NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1,091 reports300 miles · Sep 19, 2006
Structure
WHERE DO I BEGIN. FIRST TEST DRIVE, WE STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN VEHICLE. THEN ON START UP IT WOULD NOT START. HAD TO CALL DEALER FOR A JUMP START, TWICE. THEN 2ND WEEK MY DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR ROOF MOLDING KEPT POPPING OFF. AFTER THE 3RD TIME, IT WAS WARPED. TOOK TO CARDINALE NISSAN IN SEASIDE CA, AND THEY ORDERED THE WRONG PART. TH…
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WHERE DO I BEGIN. FIRST TEST DRIVE, WE STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN VEHICLE. THEN ON START UP IT WOULD NOT START. HAD TO CALL DEALER FOR A JUMP START, TWICE. THEN 2ND WEEK MY DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR ROOF MOLDING KEPT POPPING OFF. AFTER THE 3RD TIME, IT WAS WARPED. TOOK TO CARDINALE NISSAN IN SEASIDE CA, AND THEY ORDERED THE WRONG PART. THEN AFTER DRIVING AROUND WITH SOME BRIGHT BLUE TAPE ALL THE WAY DOWN MY CAR, THEY THEN SUGGESTED THAT THEY HAD TO FOLLOW A BULLETIN FROM NISSAN WHERE THEY JUST PLACED NEW CLIPS AND LOTS OF GLUE. THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THE MOLDING. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT KEPT POPPING OFF AGAIN. TOOK CAR BACK AND THEN THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY NEVER DID! AFTER ARGUING THEY AGREED TO REPLACE WITH NEW MOLDING. I WAITED 2 WEEKS FOR PART TO COME IN, TOOK CAR BACK 4TH TIME. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY HAD ONCE AGAIN, JUST PUT NEW CLIPS AND EVEN MORE GLUE. THEY DIDN'T REPLACE MOLDING AGAIN. WAS TOLD TO WAIT 48 HOURS FOR GLUE TO DRY, SO NOW I GOT TO DRIVE AROUND WITH NEON GREEN TAPE ON MY CAR. TWO DAYS LATER, TOOK IT BACK AND IT WAS STILL LIFTING. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE MOLDING. I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 48 HOURS WITH A NEW STRIP OF GREEN TAPE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10168705
59,400 miles · Sep 11, 2006
Power Train
2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. NOTICED TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT 59,000 MILES. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT THAT TIME. THEY REFUSED TO EVEN CONSIDER IT A WARRANTY ISSUE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT CHANGED AT 30,000 MILES. OWNERS MANUAL HAS SEVERAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES. MINE FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF SUBSTANTIAL HWY. DRIVING AND…
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2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. NOTICED TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT 59,000 MILES. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT THAT TIME. THEY REFUSED TO EVEN CONSIDER IT A WARRANTY ISSUE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT CHANGED AT 30,000 MILES. OWNERS MANUAL HAS SEVERAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES. MINE FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF SUBSTANTIAL HWY. DRIVING AND DOES NOT REQUIRE THE FLUID BE CHANGED UNTIL 100,000 MILES. I CONTINUED TO PURSUE THE CLAIM EVEN AFTER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRATION PERIOD. I AM NOW TOLD THAT CLAIM WILL BE DENIED BECAUSE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT DONE WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AT 59,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE FLUID ON MY FIRST VISIT (AT MY EXPENSE) AND VERY BLUNTLY TOLD ME THAT IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, I WAS ON MY OWN. THEY NEVER OFFERED TO DO A DIAGNOSTICS TEST. THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY DID A DIAGNOSTICS TEST AT 67,000 MILES AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10167866
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2006
Power Train
I RECENTLY HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE MY CLUTCH LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AND WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET REAR ENDED GOING 80 MPH. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH LOSES PRESSURE ONLY AFTER DRIVING DURING H…
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I RECENTLY HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE MY CLUTCH LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AND WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET REAR ENDED GOING 80 MPH. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH LOSES PRESSURE ONLY AFTER DRIVING DURING HOT EXTENDED PERIODS. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE AND CANNOT GET THE DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO UNCOVERED MANY OTHER ALTIMA USERS WHO ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR CLUTCH THAT I AM HAVING ON A NISSAN ALTIMA FORUM. PLEASE HELP!!!! *JB
NHTSA ODI #10166634
1 miles · Aug 6, 2006
Power Train
