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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
118,646 miles · Feb 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE TO PARTIALLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE TO PARTIALLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND PERFORMED A FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE. HE REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,626 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,646.

NHTSA ODI #10384531

113,556 miles · Feb 14, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

CARS POWER STARTED FLUTTERING AROUND 45-50 MPH, LIKE IT WAS WANTING TO DIE. IT HAD PREVIOUSLY DIED WHILE IDLEING..CODES WERE CHECKED THEY CAME UP AS BAD CRANK AND CAM SENSOR..AND BAD SPEED SENSOR.AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER..NOTICED CAR WAS UNDER RE-CALL..TOWED IT TO DEALER THEY FLASHED ECM..WHEN WE WERE DRIVING CAR HOME ALL PROBLEM…

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CARS POWER STARTED FLUTTERING AROUND 45-50 MPH, LIKE IT WAS WANTING TO DIE. IT HAD PREVIOUSLY DIED WHILE IDLEING..CODES WERE CHECKED THEY CAME UP AS BAD CRANK AND CAM SENSOR..AND BAD SPEED SENSOR.AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER..NOTICED CAR WAS UNDER RE-CALL..TOWED IT TO DEALER THEY FLASHED ECM..WHEN WE WERE DRIVING CAR HOME ALL PROBLEMS RE-OCCURRED..HAD CODES CHECKED AT ANOTHER GARAGE ALL THE SAME ONES CAME UP..CALLED DEALER THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL AND WANTED TO CHARGE US TO CHECK CODES TOLD THEM WE ALREADY HAD THEM AND THEY SAID ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM...THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUES OR FIXING WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS, WHAT A RIP-OFF..

NHTSA ODI #10383544

96,815 miles · Feb 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO A PRECISION DEALER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. PRECISION TOLD ME THAT THE PART AFFECTED (CATALYTIC CONVERTER) HAD BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN AND THE DEALER WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PART WAS RECALLED FOR SOME CARS, MY PARTICULAR VIN N…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO A PRECISION DEALER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. PRECISION TOLD ME THAT THE PART AFFECTED (CATALYTIC CONVERTER) HAD BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN AND THE DEALER WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PART WAS RECALLED FOR SOME CARS, MY PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER WAS NOT COVERED. I ALSO CALLED UP NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIR AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. I HAD TO PAY THE PRICE FOR REPAIR MYSELF. WHEN I RESEARCHED ONLINE, I SAW TONS OF COMPLAINTS BY PEOPLE FOR A FAULTY CONVERTER THAT NISSAN FAILED TO HONOR. I AM FILING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IF NISSAN KNOWS THAT A PART OF THEIRS IS UNDER RE-CALL FOR CERTAIN VINS AND OTHER DRIVERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THEY SHOULD ALSO GET THEIR PART RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381591

40,500 miles · Feb 2, 2011
Power Train

MANY TIMES AFTER OWNING MY 2005 NISSAN, I STARTED HAVING TO CRANK THE ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR THAT WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING. ALSO THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHICH IT HAS BEEN DOING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS. I JUST P…

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MANY TIMES AFTER OWNING MY 2005 NISSAN, I STARTED HAVING TO CRANK THE ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR THAT WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING. ALSO THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHICH IT HAS BEEN DOING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS. I JUST PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE THEN PARK TO TAKE THE KEY OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10380004

47,178 miles · Jan 18, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO WEEKS. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO WEEKS. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE, BUT SHE COULDN'T RECALL WHAT IT WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 47,178.

NHTSA ODI #10377055

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST? IS NISSAN WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN FIRST? I WENT OUT TODAY TO START MY CAR AND NOW IT WON'T START AT ALL. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT W…

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MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST? IS NISSAN WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN FIRST? I WENT OUT TODAY TO START MY CAR AND NOW IT WON'T START AT ALL. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS READING THE TROUBLESHOOTING # P0335 WHICH IS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I SPOKE TO A NISSAN REP. YESTERDAY AND SHE REFUSED TO HELP ME OUT IF DID NOT GO TO A NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE MY CAR CHECKED BY THEM. SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. THERE ARE PLACES THAT DO IT FOR NOTHING NOW. I THINK YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I DO FEAR DRIVING MY CAR NOW. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM FOR ALL OF THE NISSAN OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373597

83,000 miles · Dec 30, 2010
Electrical System

MY CAR WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS SKIPPING A GEAR AND JERK. IT WOULD ALSO SOMETIMES NOT START. THE ULTIMATE FAILURE IS THAT MY CAR STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. IT USED TO BE EVERY SO OFTEN AND HAS NOW BECOME A DAILY THING. I AM REPLACING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR MYSELF AS THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. NISSAN KNOWS THIS BUT HAS…

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MY CAR WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS SKIPPING A GEAR AND JERK. IT WOULD ALSO SOMETIMES NOT START. THE ULTIMATE FAILURE IS THAT MY CAR STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. IT USED TO BE EVERY SO OFTEN AND HAS NOW BECOME A DAILY THING. I AM REPLACING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR MYSELF AS THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. NISSAN KNOWS THIS BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO IT WASN'T WORTH MY WHILE TO EVEN CHECK WITH NISSAN TO HAVE THIS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373438

56,500 miles · Dec 8, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IN COLD TEMPERATURES (20F), UPON DRIVING THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE DAY, THERE IS NO PLAY IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP AND PUMPING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP, THE BRAKES OPERATE NORMALLY. REPAIR SHOPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND FOUND NO P…

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IN COLD TEMPERATURES (20F), UPON DRIVING THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE DAY, THERE IS NO PLAY IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP AND PUMPING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP, THE BRAKES OPERATE NORMALLY. REPAIR SHOPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE FLUID OR BRAKE SYSTEMS. THIS OCCURRED THREE DAYS IN A ROW AND COUNTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369713

92,000 miles · Dec 6, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WOULD N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10369360

95,000 miles · Dec 6, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY HESITATE AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND THE CAM-SHAFT SENSOR BU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY HESITATE AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND THE CAM-SHAFT SENSOR BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ODI #10369288

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