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2006 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Altima years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

652 reports with mileage · 172 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 221 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 189 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 166 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

43 crash reports14 fire reports34 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

189 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT MY FIRST 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S IN MAY OF 2006. JUST AFTER A 2 WEEKS OF HAVING THIS CAR, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN MOTORS THAT YOUR CAR CAN USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND AS A RESULT CAN BLOW UP. AND THEY ARE TELLING ME TO CHECK THE OIL EVERY 700 MILES TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BLOW UP. AFTER ALL I DIDN'T SPENT $…

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I BOUGHT MY FIRST 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S IN MAY OF 2006. JUST AFTER A 2 WEEKS OF HAVING THIS CAR, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN MOTORS THAT YOUR CAR CAN USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND AS A RESULT CAN BLOW UP. AND THEY ARE TELLING ME TO CHECK THE OIL EVERY 700 MILES TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BLOW UP. AFTER ALL I DIDN'T SPENT $20,000 TO CHECK OIL EVERY 700 MILES AND HOPING IT DOESN'T BLOW UP WHILE I AM DRIVING. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT LOTS OF OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINT LIKE THIS. I CONTACTED NISSAN MOTORS ON THE 800 NUMBER THAT WAS ON THE LETTER AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY WILL NOTIFY ME WITH THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROBLEM WITHIN 60 DAYS. I RECEIVED THIS LETTER ON JUNE 9, 2006 AND TODAY IS AUGUST 15, 2006. IT HAS BEEN MORE THEN 60 DAYS AND I STILL DON'T HAVE ANY REPLY BACK FROM NISSAN MOTORS. I STRONGLY THINK THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM NISSAN SHOULD NOT ONLY REPLACE THE ENGINE OR FIX WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS. BUT, THEY SHOULD GIVE 100% REFUND INCLUDING THE FEES LIKE DESTINATION CHARGE OF $605. THIS IS NOT A SMALL PROBLEM, NO ONE SHOULD SPEND $20,000 AND STILL HAVE TO HOPE IF THEY WON'T BLOW UP WITH CAR WHILE DRIVING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165488

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

2006 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS SOLD TO CONSUMER WHILE ON HOLD FOR A RECALL. CONSUMER WANTED TO EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE FOR A PROBLEM FREE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURN THE CONSUMER'S CALL. *KB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165843

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH 2006. IT'S NOW AUGUST 2006, AND I AM EXPERIENCING AN OIL LEAK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE SEAL. NOW MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FELL IN THE RANGE OF THE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NI…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH 2006. IT'S NOW AUGUST 2006, AND I AM EXPERIENCING AN OIL LEAK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE SEAL. NOW MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FELL IN THE RANGE OF THE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NISSAN CORPORATE TOLD HIM JUST TO REPLACE THE SEAL. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT RESPONSE. I WAS NEVER OFFERED A NEW MOTOR. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN THEY ARE PLAYING ME FOR DUMB. I HAVE ALSO BEEN DEALING WITH SQUEALING BRAKES THAT I HAVE REPORTED TO THE TECHNICIAN WHICH HE KEEPS DISMISSING AS THE HOT WEATHER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165116

800 miles · Aug 8, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IS ONE OF THE BAD OIL USERS. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON JUNE 13, WELL AFTER NISSAN INSTRUCTED DEALERS NOT TO SELL THE BAD ONES. I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF THIS CAR WAS ONE OF THE BAD ONES AND WAS TOLD SEVERAL TIMES IT WAS NOT. SEVERAL OTHER DEALERS AND NISSAN THEMSELVES HAVE NOW VERIFIED IT IS ONE OF THE BAD ONES. I…

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MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IS ONE OF THE BAD OIL USERS. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON JUNE 13, WELL AFTER NISSAN INSTRUCTED DEALERS NOT TO SELL THE BAD ONES. I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF THIS CAR WAS ONE OF THE BAD ONES AND WAS TOLD SEVERAL TIMES IT WAS NOT. SEVERAL OTHER DEALERS AND NISSAN THEMSELVES HAVE NOW VERIFIED IT IS ONE OF THE BAD ONES. I WAS LIED TO BY KLINE NISSAN IN MINNESOTA. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10164988

2,125 miles · Jul 26, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE AT A GAS STATION. UPON INSPECTION, OIL WAS DISCOVERED ON THE ENGINE DUE TO THE OIL CAP FALLING OFF. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THIS OCCURRED HOWEVER IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE CAP WAS NOT ON TIGHT ENOUGH.

