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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
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2012
EnginePower Train

RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE, UNUSUAL ENGINE VIBRATION AND MUFFLER SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS THIS SCREW IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE AND COULD CAUSE $7500 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE. IF THIS SCREW WAS TO COME LOOSE IT COULD RUIN ENGINE COMPRESSOR, DESTROY THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, O2 SENSOR AND POWER VALVE PLATES. I SEARCH TO S…

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RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE, UNUSUAL ENGINE VIBRATION AND MUFFLER SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS THIS SCREW IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE AND COULD CAUSE $7500 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE. IF THIS SCREW WAS TO COME LOOSE IT COULD RUIN ENGINE COMPRESSOR, DESTROY THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, O2 SENSOR AND POWER VALVE PLATES. I SEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND IT SEEM TO BE OR TALK OF IT. CALL DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED. SOME WEBSITE SUGGEST THERE WAS ONE, WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO QUALITY PRODUCTS. IF THERE WAS ONE THEY ARE NOT UPHOLDING IT. RECALL SHOULD NEVER EXPIRE, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR..UPDATED 10/24/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RETRACT HER COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/25/12

NHTSA ODI #10477058

65,000 miles · Sep 25, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10476971

89,447 miles · Sep 22, 2012
SeatsStructure

VEHICLE FLOOR UNDER BODY BELOW PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT HAS RUSTED AND ABOUT TO GET A HOLE. I CALLED NISSAN SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAY ITS NOT IN WARRANTY. BUT ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MODEL IS JUST 7 YEARS OLD WITH 89000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476749

64,119 miles · Sep 22, 2012
Steering

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY STEERING GOT VERY HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476747

35,821 miles · Sep 14, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SQUEAL. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE REACHING THE INTENDED DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SQUEAL. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE REACHING THE INTENDED DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,821 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,300.

NHTSA ODI #10475441

78,000 miles · Sep 12, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SUDDENLY RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WOU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SUDDENLY RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475207

75,000 miles · Sep 9, 2012
EnginePower Train

AFTER 20 MIN OR SO OF IDLING IN TRAFFIC, THEN A 10 MINUTE FREEWAY DRIVE AT LEGAL SPEEDS I WAS APPROACHING THE OFF RAMP AND THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT INCIDENT AND PULL OVER. AFTER 10 MIN OF TALKING TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A TOW, I NOTICED PARTIA…

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AFTER 20 MIN OR SO OF IDLING IN TRAFFIC, THEN A 10 MINUTE FREEWAY DRIVE AT LEGAL SPEEDS I WAS APPROACHING THE OFF RAMP AND THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT INCIDENT AND PULL OVER. AFTER 10 MIN OF TALKING TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A TOW, I NOTICED PARTIAL PRESSURE RESTORED AND DROVE SLOWLY HOME. NOW, WITH RESEARCH, I HAVE SEEN THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON AND DANGEROUS. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED ONLINE AND WITH NISSAN, YET THERE IS NO RESOLUTION AND WHAT'S WORSE, NO SPECIFIC ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. I HOPE NHTSA DOESN'T WAIT FOR A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO OCCUR BEFORE THIS IS LOOKED INTO, A GOOGLE SEARCH OF ALTIMA CLUTCH RECALL BRINGS UP OVER A DOZEN FORUMS WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474367

58,000 miles · Sep 6, 2012
Structure

FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HAS RUSTED OUT. CAR IS ALWAYS WASHED, AND THIS IS THE ONLY SIGNS OF ABNORMAL RUST ON THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474163

110,000 miles · Aug 31, 2012
Service Brakes

I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE PLACED FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 10 DEGREES F, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD AND WON'T MOVE THEREFORE THE BRAKES WON'T APPLY. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. SINCE OTHER LESS SERIOUS PROBLEMS WARRANT A RECALL WHY WOULDN'T THIS? IT SEEMS TO B…

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I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE PLACED FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 10 DEGREES F, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD AND WON'T MOVE THEREFORE THE BRAKES WON'T APPLY. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. SINCE OTHER LESS SERIOUS PROBLEMS WARRANT A RECALL WHY WOULDN'T THIS? IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM NOT ONLY ON 05 MODELS. JUST SEARCH THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473184

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2012
Structure

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. I CURRENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT A LOCAL GARAGE AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY FLOOR BOARDS ARE RUSTED WITH HOLES STARTING TO FORM. MY CAR ONLY HAS 85,000 MILES AND IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE AND WASHED OFTEN. THIS IS THE ONLY SPOT ON MY CAR THAT I HAVE ANY RUST. I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS INFOR…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. I CURRENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT A LOCAL GARAGE AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY FLOOR BOARDS ARE RUSTED WITH HOLES STARTING TO FORM. MY CAR ONLY HAS 85,000 MILES AND IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE AND WASHED OFTEN. THIS IS THE ONLY SPOT ON MY CAR THAT I HAVE ANY RUST. I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ALTIMAS. I HAD JUST HAD A STICKER PUT ON BY NISSAN AND ALSO A 72 POINT INSPECTION AND WAS NEVER INFORMED BY THEM THAT THERE WAS HOLES UNDERNEATH MY CAR! NISSAN SAID THEY WOULD GO HALF ON THE COST OF REPAIRING BOTH FRONT FLOORBOARDS WHICH WOULD COST ME $400.00 WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. MY MAIN CONCERN FOR THIS ISSUE IS COME WINTER TIME, I WILL HAVE HOLES THROUGH MY FLOORBOARDS AND WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN MY CAR, I AM EXTREMELY CONSERNED ABOUT HAVING TOXIC FUMES ENTER INTO MY CAR WHICH COULD LEAD TO PASSING OUT OR THE FACT THAT MY FOOT COULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE FLOOR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN SHOULD BE BACKING UP THEIR PRODUCTS AS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THEIR METAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473132

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