NOISES FROM CLUTCH, NOISES FROM TRANSMISSION. SINCE DAY 1. ROUGH ENGAGEMENT OF 2ND GEAR. CLUTCH MAKES MANY CREAKING NOISES, TRANSMISSION WHINES IN EVERY GEAR. 2ND GEAR AND 3RD GEAR GRIND OCCASIONALLY, AND 2ND GEAR HAS A VERY ROUGH ENGAGEMENT AT TIMES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM YET. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10164635
23,000 miles · Jul 11, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2005 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 23,000 MILES AND NO PRIOR BRAKE OR ROTOR PROBLEMS WAS IN NEED OF NEW ROTORS AND WERE NOT ABLE TO BE TURNED. NEVER TURNED BEFORE. SUGGESTED BY NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE MAINTENANCE CHECK IN SPRING AND FALL TO PREVENT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. NISSAN PAID FOR ROTORS THIS TIME BUT MADE IT CLEAR THEY WOULD NOT PAY…
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2005 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 23,000 MILES AND NO PRIOR BRAKE OR ROTOR PROBLEMS WAS IN NEED OF NEW ROTORS AND WERE NOT ABLE TO BE TURNED. NEVER TURNED BEFORE. SUGGESTED BY NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE MAINTENANCE CHECK IN SPRING AND FALL TO PREVENT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. NISSAN PAID FOR ROTORS THIS TIME BUT MADE IT CLEAR THEY WOULD NOT PAY IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10162173
11,000 miles · Jul 7, 2006
Structure
AN UPDATE TO A PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PROBLEM, WHICH MAY HELP OTHER CAR OWNERS IN DETERMINING A SUSPECTED PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SL. LAST SUMMER I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S HANDLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAD THE CAR ALIGNED, REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES, ONE BY ONE AND WAS STILL HAVING WITH THE CAR-WHICH WAS SHAKI…
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AN UPDATE TO A PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PROBLEM, WHICH MAY HELP OTHER CAR OWNERS IN DETERMINING A SUSPECTED PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SL. LAST SUMMER I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S HANDLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAD THE CAR ALIGNED, REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES, ONE BY ONE AND WAS STILL HAVING WITH THE CAR-WHICH WAS SHAKING AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE SHAKING WAS LIKE A TURBULENCE EFFECT. THE SPOILER UNDER THE CAR WAS NOT ALLOWING THE WIND TO FLOW THROUGH PROPERLY, WHICH WAS CAUSING THE SHAKING EFFECT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPOILER WITH THE 2.5 MODEL'S SPOILER. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS A LIGHTER CAR AND THE WIND DOES HAVE AN EFFECT ON IT WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE TIRES WHICH ARE A CONTINENTAL BRAND ARE PROBABLY NOT THE CORRECT TIRES FOR THE CAR DUE TO ROAD FORCE ISSUES AND NOT THE PROPER SPEED RATING FOR THIS MODEL EITHER. I WILL PROBABLY REPLACE THOSE WITH A BETTER MODEL AND HIGH SPEED RATING ONCE THEY START TO WEAR DOWN. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10161742
2,000 miles · Jun 14, 2006
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering
NEW 2005 ALTIMA 3.5 SE BOUGHT AUGUST 2005 1ST MONTH I HAD NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND THE VEHICLE PULLING/DRIFTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THIS CONCERN MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE A SENSE OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING, IN ADDITION WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIM…
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NEW 2005 ALTIMA 3.5 SE BOUGHT AUGUST 2005 1ST MONTH I HAD NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND THE VEHICLE PULLING/DRIFTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THIS CONCERN MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE A SENSE OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING, IN ADDITION WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THE VIBRATION IN THE WHEEL MAKES YOUR HANDS AND ARMS FALL ASLEEP. IT IS ALWAYS NECESSARY AFTER AN HOUR OR HOUR AND A HALF TO PULL OVER AND GIVE YOUR ARMS/ HANDS A REST. THE DEALER ADDRESSED THIS CONCERN BY BALANCING THE WHEELS BY ROAD FORCE BALANCE (CORRECTED SPECS - 21LBS ROAD FORCE DOWN TO 7LBS) NO ALIGNMENT ISSUES WERE NOTICED. AFTER 3 TIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE VIBRATIONS I HAD NOTICED A CLUNK IN THE FRONT END, IT ENDED UP BEING A STRUT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH THE NEXT TRIP THE DEALERSHIP THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WAS NOW EVIDENT AT ALL SPEEDS, IT WAS STILL DRIFTING, AND A NEW "HUM" HAD DEVELOPED AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER UNABLE TO VERIFY ANY OF MY CONCERNS SUGGESTED THAT I GO FOR A RIDE WITH THE SERVICE MANGER. AFTER THAT RIDE HE SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE MY TIRES SWAPPED FOR NEW ONES OF ANOTHER BRAND. ON MY NEXT TRIP TO THE DEALER THEY SWAPPED ALL 4 OF MY TIRES FOR ANOTHER BRAND NAME AND RE-ALIGNED THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND FRONT END. THROUGHOUT THE WINTER THE CAR RAN OK OTHER THAN SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT WOULD KILL MY BATTERY AND THE REAR PILLAR AIRBAGS COMING OUT. