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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.

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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 · Dec 28, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED DUE TO WEAR FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONLY 60K MILES. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 25K AND I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213047

87,000 miles · Dec 17, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND HAD TO BE MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT TOOK 20 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND HAD TO BE MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT TOOK 20 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING 02 SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 90,167 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED01/08/08 *BF UPDATED

NHTSA ODI #10212075

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2007
Electrical System

CAR SOMETIMES WON'T START AND CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212000

40,000 miles · Dec 15, 2007
StructureVisibilityInjury

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE MADE OF CHEAP LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC AND THEY DETERIATE AND BECOME VERY FOGGY AND DRIVER CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211988

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2007
Structure

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SITUATION I HAD WITH MY LEASED 2005 ALTIMA THAT COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR DRIVERS AND I THINK YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO FOR A POSSIBLE CALL BACK. SEVEN (7) OF THE CLIPS ( PART 01553-09321) CAME OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE LOWER ENGINE COVER TO FALL DOWN AND HANGING BY THE REMAINING CLIPS. NO…

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I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SITUATION I HAD WITH MY LEASED 2005 ALTIMA THAT COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR DRIVERS AND I THINK YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO FOR A POSSIBLE CALL BACK. SEVEN (7) OF THE CLIPS ( PART 01553-09321) CAME OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE LOWER ENGINE COVER TO FALL DOWN AND HANGING BY THE REMAINING CLIPS. NOT KNOWING THE PROBLEM, I WAS STARTLED AND HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OVER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I HAD TO TAPE THE LOWER ENGINE COVER WITH DUCT TAPE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE COVER IS BEING HELD ON BY CLIPS RATHER THAN BOLTS. IF BOLTS OR SCREWS WERE IN IT, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY REPLACES A LOT OF THESE CLIPS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF YOU ARE REPLACING A LOT OF CLIPS, THEY ARE NOT DOING THE JOB. IF LOWER ENGINE COVER FALLS DOWN, IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THE CAR IS GOING AT A HIGH SPEED. I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT ON YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, BEFORE THERE IS A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I AM NOW VERY NERVOUS ABOUT USING THE CAR, BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENED ONCE, IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DEALER IS STATEN ISLAND NISSAN 222 PARKINSON AVE, STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK 10305 (718) 447-3878. I SPOKE TO NISSAN AND THEY CLAIM THAT THERE WAS A SCRAPE ON THE BOTTOM AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT THAT IT HAPPENED. IF CLIPS CAN POP THAT EASY, THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG. IT COULD NOT HAPPEN IF THEY USED BOLTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211842

50,000 miles · Dec 13, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HER FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10211828

30,000 miles · Nov 28, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTED AND TURNS OVER AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 7 SECONDS. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARS A ROUGH NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000. UPDATED 01/03/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/31/07

NHTSA ODI #10210164

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2007
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 2.5S IN MAY 04'...I'VE BEEN HAVING IGNITION/SENSOR PROBLEMS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM: WHEN I TRY TO CRANK THE ENGINE USING THE KEYS PROVIDED (AT PURCHASE) THE CAR WILL HESITATE (SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL) I EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY RELATED ISSUE AND CHANGED THE BATTERY…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 2.5S IN MAY 04'...I'VE BEEN HAVING IGNITION/SENSOR PROBLEMS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM: WHEN I TRY TO CRANK THE ENGINE USING THE KEYS PROVIDED (AT PURCHASE) THE CAR WILL HESITATE (SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL) I EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY RELATED ISSUE AND CHANGED THE BATTERY...ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAD TO CRANK IT NEARLY 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. I ADDRESSED MY ISSUES WITH THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MANY OCCASIONS BUT THEY WILL ONLY ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF/WHEN IT HAPPENS THERE. RECENTLY, I WAS INFORMED THAT A SIMILAR RECALL HAD TAKEN PLACE ON THE 2003-2004 MODELS BUT THAT THE 2005-2006 DID NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE...NOT!...I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN'S APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM. IN FACT, AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO FIND OUT WHEN THE PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD BE SEVERAL MORE WEEKS (DECEMBER 10,2007). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210153

52,724 miles · Nov 24, 2007
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209778

56,000 miles · Nov 20, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2005 ALTIMA WAS FAILING TO START NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHY. AFTER SOME SEARCHING MY MECHANIC FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND HAD CAUSED OTHER FAULT CODES TO OCCUR. THE CAR HAS APPROX 56,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM NORMALLY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MILES…

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MY 2005 ALTIMA WAS FAILING TO START NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHY. AFTER SOME SEARCHING MY MECHANIC FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND HAD CAUSED OTHER FAULT CODES TO OCCUR. THE CAR HAS APPROX 56,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM NORMALLY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MILES. WHEN THE PART WAS PICKED UP BY THE MECHANIC, HE WAS TOLD THAT EIGHT OF THESE SENSORS WERE RECENTLY SOLD FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND SOME OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS. ONE PERSON SUGGESTED A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PART WAS $42 BUT AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND AN OIL CHANGE, MY BILL WAS ALMOST $200! I HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH THE ALTIMA UP TO THIS POINT BUT FEEL THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THIS SAME PROBLEM. IF THAT IS THE CASE, A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. IF A RECALL HAPPENS TO BE ISSUED, THEN I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR HAVING TO PAY FOR FIXING MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209561

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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