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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

Structure complaints

351 reports
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85,000 miles · Jul 15, 2012
Structure

MY VEHICLE IS A LOW MILEAGE GARAGED 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH IS IN PERFECT CONDITION EXCEPT THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE ROTTED OUT SO THAT YOU CAN STEP THROUGH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED AND METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH FRESH WATER CLEANING OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE WHEN WASHED AND ESPECIALLY IN THE SPRING. THI…

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MY VEHICLE IS A LOW MILEAGE GARAGED 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH IS IN PERFECT CONDITION EXCEPT THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE ROTTED OUT SO THAT YOU CAN STEP THROUGH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED AND METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH FRESH WATER CLEANING OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE WHEN WASHED AND ESPECIALLY IN THE SPRING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WITH POTENTIAL FOR INJURY STEPPING THROUGH AND POSSIBLE DEATH FROM EXHAUST FUMES CAUSING UNCONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS VEHICLE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF THIS PROBLEM BOTH ON THIS NHTSB SITE AND IN OWNER FORUMS SO IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TOP BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465703

45,696 miles · Jul 11, 2012
Structure

AFTER JACKING UP MY MOTHER'S CAR FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHILE I WAS PLACING JACK STANDS BEHIND THE FRONT WHEELS IN THE APPROPRIATE JACKING POINTS, I NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR PANELS LOOKED SWOLLEN UNDERNEATH THE RUST PROOFING MATERIAL. I BEGAN TO POKE AT IT WITH MY FINGER, AND MY FINGER PUSHED THROUGH THE RUST PROOFING AND ALL KINDS O…

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AFTER JACKING UP MY MOTHER'S CAR FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHILE I WAS PLACING JACK STANDS BEHIND THE FRONT WHEELS IN THE APPROPRIATE JACKING POINTS, I NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR PANELS LOOKED SWOLLEN UNDERNEATH THE RUST PROOFING MATERIAL. I BEGAN TO POKE AT IT WITH MY FINGER, AND MY FINGER PUSHED THROUGH THE RUST PROOFING AND ALL KINDS OF SEVERELY RUSTED METAL BEGAN TO FALL OUT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE STEEL FLOOR PANEL, HAD BASICALLY TURNED TO RUSTED DUST. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER UP THROUGH THE FLOOR PANEL UNTIL I COULD FEEL THE BOTTOM OF THE CARPET. NOTICING NO OTHER RUST ANYWHERE ELSE NEAR BY, I FIGURED IT HAD TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, SO I DECIDED TO CHECK THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAME LOCATION, AND SURE ENOUGH, WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE RUST PROOFING AND THROUGH ROTTED STEEL LIKE IT WAS NOTHING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE, AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED, AS WELL AS GARAGE KEPT. NISSAN NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465297

98,000 miles · Jul 11, 2012
Structure

TODAY WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE ON MY GIRLFRIENDS 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA I NOTICED A LARGE HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. THERE IS A LARGE RUSTED OUT HOLE, ONLY ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THAT GOES COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE INSIDE. IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CAR THERE IS NO RUST AT ALL. THIS CAR IS WAS…

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TODAY WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE ON MY GIRLFRIENDS 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA I NOTICED A LARGE HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. THERE IS A LARGE RUSTED OUT HOLE, ONLY ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THAT GOES COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE INSIDE. IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CAR THERE IS NO RUST AT ALL. THIS CAR IS WASHED REGULARLY, AND HAS NO RUST ON THE PAINTWORK ANYWHERE. UPON LOOKING IT UP ON THE INTERNET THERE APPEARS TO BE MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE, AND NISSAN IS TRYING TO COVER IT UP AND NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS THAT ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. PLEASE HELP ME HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465260

103,000 miles · Jul 4, 2012
Structure

RUSTED FLOOR PAN ON PASSENGERS SIDE HAD A 12" HOLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10464176

146,000 miles · Jun 28, 2012
Structure

PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANEL IS RUSTING. CAR IS ONLY 7. YRS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463492

88,000 miles · Jun 18, 2012
Structure

MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S HAS 88,500 MILES ON IT. IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXCEPT FOR THE FLOOR PANS UNDER THE VEHICLE (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) THAT ARE RUSTING THROUGH. IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES AND NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I NEED THIS FIXED, AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR …

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MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S HAS 88,500 MILES ON IT. IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXCEPT FOR THE FLOOR PANS UNDER THE VEHICLE (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) THAT ARE RUSTING THROUGH. IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES AND NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I NEED THIS FIXED, AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR 2 REASONS: STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED BY MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER THAT THE ONLY PROPER REPAIR IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE FLOOR PAN METAL. THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS WAS AROUND $2500. I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD SON AND A DAUGHTER ON THE WAY. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE AT THIS TIME, AND NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462102

96,000 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Structure

NOTICED AN OBJECT HANGING FROM UNDERSIDE OF PASSENGER FLOOR AREA. UPON EXAMINATION FOUND FLOORPAN AREA COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND HANGING PIECE WAS PART OF RUSTED FLOOR PAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460758

89,000 miles · Jun 1, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A TRADE-IN AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A TRADE-IN AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HIM TO CONTACT THE DEALERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89000.

NHTSA ODI #10460278

83,692 miles · May 17, 2012
Structure

WHILE JACKING MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA UP UPON LOOKING UNDERNEATH I NOTICED A 4 INCH BY 4 INCH PATCH OF RUST. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT IT WAS RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE CARPET INSIDE THE CAR. SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS WORKING ON MY CAR THERE WAS NOT RUST AT ALL. I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR AND INSPECT THE CAR FOR AN…

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WHILE JACKING MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA UP UPON LOOKING UNDERNEATH I NOTICED A 4 INCH BY 4 INCH PATCH OF RUST. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT IT WAS RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE CARPET INSIDE THE CAR. SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS WORKING ON MY CAR THERE WAS NOT RUST AT ALL. I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR AND INSPECT THE CAR FOR ANY PROBLEMS. THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS BY NISSAN AND THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 02 - 05 ALTIMAS AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10458801

55,000 miles · May 4, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE RUST SPOTS UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS, UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED RUST OVER THE ENTIRE FRONT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE RUST SPOTS UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS, UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED RUST OVER THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,903.

NHTSA ODI #10457519

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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