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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
41,000 miles · Dec 11, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS PUTTING MORE MILES ON THE VEHICLE THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS PUTTING MORE MILES ON THE VEHICLE THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000.

NHTSA ODI #10211466

14,000 miles · Dec 6, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFireInjury

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA ON JANUARY 10TH 2007 IT ONLY HAD 30 MILES ON IT, I LOVED THE CAR HAD MINOR PROBLEMS WITH NOISE ETC, HAD THE OIL CHANGED ON TIME THROUGH THE DEALER I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL? A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR SO MY FRONT END HIT THE SIDE OF HIS CAR AND MY CAR INSTAN…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA ON JANUARY 10TH 2007 IT ONLY HAD 30 MILES ON IT, I LOVED THE CAR HAD MINOR PROBLEMS WITH NOISE ETC, HAD THE OIL CHANGED ON TIME THROUGH THE DEALER I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL? A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR SO MY FRONT END HIT THE SIDE OF HIS CAR AND MY CAR INSTANTLY CAUGHT ON FIRE? THE POLICE/FIRE DEPT CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE MY CAR WAS TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 35 MPH? THEY THINK SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THAT I SHOULD LOOK INTO A RECALL OR DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE I WISHED I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE OIL RECALL BECAUSE MAYBE THIS IS WHY MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IT IS A TOTAL LOSS I HAVE NO CAR AND NOW AM FIGHTING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO GET A NEW CAR I DO NOT WANT A NISSAN ALTIMA AND THIS CAR WAS MY WISH CAR I REALLY LIKED THE ALTIMAS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211087

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT A NISSAN 2006 ALTIMA AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR WAS A RECALL BUT HAD BEEN REPLACED WHEN I PURCHASED THE AUTO, SINCE THEN 1 YR LATER I HAD ANOTHER RECALL TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AGAIN. THE HEADLINER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IT STILL HAS A SPOT WHERE I BELIEVE IT IS LEAKING. MY PICKUP AS IN THE MOTOR ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY W…

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I BOUGHT A NISSAN 2006 ALTIMA AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR WAS A RECALL BUT HAD BEEN REPLACED WHEN I PURCHASED THE AUTO, SINCE THEN 1 YR LATER I HAD ANOTHER RECALL TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AGAIN. THE HEADLINER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IT STILL HAS A SPOT WHERE I BELIEVE IT IS LEAKING. MY PICKUP AS IN THE MOTOR ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS IT TAKES TIME FOR IT TO MOVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR OIL CHANGES, ROTATION OF TIRES ETC. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE MOTOR OF THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211028

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2007
Visibility

ON 11/27/2007, I CAME HOME TO FIND BOTH OF THE FRONT WINDOWS OF MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA DOWN. THE MYSTERY TO ME IS HOW MY WINDOWS GOT ROLLED DOWN. THE ALARM ON MY CAR WAS ON, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED AND MY LOCK BAR WAS STILL ON THE STEERING COLUMN. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS STOLEN AND MY NEIGHBORS HAD TAPED PLASTIC ON MY WINDOWS …

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ON 11/27/2007, I CAME HOME TO FIND BOTH OF THE FRONT WINDOWS OF MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA DOWN. THE MYSTERY TO ME IS HOW MY WINDOWS GOT ROLLED DOWN. THE ALARM ON MY CAR WAS ON, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED AND MY LOCK BAR WAS STILL ON THE STEERING COLUMN. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS STOLEN AND MY NEIGHBORS HAD TAPED PLASTIC ON MY WINDOWS TO AVOID DAMAGE IF IT HAD RAINED. PICTURES WERE TAKEN AND THE POLICE WERE CALLED. OF COURSE, THE MYSTERY STILL REMAINS AS TO HOW THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED DOWN. NO ONE HAS A KEY TO MY CAR AND EACH MORNING/EVENING, I ENSURE THAT THE ALARM IS ON. IF THIS IS SOME SORT OF DEFECT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. IS IT A WAY FOR SOMEONE TO ROLL DOWN MY ELECTRIC WINDOWS WITHOUT TURNING THE IGNITION? IS THERE A WAY FOR SOMEONE'S REMOTE CONTROL TO OPERATE THE WINDOWS OF MY VEHICLE? MY REMOTE CONTROL DOES NOT CONTROL THE WINDOWS. I WILL BE DISCUSSING THIS INCIDENT FURTHER WITH THE DEALER WHEN I TAKE MY VEHICLE IN FOR IT'S FIRST OIL CHANGE (SINCE PURCHASED DEC. 2006 - BUT HAS LESS THAN 3500 MILES). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210269

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

I BOUGHT A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN NOVEMBER OF 2005. I HAVE NOW HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS. I JUST CAME ACROSS 2 RECALLS ONLINE BY ACCIDENT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THESE RECALLS AND THEY BOTH APPEAR TO BE VERY SERIOUS. 1- (#06V223000) FROM JUNE 2006 INVOLVING "ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING" THAT LISTS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND…