NHTSA ODI #10163507

16,800 miles · Jul 21, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENROUTE TO TUCSON AZ ON INTERSTATE 10, MY VEHICLE, A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SE, BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. I HEARD A SOUND THAT I THOUGHT WAS A BLOWOUT IN ONE OF MY TIRES AS I ATTEMPTED TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE MEDIAN. UPON JUST BARELY ENTERING THE MEDIAN, I CHECKED MY TIRES AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A BLOWOUT. I NOTICED AN…

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ENROUTE TO TUCSON AZ ON INTERSTATE 10, MY VEHICLE, A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SE, BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. I HEARD A SOUND THAT I THOUGHT WAS A BLOWOUT IN ONE OF MY TIRES AS I ATTEMPTED TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE MEDIAN. UPON JUST BARELY ENTERING THE MEDIAN, I CHECKED MY TIRES AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A BLOWOUT. I NOTICED ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS CHECKING HER VEHICLE FOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT. I CROSSED OVER AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT SHE OBSERVED SMOKE & FIRE EMITTING FROM MY VEHICLE BEFORE UNDETERMINED "PARTS OF MY VEHICLE" STRUCK HERS. I DID SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF SMOKE AND A FLOW OF BLACK FLUID TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I CALLED AAA OF ARIZONA AND WAS TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN TUCSON. MY 2006 NISSSAN ALTIMA HAS 16800 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. UPON ARRIVING AT MY HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 PM, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ADVISING ME THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE AUTO TECHNICIAN WHO HAD PERFORMED MY PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE NOT REINSTALLING THE OIL PLUG SECURELY AFTER THE OIL CHANGE AND THEY, NISSAN, HAD CONCLUSIVE PROOF THAT WAS THE CASE. I CONTACTED JIFFY LUBE WHO WILL BE SENDING A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE VERACITY OF THE NISSAN CLAIM. SUBSEQUENTLY, I LEARNED OF RECALL 06V223000 AFFECTING 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS FOR EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE PISTON RINGS. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY NISSAN NOR WAS I AWARE OF THE RECALL. AS MY OIL CHANGE AT JIFFY LUBE OCCURRED IN MAY AND I HAD NOT NOTICED ANY LEAKING OIL, I AM SKEPTICAL OF NISSAN'S EFFORTS TO POINT THE BLAME AT JIFFY LUBE WHEN IT APPEARS EXTREMELY LIKELY MY NEAR ACCIDENT WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY THE SOURCE OF RECALL 06V223000. I KNOW THAT ONLY DIVINE PROVIDENCE SAVED ME FROM BEING STRUCK BY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME ON A ROAD WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 75MPH. CAUSING IMPROPER

NHTSA ODI #10163110

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAD HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT NISSAN HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED THE DEALER, GAVE THEM MY VIN, AND IT WAS CONFIRMED. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK THE OIL, ADD OIL IF NEEDED, AND THAT MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO 100,000 MILES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT NISSAN WOULD CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THEY PLANNED…

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I HAD HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT NISSAN HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED THE DEALER, GAVE THEM MY VIN, AND IT WAS CONFIRMED. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK THE OIL, ADD OIL IF NEEDED, AND THAT MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO 100,000 MILES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT NISSAN WOULD CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THEY PLANNED TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TODAY I CALLED TO THE DEALER AGAIN TO GET "100,000" MILE WARRANTY EXTENSION INFORMATION SENT TO ME IN WRITING. I WAS THEN TOLD IT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I THEN CALLED THE NUMBER I WAS GIVEN AND WAS FORWARDED AROUND AND LEFT ON HOLD. I SAW ONLINE THAT CUSTOMERS HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF A RECALL OVER A MONTH AGO. I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM NISSAN. THIS HAS BEEN A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OPTIONS I HAVE?? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162991

