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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.

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
114,000 miles · Oct 23, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHASED MY 2005 ALTIMA IN 2009 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER( OWNER PASSED AWAY). IN 2013, THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES IN SLOW TRAFFIC BUT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH WHOM THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ORIGINALLY. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM BUT REPLACED BOTH CAMSHAFT…

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 ALTIMA IN 2009 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER( OWNER PASSED AWAY). IN 2013, THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES IN SLOW TRAFFIC BUT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH WHOM THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ORIGINALLY. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM BUT REPLACED BOTH CAMSHAFT AND CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSORS BECAUSE BOTH FOUND TO BE SENDING INCORRECT SIGNAL TO COMPUTER SYSTEM. I WAS CHARGED $505.83. I SENT A LETTER TO NISSAN CORP WITH PAPERWORK, RECEIPT AND THE RECALL OF 2007. THIS WAS FAXED TO ROSELLE ON AUG 7 2013. NISSAN REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME, STATING IT DID NOT MEET THE RECALL REQUIREMENTS. NOW IN 2015, THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BUT CAR IS STALLING IN SLOW TRAFFIC OR WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO TAKE A TURN. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE SAYING IT IS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY SUSPECTED IT WAS THE INTAKE TUBE THAT CONNECTS TO THE THROTTLE BODY AND THEY REPLACED THE MASS FLOW METER. THIS COSTS ME $880.35. APPROX 1 1/2 WEEKS AFTER THIS "FIX", THE CAR HAS STALLED TWO MORE TIMES. BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP- WHO REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME THE $880- THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. SO- I AM DRIVING A CAR THAT IS DESTINED TO STALL AGAIN AND BECAUSE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON, THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED? THIS CAR ONLY HAS 114,000 MILES. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN PRODUCT AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10785654

135,000 miles · Oct 21, 2015
Structure

THIS IS A 2005 ALTIMA WELL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT ALL THESE YEARS. I FOUND A 10"X10" HOLE IN PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN. IT WAS RUSTED VERY BADLY INSIDE OUT. IT MUST HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING THE RUST FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS SO MANY NISSAN OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10785157

177,000 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Structure

WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED-KEPT ALTIMA HAD NO VISIBLE BODY RUST ANYWHERE UPON INSPECTION LAST NOVEMBER. TODAY I NOTICED RUSTY FLAKES ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE, AND UPON LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE CAR, FOUND THAT ONE HALF OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR PAN WAS CAVING IN. THIS RUST IS NOT NOTICEABLE TO THE CONSUMER UNTIL THE RUST IS ALL THE…

