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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

Power Train complaints

79 reports
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12,334 miles · Apr 24, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2006 NISSAN ALTIMA CUSTOMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET CAR FIX AND CAN'T LET THE CAR SIT AND PAY CAR NOTE AND INSURANCE**CC THE CONSUMER STATED A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO A RECALL. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED DECREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND …

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2006 NISSAN ALTIMA CUSTOMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET CAR FIX AND CAN'T LET THE CAR SIT AND PAY CAR NOTE AND INSURANCE**CC THE CONSUMER STATED A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO A RECALL. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED DECREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE CONSUMER WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION THEY STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS UNPLUGGED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10190037

9,000 miles · Apr 23, 2007
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION(STANDARD)WILL JUST DROP OUT OF 5TH GEAR INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS. THERE ARE 10,800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SL. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS DISENGAGED I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET CAUSIN…

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THE TRANSMISSION(STANDARD)WILL JUST DROP OUT OF 5TH GEAR INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS. THERE ARE 10,800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SL. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS DISENGAGED I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET CAUSING A QUICK RISE IN THE RPMS-WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR ANY ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188670

2,500 miles · Feb 15, 2007
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SER. THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPAIRED ON 3 OCCASIONS SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2006. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR, MAKING A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE ,AND THE PEDAL HAS TO BE LIFTED UP WHILE DRIVING WITH HIS FOOT. ON SOME OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WOULD RELEASE IN THE HA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SER. THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPAIRED ON 3 OCCASIONS SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2006. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR, MAKING A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE ,AND THE PEDAL HAS TO BE LIFTED UP WHILE DRIVING WITH HIS FOOT. ON SOME OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WOULD RELEASE IN THE HALF WAY POSITION WHICH MAD EIT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO GEAR WHEN TRYING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE GEAR WAS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE LEMON LAW. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR ON THE CLUTCH WAS ON 01/15/07. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WITH THE FLYWHEEL, AND ALL OF THE HYDRAULIC AND HOSE SYSTEMS. SINCE THE REPAIRS THE CLUTCH MADE A LOUD NOISE AND GRINDING SOUND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10182652

200 miles · Oct 26, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE OCCUPANT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHED THE CENTER CONSOLE FLOOR GEAR SHIFT WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHIFT GEARS AND OPERATE AT A REDUCED SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE FLOOR GEAR SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE OCCUPANT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHED THE CENTER CONSOLE FLOOR GEAR SHIFT WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHIFT GEARS AND OPERATE AT A REDUCED SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE FLOOR GEAR SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ODI #10171883

10,000 miles · Aug 28, 2006
Power Train

POWER TRAIN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY/ PEDAL/ LINKAGE I RECENTLY BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SER IN 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR ONLY 3 MONTHS, I LOST TOTAL ACCELERATION RESPONSE. DRIVING THE CAR FROM A DEAD STOP TO 60 MPH TOOK NEARLY A MILE, I WAS SO AFRAID THE CAR WOULDN'T MAKE IT OVER A BRIDGE. DRIV…

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POWER TRAIN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY/ PEDAL/ LINKAGE I RECENTLY BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SER IN 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR ONLY 3 MONTHS, I LOST TOTAL ACCELERATION RESPONSE. DRIVING THE CAR FROM A DEAD STOP TO 60 MPH TOOK NEARLY A MILE, I WAS SO AFRAID THE CAR WOULDN'T MAKE IT OVER A BRIDGE. DRIVING THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS A NIGHTMARE, I WAS SO SCARED WHILE ACCELERATED THAT ANYONE DOING THE SPEED LIMIT WOULD CRASH INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. THE DEALER TOOK 2-3 DAYS JUST TO INFORM ME MY CLUTCH WENT BAD. THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH FOR $1000 AND THE FLYWHEEL FOR $500 BOTH NOT UNDER WARRANTY. MIND YOU THE $30,000.00 DOLLAR CAR IS ONLY 3-4 MONTHS OLD WITH A 10 YEAR/100K WARRANTY. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PREAMBLES, I FEEL NISSAN NEEDS TO ORDER A RECALL ON NISSAN CLUTCHES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166745

