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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
160 miles · Apr 7, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS WERE GRINDING AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELL DOWN WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEARS. HE HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE OR APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE FAILURE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS WERE GRINDING AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELL DOWN WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEARS. HE HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE OR APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENT DURING THE SUMMER. THE ENGINES OIL PRESSURE DECREASED TO 10 PSI. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE REQUIRED OIL PRESSURE WAS 14 PSI. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AFTER THEY REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER CLUTCH IN 2008 BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. HE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,200. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160.

NHTSA ODI #10324290

52,000 miles · Apr 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON MY WAY BACK HOME ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID MY CRANK SENSOR IS FAULTY. NOW THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002-03 ALTIMAS, BUT THE 2004-2006 ALTIMAS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN READING REPORTS ON CONSU…

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON MY WAY BACK HOME ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID MY CRANK SENSOR IS FAULTY. NOW THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002-03 ALTIMAS, BUT THE 2004-2006 ALTIMAS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN READING REPORTS ON CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OWNER OF A 2002-2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT (ACCORDING TO OTHER CONSUMERS THAT COMPLAINED TO NISSAN). AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS FAILURE, THE CAR CAN STOP IN MOTION. SEVERAL OF THE CONSUMERS HAD THEIR CARS STOP ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH CAN BE FATAL. THE ONLY SYMPTOMS ARE JERKING AND SHAKING OF THE CAR FOLLOWED BY STALLING. THE REPAIR COSTS AROUND $250, BUT IT IS NOT A GURANTEED FIX. MANY CONSUMERS HAD THEM HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES, AND HAD TO FIX THEM WITH THEIR OWN MONEY EVERY TIME. I HOPE NHTSA TAKES PROPER ACTION AGAINST NISSAN AND FORCE THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR MISTAKE AND ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10323538

72,980 miles · Apr 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. ONCE AGAIN SHE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER AND NOT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,980. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,010.

NHTSA ODI #10323293

61,805 miles · Mar 31, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

OUR CAR IS 2.5L ENGINE, CAUSED SUDDENLY A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION FAILURES ON ONE DAY. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHORTLY AFTER THAT CAR DIED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. AND WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO REPAIR FACILITY WHO HAS CLEARLY GAVE WRITTEN STATEM…

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OUR CAR IS 2.5L ENGINE, CAUSED SUDDENLY A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION FAILURES ON ONE DAY. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHORTLY AFTER THAT CAR DIED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. AND WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO REPAIR FACILITY WHO HAS CLEARLY GAVE WRITTEN STATEMENT IT IS THE PROBLEM WITH CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.[ CODE P0335 -CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT] EVEN THERE WAS RECALL WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000. NISSAN REJECTED MY REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST STATING MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. I HAD SAME SYMPTOMS WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID. CONTACTED NISSAN 800-647-7261 BUT OF NO USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323222

30,000 miles · Mar 31, 2010
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE DRIVER STATES THERE WAS A RECALL DONE ON THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE LAST YEAR AT 32,433 MILES. THE CONTACT STATES THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE. THE VEHICLE WILL JERK WHILE DOING HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY AND RECENTLY WHILE DRI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE DRIVER STATES THERE WAS A RECALL DONE ON THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE LAST YEAR AT 32,433 MILES. THE CONTACT STATES THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE. THE VEHICLE WILL JERK WHILE DOING HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY AND RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER THEN WAITED A MINUTE AND STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10322978

83,120 miles · Mar 20, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IS ENGAGING BUT LATELY WHILE DRIVING, THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY PRESSES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE I ATTEMPT TO SHIFT GEAR. THE PEDAL WON'T COME BACK ON ITS OWN, AND SHIFTING BECOMES DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT MANEUVERING MY FOOT TO UNSTICK THE PEDAL FROM T…

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THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IS ENGAGING BUT LATELY WHILE DRIVING, THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY PRESSES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE I ATTEMPT TO SHIFT GEAR. THE PEDAL WON'T COME BACK ON ITS OWN, AND SHIFTING BECOMES DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT MANEUVERING MY FOOT TO UNSTICK THE PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR, WHILE IN TRAFFIC THE OTHER DAY. THEN, IT SUDDENLY WENT BACK TO ITS TYPICAL FUNCTION AND OPERATED SMOOTHLY. I'VE EXPERIENCED TWO OF THESE OCCURRENCES WITHIN THE PAST 3 DAYS ; THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE UP TO THIS POINT AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED ( 83,000 MILES; ONE OWNER ). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321154

92,370 miles · Mar 19, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA - CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. MY 2005 PRE-OWNED NISSAN ALTIMA JUST EXPERIENCED CRANK/START PROBLEMS YESTERDAY. AFTER COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE ECM AND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE 2005 NISSAN MODELS HAD A RECALL ON THE ECM MODULES AND TH…