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WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED-KEPT ALTIMA HAD NO VISIBLE BODY RUST ANYWHERE UPON INSPECTION LAST NOVEMBER. TODAY I NOTICED RUSTY FLAKES ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE, AND UPON LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE CAR, FOUND THAT ONE HALF OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR PAN WAS CAVING IN. THIS RUST IS NOT NOTICEABLE TO THE CONSUMER UNTIL THE RUST IS ALL THE WAY THRU TO THE EXTERIOR, AT WHICH POINT THE WEIGHT OF THE FOOT BREAKS IT THRU THE UNDERCOATING. THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORPAN WAS ALSO CAVING IN. WHEN I TOOK UP THE RUBBER MATS, FLOORMATS, AND CARPET/PAD, I SAW LARGE HOLES ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WHICH ONLY AFFECTED ONE HALF OF EACH FLOORPAN. THESE RUSTED HALVES HAVE A TYPE OF HARD "BLACK SHINGLE" STUCK TO THE FLOOR, AND FROM WHAT I OBSERVED ALSO HAVE A SMALL 3"X3" SILVER PAPER COMPLETELY COVERING WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DRAIN HOLE. THE UNRUSTED HALVES ARE PAINTED, HAVE NO "SHINGLES" AND NO RUST WHATSOEVER DESPITE BEING BUTTED RIGHT UP TO THE RUSTED HALVES. THESE "SHINGLES" APPEAR TO BE THE PROBLEM, THE RUSTED METAL WAS FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THEM. THIS MUST BE A DESIGN DEFECT OR SOMEONE AT NISSAN DID NOT DO THIER JOB RIGHT (SINCE THE DRAIN HOLES WERE COVERED UP WITH SILVER PAPER). THIS RUST OBVIOUSLY STARTED INVISIBLY FROM INSIDE THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO EASILY PUSH THE RUSTED METAL THRU - I AM GLAD I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THIS BEFORE SOMEONE COULD PUT THIER FOOT THRU THE FLOOR OF A MOVING VEHICLE OR FALL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL DUE TO FUMES. THIS WAS FIXED AT AT COST OF $900 TO ME, BECAUSE I HAVE CHILDREN AND THIS IS A HAZARD. WE ALSO HAVE A 2000 CHEVY, AND A 2005 DODGE, AND NEITHER HAVE SUCH RUST ON/IN THE FLOORPANS, DESPITE BEING PARKED OUTSIDE AND DRIVEN IN THE SAME ELEMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ALTIMA'S FLOORPAN REPAIR AS THE AMOUNT OF RUSTING IS NOT NORMAL FOR THE CARE TAKEN, AND ALSO IS NOT NOTICEABLE NOR PREVENTABLE BY THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ODI #10783861

108,000 miles · Oct 19, 2015
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THE 2005 SUMMARY: 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: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSO…

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CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THE 2005 SUMMARY: 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: 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.

NHTSA ODI #10783315

59,000 miles · Oct 14, 2015
Structure

I TOOK MY ALTIMA TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE COMMON RUSTING PROBLEM IN MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THERE IS A HOLE ABOUT 3-4 INCHES AND YOU CAN LOOK UP AND SEE THE CARPET. I'M REALLY UPSET AND WASN'T AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH ALTIMAS WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR PREOWNED SIX MONT…

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I TOOK MY ALTIMA TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE COMMON RUSTING PROBLEM IN MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THERE IS A HOLE ABOUT 3-4 INCHES AND YOU CAN LOOK UP AND SEE THE CARPET. I'M REALLY UPSET AND WASN'T AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH ALTIMAS WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR PREOWNED SIX MONTHS AGO. IT IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION, COMPLETELY PAMPERED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND MYSELF, AND SHOULDN'T BE RUSTING THROUGH AT THIS AGE AND WITH ONLY 59K MILES ON IT. DESPITE WHAT NISSAN MIGHT BE CLAIMING, HAVING LARGE HOLES IN YOUR FLOORBOARD IS AN ABSOLUTE SAFETY HAZARD AND I REALLY FEEL CONCERNED FOR THE ALTIMA OWNERS WHO DIDN'T CATCH THE PROBLEM AS EARLY AS I HAVE, OR EVEN HAVE YET TO DISCOVER IT! SOME OF THE HOLES THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED CAN FIT MORE THAN A FOOT THROUGH!! I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUMES CREEPING IN. NOW THAT I AM INFORMED OF THE DESIGN FLAW, I CAN 100% COUNT ON MY DRIVERS SIDE TO BEGIN RUSTING OUT TOO. THIS IS REALLY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND I SHOULDN'T BE REPAIRED IT AS IT IS NO FAULT OF ANY OF US DRIVERS, NOR THE RAIN NOR THE SALT. IT IS A SAFETY DESIGN FLAW AND NISSAN SHOULD RECALL. THANK YOU NHTSA FOR LISTENING! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10782184

101,000 miles · Oct 9, 2015
Structure

FLOOR PAN ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED TODAY AND REPORTED SEVERE RUST, TO THE POINT THAT FEET MAY BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE FLOOR SOON.