600 miles · Aug 19, 2006
Power Train

I OWN A NISSAN ALTIMA 2006 BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. IT HAS NOW BEEN 2 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY WHERE THEY DETECTED TRANSMISSION FAILURE... IT WAS FIXED , YET IN THE MIDDLE OF MY HECTIC DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK IT STOPS GAINING SPEED CAUSING MAJOR TRAFFIC BACKUP I'M JUST LUCKY NO ONE CRASHED IN TO ME! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165993

200 miles · Jun 27, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE; THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WAS OBSERVED BEFORE THE ENGINE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS DISCOVERED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO ADD OIL EVERY 700 MILES. …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE; THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WAS OBSERVED BEFORE THE ENGINE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS DISCOVERED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO ADD OIL EVERY 700 MILES. THE DEALER EXPLAINED SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PISTONS THEREFORE; THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT WILL TAKE UP TO TWO MONTHS FOR THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE TO BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND EXPLAINED OIL SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ADDED.

NHTSA ODI #10160909

1,500 miles · Jun 17, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

NISSAN HAS ADMITTED VIA A LETTER THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES (MINE IS ONE) ARE SUBJECT TO HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE RESULT COULD BE A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. NISSAN HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS BY: CHANGING THE OIL AND FILTER, PROMISING TO MONITOR THE LEVEL - SUBJECT TO ANOTHER TRIP TO THE DEALER- AT 700 SUBSEQUENT MILES, THEY WILL T…

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NISSAN HAS ADMITTED VIA A LETTER THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES (MINE IS ONE) ARE SUBJECT TO HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE RESULT COULD BE A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. NISSAN HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS BY: CHANGING THE OIL AND FILTER, PROMISING TO MONITOR THE LEVEL - SUBJECT TO ANOTHER TRIP TO THE DEALER- AT 700 SUBSEQUENT MILES, THEY WILL THEN PROVIDE AN UNKNOWN 'FIX' TO THE ISSUE IF THE OIL LEVEL HAS DECREASED TO THEIR SATISFACTION, IF NO NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN THEIR PERCEPTION, THEN MONITOR ANOTHER 700 MILES - RETURN TO DEALER AGAIN AND HAVE THEM REVIEW, POSSIBLE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THAT TIME. THE CONCERN IS THAT WHEN ONE PURCHASES A NEW VEHICLE, IF THE MANUFACTURE KNEW OF THE DEFECT AND POTENTIAL HAZARD, THEN THE SALE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED. FURTHER, A NEW VEHICLE NOW NEEDS TO BE MONITORED AND RETURNED TO THE DEALER EVERY 700 MILES - I CAN NOT THINK OF AN EXAMPLE OF MORE INCONVENIENCE. THE SAFETY HAZARD OF A FIRE OR BREAKING DOWN - ALL IN A VEHICLE WITH 1500 MILES ON IT IS INCREDULOUS. I CAN NOT LET MY FAMILY DRIVE IN THE CAR AND AM CONCERNED WITH MY OWN SAFETY. A 22000 VEHICLE THAT IS BRAND NEW SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE SOLD AND HAVE CONSUMERS ASKED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. I DO HOPE THIS IS INVESTIGATED. I UNDERSTAND THAT A TOTAL OF 80000 ALTIMAS WERE AFFECTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, WHY IT DID NOT STOP SALES IMMEDIATELY AND WHY THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT JUST FIX THE ISSUE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE VEHICLES WITHIN THE VIN RANGE THAT ARE ON NISSAN DEALER LOTS ARE BEING SENT BACK TO HAVE THE ENGINES REPLACED. NEXT, A PROBLEM AT 1500 MILES WITH THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS IN SHIFTING AND MAINTAIN GEAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING AND THE DEALER 'GETTING A PART' TO FIX IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT HAD ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT TO MALFUNCTION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160069

890 miles · Feb 17, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR IDLING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED, THE FLY WHEEL HAD HEAT DAMAGE AND THE PRESSURE PLATE WAS WARPED. THOSE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10150536

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