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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
173,900 miles · May 20, 2014
Structure

I TOOK MY NISSAN ALTIMA FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE FLOORBOARD TO BE RUSTED OUT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND IT WAS PURCHASED WITH THE DEALER UNDERCOATING INCLUDED. I AM GLAD IT WAS FOUND BEFORE MY FOOT WENT THROUGH THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I CHECKED WITH THE NISSAN DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR…

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I TOOK MY NISSAN ALTIMA FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE FLOORBOARD TO BE RUSTED OUT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND IT WAS PURCHASED WITH THE DEALER UNDERCOATING INCLUDED. I AM GLAD IT WAS FOUND BEFORE MY FOOT WENT THROUGH THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I CHECKED WITH THE NISSAN DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. HE INFORMED ME THAT NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592632

101,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Structure

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R THE CAR HAS A CLEAN CARFAX AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FORM THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WITH 15,000 MILES. I AM A AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN AND NOTICED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO WHILE PERFORMING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE VEHICLE HAD AROUND 101,000 MILES THAT THERE WAS 2 RUSTED SPOTS UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R THE CAR HAS A CLEAN CARFAX AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FORM THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WITH 15,000 MILES. I AM A AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN AND NOTICED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO WHILE PERFORMING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE VEHICLE HAD AROUND 101,000 MILES THAT THERE WAS 2 RUSTED SPOTS UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGERS FLOOR BOARDS ARE THE FLOOR BOARD WAS CRACKED SLIGHTLY. I TOOK NOTE OF IT AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. WELL I JUST PERFORMED MY ROUTINE OIL CHANGE NOW HAVE 105,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND AGAIN NOTICED THOSE SAME 2 RUST SPOTS ARE NOW ROTTED WITH A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SODA CAN, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING ALSO NOTE THAT THE PART OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE THAT IS ROTTING WAS TREATED FROM THE DEALER WITH A COATING TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING. OBVIOUSLY THIS SHOULD BE A DEFECT FROM THE DEALER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT WILL CONTINUE TO ROT THE PASSENGER FLOOR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ANYONE WITH A 2002-2006 ALTIMA SHOULD HAVE THERE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR THIS AS THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OVER THE INTERNET. CONTACT THE NISSAN COOPERATION AND COMPLAIN WE TOGETHER SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THIS RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588794

91,002 miles · May 12, 2014
Engine

DURING OTHER SERVICE WORK MECHANIC FOUND THE ENGINE CRADLE IS ROTTING AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587733

140,000 miles · May 8, 2014
Structure

WE WERE TOLD LAST YEAR THERE WAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A GRAPEFRUIT IN THE UNDERBODY, UNDER WHERE THE PASSENGER'S FEET WOULD REST. I LOOKED INTO GETTING IT REPAIRED AND NOTICED A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE, WITH OTHERS ASKING WHY IT WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VOLUME OF SUCH DEFECTS. TODAY I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO CHECK ON A …

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WE WERE TOLD LAST YEAR THERE WAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A GRAPEFRUIT IN THE UNDERBODY, UNDER WHERE THE PASSENGER'S FEET WOULD REST. I LOOKED INTO GETTING IT REPAIRED AND NOTICED A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE, WITH OTHERS ASKING WHY IT WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VOLUME OF SUCH DEFECTS. TODAY I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO CHECK ON A NOISE, AND WAS TOLD THE HOLE HAS INCREASED TO THE SIZE OF A BREADBOX AND THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS ARE THEREFORE RUBBING ON IT. THE FIRST ESTIMATE I RECEIVED TO REPAIR THE HOLE IS $2500, AS THE BODY SHOP WILL HAVE TO CUT OUT THE AFFECTED AREA AND SOLDER IN A NEW PIECE. WHILE I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST, WE WASH THE UNDERBODY IN WINTER, AND I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING ON A 9 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587284

65,498 miles · May 6, 2014
EnginePower Train

PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE X2. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586828

100,677 miles · May 5, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR, EVEN IF YOU TRY TO DOWNSHIFT IT MANUALLY IT WOULDN'T COME OUT OF 5TH GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586654

144,000 miles · Apr 24, 2014
Unknown Or Other

I TOOK MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA INTO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND HE INFORMED ME THAT MY FLOOR BOARDS (ON BOTH SIDES)WERE SO BADLY RUSTED OUT THAT HE COULD SEE AND FEEL MY CARPET FROM UNDERNEATH. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS NO RUST ON THE BODY OF MY CA…

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I TOOK MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA INTO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND HE INFORMED ME THAT MY FLOOR BOARDS (ON BOTH SIDES)WERE SO BADLY RUSTED OUT THAT HE COULD SEE AND FEEL MY CARPET FROM UNDERNEATH. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS NO RUST ON THE BODY OF MY CAR SO ITS DISTURBING TO ME THAT IN A 2005 VEHICLE IT CAN BE THAT BADLY RUSTED UNDERNEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584664

105,000 miles · Apr 23, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

ABOUT 2 YRS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY NISSAN. I TOOK IT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT CAME UP WITH TWO CODES THAT AT THIS POINT I DON'T REMEMBER. HOWEVER, WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT I NEEDED MY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED. I CHECKED ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SENSOR AND I CAME ACROSS A RECALL FOR THIS SENSOR. AROUND THE SA…

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ABOUT 2 YRS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY NISSAN. I TOOK IT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT CAME UP WITH TWO CODES THAT AT THIS POINT I DON'T REMEMBER. HOWEVER, WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT I NEEDED MY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED. I CHECKED ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SENSOR AND I CAME ACROSS A RECALL FOR THIS SENSOR. AROUND THE SAME TIME MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED BURNING OUT BULBS ALSO. I ALSO NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL ON A HEADLIGHT ISSUE. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO CHECK MY VIN TO SEE IF I QUALIFIED FOR THE RECALL AND I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS SUPPOSEDLY ONE OF THE IMPACTED ONES. WHICH IS TOO COINCIDENTAL. MY CAR STALLS WHILE RUNNING AND AT TIMES WILL NOT START. AND I SAY WILL, BECAUSE, I BROUGHT IT IN TO 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS FOR REPLACEMENT AND NEITHER COULD FIND A COMPATIBLE SENSOR. THEY EVEN ORDERED ONE FROM NISSAN AND IT DID NOT FIT AND WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. THEY APOLOGIZED AND SAID THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY NEED TO SOMEHOW REPLACE IT. I HAVE SINCE CONTINUED DRIVING IT, AS IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND TURNS OFF MY OFTEN. I AM ASKING FOR SOME TYPE OF HELP. I AM OUT OF OPTIONS. I AM AFRAID IT WILL ONE DAY SHUT OFF AS I DRIVING AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584428

50,000 miles · Apr 17, 2014
Engine

NISSAN SAID MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE CAMSHAFT AND SENSOR..WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED..DUE TO THE VECHILE JUST STALLING ALL OF A SUDDEN...VERY DANGEROUS..IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR A PART...THEN THERE IS A RECALL..IT CANNOT BE EITHER OR. PLEASE RESPOND

NHTSA ODI #10583243

109,000 miles · Apr 16, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10583157

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