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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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70,000 miles · Apr 29, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED UNUSUALLY LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD OIL EVERY 700 MILES. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH NHTSA C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED UNUSUALLY LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD OIL EVERY 700 MILES. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 06V223000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 06V046000 (SUSPENSION: REAR) CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 06/25/10*LJ UPDATED 07/23/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10328087

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S CONSUMES OIL LITTLE BY LITTLE. FIRST NOTICED AROUND 35,000 MILES UNTIL PRESENT. I ADD OIL AFTER 1,500 MILES AROUND 100-150ML. I DO MY OIL CHANGES 100-200MILES BEFORE IT'S DUE OF 3,000 MILES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, TOOK A GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND NOW I'M GETTING THIS KIND OF TROUBLE. I'VE…

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MY BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S CONSUMES OIL LITTLE BY LITTLE. FIRST NOTICED AROUND 35,000 MILES UNTIL PRESENT. I ADD OIL AFTER 1,500 MILES AROUND 100-150ML. I DO MY OIL CHANGES 100-200MILES BEFORE IT'S DUE OF 3,000 MILES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, TOOK A GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND NOW I'M GETTING THIS KIND OF TROUBLE. I'VE NO DOUBT I GOT A DEFECTIVE UNIT.

NHTSA ODI #10322948

80,485 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COUPLED WITH A RAPID CHANGE IN RPM AND RESULTING ENGINE STALL. WHILE NO CRASH OCCURRED, WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN THE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMPACTED ANOTHER COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WAS RUN ON THE VEHICLE AND SHOW…

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I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COUPLED WITH A RAPID CHANGE IN RPM AND RESULTING ENGINE STALL. WHILE NO CRASH OCCURRED, WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN THE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMPACTED ANOTHER COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WAS RUN ON THE VEHICLE AND SHOWED A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223000 AND HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES. UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 07V527000 WHICH DESCRIBES SIMILAR SYMPTOMS REGARDING THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THOSE VEHICLES FIXED DUE TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223000 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS MAY LEAD TO THE SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED FOR MAINTENANCE TO REPLACE THE SENSOR; HOWEVER, AT A COST OF $370. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320235

65,498 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT BROKEN AT 66K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311107

95,760 miles · Dec 10, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND ENGINE SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND ENGINE SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95760.

NHTSA ODI #10295215

30,000 miles · Nov 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE RATTLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292581

78,000 miles · Oct 27, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 2.5 LITER ENGINE, IT WOULD STOP RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM 70MPH DOWN TO 5MPH (IN RUSH HOUR STOP/GO TRAFFIC). IT ALSO WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO START PROPERLY BY CRANKING FOR UP TO 45 SECONDS BEFORE START. THIS OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS AND BECAME WORSE QUICKLY, WITH "SERVICE ENGINE …

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ON MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 2.5 LITER ENGINE, IT WOULD STOP RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM 70MPH DOWN TO 5MPH (IN RUSH HOUR STOP/GO TRAFFIC). IT ALSO WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO START PROPERLY BY CRANKING FOR UP TO 45 SECONDS BEFORE START. THIS OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS AND BECAME WORSE QUICKLY, WITH "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" ON, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (GRUBBS NISSAN, BEDFORD, TX) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) SO THEY REPLACED IT FOR $204.34 TOTAL. THIS CPS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT NISSAN SAYS MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL # 07V527000; THERE ARE OVER 650K VEHICLES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED AND I KNOW MY ISSUE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. NEW SENSOR IS IN; OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290021

58,700 miles · Sep 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLING WHILE IN MOTION USUALLY WHILE SLOWING TO STOP OR WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING STOPPED. SES LIGHT CAME ON TODAY WHEN IT STALLED AND I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED IT WAS CRANK AND CAM SENSORS. THEY REPLACED THEM AND CHARGED ME $260. HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED AT 19,XXX MILES UNDER A RECALL. CAR H…

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VEHICLE STALLING WHILE IN MOTION USUALLY WHILE SLOWING TO STOP OR WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING STOPPED. SES LIGHT CAME ON TODAY WHEN IT STALLED AND I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED IT WAS CRANK AND CAM SENSORS. THEY REPLACED THEM AND CHARGED ME $260. HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED AT 19,XXX MILES UNDER A RECALL. CAR HAS 58,7XX MILES NOW AND THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY. GO ONLINE AND FIND IN EXCESS OF 160 CONSUMER REPORTS OF THIS VERY CAM AND CRANK PROBLEM AND EVERYONE HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR IT WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT ESPECIALLY BEING THAT MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED SO THE DEFECT IS NOT JUST IN THE ORIGINAL ENGINES. SERVICE DEPT. MADE NO MENTION OF THERE BEING A RECALL TO ME BUT BEING THAT I NEVER GOT THE RECALL NOTICE WHEN I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED AT 19,XXX (AND I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW AND REMAINED AT SAME RESIDENCE) I DECIDED TO JUST CHECK ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING CAM AND CRANK PROBLEMS. COMES A NO SURPRISE TO SEE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I AM MUTE THEREFORE CAN'T CALL YOU GUYS SO I AM FILING MY COMPLAINT ONLINE. PLEASE NOTE THAT I ENTERED PHONE NUMBERS ONLY BECAUSE I COULD NOT ADVANCE WITHOUT DOING SO. PLEASE SEND ANY AND ALL REPLIES VIA E-MAIL IF SPEAKING TO SOMEONE WHO CAN REPRESENT ME IS AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284966

32,311 miles · Sep 6, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

JUST HAD TO REPLACE A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON MY 2006 NISSAN. I SEE THAT THERE WERE TWO PRIOR NHTSA CAMPAIGNS ABOUT THIS PART, BUT APPARENTLY MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THEM. APPEAR TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART FROM VEHICLES NOT UNDER ORIGINAL CAMPAIGNS. HAD SAME ISSUES AS OTHERS - VEHICLE WOULD NOT ST…

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JUST HAD TO REPLACE A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON MY 2006 NISSAN. I SEE THAT THERE WERE TWO PRIOR NHTSA CAMPAIGNS ABOUT THIS PART, BUT APPARENTLY MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THEM. APPEAR TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART FROM VEHICLES NOT UNDER ORIGINAL CAMPAIGNS. HAD SAME ISSUES AS OTHERS - VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND ALMOST STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283004

68,000 miles · Aug 22, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 NISSAN ALTIMA; ENGINE STYLE IS THE 2.5L APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR; ALL DEALING WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR; I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS; AND NOW AM STUCK WITH FOOTING THE BILL OF A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEN THE LABOR AND PARTS FEE. NISSAN THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT HELPING ME AT ALL AND MAKING ME PAY FOR THIS; NO…

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2006 NISSAN ALTIMA; ENGINE STYLE IS THE 2.5L APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR; ALL DEALING WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR; I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS; AND NOW AM STUCK WITH FOOTING THE BILL OF A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEN THE LABOR AND PARTS FEE. NISSAN THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT HELPING ME AT ALL AND MAKING ME PAY FOR THIS; NOT ONLY THAT; BUT THEY ARE COMPLETELY IGNORING THE ISSUE AT HAND AND NOT TAKING CARE OF ME; ALTHOUGH I HAVE PURCHASED 2 VEHICLES FROM THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FIRST I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL THAT HAPPENED IN 2006 AND SECOND THAT I NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MISTAKE THAT THEY CLEARLY MADE WHILE OTHERS DID NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281423

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.

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