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2005 NISSAN ALTIMA - CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. MY 2005 PRE-OWNED NISSAN ALTIMA JUST EXPERIENCED CRANK/START PROBLEMS YESTERDAY. AFTER COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE ECM AND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE 2005 NISSAN MODELS HAD A RECALL ON THE ECM MODULES AND THE CRANKSHAFTS. THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT NISSAN TO ENSURE THIS HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY CORRECTED DURING THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I CONTACTED NISSAN TO FIND OUT THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN CORRECTED. NISSAN REP DIVYA CHEERAN ADVISED ME THAT THE ECM AND FRAME WERE ON RECALL HOWEVER THE CRANKSHAFT WAS NOT. I INFORMED HER THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD ALREADY INFORMED ME OF THE RECALL FOR THE CRANKSHAFT. SHE INSISTED THE DEALERSHIP WAS WRONG AND THERE WAS NO RECALL OF ANY CRANKSHAFT ON ANY NISSAN VEHICLES. I TOLD HER THAT I WAS LOOKING AT A CONSUMER AFFAIRS REPORT ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THE REPORT/RECALL NOTICE WITH NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. SHE STILL REFUTED THE FACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN ANY RECALL ON THE CRANKSHAFTS FOR THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMAS. HOWEVER, SHE ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY CAR INTO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP (SHEEHY NISSAN IN SPRINGFIELD, VA) TO HAVE THE ECM AND FRAME FIXED. SHE STATED THAT ONCE THE ECM WAS FIXED IT WOULD RESOLVE THE CRANKING AND SHUTTING OFF PROBLEMS I WAS EXPERIENCING. I ADVISED HER THAT THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP HAD ALREADY CONFIRMED THAT WOULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT AND I WOULD LIKE FOR NISSAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL AND FIX THE ECM AND CRANKSHAFT. IT WAS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND RECORD THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS AND COULD BE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TO MY HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF MY NEWBORN WHO FREQUENTLY TRAVELS WITH ME. I ADVISED HER THAT $200 TO FIX THE CRANKSHAFT SHOULD BE NOTHING TO NISSAN AS OPPOSED TO ME FILING A LAWSUIT WITH THEM IF ANY HARM CAME TO ME OR MY CHILD DUE TO THIS HAZARD. CAN YOU PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH GETTING MY CAR FIXED? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321107

50,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

EACH WINTER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, DURING COLD WEATHER, WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED, BRAKES DO NOT WORK. IT IS LIKE THEY ARE FROZEN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT DEPRESS UNLESS FORCED. ONCE I GET THE PEDAL TO GO DOWN, THE PEDAL MUST BE PUMPED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET THEM TO WORK. ONCE CAR IS WARMED, THEY WILL WORK. THIS IS A 3…

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EACH WINTER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, DURING COLD WEATHER, WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED, BRAKES DO NOT WORK. IT IS LIKE THEY ARE FROZEN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT DEPRESS UNLESS FORCED. ONCE I GET THE PEDAL TO GO DOWN, THE PEDAL MUST BE PUMPED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET THEM TO WORK. ONCE CAR IS WARMED, THEY WILL WORK. THIS IS A 3.5 SE MODEL. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320043

46,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Structure

TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE INSPECTED (PA INSPECTION). FLOOR PAN ON MY 2005 ALTIMA IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NEEDS TO HAVE FLOOR PAN REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE, IS CLEAN AND GARAGE KEPT. CHECKED THE INTERNET, AND NOTICED QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUST ON THE PASSENGER AND DR…

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TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE INSPECTED (PA INSPECTION). FLOOR PAN ON MY 2005 ALTIMA IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NEEDS TO HAVE FLOOR PAN REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE, IS CLEAN AND GARAGE KEPT. CHECKED THE INTERNET, AND NOTICED QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUST ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVE SIDE. NOTHING ELSE IS SHOWING RUST. HOW CAN ONE PART COMPLETELY RUST OUT AND THE REMAINING PART OF THE CAR HAS NONE AT ALL?? APPARENTLY THERE IS A DEFECT THAT IS HOLDING WATER/MOISTURE AND CAUSING THE RUST. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY MECHANICAL ISSUE - BASICALLY LIKE NEW. HOWEVER, TOTALLY RUSTED OUT IN ONE SPOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319934

50,437 miles · Mar 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR STALLED TWICE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 6TH. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW CRANK SENSOR. WHEN HE ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER INTO THE SYSTEM, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT MY CAR HAD A CURRENT RECALL THAT WAS STILL PENDING. I PURCHASED THE CAR THIS PAST AUGUST AND THE DEALERSHIP D…

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MY CAR STALLED TWICE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 6TH. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW CRANK SENSOR. WHEN HE ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER INTO THE SYSTEM, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT MY CAR HAD A CURRENT RECALL THAT WAS STILL PENDING. I PURCHASED THE CAR THIS PAST AUGUST AND THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319286

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