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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

What owners actually said

1,091 reports
115,000 miles · Jan 26, 2016
EnginePower Train

TAKATA RECALL. I BOUGHT MY CAR EXACTLY 11 MONTHS AGO ON FEBRUARY 2015. I FIRST NOTICED WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR THAT IT JERKED WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE AND REVERSE, I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SALESMAN CONVINCED ME IT IS NOTHING. IT GOT WORSE OVER TIME. I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO SAID MOTOR MOUNTS NEED…

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TAKATA RECALL. I BOUGHT MY CAR EXACTLY 11 MONTHS AGO ON FEBRUARY 2015. I FIRST NOTICED WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR THAT IT JERKED WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE AND REVERSE, I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SALESMAN CONVINCED ME IT IS NOTHING. IT GOT WORSE OVER TIME. I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO SAID MOTOR MOUNTS NEED REPLACING. I THEN FOUND A NISSAN THREAD ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND AUTOMATICALLY WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT MY CAR IS DOING 90% OF THE ISSUES LISTED. IT NOW JERKS WHEN I PUT IN DRIVE, REVERSE, WHEN I'M COMING TO A STOP, WHEN I PUSH THE BREAK, AND WHEN I EXCEED MORE THEN 60 MPH IT JERKS. AFTER READING TONS OF THREADS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON AMONGST THE NISSAN ALTIMA 05S. I AM SCARED MY TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTHING BUT NOW IT DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT NISSAN JUDGED PUSHED UNDER THE RUG AND KEPT TELLING ME WAS NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI #10822373

105,000 miles · Jan 15, 2016
Structure

AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS ALTIMA, WE WERE ALARMED WHEN OUR SON SAID HE COULD SEE THE CARPETING HANGING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. WE CONTACTED OUR NISSAN DEALER WHO SAID THE REPAIRS WOULDN'T BE COVERED AND TO PURSUE IT WITH NISSAN CORPORATE. WE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS (SAFETY CONCERNS) AND FORMALLY REQUE…

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AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS ALTIMA, WE WERE ALARMED WHEN OUR SON SAID HE COULD SEE THE CARPETING HANGING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. WE CONTACTED OUR NISSAN DEALER WHO SAID THE REPAIRS WOULDN'T BE COVERED AND TO PURSUE IT WITH NISSAN CORPORATE. WE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS (SAFETY CONCERNS) AND FORMALLY REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. I RECEIVED A CALL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS DECLINED DUE TO VEHICLE'S AGE AND DUE TO THE FACT WE'RE IN THE "NORTH-EAST SALT STATES". I ASKED WHY 2005 HONDA'S, CHEVY'S AND BUICK'S FROM THE SAME LOCALE AREN'T EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE?? WHEN I ASKED FOR A DETAILED DENIAL OF MY CLAIM (ONE CITING THE REASONS I WAS BEING GIVEN VERBALLY) I WAS TOLD ABSOLUTELY NOT AND THAT NISSAN WOULD ONLY SUPPLY A "GENERAL" LETTER OF DENIAL. SERIOUSLY?? DOES ANYONE ELSE THINK THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN UNETHICAL PRACTICE? ALL OF THESE SIMILAR STORIES AND YET NISSAN HASN'T BEEN CALLED ONTO THE CARPET?

NHTSA ODI #10820394

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THE FLOOR BOARDS UNDER THE PASSENGER'S FEET ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. I WAS DOING MY RESERACH AND FROM ALL THE REPORTS, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE NISSAN OR NHTSA IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. YOU CAN SEE THE ROAD THRU THE HUGE HOLES.

NHTSA ODI #10819932

120,000 miles · Jan 11, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10819501

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2015
Air Bags

"TAKATA AIR BAG" - NISSAN'S VIN SERVER HAS BEEN "DOWN" FOR OVER 2 WEEKS, AND DO NOT ANSWER THEIR PHONE TO CHECK IF OUR VEHICLE IS EFFECTED BY THE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. ALSO, THIS SITES NHTSA VIN SEARCH ALSO CRASHES WHEN SEARCHING FOR NISSAN VIN NUMBERS. NISSAN SHOULD BE ANSWERING THEIR PHONE, AND FIX THEIR WEBSITE SO VIN CAN B…

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"TAKATA AIR BAG" - NISSAN'S VIN SERVER HAS BEEN "DOWN" FOR OVER 2 WEEKS, AND DO NOT ANSWER THEIR PHONE TO CHECK IF OUR VEHICLE IS EFFECTED BY THE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. ALSO, THIS SITES NHTSA VIN SEARCH ALSO CRASHES WHEN SEARCHING FOR NISSAN VIN NUMBERS. NISSAN SHOULD BE ANSWERING THEIR PHONE, AND FIX THEIR WEBSITE SO VIN CAN BE RESEARCHED ON THIS SERIOUS - LIFE THREATENING ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #10811990

159,450 miles · Dec 16, 2015
Unknown Or Other

DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD HAS RUSTED THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THERE IS A DRAINAGE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10810827

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2015
StructureUnknown Or Other

MY 2005 NISSIAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN GIVING ME ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES JUST FOR THE CAR TO GO INTO GEAR AND WHEN DOING SO JERKS EXTREMELY HARD...I HAVE ALSO HAD MANY ISSUES WITH IT NOT WANTING TO START AND I WILL HAVE TO PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL THEN FORCE …

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MY 2005 NISSIAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN GIVING ME ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES JUST FOR THE CAR TO GO INTO GEAR AND WHEN DOING SO JERKS EXTREMELY HARD...I HAVE ALSO HAD MANY ISSUES WITH IT NOT WANTING TO START AND I WILL HAVE TO PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL THEN FORCE BACK INTO PARK MANY TIMES BEFORE MY CAR WILL START...THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND KEPT VERY CLEAN...WHILE HAVING CAR INSPECTED I WAS INFORMED OF THE FLOOR BOARDS ROTTING OUT...I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT NISSAN AND DISCUSS THESE ISSUES...I HAVE HAD 000 RESULTS IN BEING ABLE TO DO SO...THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS...IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THESE ISSUES I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE...AND WITH THE TREATMENT FROM NISSAN...WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANY VEHICLE FROM THEM AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #10810544

67,998 miles · Dec 14, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD WAS RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD WAS RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,998. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10809951

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

178,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PIECE OF METAL HANGING UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS TOTALLY RUSTED AND THERE WAS A HOLE UNDER THE CARPET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PIECE OF METAL HANGING UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS TOTALLY RUSTED AND THERE WAS A HOLE UNDER THE CARPET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

NHTSA ODI #10808809

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