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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

Visibility complaints

14 reports
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91,000 miles · Dec 15, 2016
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility

SORRY FOR MY BELATED COMPLAINT. I JUST LEARNED OF YOUR WEBSITE. EARLY EVENING AUG 18, 2016 ENTIRE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA COMPLETELY BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FORTUNATELY -- NOBODY WAS SITTING IN BACK SEAT(S) OF MY CAR - NO ADULTS & NO CHILDREN !! WHAT A BIG MESS !! A CLEAR & NORMAL SUMMER EVENING - NO SEVERE…

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SORRY FOR MY BELATED COMPLAINT. I JUST LEARNED OF YOUR WEBSITE. EARLY EVENING AUG 18, 2016 ENTIRE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA COMPLETELY BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FORTUNATELY -- NOBODY WAS SITTING IN BACK SEAT(S) OF MY CAR - NO ADULTS & NO CHILDREN !! WHAT A BIG MESS !! A CLEAR & NORMAL SUMMER EVENING - NO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO EVEN PROVOKE A CRAZY & SUDDEN INCIDENT LIKE THIS. LUCKILY -- I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS ON A QUIET SUBURBAN ROAD WITH RELATIVELY LOW TRAFFIC. I WAS AT STOP LIGHT & SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND -- ALMOST LIKE A GUN SHOT. I CHECKED MY REAR VIEW MIRROR & MY ENTIRE CAR REAR WINDOW WAS BLOWN OUT WITH VERY LARGE HOLES & TINY SHATTERED GLASS PIECES STREWN ALL OVER INSIDE BACK SEAT AREA OF MY CAR. SOME SHATTERED GLASS EVEN BLEW OUT ALL WAY TO FRONT SECTION WHERE I WAS SEATED !! I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE ROAD & PULLED OVER INTO NEARBY WALGREENS PARKING LOT & CALLED LOCAL POLICE. POLICEMAN CAME & EXAMINED MY CAR. HE DID NOT FEEL ANY FOUL PLAY WAS INVOLVED NOR ANY GUNSHOT NOR BASEBALL THROWN INTO MY REAR CAR WINDOW. I TOOK 24 PHOTOS ? SEE 5 UPLOADED. HE HELPED ME GATHER MOST OF BROKEN & SHATTERED GLASS INTO A PLASTIC BAG. WE NOTED A FEW PIECES HAD DARK BROWN BURN MARKS ON THEM. HE SAID MOST LIKELY IT INDICATED A "SHORT" OCCURRED IN REAR DEFROSTER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HE COULD NOT PREPARE POLICE REPORT BCUZ IT DID NOT INVOLVE ANY FOUL PLAY. NEXT DAY I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS (NCA). THEY ASKED ME TO EMAIL MY 24 PHOTOS TO NCA & ONLY AGREED TO PAY TO REPLACE REAR CAR WINDOW. I TOLD NCA IT WAS PROBABLY A SHORT IN REAR DEFROSTER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ? A SERIOUS NISSAN SAFETY ISSUE & DEFECT. FOR ME ? A SCARY INCIDENT !! I SAVED ALL SHATTERED GLASS PIECES WITH DARK BROWN BURN MARKS, BUT NCA DID NOT WANT THEM. UNFORTUNATELY -- I CAN ONLY UPLOAD 5 PHOTOS. IF YOU WANT TO VIEW ALL 24 PHOTOS - CALL OR TEXT MY CELL [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10935382

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2015
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10809291

87,000 miles · Apr 21, 2010
Visibility

MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FRONT WINDOWS ROLL DOWN WHILE I AM AWAY FROM THE CAR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENS, BUT I AM WORRIED MY CAR WILL GET STOLEN. IT HAS BEEN RAINING OFTEN AND THE WOOD GRAIN IS DAMAGED, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO CRIMINALS AND NATURES ELEMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326851

30,000 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Visibility

MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FRONT WINDOWS ROLL DOWN WHILE I AM AWAY FROM THE CAR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENS, BUT I AM WORRIED MY CAR WILL GET STOLEN OR RAINED ON/IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312283

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsSuspension

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS ISSUES WITH TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT GOOD WITH PHONE CALLS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ON HER THIRD SET OF TIRES AT 22,000 MILES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VEHICLE HAD WEAK AXLES AND WERE OFTEN MIS-ALIGNED AT THE FACTORY. EVEN WITH THE PROPER MAIN…

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2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS ISSUES WITH TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT GOOD WITH PHONE CALLS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ON HER THIRD SET OF TIRES AT 22,000 MILES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VEHICLE HAD WEAK AXLES AND WERE OFTEN MIS-ALIGNED AT THE FACTORY. EVEN WITH THE PROPER MAINTENANCE, THE MIS-ALIGNMENT WOULD RETURN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL A CAR SEAT, BUT SHE SOON DISCOVERED, THE REAR SEAT BELT DID NOT CATCH AS IT SHOULD HAVE AND IT DID NOT RECOIL WHEN IT WAS NOT BEING USED. THE FAN WOULD BLOW AND WORK IN ALL POSITIONS, BUT THE ONLY TIME IT WOULD BLOW WARM OR HOT AIR WAS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS IN USE AND RUNNING FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THE WINDOWS WOULD DEFROST ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT NOT THE INSIDE. IT WOULD FORM A THIN LAYER OF ICE AND FOG THAT HAD TO BE SCRAPED OR WIPED WITH WARM WATER, OR IT WOULD EVENTUALLY FADE AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10259010

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2008
Exterior LightingVisibility

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNED ON THE INSIDE AND FOGGY LOOKING. AT NIGHT THEY ARE VERY DIM, ALMOST AS THOUGH I WAS DRIVING IN A CONSTANT THICK FOG. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS FOGGY LOOKING CIRCLES ALL OVER INSIDE THE GLASS AND MAKES VISIBILITY HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226296

40,000 miles · Dec 15, 2007
StructureVisibilityInjury

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE MADE OF CHEAP LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC AND THEY DETERIATE AND BECOME VERY FOGGY AND DRIVER CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211988

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2007
EquipmentStructureVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS ADVISED TO GO TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEE TO REPAIR THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER WOULD BE FREE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS CHARGE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS ADVISED TO GO TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEE TO REPAIR THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER WOULD BE FREE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS CHARGED $185.44. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN AND THEY WERE EQUIPPED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, HAS YET TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THEY COULD ONLY INFORM HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERNAL. THE POWERTRAIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,135. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN THE DEALER STATED REAR WINDOW OPERATES REALLY SLOW, AND PILLAR/ROOF KEEPS COMING A LOOSE. UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207544

41,000 miles · Sep 21, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL OR OIL PLUGS IN THE VEHICLE. HE REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NISS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL OR OIL PLUGS IN THE VEHICLE. HE REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN, WHERE IT WAS REGULARLY SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING OIL OR OIL PLUGS. THEY ALSO INFORMED HER THAT SOMEONE HAD TAMPERED WITH HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS SPOKEN WITH NISSAN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HAS BEEN WITHOUT HER VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS. SHE BELIEVES THEY ARE GIVING HER THE RUN-AROUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000. * UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DEALER STATED PASSENGER WINDOW MAKES NOISE, AND REMOTE SWITCH IS INOPERABLE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10203611

10,000 miles · Oct 31, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A HALF AN INCH GAP BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE FRAME WHERE THE WIPERS WERE CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

NHTSA ODI #10172251

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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