NHTSA ODI #10781094

145,000 miles · Oct 4, 2015
Structure

WHILE I WAS PARKED AT HOME I WAS EXAMINING THE UNDERSIDE OF MY 2005 ALTIMA AND TO MY SHOCK FOUND A 12 INCH BY 10 INCH SECTION OF RUST WITH LARGE FLAKES COMING FROM THE FLOOR PANEL ON MY PASSENGER SIDE. THERE ARE HOLES IN THIS SECTION THAT ARE PENETRATING THROUGH THE LAYERS TOWARDS THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS THE …

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WHILE I WAS PARKED AT HOME I WAS EXAMINING THE UNDERSIDE OF MY 2005 ALTIMA AND TO MY SHOCK FOUND A 12 INCH BY 10 INCH SECTION OF RUST WITH LARGE FLAKES COMING FROM THE FLOOR PANEL ON MY PASSENGER SIDE. THERE ARE HOLES IN THIS SECTION THAT ARE PENETRATING THROUGH THE LAYERS TOWARDS THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS THE BEGINNING OF RUST AND CRACKING FLOOR PANEL AS WELL. I AM CANNOT BELIEVE THIS, I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND HAVE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED THE CAR JUST AS THE FIRST OWNER HAD AND THERE IS NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE BODY. I RESEARCHED THIS RUSTED OUT FLOOR PANELING AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE NEWS STORIES AND THAT IT IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO ADDRESS! I DO NOT FEEL SAFE STRUCTURALLY WITH THE RUST COMPROMISING STRENGTH AND SAFETY AND I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE ANY PASSENGERS RIDE IN THAT SEAT. CLEARLY THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME TO REACH THIS EXTENT! I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE OF THE RUSTING OUT OF THE FLOOR PANELS FROM THE INSIDE OUT! I HAD THE RUSTED OUT FLOOR PANELS EXAMINED BY A LOCAL BODY SHOP AND THEY QUOTED ME $2500+ THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS AND LEAVES ME TO DEAL WITH A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT MY FAULT, BUT FAILURE OF THE MATERIALS.

NHTSA ODI #10779599

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2015
Structure

NOTICED A LARGE PIECE OF SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERCARRIAGE. TOOK TO BODY SHOP WHO STATED BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED WITH MULTIPLE HOLES UP TO 6 INCHES TOTALLY THROUGH TO CARPET AND INTERIOR. CONSIDERED A SAFETY RISK DUE TO EXPOSURE OF FUMES/GASES FROM ENGINE/EXHAUST AS WELL AS THE RISK OF "FALLI…

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NOTICED A LARGE PIECE OF SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERCARRIAGE. TOOK TO BODY SHOP WHO STATED BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED WITH MULTIPLE HOLES UP TO 6 INCHES TOTALLY THROUGH TO CARPET AND INTERIOR. CONSIDERED A SAFETY RISK DUE TO EXPOSURE OF FUMES/GASES FROM ENGINE/EXHAUST AS WELL AS THE RISK OF "FALLING THROUGH". REST OF CAR LOOKS GOOD NO VISIBLE RUST ON FRAME OR REAR. NO HISTORY OF COLLISIONS OR IMPACT DAMAGE. WE ARE NOT IN AN AREA OF GREAT ROAD SALT NEED NOR NEAR AN OCEAN. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR OVER $1000. ADVISED NOT SAFE TO DRIVE OR SELL AS IS. NOTICED IN COMPLAINTS, THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE AT LEAST 2010. WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN ISSUED?

NHTSA ODI #10778776

124,000 miles · Sep 29, 2015
Structure

PART OF THE FLOOR PAN UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOT AREA FELL OFF THE CAR AND ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. I NOW HAVE A HOLE IN MY FLOORBOARD AND CAN TOUCH THE RUG.

NHTSA ODI #10778456

74,261 miles · Sep 29, 2015
Structure

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS HAVE RUSTED/ ROTTED OUT. IT IS ONLY VISIBLE FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. IT WAS DISCOVERED BY MY MECHANIC WHEN THE CAR WAS ON A LIFT.

NHTSA ODI #10778366

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