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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.

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
84,000 miles · Jun 28, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SHE CONTINUED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT EVERY TIME SHE HAD TO SHIFT GEARS THEY WOULD LOCK AND IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SHE CONTINUED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT EVERY TIME SHE HAD TO SHIFT GEARS THEY WOULD LOCK AND IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #10409248

52,000 miles · Jun 19, 2011
Unknown Or Other

CLUTCH PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR BOARD OF MY NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE, THE CLUTCH FLUID IS AT FULL CAPACITY AND WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT A RED LIGHT OR EVEN AT A STILL MOTION THE CLUTCH GOES COMPLETELY DOWN OR OUT...I HAVE HAD MY FLUIDS CHECKED AND IT IS FULL....THIS AS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AT 52,000 MILES A…

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CLUTCH PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR BOARD OF MY NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE, THE CLUTCH FLUID IS AT FULL CAPACITY AND WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT A RED LIGHT OR EVEN AT A STILL MOTION THE CLUTCH GOES COMPLETELY DOWN OR OUT...I HAVE HAD MY FLUIDS CHECKED AND IT IS FULL....THIS AS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AT 52,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM TO THIS VERY DAY.....NISSIAN 3.5 CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NISSAN FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A RECALL PROBLEM....BUT EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM 3.5 - 5 (SPEEDS) WITH THIS CAR AND THIS MODEL.....THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM IN SLOWED TRAFFIC AND CANNOT SHIFT PROPERLY...THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY BE ADDRESSED AND THE PROBLEM RESOLVED....FATALITIES SHOULD NOT BE THEIR REASON TO ENFORCE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10408211

55,000 miles · May 31, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, HE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WITHIN FIFTEEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE FAILURE CODES REVEALED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVIS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, HE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WITHIN FIFTEEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE FAILURE CODES REVEALED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED AND WOULD PROVIDE NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10403855

80,000 miles · May 18, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #10401493

20,000 miles · May 15, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R. THE CLUTCH REPEATEDLY LOOSES PRESSURE WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS HOT COMBINED WITH A HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATION. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CYLINDER, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I DID A LITTLE ONLINE INVESTIGATING AND IT APPEARS AS …

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I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R. THE CLUTCH REPEATEDLY LOOSES PRESSURE WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS HOT COMBINED WITH A HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATION. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CYLINDER, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I DID A LITTLE ONLINE INVESTIGATING AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT OWNS AN ALTIMA THAT IS PLAGUED BY THE SAFETY ISSUE. IT ALMOST IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10400909

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE WAS A RECALL ID#06V223000 FOR 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA FOR OIL CONSUMPTION. MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECALL ID. DESCRIBES. ACCORDING TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, "THAT ALL RECALLS AND SERVICE CAMPAIGN INFO IS VEHICLE INDENTIFICATION NUMBER SPECIFIC, DEPENDING ON THE MFG DATE AND THE PLANT WH…

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THERE WAS A RECALL ID#06V223000 FOR 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA FOR OIL CONSUMPTION. MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECALL ID. DESCRIBES. ACCORDING TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, "THAT ALL RECALLS AND SERVICE CAMPAIGN INFO IS VEHICLE INDENTIFICATION NUMBER SPECIFIC, DEPENDING ON THE MFG DATE AND THE PLANT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED. THEREFORE NOT ALL MODELS ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME RECALLS" THEIR SAYING MY CAR DOSE NOT FALL UNDER THAT RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398743

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

123,000 miles · Apr 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND OIL GAUGE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWO DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURES. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND A …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND OIL GAUGE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWO DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURES. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH DETECTED A FAILURE CODE WITHIN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

NHTSA ODI #10397121

80,000 miles · Apr 21, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE CRANK SHAFT POSITIO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10397036

81,300 miles · Apr 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

BEGINNING 2009 AT ROUGHLY 40,000 MI THE CAR BEGAN TO RATTLE WHILE ACCELERATING, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND IT'S MOUNT TO THE ENGINE HAD BROKEN, IT WAS REPLACED. THEN AT 81,300 MI I WAS DRIVING 30MPH WHEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOO…

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BEGINNING 2009 AT ROUGHLY 40,000 MI THE CAR BEGAN TO RATTLE WHILE ACCELERATING, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND IT'S MOUNT TO THE ENGINE HAD BROKEN, IT WAS REPLACED. THEN AT 81,300 MI I WAS DRIVING 30MPH WHEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. I WAS TOLD AGAIN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD GONE AND IN TURN TAKEN OUT THE EGO SENSOR AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395508

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