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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 · Jul 24, 2008
Suspension

I HAVE HAD MY RIGHT FRONT STRUT REPLACED 2 TIMES. IT IS NOW BAD AGAIN. THEY HAVE ALSO RETORQUED THE SUSPENSION AND REPLACED THE STRUT MOUNT. THE NOISE DOESN'T STOP. PROBLEM STARTED AT 29,000 MILES AND CONTINUES AT 43,000. THE NOISE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND NISSAN ONLY REPAIRS IT BECAUSE OF BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ARBITRAT…

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I HAVE HAD MY RIGHT FRONT STRUT REPLACED 2 TIMES. IT IS NOW BAD AGAIN. THEY HAVE ALSO RETORQUED THE SUSPENSION AND REPLACED THE STRUT MOUNT. THE NOISE DOESN'T STOP. PROBLEM STARTED AT 29,000 MILES AND CONTINUES AT 43,000. THE NOISE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND NISSAN ONLY REPAIRS IT BECAUSE OF BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ARBITRATION ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235700

45,000 miles · Jul 16, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON JULY 14, 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND LOST TOTAL POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON JULY 14, 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND LOST TOTAL POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT IT APPEARED TO LOCK INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE FINALLY RESTARTED AFTER BEING SHUT OFF FOR A WHILE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO COME IN NEXT WEEK FOR A RECALL REPAIR, WHICH WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #10234587

64,000 miles · Jul 10, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD ONLY INVOLVE REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER, RATHER THAN REPAIRING THE CRANKSHAFT, WHICH REALLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD ONLY INVOLVE REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER, RATHER THAN REPAIRING THE CRANKSHAFT, WHICH REALLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT'S CONCERN WAS THAT THE RECALL REPAIR ONLY STALLED THE FAILURE INSTEAD OF PROVIDING A REMEDY. ON JULY 10, 2008, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL POWER AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AFTER WAITING TWO MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE TO PUMP GAS, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SURGE OCCASIONALLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

NHTSA ODI #10233806

52,300 miles · Jul 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE ENGIN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AFTER THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO REMAIN LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 52500. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10233740

67,000 miles · Jul 9, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. MY CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED YET ,BUT IT COULD STILL HAPPEN. I HAD THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED AS DEFINED IN THE RECALL INFORMATION, BUT THE CAR IS STILL BEHAVING BADLY. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE AND I WORK 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY HOME. …

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. MY CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED YET ,BUT IT COULD STILL HAPPEN. I HAD THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED AS DEFINED IN THE RECALL INFORMATION, BUT THE CAR IS STILL BEHAVING BADLY. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE AND I WORK 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY HOME. THE RIDE TO WORK IS DANGEROUS AND MY CAR'S ENGINE PROBLEM COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS OTHER THAN REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER WHICH HAD NO REAL IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE PART THAT WAS DESCRIBED BY A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AS FAULTY AND THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER. THIS MUST STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233717

57,800 miles · Jul 9, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN JANUARY OF 2007, BUT RECURRED 4,000 MILES LATER. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN JANUARY OF 2007, BUT RECURRED 4,000 MILES LATER. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE REPAIR WILL NEED TO BE MADE AFTER EVERY FEW MILES HE TRAVELS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,800.

NHTSA ODI #10233654

34,365 miles · Jul 5, 2008
Unknown Or Other

I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM YOU GUYS AFTER THE FACT. MY CAR DEALERSHIP(SERVICE GUY). I WENT TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT'S HOW I FOUND OUT OF THE RECALL. SOMETHING COULD'VE HAPPEN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT WARNING. THEY DID REPROGRAM THE CAR MODULE. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE T…

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I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM YOU GUYS AFTER THE FACT. MY CAR DEALERSHIP(SERVICE GUY). I WENT TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT'S HOW I FOUND OUT OF THE RECALL. SOMETHING COULD'VE HAPPEN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT WARNING. THEY DID REPROGRAM THE CAR MODULE. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE THE CAR IS STILL DRIVING AS IT DID BEFORE AND I HOPE I DID NOT PURCHASE ONE OF YOUR MANY CARS I'VE HEARD OF AS A LEMON. I REALLY NEED TO KNOW MY NEXT STEPS IN LOOKING INTO GETTING A UPGRADE ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE THESE ALTIMAS. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP AND GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN TAKE THIS CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO SWITCH IT OUT I ONLY HAVE 34,399 MILES ON THIS CAR. THIS WAS THE SECOND RECALL ON THIS CAR AND I ONLY HAD THIS CAR A YEAR I TRADED IN MY GALANT 01 AND THAT ONLY HAD 59,732 MILES ON IT SO I'M NOT HARD ON CARS I TAKE CARE OF THINGS. MY SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME I DON'T WANT TO HURT NO ONE AND I DON'T WANT NO ONE TO HURT ME OR GET KILLED. I'M BRINGING THIS MATTER TO YOUR ATTENTION FIRST ASKING YOU TO ALSO DON'T PUT MY SAFETY OR NOBODY ELSE IN JEOPARDY. PLEASE RESPOND BACK TO ME SO THIS MATTER CAN BE RESOLVED QUICKLY. THANK YOU , ALFREDA THOMAS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233261

55,000 miles · Jul 3, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE WHEEL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMM…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE WHEEL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE TO RUN IN SAFE MODE INSTEAD OF MAKING THE REPAIR, IN CASE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $250. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10233121

36,000 miles · Jul 2, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AFTERWARDS. HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,500 AND FAILURE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AFTERWARDS. HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 10/15/08 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10233049

66,784 miles · Jul 1, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

BEFORE I GOT THE RECALL LETTER FROM NISSAN ABOUT MY COMPUTER CHIP, MY CAR WOULD DIE WHILE IT WAS RUNNING, IT WAS HARD TO START IT, AND I KEPT HAVING THIS CRANKSHAFT SENSOR PROBLEM I HAD TO REPLACED IT TWICE ALREADY, I FINALLY GOT MY COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED TODAY JULY 1ST 2008.. CAME BACK HOME AND THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.. AND…

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BEFORE I GOT THE RECALL LETTER FROM NISSAN ABOUT MY COMPUTER CHIP, MY CAR WOULD DIE WHILE IT WAS RUNNING, IT WAS HARD TO START IT, AND I KEPT HAVING THIS CRANKSHAFT SENSOR PROBLEM I HAD TO REPLACED IT TWICE ALREADY, I FINALLY GOT MY COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED TODAY JULY 1ST 2008.. CAME BACK HOME AND THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.. AND WHAT DO I KNOW IT COMES ON AGAIN MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT... TOOK IT TO THE AUTO SHOP SAID IT WAS MY CRANKSHAFT AGAIN...I HAD TO REPLACE 2 CRANKSHAFTS ON THE SAME WEEK.. AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN... I WAS READING PEOPLE'S FORUMS ABOUT HOW THEY WERE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS BEFORE AND AFTER THE RECALL REPROGRAMMING.... WE'RE ALL HAVE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT SENSOR PROBLEMS... BUT NISSAN IS GOING TO CHARGE US ALOT OF MONEY TO GET IT REPLACED... I HEARD IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE 2002 SO WHY HASN'T IT GOTTEN FIXED? WE SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR ANOTHER DEFECT THAT IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE WANTS TO ADMIT TO OR EVEN TAKE A LOOK INTO IT AT LEAST....ANYWAYS DOES IT NEED TO TAKE A PERSON TO DIE OR TO BE INJURED IN ORDER FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED..... THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.... THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232973

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