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT A NEW NISSAN ALTIMA WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR A REPAIR THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND THE CAR IS BEING RECALLED MEANWHILE NISSAN DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO MY OIL GOES TO QUICKLY AND MY GAS IS BEING EATEN UP I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR KNOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I WANT A NEW CAR CAN YOU HELP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162923

4,289 miles · Jul 16, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

THERE WAS A RECALL SENT TO ME STATING THAT THE CAR HAS A HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION RATE AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FIRES. HOWEVER, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN PHYSICALLY RECALLED. I HAD BEEN HEARING THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND SCRUB AFTER 3 WEEKS OF HAVING THE CAR, HAVE ONLY HAD 2 MONTHS, FINALLY 2 MONTHS LATER IT WAS FOUND T…

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THERE WAS A RECALL SENT TO ME STATING THAT THE CAR HAS A HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION RATE AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FIRES. HOWEVER, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN PHYSICALLY RECALLED. I HAD BEEN HEARING THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND SCRUB AFTER 3 WEEKS OF HAVING THE CAR, HAVE ONLY HAD 2 MONTHS, FINALLY 2 MONTHS LATER IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL 4 CALIPERS WERE LEAKING. THE PARTS THAT WERE NEEDED WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE PARTS WERE SHIPPED IN AND THE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THIS WAS A WEEK AGO, CURRENTLY I AM HAVING MORE TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKE AREA. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10162503

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

NISSAN ALTIMA EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5S ENGINE. PURCHASE DATE: FEB 28, 2006. SOON AFTER PURCHASE I MADE A TRIP TO BEAUFORT, SC. ON RETURN HOME I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND FOUND IT ((OIL) TO BE BLACK, SMELLING BURNT, AND CONSIDERABLY BELOW THE ADD LEVEL. AT THIS POINT, 1676 MILES, I CHANGED THE OIL. CHECKED OIL LEVEL ONCE MORE AT 31…

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NISSAN ALTIMA EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5S ENGINE. PURCHASE DATE: FEB 28, 2006. SOON AFTER PURCHASE I MADE A TRIP TO BEAUFORT, SC. ON RETURN HOME I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND FOUND IT ((OIL) TO BE BLACK, SMELLING BURNT, AND CONSIDERABLY BELOW THE ADD LEVEL. AT THIS POINT, 1676 MILES, I CHANGED THE OIL. CHECKED OIL LEVEL ONCE MORE AT 3165 MILES AND FOUND THE OIL DOWN 1/2 QUART. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE OIL LEVEL. I ADDED THE OIL OF MY CHOICE. RECHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AGAIN AT 3927 AND FOUND IT TO BE DIRTY AND DOWN 1/2 QUART. CHANGED OIL ONCE MORE. IN FAIRNESS TO THE OWNERS, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THEY BE REIMBURSED THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE PLUS INCIDENTAL EXPENSES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10162386

Official recalls

3

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.

06V223000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jun 21, 2006

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE PISTON RINGS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE OIL IS NOT MAINTAINED AT LEAST AT THE MINIMUM LEVEL, ENGINE DAMAGE CAN OCCUR AND IN EXTREME CASES RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM OR ENGINE COMPUTER). YOUR VEHICLE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING ENGINE OIL AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL BE NEEDED. ON JUNE 9, 2006, NISSAN NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE OIL AT A PROPER LEVEL. FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE STATUS OF THE RECALL WAS SENT DURING AUGUST 2006. FOLLOWUP LETTER TO OWNERS WAS SENT ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

06V046000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 13, 2006

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE REAR SUBFRAME MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRACK IN A BRACKET WHICH HOLDS PART OF THE REAR SUSPENSION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BRACKET IS CRACKED, THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE AFFECTED UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUBFRAME TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006. 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