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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

38 reports
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57,000 miles · Jul 1, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE ENTERING MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA WHILE IT WAS PARKED ON JUNE 15TH 2013, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR ONLY TO FIND MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PRESSED UP ALL THE WAY INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR GIVING THE APPEARANCE OF NOT HAVING A CLUTCH PEDAL. I HAD TO USE MY HAND TO PULL THE PEDAL BACK DOWN AT WHICH POINT IT FELL TO THE FLOOR OF…

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WHILE ENTERING MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA WHILE IT WAS PARKED ON JUNE 15TH 2013, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR ONLY TO FIND MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PRESSED UP ALL THE WAY INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR GIVING THE APPEARANCE OF NOT HAVING A CLUTCH PEDAL. I HAD TO USE MY HAND TO PULL THE PEDAL BACK DOWN AT WHICH POINT IT FELL TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. AFTER REPEATEDLY PRESSING DOWN ON THE PEDAL AND PULLING IT BACK UP, THE PEDAL EVENTUALLY GAVE RESISTANCE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2010 AND FOR THE YEAR FOLLOWING I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO KOEPPEL NISSAN IN JACKSON HEIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES TO HAVE THE CLUTCH PEDAL REPLACED. THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE CLUTCH SYSTEM ROUGHLY THE SUMMER OF 2011. AND I AM NOW HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE PEDAL BARELY GIVING RESISTANCE WHEN PRESSED AS WELL AS THE PEDAL FALLING TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522719

115,000 miles · Jun 16, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

6/08 - CAR LURCHED AND TRIED TO STALL ON INTERSTATE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO MECHANIC'S SHOP. ISSUE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BY MECHANIC, AND PART WAS REPLACED WITH AN OEM PART BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM SO THE SENSOR WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH THE SENSOR THAT…

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6/08 - CAR LURCHED AND TRIED TO STALL ON INTERSTATE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO MECHANIC'S SHOP. ISSUE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BY MECHANIC, AND PART WAS REPLACED WITH AN OEM PART BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM SO THE SENSOR WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH THE SENSOR THAT WAS PULLED OUT. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP FROM MECHANIC'S SHOP ON 6/15 (YES, HE HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK). ISSUE WAS DETERMINED TO BE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED. ONE DAY AND 20 MILES LATER THE PROBLEM HAS MANIFESTED ITSELF...CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AND CAR DOES NOT WANT TO START. THIS SENSOR WAS PART OF A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR 2006 ALTIMAS BUT I WAS TOLD MY CAR (WHEN CHECKING VIN) WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520036

81,000 miles · May 12, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN TEXAS GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR ON CRUISE CONTROL THEN TWO UNEXPECTED JERKS IN THE ENGINE HAPPENED AND LOSS OF SPEED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511540

300 miles · May 14, 2012
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed ControlWheels

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. TWO WEEKS LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER, I NOTICED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE HEAT BLEW OUT COLD AIR. I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG, THEREFORE I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO REP…

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THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. TWO WEEKS LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER, I NOTICED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE HEAT BLEW OUT COLD AIR. I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG, THEREFORE I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD "THAT IS THE WAY NEW MODELS ARE MADE". THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. IN THE WINTER WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING (SUCH AS AT A RED LIGHT) COLD AIR BLOWS IN THE CAR, NOT HEAT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED RATTLING NOISES WITH MY CAR. IT CAN BE HEARD WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2011 TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I GOT THE CAR FIXED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE NOISE CONTINUED. EACH YEAR I HAVE GOTTEN MY ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED IN THE FRONT AND REAR. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE HAD MY CAR 5.5 YEARS WITH 79K MILES. PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THE CAR. THE LIGHTS HAVE BECOME DEEMED WHEN I DROVE ON 2 OCCASIONS, THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK, THE SEAT DOES NOT ADJUST ALL THE WAY DOWN, AND SOMETIMES WHEN I PRESS THE ALARM BUTTON ON MY KEY, MY WINDOWS HAVE WENT DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10458493

115,000 miles · Apr 14, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A BRIEF SPEED INTERRUPTION WITHOUT WARNING. THEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED A FAILURE WITH THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A BRIEF SPEED INTERRUPTION WITHOUT WARNING. THEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED A FAILURE WITH THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. IT HAPPENS ONLY ON HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10455232

77,000 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SIGNAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450522

1 miles · Dec 3, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlWheels

I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, THAT IS CONSTANTLY 5-7 MPH OFF. I AM GETTING CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A HAZARD AS I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THE LOCAL CITY POLICE FOR ME TO PICK UP MY SPEED A LITTLE AS I AM RESTRAINING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC BY DRIVING AT OR BELOW WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE SPEED LIMIT. ALSO, I AM REALLY CONCERNED SINCE THE F…

