← New search

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 →

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

What owners actually said

824 reports
111,000 miles · Jun 23, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, UPPER BACK, AND RIGHT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, UPPER BACK, AND RIGHT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

NHTSA ODI #10876096

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2016
Engine

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE HAD THE VEHICLE TESTED TO SEE WHY? I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANK SENSOR? THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. WE HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED 09/22/2015 DUE TO ENGINE SHUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND WE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.!

NHTSA ODI #10875972

108,000 miles · Jun 16, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR WOULD STALL AND SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED ONE DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH AND THEN A FEW TIMES IN TRAFFIC. THEN WOULD NOT CRANK TO START. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD THE CODES READ AND IT WAS PO725 SPEED SENSOR PO335 CAMSHAFT SENSOR. I HAD BOTH PARTS REPLACED 2 TIMES. CAR STILL HAS A HARD START AND CHECK ENGINE LIGH…

Read full complaint

MY CAR WOULD STALL AND SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED ONE DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH AND THEN A FEW TIMES IN TRAFFIC. THEN WOULD NOT CRANK TO START. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD THE CODES READ AND IT WAS PO725 SPEED SENSOR PO335 CAMSHAFT SENSOR. I HAD BOTH PARTS REPLACED 2 TIMES. CAR STILL HAS A HARD START AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THERE IS A RECALL FROM NISSAN FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL ID#90579. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID MY VIN IS NOT AFFECTED??

NHTSA ODI #10874654

85,000 miles · Jun 14, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAM S…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAM SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10874203

100,000 miles · Jun 14, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE CHANGING THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CORROSION WAS ALSO APPARENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR INSPECTED. T…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE CHANGING THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CORROSION WAS ALSO APPARENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10874201

131,100 miles · Jun 10, 2016
Structure

FLOORBOARD IS RUSTED THROUGH. NOTICED SOFT SPOT IN FLOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW A RUSTED HOLE APPROXIMATELY 8" X 16" IN SIZE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD, AND SIGNS OF RUST STARTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD TOO. I DO NOT EXPECT THIS OF A NINE YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND SUSPECT THAT THIS HAS …

Read full complaint

FLOORBOARD IS RUSTED THROUGH. NOTICED SOFT SPOT IN FLOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW A RUSTED HOLE APPROXIMATELY 8" X 16" IN SIZE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD, AND SIGNS OF RUST STARTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD TOO. I DO NOT EXPECT THIS OF A NINE YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND SUSPECT THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A WHILE. I CONTACTED NISSAN SUPPORT, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THE COST OF REPAIR TO BE AROUND $2150. I RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP CALL FROM NISSAN AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10873694

150,000 miles · Jun 3, 2016
Structure

PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR RUSTED AWAY - ABOUT 16" X 8" DAMAGED AREA. MUST HAVE STARTED LONG AGO, BUT I ONLY CAUGHT IT RECENTLY AND TODAY I BEGAN TO TRY TO REPAIR IT, BUT THE DAMAGE IS MUCH WORSE THAN WHAT I COULD INITIALLY SEE. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW WITH ALTIMAS IN THIS AGE RANGE, BUT NISSAN IS IGNORING.

NHTSA ODI #10872309

40,000 miles · May 20, 2016
Engine

ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISE HAS BEEN APPARENT SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2011. I ESPECIALLY NOTICE IT AT START UP AND IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARDER TO START ON FIRST TRY. INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP CONFIRMED THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER NEEDS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10869995

123,000 miles · May 17, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

DEAR SIR/MADAM, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND NOTIFY THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY WITH MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L ENGINE. I WAS WAITING ON THE SIGNAL TO TURN LEFT WHEN MY CAR FIRST SHUT OFF ON ME WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SIGNS. I TURNED OFF MY IGNITION AND TRIED TO START MY CAR, IT STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DR…