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I BOUGHT A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN NOVEMBER OF 2005. I HAVE NOW HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS. I JUST CAME ACROSS 2 RECALLS ONLINE BY ACCIDENT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THESE RECALLS AND THEY BOTH APPEAR TO BE VERY SERIOUS. 1- (#06V223000) FROM JUNE 2006 INVOLVING "ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING" THAT LISTS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND POSSIBLY ENGINE FIRE AND 2- (06V0046000) FROM FEB. 2006 INVOLVING REAR SUSPENSION AND POSSIBLY A CRACKED BRACKET. I HAVE HAD TO ADD PLENTY OF OIL SINCE BUYING THIS CAR, BUT CANNOT BELIEVE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT A SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD AS THIS, NOT TO MENTION THE DAMAGE IT MUST HAVE ALREADY CAUSED TO THE ENGINE!! WHAT DO I DO NOW AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO THIS OBVIOUS TERRIBLE SHADY DEALERSHIP AND UNFORGIVABLE MANUFACTURER?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210267

14,257 miles · Nov 16, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DUST BOOT WEDGED BETWEEN PISTON AND CYLINDER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209108

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2007
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING WHERE I WORK. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB, IT ACCELERATED A SECOND TIME AND SPED BETWEEN TWO TREES, THEN BETWEEN A TREE AND BUILDING AND ENDED UP FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE PARKING SPOT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF…

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I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING WHERE I WORK. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB, IT ACCELERATED A SECOND TIME AND SPED BETWEEN TWO TREES, THEN BETWEEN A TREE AND BUILDING AND ENDED UP FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE PARKING SPOT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. THE CAR BASICALLY DID A FULL "U" FROM THE PARKING SPOT TO THE SIDEWALK. MY FEELING IS THAT I HAD THE WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT TO PARK IN THE PARKING SPOT AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SO THE CAR CONTINUED TO GO TO THE RIGHT, HENCE THE "U". THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. I HAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EXPERIENCED THE CAR HESITATING WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND THEN RESUME AT A NORMAL SPEED. ONCE THE CAR RESUMED SPEED, THE CAR SEEMED FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208825

15,000 miles · Nov 2, 2007
Power Train

ACCELERATING WILL OCCASIONALLY RESULT IN CLUTCH PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR BOARD. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR, UNABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR. SOMETIMES ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL CLUTCH OPERATION BY PULLING ON PEDAL. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO DEALERSHIPS IN FIRST YEAR AND A HALF AFTER PURCHASE. CLUTCH AND MASTER CYLI…

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ACCELERATING WILL OCCASIONALLY RESULT IN CLUTCH PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR BOARD. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR, UNABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR. SOMETIMES ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL CLUTCH OPERATION BY PULLING ON PEDAL. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO DEALERSHIPS IN FIRST YEAR AND A HALF AFTER PURCHASE. CLUTCH AND MASTER CYLINDER CHECKED FOR LEAKS. FLUID REPLACED OR TOPPED OFF. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE SYMPTOMS AT DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM REMAINS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207798

40 miles · Oct 29, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE AN AUTOMATIC FEATURE, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO MOVE UP AND DOWN WHEN THE BUTTON WAS PRESSED. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY FEATURE INSTALLED TO PREVENT THE WINDOWS FROM MOVING UP IF SOMETHING WAS IN THE WAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE F…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE AN AUTOMATIC FEATURE, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO MOVE UP AND DOWN WHEN THE BUTTON WAS PRESSED. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY FEATURE INSTALLED TO PREVENT THE WINDOWS FROM MOVING UP IF SOMETHING WAS IN THE WAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FEATURE WAS STANDARD EQUIPMENT AND DID NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10207266

13,791 miles · Oct 28, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ON 10/22/06 I PURCHASED A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN VA. IT HAS A REMANUFACTORED ENGINE AND ONLY HAD 35 MILES. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT 3,400 MILES AND MOVED BACK TO GA. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PB023 QR25 ALT-SER MY06 NTB06-082 IN MAY 2007. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT AND THEY CHANGE…

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ON 10/22/06 I PURCHASED A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN VA. IT HAS A REMANUFACTORED ENGINE AND ONLY HAD 35 MILES. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT 3,400 MILES AND MOVED BACK TO GA. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PB023 QR25 ALT-SER MY06 NTB06-082 IN MAY 2007. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT AND THEY CHANGED THE OIL (ODO 7,473). I HAD THE OIL CHANGED ON 9/1/2007 (ODO 11,885). ON 10/20/07, DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE SUDDENLY THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE AND THE ENGINE DIED. THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO GO UP IN FLAMES. IT SMELL AS IF THE ENGINE WAS BURNING. (ODO 13,791). IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE IT THREW A ROD AND THERE IS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A FIST IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ENGINE IN THIS VEH. I WOULD LIKE A NEW VEHICLE REPLACEMENT OR BE REFUNDED IN FULL. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE AND FEAR IT WILL CATCH FIRE. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT! I WAS ASSURED WHEN PURCHASED THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND WERE NO LONGER AN ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD STAND BEHIND THE ENGINE 100%. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207251

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