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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
115,000 miles · Jul 8, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2005 ALTIMA WAS RECALLED BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) GETS HOT, FAILS TO SEND SIGNALS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FAST ENOUGH, SO THE ECM SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE, INCREASING THE DANGER OF BEING INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 ). IN JUNE, MY CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY…

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MY 2005 ALTIMA WAS RECALLED BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) GETS HOT, FAILS TO SEND SIGNALS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FAST ENOUGH, SO THE ECM SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE, INCREASING THE DANGER OF BEING INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 ). IN JUNE, MY CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOWED IT HOME AND DISCOVERED VIA A CODE READER THAT THE CPS FAILED, AND BY GOOGLE & THE NHTSA WEB SITE THAT THIS WAS PART OF THE RECALL ID'D ABOVE. THE REMEDY IS TO REPROGRAM THE ECM. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER WHO ORIGINALLY SOLD THIS CAR WHEN NEW, AND DROPPED OFF THE CAR. THE NEXT DAY THE NISSAN DEALER LEFT ME A SELF-SERVING AND DECEPTIVE MESSAGE (THAT I CAN SEND YOU IN AUDIO FORMAT OR TRANSCRIBED TO TEXT) INSINUATING THAT ALONG WITH THE FREE REMEDY (REPROGRAMMING THE ECM), THE CPS HAD BEEN REPLACED FOR $257. I STOPPED BY THE DEALER TO DISCUSS THIS, AND TO MY RELIEF (SINCE THE RECALL REMEDY DIDN'T REQUIRE THIS $257 REPAIR) THE CPS HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER I EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE THE NEXT HOT DAY. NISSAN'S ECM REPROGRAMMING REMEDY HAD NO EFFECT - THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CODE READER AGAIN SAID CPS FAILURE. I OPENED A FILE WITH NISSAN USA CONSUMER AFFAIRS, WHO ASSIGNED A REP. THE REP. FIRST SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, THEN CALLED ME AND REFUSED TO PAY TO REPLACE THE CPS (A $37 PART). WHY DOESN'T THIS RECALL INCLUDE REPLACING THE CPS (NISSAN'S RECOMMENDED FIX, WHEN THE ECM REPROGRAMMING FAILS)? THIS PARTIAL RECALL IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT'S: #1 ALMOST FREE FOR NISSAN (NO PARTS, MINUTES OF LABOR) #2 IN MY CASE INEFFECTIVE, CAUSING NO CESSATION OF ACCIDENT RISK (A COMMON PROBLEM, I'D BET) #3 LIMITED TO ONLY ONE OF THE 2 FAILING PARTS IN A CLOSELY INTEGRATED FAILURE PATTERN #4 AN EFFECTIVE "LOSS LEADER" - BRINGING CUSTOMERS TO THEIR GARAGE, ALLOWING NISSAN TO MAKE MONEY (E.G. REPLACING THE $37 CSP FOR $257) #5 HARD TO VERIFY (NO VISIBLE NEW OR OLD PARTS TO PROVE THEY DID THE ECM REPROGRAMMING). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276166

103,000 miles · Jul 1, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 AND IN NOV OF 2009 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR DUE TO A ECM REPROGRAM(CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODE R0712).ON JUNE 27 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AT 10MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF,IT RESTARTED BACK UP RITE AWAY SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT.HOWEVER THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGA…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 AND IN NOV OF 2009 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR DUE TO A ECM REPROGRAM(CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODE R0712).ON JUNE 27 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AT 10MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF,IT RESTARTED BACK UP RITE AWAY SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT.HOWEVER THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND IT DIDN'T RESTART RIGHT AWAY.ON MONDAY JUNE 29TH I CALLED NISSAN AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT.I TOOK MY CAR IN TO NISSAN OF HAYWARD CA ON JUNE 30TH AT 8:30AM DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM, THE GUY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED IN THE RECALL(WHICH I KNEW WAS UNTRUE) BUT THAT THERE WAS A UPGRADE THAT HAD TO BE DONE ON THE CARS COMPUTER BUT THAT IT MITE NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR.AFTER THE REPROGRAMMING WAS COMPLETE I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER CODES THAT CAME UP AND THAT REPROGRAMMING THE ECM FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE OK.UNFORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBAND TO WORK AND SOON AS WE WERE TAKING OFF FROM THE LIGHT THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN AND DID NOT RESTART FOR 10 MINUTES.NISSAN REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER IN MY CAR AND PROBABLY IN MANY OTHER 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA'S HOWEVER JUST LIKE IN MY CASE REPROGRAMMING THESES COMPUTERS ISN'T ENOUGH BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE CAR AND I FEEL LIKE NISSAN SHOULD TAKE MORE CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY THAN JUST REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER WHEN IT CLEARLY ISN'T FIXING THE VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT THESE VEHICLES IMPOSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO MY FAMILY AND OTHERS AS MY CAR IS JUST SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON BEHALF OF NISSAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ASSISTED IN THE PROPER MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275431

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2009
Power Train

MY CLUTCH PEDAL GETS STUCK TO THE FLOOR AT TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275414

45,000 miles · Jun 19, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. SUDDENLY, THE TRANSMISSION BRAKE ENGAGED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. SUDDENLY, THE TRANSMISSION BRAKE ENGAGED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10274363

97,000 miles · Jun 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST OR ASSUME LIABILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THERE WERE RECALLS LISTED FOR THE SAME FAILURES FOR PREVIOUS YEAR VEHICLES (SAME MAKE AND MODEL), BUT NONE FOR THE 2005 ALTIMA. THE DE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST OR ASSUME LIABILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THERE WERE RECALLS LISTED FOR THE SAME FAILURES FOR PREVIOUS YEAR VEHICLES (SAME MAKE AND MODEL), BUT NONE FOR THE 2005 ALTIMA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF MORE THAN $200. THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10274145

91,000 miles · Jun 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAR FAILED TO START AFTER REPEATED TRIES, THEN FINALLY STARTED. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. I HAD IT REPAIRED, AND THE REPAIRMAN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF SOME 2005 NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THIS PROBLEM…

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THE CAR FAILED TO START AFTER REPEATED TRIES, THEN FINALLY STARTED. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. I HAD IT REPAIRED, AND THE REPAIRMAN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF SOME 2005 NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. THE SYMPTOMS I EXPERIENCED ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN NHTSA RECALL NOTICE 07V527000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273643

73,000 miles · Jun 9, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC YESTERDAY; ENGINE STALLED TWICE NEARLY CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. AUTO WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALER TODAY FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273180

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10272936

199,750 miles · Jun 2, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO PAY $700 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD THE FINAL DECISION TO EITHER CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 199,750.

NHTSA ODI #10272622

150,000 miles · Jun 1, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE EXPERIENCED A NO-START CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE EXPERIENCED A NO-START CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. HE WAS INFORMED THAT BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10272533

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