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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
64,000 miles · Nov 14, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT HER PANTS HAD BECOME WET. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE HOLES IN THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT HER PANTS HAD BECOME WET. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE HOLES IN THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CORROSION WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THE CORROSION FAILURE WAS TO BE EXPECTED BECAUSE SHE RESIDED IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ODI #10484664

106,201 miles · Oct 31, 2012
Structure

SEVERE RUSTING ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS THAT IS RESULTING IN WEAKENED FRAME AND STRUCTURE. NEED HELP GETTING NISSAN TO FIX THIS KNOW ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482732

140,000 miles · Oct 26, 2012
Engine

MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 4 CYL QRD25 ENGINE HAS HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS INCLUDING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH LEAD TO CYLINDER 1 THROWING A ROD. RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEMS AND FOUND 1000'S OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WITH 60,000 MILES AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. NO OIL LEAKS, JUST …

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MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 4 CYL QRD25 ENGINE HAS HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS INCLUDING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH LEAD TO CYLINDER 1 THROWING A ROD. RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEMS AND FOUND 1000'S OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WITH 60,000 MILES AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. NO OIL LEAKS, JUST USES A QUART OF OIL/PER 60 TO 100 MILES. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND HAS REPLACED SEVERAL ENGINES. I SEE THAT THEY ARE NOW OFFERING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT DOES NOT WISH TO HELP. WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IF ONE HAS BEGUN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482305

87,989 miles · Oct 24, 2012
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON OCTOBER 6, 2012 WITH THE ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOOD AND STRONG. MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND UPON ARRIVING HOME SHE SAID THAT IT WAS DRIVING ROUGH. NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT VEHICLES, SHE STATED THAT IT DROVE LIKE SOMEONE LEARNING TO DRIVE A MANUAL CAR…

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON OCTOBER 6, 2012 WITH THE ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOOD AND STRONG. MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND UPON ARRIVING HOME SHE SAID THAT IT WAS DRIVING ROUGH. NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT VEHICLES, SHE STATED THAT IT DROVE LIKE SOMEONE LEARNING TO DRIVE A MANUAL CAR. SHE SAID THAT IT WAS JERKING AND SHIFTING HARD LIKE IT WAS IN THE WRONG GEAR(ESPECIALLY UPON ACCELERATING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP, DOWNSHIFT IS REALLY HARD. ALSO COMING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, IT WOULD IDLE AS IF IN NEUTRAL WHEN PRESSING THE GAS THEN SUDDENLY JUMP VERY HARD INTO ACTUAL DRIVE). SHE BECAME TO FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THE CAR. IN MEANWHILE I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER(NOT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM) TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS SAID THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP OUT IN GWINNETT, GEORGIA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT. I TOOK IT NOT KNOWING IF IT WOULD EVEN MAKE IT. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND INDEED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT RESUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIXING MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT "AS IS". AS I READ THE CMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND ABOUT A PENDING CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST NISSAN FOR FAULTY TRANSMISSION DESIGN IN THE 2005-2006 ALTIMAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES, IT IS APPARENT TO ME, THAT THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT AND GETS KILLED. NISSAN KNOWS THIS TRANSMISSION IS POORLY DESIGNED AND HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT TAKE PEOPLES MONEY IN REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION A $3,000-$4,000 COST. USUALLY AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. ONE MORE THING, THERE IS NO WARNING THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, NO SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT -NOTHING. HELP!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482159

138,400 miles · Oct 22, 2012
Structure

I TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME THAT MY FLOOR BOARDS UNDER MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS WERE RUSTED OUT AND FORMING HOLES INTO THE CABIN OF MY CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO POKE ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND PUSH UP MY CARPET ON MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. I WAS ISSUED A FACTORY RECALL AROUND 2008 FROM NISSAN A…

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I TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME THAT MY FLOOR BOARDS UNDER MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS WERE RUSTED OUT AND FORMING HOLES INTO THE CABIN OF MY CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO POKE ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND PUSH UP MY CARPET ON MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. I WAS ISSUED A FACTORY RECALL AROUND 2008 FROM NISSAN ABOUT LIVING IN A ROAD SALTED STATE (NJ) AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL IN NOV 2009. IT SEEMS THEY DID NOT REPLACE ALL THE AFFECTED AREAS. I CONTACTED NISSAN TODAY VIA THEIR 1-800 # AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO LONGER A WARRANTY OR RECALL OUT FOR MY VEHICLE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. I DRIVE THE NISSAN AS MY MAIN TRANSPORTATION FOR MY CHILDREN AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS ISSUE OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. IT IS UNSAFE AND UNEXPECTED FROM A 7 YEAR OLD CAR PURCHASE BRAND NEW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10481350

139,815 miles · Oct 12, 2012
Structure

FULLY RUSTED DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR BOARDS. CAN SEE INTERIOR RUG UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN FROM 2002 AND 2005 RELATED TO CARS IN SALT STATES. HAVE SEEN MANY COMMENTS THAT DEFECTIVE STEEL WAS USED. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF O…

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FULLY RUSTED DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR BOARDS. CAN SEE INTERIOR RUG UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN FROM 2002 AND 2005 RELATED TO CARS IN SALT STATES. HAVE SEEN MANY COMMENTS THAT DEFECTIVE STEEL WAS USED. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF OUR CAR IS COMPROMISED. DEALER WANTS $1200 TO CUT OUT ROTTED FLOOR BOARDS AND WELD IN NEW FLOOR PANELS. HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND OPENED CASE. REGIONAL MANAGER CALLED AND REFUSES TO OFFER ANY COVERAGE FOR THIS ISSUE. ALSO, NISSAN AS A CORPORATION HAS DECIDED THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO OWNERS WITH THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479953

150,000 miles · Oct 11, 2012
Structure

WHEN I WEN'T TO TRADE MY CAR FOR A NEW ONE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THEY WERN'T INTERESTED IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS.THEY SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH NISAN ALTIMAS AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL.WHY WASN'T NISAN REQUIRED TO HAVE A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTY PROBLEM WITH ALTIMAS?OTHER NISAN CARS DON…

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WHEN I WEN'T TO TRADE MY CAR FOR A NEW ONE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THEY WERN'T INTERESTED IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS.THEY SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH NISAN ALTIMAS AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL.WHY WASN'T NISAN REQUIRED TO HAVE A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTY PROBLEM WITH ALTIMAS?OTHER NISAN CARS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.NOW I FEAR FOR MY FAMILIES SAFTY WHEN I DRIVE THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479853

170,000 miles · Oct 10, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10479577

113,892 miles · Sep 28, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMIS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION AUTO CENTER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,800. ...UPDATED11/21/12 *BF UPDATED 11/30/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10477382

84,000 miles · Sep 26, 2012
Structure

FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEVERELY CORRODED; AFFECTED AREA ~8X12 INCHES. BOARDS AND SHEET METAL RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE, FORMING ~2X2 INCH HOLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477122

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