726

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