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I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, THAT IS CONSTANTLY 5-7 MPH OFF. I AM GETTING CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A HAZARD AS I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THE LOCAL CITY POLICE FOR ME TO PICK UP MY SPEED A LITTLE AS I AM RESTRAINING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC BY DRIVING AT OR BELOW WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE SPEED LIMIT. ALSO, I AM REALLY CONCERNED SINCE THE FACTORY TELLS YOU TO USE A CERTAIN SIZE OF TIRE, WITH ME USING THEIR RECOMMENDATION, THIS WILL CAUSE THE WHEELS TO SPIN FASTER THAN WHAT I AM ACTUALLY REALLY GOING, THUS SAYING I AM TRAVELING FARTHER (MILEAGE) THAN WHAT I TRULY AM. THIS, I BELIEVE IS EFFECTING MY GAS MILEAGE AS MY TIRES ARE HAVING TO SPIN FASTER THAN WHAT IS NEEDED AND THUS CAUSING ME TO USE MORE FUEL. PLEASE HELP ME CONSIDER MY OPTIONS OR DO YOU KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SPEED SENSOR, DRIVE/POWERTRAIN, WHEELS, ETC. SOMEONE WHO DRIVES 10 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IS A HAZARD, I BELIEVE. I AM HAVING ALL KINDS OF VEHICLES AND SEMI-TRUCKS PASS ME ON THE INTERSTATE AND I FEEL THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT RISK IN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. (MY CURRENT MILEAGE (SUPPOSEDLY IS: 43500 MILES) I MAY HAVE TRAVELED LESS THAN THAT. CAN YOU HELP ME GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED? HERE IS A CBS STORY ON THE ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/STORIES/2007/03/13/EARLYSHOW/MAIN2562144.SHTML PLEASE HELP, MY FAMILIES SAFETY COULD BE AT RISK AS WELL AS OTHER PASSENGERS WHO OWN OR ARE ON THE ROAD AROUND THESE CARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10438470

49,000 miles · Nov 5, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

THIS 2006 NISAAN ALTIMA IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME MALFUNCTIONS AS IN PREVIOUS RECALLS. THE CRANK SENSOR IS CAUSING THE CAR TO ABRUPTLY STOP RUNNING IF DRIVEN AT LOW SPEED. INCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED ON PA TURNPIKE DURING AM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND FINALLY STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN MID-DAY. I HAD TO PUT…

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THIS 2006 NISAAN ALTIMA IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME MALFUNCTIONS AS IN PREVIOUS RECALLS. THE CRANK SENSOR IS CAUSING THE CAR TO ABRUPTLY STOP RUNNING IF DRIVEN AT LOW SPEED. INCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED ON PA TURNPIKE DURING AM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND FINALLY STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN MID-DAY. I HAD TO PUT CAUTION LIGHTS ON IMMEDIATELY AND HOPE THAT I DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE RE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. IT IS SUCH A MAJOR CONCERN AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN I SEE. THANKS SO MUCH! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434303

98,377 miles · Apr 25, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionTires

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY CAR AS SUDDENLY CUTOFF, WHILE DRIVING!!!! LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS EVER PHYSICALLY HURT. MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF. WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY SLOWING DOWN AFTER A CERTAIN SPEED, WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE BR…

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY CAR AS SUDDENLY CUTOFF, WHILE DRIVING!!!! LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS EVER PHYSICALLY HURT. MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF. WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY SLOWING DOWN AFTER A CERTAIN SPEED, WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE BRAKES. FOR AWHILE I STOPPED GETTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IN FEAR OF MY CAR COMPLETELY STOPPING WITH CARS DRIVING BEHIND ME AT A FASTER PACE. ALSO, AT 55 + MILES/HR MY TIRES START TO WOBBLE AND THERE'S A SCRUBBING NOISE WITH THE WOBBLE SOMETIMES. IT FEELS LIKE MY BACK TIRES ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. I'VE BOUGHT 3 SETS OF TIRES ALREADY, AND TOMORROW WILL BE MY 4TH SET. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND VERY UNSAFE!!!!! PLEASE HELP ME, THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10397364

60,000 miles · Jun 22, 2010
EquipmentVehicle Speed Control

I PURCHASED MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R AROUND 4/18/2008 WITH AROUND 34,000 MILES. A FEW DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS STICKING DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WOULDN'T COME BACK UP. BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, THE CAR CLUTCH GAVE UP ON ME AND HAD TO GET IT TOW TO THE DEALER. DEALER THEN REPLACE THE CLUTCH ($1000)…

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I PURCHASED MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R AROUND 4/18/2008 WITH AROUND 34,000 MILES. A FEW DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS STICKING DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WOULDN'T COME BACK UP. BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, THE CAR CLUTCH GAVE UP ON ME AND HAD TO GET IT TOW TO THE DEALER. DEALER THEN REPLACE THE CLUTCH ($1000) AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS STILL STICKING TO THE FLOOR, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEN CALLED ME TO SAY IT WAS DONE (FIX) AFTER THAT, THE CAR WAS FINE FOR A WHILE. A MONTH AGO, AROUND 5/15/2010, CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED TO STICK TO THE FLOOR AGAIN AND WOULDN'T COME UP. I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME OVER THE PHONE THAT MOST LIKELY IT'S THE MASTER CYLINDER OR SLAVE THAT WENT OUT AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. PER THIS LINK ---> HTTP://WWW.NISSANFORUMS.COM/ALTIMA-SE-R/112659-CLUTCH-MASTER-CYLINDER-TROUBLE.HTML TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THE NISSAN DEALERS ARE PRETTY MUCH SAYING THAT THERE'S NOTHING IT CAN BE DONE, AND ON MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIX. NISSAN (MECHANICS) SHOULD KNOW THEIR CARS AND BE ABLE TO HAVE GOOD JUDGMENT AND SAY IF SOMETHING NEEDS ATTENTION INSTEAD OF TELLING US (CUSTOMERS) EVERYTHING IS FINE, WHEN IS NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339565

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