Read full complaint

DEAR SIR/MADAM, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND NOTIFY THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY WITH MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L ENGINE. I WAS WAITING ON THE SIGNAL TO TURN LEFT WHEN MY CAR FIRST SHUT OFF ON ME WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SIGNS. I TURNED OFF MY IGNITION AND TRIED TO START MY CAR, IT STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. NEXT MORNING, I LEFT MY HOME FOR GROCERY AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE SIDE STREET AND MY CAR SHUT OFF ON ME AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME MY CAR WAS MOVING ON A TWO WAY STREET AND LUCKILY NO CAR WAS BEHIND ME. ALSO, ALL LIGHTS TURNED ON THIS TIME IN MY DASHBOARD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYED ON. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TURNED IT BACK ON, I GOT PANICED BUT THIS TIME MY CAR STARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE TO DO MY GROCERIES AND WHEN I WAS READY TO LEAVE AFTER AN HOUR FROM THE STORE, MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO START. NOW, I BECAME MORE CONCERNED AND FINALLY WHEN MY CAR STARTED, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO NEAREST OREILLY'S ON MY WAY HOME TO GET IT CHECKED. THEY TESTED MY BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER AND TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THEM WERE WORKING FINE BUT THE COMPUTER IS READING THE CODE P0340 WHICH REPRESENTS THE CAMSHAFT CENSOR IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER GETTING MY VEHICLE TESTED AND RECEIVING THE RESULTS, ON MY WAY HOME IT TUNED OFF ON ME TWICE AGAIN AT THE SIGNALS. AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT NISSAN HAD A RECALL FOR POTENTIAL DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT CENSORS ON 653,910 UNITS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V-527. I CALLED THE NISSAN 1-800-647-7261 NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR A FREE REMEDY EVEN THOUGH THE SYMPTOMS FALLS UNDER THE SAME EQUIPMENT/PART RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE THEN. PLEASE CONSIDER MY COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS SERIOUS CONCERN AND ADVISE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. TKS!

NHTSA ODI #10865489

148,000 miles · May 15, 2016
EngineUnknown Or Other

1. CAR RANDOMLY HAS SLOW ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I CAN TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND IT BEGINS WORKING OK AGAIN. 2. CAR SOMETIMES RANDOMLY LOSES POWER WITH NO WARNING. 3. SOMETIMES IF IT STALLS AND EVENTUALLY CRANKS UP, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SLOW ACCELERATION ISSUES AGAIN BUT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I H…

Read full complaint

1. CAR RANDOMLY HAS SLOW ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I CAN TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND IT BEGINS WORKING OK AGAIN. 2. CAR SOMETIMES RANDOMLY LOSES POWER WITH NO WARNING. 3. SOMETIMES IF IT STALLS AND EVENTUALLY CRANKS UP, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SLOW ACCELERATION ISSUES AGAIN BUT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE TAKEN TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE SHOP REPEATED AND THEY DON'T PULL ANYTHING ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, CHANGED OUR CAN SENSOR, CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, EVERYTHING SEEMS GOOD FOR A LITTLE WHILE (FEW DAYS OR COUPLE OF WEEKS) AND THEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. I READ IN VARIOUS FORUMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE HAPPENING WITH MANY ALTIMAS FOR VARIOUS MODEL YEARS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT CALLED FOR A NATIONAL RECALL. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! MY FRIEND ALSO HAS A 2006 ALTIMA AND HER CAR HAS BEGUN TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING!. PLEASE HELP. THE FIRST TIME IT LOST POWER IT WAS DURING A MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK WHILE DRIVING ON THE CALIFORNIA 91 FREEWAY! IT REALLY TERRIFIED ME BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INVOLVED IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST WEEK. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY OR LONG DISTANCES. I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THE WEEKEND BECAUSE I HAD TO WORK TODAY, AND BEING SATURDAY, THE COMMUTER BUS THAT I NOW TAKE TO WORK BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST MY CAR, DOES NOT RUN ON THE WEEKENDS. I WANT TO GET A NEW CAR BUT CAN'T AFFORD HAVING MONTHLY PAYMENTS AGAIN. I DIDN'T START HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS PAID OFF.

NHTSA ODI #10864964

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