Illustration2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, BOUGHT NEW, CONSUMES OIL WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKS. OIL MUST BE ADDED EVERY WEEK TO KEEP ADEQUATE LEVELS IN ENGINE. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE WHEN THIS ONE FINALLY FAILS. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1040–25K
5125–50K
9250–75K
13575–100K
198100–150K
72150K+
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 reportsWE BOUGHT OUR 06 NISSAN ALTIMA IN 08 AND HAD SOME TROUBLE SOON AFTER WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING ON THE FIRST OR SECOND TRY. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKING AND WE SHOULD FORCIBLY TURN THE WHEEL TO TURN ON THE CAR. STILL HAD PROBLEMS SO WE TOOK OUR CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY…
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WE BOUGHT OUR 06 NISSAN ALTIMA IN 08 AND HAD SOME TROUBLE SOON AFTER WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING ON THE FIRST OR SECOND TRY. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKING AND WE SHOULD FORCIBLY TURN THE WHEEL TO TURN ON THE CAR. STILL HAD PROBLEMS SO WE TOOK OUR CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS THE BATTERY. THE NEW BATTERY HELPED WITH THE STARTING ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THEN WE NOTICE THAT THE ENGINE OIL LEVELS WOULD BE LOW AFTER ONLY 1,000 MILES. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID JUST KEEP ADDING OIL. THEN A WEEK AGO WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY SAID WE HAD NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AT ALL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE PISTON RINGS WERE SHOT AND OUR OIL WAS MIXING WITH THE COOLANT. WE CALLED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP US WITH THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT ENGINE THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE WOULD NEED VERY SOON. NISSAN SAID THEY WOULD CALL US BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS WITH THEIR ANSWER. THEY CALLED US BACK WITHIN 25 MINUTES TO TELL US THEY WOULD NOT HELP US EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 06 NISSAN ALTIMAS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,803.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE TRAVELING 15MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL 06V223000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE TRAVELING 15MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL 06V223000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54000.
MY CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ISSUE COVERED UNDER 07V527000. DEALER REPROGRAMMED ECM, HOWEVER ISSUE IS THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR OVERHEATED, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL DEFECT, WHICH MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY TO REPLACE. DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR AT A COST OF $370 TO ME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON RESTART BEGAN DRIVING AS NORMAL BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPEN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON RESTART BEGAN DRIVING AS NORMAL BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,429.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY LOST POWER BEFORE DRIVING AS NORMAL. A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS INFORMED OF …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY LOST POWER BEFORE DRIVING AS NORMAL. A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH DURING VERY WARM WEATHER THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH WHILE ENTERING A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT NOTICED A RECALL 07V527000 REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING AND TOOK THE VEHICL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH DURING VERY WARM WEATHER THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH WHILE ENTERING A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT NOTICED A RECALL 07V527000 REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM A RECALL REPAIR DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON IN THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER FOR THE RECALL TO BE REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEEDED TO BE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REISSUE THE RECALL AND INCLUDE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE FOR HIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,325. UPDATED 12/08/10 *BF UPDATED 12/13/10*JB
HEARD LOUD RATTLING IN FRONT END OF MY NISSAN ALTIMA (2006). TOOK IT TO NISSAN. HAD TO HAVE UPPER MOTOR MOUNT REPLACED. NOT COVERED BY NISSAN. COST WAS $395.00 TO REPLACE. *TR
Official recalls
307V527000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.