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE SPRING THAT I WAS FORCED TO BRING MY CAR DOWN AGAIN FOR THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CLUNK IN THE FRONT END. THE DEALER COULD NOT VERIFY ANY CLUNK IN THE FRONT END BUT AGREED THAT THERE IS AGAIN A VIBRATION AND REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BY ADJUSTING THE STEERING RACK PRE-LOAD. INITIALLY THE VIBRATION WAS REDUCED, BUT WITHIN A MONTH IT WAS BACK. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THAT ADJUSTING THE STEERING RACK PRE-LOAD WAS ONLY A "TEMPORARY FIX" A "BANDAID FOR THE PROBLEM". *JB
NHTSA ODI #10159797
31,000 miles · Jun 9, 2006
Electrical System
ON JUNE 7, 2006 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IN A ROAD CONSTRUCTION AREA OF I-10 IN VIDOR, TX. THERE WERE CONCRETE BARRIERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE RAN OVER A PIECE OF TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE AND THE CAR DIED. SHE WAS LEFT STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART, BUT…
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ON JUNE 7, 2006 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IN A ROAD CONSTRUCTION AREA OF I-10 IN VIDOR, TX. THERE WERE CONCRETE BARRIERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE RAN OVER A PIECE OF TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE AND THE CAR DIED. SHE WAS LEFT STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART, BUT STARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE VIDOR POLICE DROVE IT OFF OF THE INTERSTATE BUT IT WAS STUCK IN A HIGHER GEAR. UPON INSPECTION THERE IS A ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAME UNDONE. THERE IS A HEAT SHIELD AROUND THE CONNECTION, BUT IT DOES NOT PROTECT THE CONNECTION FROM BEING STRUCK BY ROAD DEBRIS. IF THIS IS GOING TO KILL THE CAR ENGINE ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, THEN IT SHOULD BE BETTER PROTECTED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10159380
19,500 miles · Jun 8, 2006
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO SHIFT. AND WHEN IT SHIFTS, IT IS A ROUGH TRANSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE GROUND WIRE. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM THEREFORE THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DEPRESSING THE B…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO SHIFT. AND WHEN IT SHIFTS, IT IS A ROUGH TRANSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE GROUND WIRE. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM THEREFORE THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND WHEN DRIVING AT 10 MPH THE BRAKES MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME DUST WAS BLOWN OFF THE BRAKES. ON THE SECOND AND THIRD VISIT THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACE. THE FOURTH TIME, THE BRAKES WERE DETERMINED TO BE 'GLAZED' AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10159332
15,656 miles · Jun 1, 2006
Air Bags
I OWN A 2005 ALTIMA FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS NISSAN. HOWEVER, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT. WHEN I SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I AM 5'4 AND WEIGH ABOUT 104 LBS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO AUTOWAY NISSAN (TAMPA, FL) TWICE ABOUT THIS …
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I OWN A 2005 ALTIMA FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS NISSAN. HOWEVER, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT. WHEN I SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I AM 5'4 AND WEIGH ABOUT 104 LBS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO AUTOWAY NISSAN (TAMPA, FL) TWICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO GO OFF, I HAVE TO JUMP AROUND IN MY SEAT SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OFF, MOST OF THE TIME IT COMES BACK ON AFTER 10 MINUTES OR SO. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT AUTOWAY NISSAN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION, ONLY TELLING ME THAT IT IS A WEIGHT SENSOR THAT PICKS UP AT 100-110 LBS AND THAT IT CAN NOT BE CALIBRATED. I HAVE EVEN CONTACTED NISSAN AND STARTED A FILE WITH THEM. IT HAS BEEN TWO DAYS NOW, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR THAT SENSOR TO PICK UP ON WEIGHT ONLY. MY HUSBAND'S '04 ACCORD'S SENSOR GOES OFF WHEN I SIT IN HIS PASSENGER SEAT. I KNOW I'M COMPARING APPLES WITH ORANGES, BUT YOU WOULD THINK NISSAN WOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN BUILDING THE VEHICLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10158813