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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
85,000 miles · Nov 18, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

SERVICE ENGINE SOON DIAGNOSIS: PREMATURE FAILURE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR ON 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA LEADING TO POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING & FAILURE AT 82,000 MILES. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR NISSAN REGIONAL SPECIALIST OFFERED ME ANY DEALS TO OFFSET COSTS OF REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249116

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2008
Unknown Or Other

MY CAR IS A LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248676

44,691 miles · Nov 6, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A NEWS REPORT FOR NISSAN RECALLS AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. HE WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AT 25 MPH.…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A NEWS REPORT FOR NISSAN RECALLS AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. HE WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AT 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AND HAVE SINCE WORSENED. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,691 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,607. UPDATED 12/11/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/11/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10247834

24,285 miles · Nov 5, 2008
Tires

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT. IT WA MAKING A FUNNY WHIRRING NOISE. MECHANIC ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES. FOUND CUPPING TIRES. VEHICLE WAS STILL MAKING NOISE. HAD TWO NEW TIRES PUT ON FRONT. VEHICLE STILL MAKES NOISE. CONTINENTAL TIRES TOURING CONTACT AS P215 160R16 94T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247813

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2008
Tires

I CHECKED MY TIRES AND FOUND THAT 2 OF THEM THAT I PURCHASED AT BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB. THE DOT NUMBER WAS MISSING THE MONTH OF MANUFACTURE. THEY HAD THE FIRST 8 CHARACTERS BUT THE DATE WAS MISSING. I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. IT'S PROBABLY BEEN A YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247783

47,000 miles · Oct 27, 2008
Electrical System

MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD A RECALL FOR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH I HAD REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE ON REICHERT NISSAN IN WENENCHEE WA. ON 10-22-2008. AFTER DRIVING 106 MILES MY ENGINE FAILED. I CALLED REICHERT MOTORS AND THEY RESPONDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THERE DEALERSHIP BY A CERTAIN TOWING COMPANY; WHICH I D…

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MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD A RECALL FOR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH I HAD REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE ON REICHERT NISSAN IN WENENCHEE WA. ON 10-22-2008. AFTER DRIVING 106 MILES MY ENGINE FAILED. I CALLED REICHERT MOTORS AND THEY RESPONDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THERE DEALERSHIP BY A CERTAIN TOWING COMPANY; WHICH I DID. (BY THE WAY BEFORE THIS INCIDENT ,THIS CAR HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM ; THIS ALL HAPPENED AFTER THE RECALL) AFTER THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY REICHERT THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOW A CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM SO I WOULD NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOWING CHARGE AS WELL AS THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THIS SEEMS A LITTLE STRANGE TO ME THAT A CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS PRIOR WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM AFTER 106 MILES WHICH WAS THE DISTANCE TO MY HOME IN OMAK WA FROM WENECHEE . WITHIN 3 HOURS AFTER THE CAR WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS A DANGER FOR THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED NISSAN ABOUT THE PROBLEM( FILE # 6327690) AND THEY STATED THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT. IF I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE I THINK THEY WOULD OF BEEN AT FAULT. THIS COMPANY NEED TO BE REPRIMANDED FOR AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ON OUR NATIONS HIGHWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246831

67,000 miles · Oct 20, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I REC'D LETTER STATING 05 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE BEING RECALLED. I TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP (NORTH TEXAS NISSAN IN CORINTH, TX). THEY FIXED IT AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. COUPLE DAYS LATER CAR JUST CUT OFF ON ME AT REDLIGHT AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULDN…

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I REC'D LETTER STATING 05 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE BEING RECALLED. I TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP (NORTH TEXAS NISSAN IN CORINTH, TX). THEY FIXED IT AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. COUPLE DAYS LATER CAR JUST CUT OFF ON ME AT REDLIGHT AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME AND TO MAKE AN APPT. AND BRING IN MONDAY. I DID, CAME IN AT 9 AM, SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $98 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. IT CAME BACK STATING IT WAS CRANK AND CAM SHAFT SENSOR. NISSAN CORP. WANT PAY FOR IT; STATING OUR VEHICLE WASN'T THE VIN #S THAT WERE RECALLED. SO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SENSORS. I WILL NEVER BUT ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. NISSAN CORP WEREN'T APOLOGETIC, COULDN'T ANS. MY QUESTIONS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246182

85,000 miles · Oct 16, 2008
Steering

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL RACK FAILED, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO OTHER LANES. AT THAT SAME MOMENT I SMELLED THIS HORRIBLE BURNING. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE A BLOCK TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THERE IS WHERE I FOUND OUT THAT MY STEERING WHEEL RACK WENT OUT A…

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WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL RACK FAILED, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO OTHER LANES. AT THAT SAME MOMENT I SMELLED THIS HORRIBLE BURNING. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE A BLOCK TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THERE IS WHERE I FOUND OUT THAT MY STEERING WHEEL RACK WENT OUT AND THE COST TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE $1700 FOR NISSAN PARTS AND $1296 FOR I BELIEVE REFURBISHED PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245642

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL FOR ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL ON FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES BUT THEY HAVE NOT PERFORMED THE RECALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS ALWAYS AN EXCUSE AS TO WHY THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI #10245889

21,000 miles · Oct 2, 2008
StructureInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND THE SHARP POINT AT THE BOTTOM EDGE SEVERELY CUT HER RIGHT LEG. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR FOR TREATMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TWICE DUE TO HER LEG INJURIES. THE CO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND THE SHARP POINT AT THE BOTTOM EDGE SEVERELY CUT HER RIGHT LEG. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR FOR TREATMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TWICE DUE TO HER LEG INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT. SHE WAS HIGHLY CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 11/07/08 *BF UPDATED 11/07/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10244208

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.

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