← New search

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

What owners actually said

1,091 reports
5,512 miles · Oct 18, 2004
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED. AFTER TRYING ABOUT 15-20 TIMES, IT WILL START AND DARK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL CODES WERE NORMAL AND SUGGESTED THE BATTERY BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT REPLACE IT AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10097034

729 miles · Oct 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 9/20/04. ON 10/3/04 I NOTICED THAT, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. DIPSTICK SHOWED OIL LEVEL WAS BELOW LOW MARK. DEALER INSPECTION TRACED OIL LEAK TO THE GALLEY PLUG. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093780

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2004
Visibility

CORRESOPNDENCE I WILL MAIL TO YOU DESCRIBES WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE DEFECTIVE UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY'AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. NAMELY FOR 3 AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL POSITIONS THE AIR CONDITIONING CANNOT BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT UNSAFELY STOPPING THE CAR'S ENGINE; THIS UNSAFE PROCEDURE IS ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED IN T…

Read full complaint

CORRESOPNDENCE I WILL MAIL TO YOU DESCRIBES WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE DEFECTIVE UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY'AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. NAMELY FOR 3 AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL POSITIONS THE AIR CONDITIONING CANNOT BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT UNSAFELY STOPPING THE CAR'S ENGINE; THIS UNSAFE PROCEDURE IS ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091299

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVE AT 25 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A POP NOISE AND VEHICLE DIDN'T SHIFT FROM THE FIRST GEAR TO THE SECOND GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDICATED THE CABLE BROKE. CONSUMER INDICATED DON'T KNOW WHICH CABLE WAS BROKE AND SHE WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10092011

8,000 miles · Sep 14, 2004
Power Train

DROVE TO THE MALL AND DROVE TO TARGET. CAME BACK TO DRIVE THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THE STICK WAS STIFF AND IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO REVERSE. I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR WHICH AGAIN IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. WHEN I STOPPED TO ENTER INTO TRAFFIC AND PROCEEDED, THE STICK POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND I CO…

Read full complaint

DROVE TO THE MALL AND DROVE TO TARGET. CAME BACK TO DRIVE THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THE STICK WAS STIFF AND IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO REVERSE. I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR WHICH AGAIN IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. WHEN I STOPPED TO ENTER INTO TRAFFIC AND PROCEEDED, THE STICK POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND I COULDN'T GET THE CAR INTO GEAR AND AN ONCOMING CAR ALMOST HIT ME. I FINALLY GOT IT TO GO INTO REVERSE AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. AFTER TRYING TO MOVE THE STICK AROUND INTO ALL THE GEARS, SECOND GEAR AND REVERSE WERE THE ONLY FUNCTIONALLY GEARS I HAD. I DROVE THE CAR IN SECOND GEAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. IT WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM TARGET.

NHTSA ODI #10090946

959 miles · Sep 4, 2004
StructureCrash

THE DOOR IS NOT ALIGN RIGHT COULD THE CENTER BEAM BE BENT? ALSO MOLDING INSIDE OF DOOR IS NOT STAYING ON THE CENTER BEAM? DEALERSHIP MARLBOROUGH NISSAN IS CONFUSED ON THE PROBLEM. ALSO PAINT PROBLEMS NICE SPIDER WEB ON THE PAINT AND PAINT PEELING ON PASSENGER MIRROW.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10090434

700 miles · Aug 27, 2004
StructureInjury

I JUST PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM COOPER NISSAN IN EASTON, PA. PROBLEM: THE TRUNK LID IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IT WILL NOT STAY UP ON A SLOPING DRIVEWAY.*AK WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND OPENED THE TRUNK ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE TRUNK LID WOULD NOT STAY UP, WHEN PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY. ABOUT A 15 DEGREE INCLINE. THE TRUNK LI…

Read full complaint

I JUST PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM COOPER NISSAN IN EASTON, PA. PROBLEM: THE TRUNK LID IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IT WILL NOT STAY UP ON A SLOPING DRIVEWAY.*AK WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND OPENED THE TRUNK ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE TRUNK LID WOULD NOT STAY UP, WHEN PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY. ABOUT A 15 DEGREE INCLINE. THE TRUNK LID HAS FALLEN ON ME SEVERAL TIMES BUT I WAS NOT CUT. I CONTACTED THE COOPER SERVICE DEPT AND THEY ORDERED NEW TORSION BARS. AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED IT APPEARED TO WORK. ON 8/14/04 I WASHING VACUUMING OUT MY TRUNK. THE TRUNK LID FELL DOWN ON MY AND CAUSED A PUNCTURE WOUND TO THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND THE BLOOD STARTED FLOWING&. EVENTUALLY WITH A COMPRESS THE BLOOD FLOW STOPPED AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR BUT THE HEADACHE LASTED FOR HOURS! I CALLED THE COOPER SERVICE DEPT AND THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID" THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, THATS THE WAY ITS DESIGNED- SORRY" I THEN CALLED THE NATIONAL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT AND THEY REVIEWED MY COMPLAINT AND SUGGESTED A COURSE OF ACTION OF CHECKED MY CAR AGAINST OTHERS ON THE LOT AND TO REPLACE THE TORSION BARS AS NEEDED. BUT I HAD ALREADY DONE THAT. AND THEIR FINAL POSTION WAS " THATS THE WAY ITS DESIGNED AND THATS ALL THEY COULD DO, SORRY IT DOESN'T WORK ON YOUR DRIVEWAY - YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO HOLD UP THE LID WHEN YOU USE THE TRUNK" AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU NEED TWO HANDS TO PUT SOMETHING IN YOUR TRUNK??? I HAVE REPEATLY ASKED FOR A CHEAP , EASY FIX TO ADD ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO THE TRUNK LID BUT I BEEN STALLED BY THE NISSAN PERSONNEL. THEY DON''T EVEN WANT TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I DON'T CARE IF IT WAS AN OFFICAL NISSAN FIX, I JUST WANTED A FIX. SO THAT I CAN SAFELY USE MY TRUNK WITHOUT BEING INJURED.

NHTSA ODI #10088675

912 miles · Aug 20, 2004
Structure

WHEN THE SUNLIGHT HIT THE DISPLAY ON THE DIGITAL CLOCK AND THE AUDIO DISPLAY, IT MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083614

4,000 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN A PANIC SITUATION AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. VEHICLE SKIDDED 15 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT TIRES HAD FLAT SPOTS BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. ALSO, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS LOCKED UP. THIS FAIL…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN A PANIC SITUATION AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. VEHICLE SKIDDED 15 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT TIRES HAD FLAT SPOTS BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. ALSO, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS LOCKED UP. THIS FAILURE WAS LIKELY TO RECUR IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN A PANIC SITUATION AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH OR FASTER.*AK WHEN APPLYING VEHICLE BRAKES IN A PANIC THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10081960

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2004
Power Train

WHEN APPLYING VEHICLE BRAKES IN A PANIC THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10087554

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