IllustrationTHE CAR SOMETIMES SMOKE AFTER YOU CRANK IT UP WE HAD THE VALUE COVER AND GASKETS REPLACED AND IT STILL DOING IT. THESES CARS AFTER THEY GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILES THEY DO THIS. THE MECHANIC TOLD US IT IS THE RINGS IN THE ENGINE THAT HAS WENT BAD.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1040–25K
5125–50K
9250–75K
13575–100K
198100–150K
72150K+
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 reportsCAR WAS SPUTTERING AT INTERSECTIONS AND HARD TO START. TOOK TO MECHANIC TWICE & HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG; SAID HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A RECALL PROBLEM; SAY WHERE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS ON FULL PUMP SHORTING OUT; PART IS ON NATIONAL RECALL; SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON
THE FLOOR PANELS HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF ALTIMAS
THE FLOOR PANS OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTS HAVE BEEN RUSTING ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA FOR YEARS. I CAN NOT REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT BUT IT WOULD BE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO EASILY. ALSO THE EXTERIOR PAINT ON MY CAR HAS PREMATURELY DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE I ALMOST HAVE NO CLEAR COAT LEFT ON MY CAR. THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE RU…
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THE FLOOR PANS OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTS HAVE BEEN RUSTING ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA FOR YEARS. I CAN NOT REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT BUT IT WOULD BE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO EASILY. ALSO THE EXTERIOR PAINT ON MY CAR HAS PREMATURELY DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE I ALMOST HAVE NO CLEAR COAT LEFT ON MY CAR. THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE RUST. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR RUST IN A FLAT PART UNDER NEATH A CAR WHERE WATER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SIT. I WILL BE ATTACHING PICTURES THAT SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO COME ACROSS NUMEROUS CHAT PAGES THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING TO THEIR CARS AS WELL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT CAN NOT POSSIBLY BE MEETING THE MINIMUM SAFETY STANDARDS. I DO LIVE IN A COLD WEATHER STATE NOW BUT THE RUSTING HAPPENED WHILE I WAS STILL LIVING IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE FIXES FOR THIS ISSUE ARE EXPENSIVE AND SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER TO FIX WHEN IT IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2002-2006 ALTIMA SERIES. NOT ONLY DO THESE RUST SPOTS ALLOW FOR DEBRIS TO POSSIBLE COME INTO THE CABIN FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BUT ALSO ALLOW FOR EXHAUST TO FILL THE CABIN. KOBE STEEL IS A KNOW SUPPLIER FOR NISSAN AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY SUPPLIED THE FLOOR PANELS FOR THESE YEAR OF ALTIMA'S SINCE THEY HAVE ADMITTED TO USING MATERIAL THAT IS NOT UP TO STANDARDS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE FLOORBOARDS FIXED WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY OR SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS SITUATION RIGHT. MY CAR CURRENTLY WITH THE RUST AND PAINT ISSUES IS UN-SELLABLE AND HAS LOST 100% OF ITS VALUE. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING THIS COMPLAINT. AGAIN THE EXACT START TIME FOR THE RUST OR THE PAINT IS UNKNOWN BUT IT STARTED AROUND 5 YEARS AGO.
WENT OUT TO MY CAR ( PARKED) AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH DRIVERS SIDE. A LARGE MASS OF RUSTED FLOOR BOARD WAS HANGING TO THE GROUND. I TOUCHED IT AND IT FELL OFF, ABOUT A FOOT LONG AND JUST AS WIDE.LAID ON GROUND TO SEE UNDER CAR AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD IS RUSTED OUT.HAS BEEN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AN…
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WENT OUT TO MY CAR ( PARKED) AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH DRIVERS SIDE. A LARGE MASS OF RUSTED FLOOR BOARD WAS HANGING TO THE GROUND. I TOUCHED IT AND IT FELL OFF, ABOUT A FOOT LONG AND JUST AS WIDE.LAID ON GROUND TO SEE UNDER CAR AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD IS RUSTED OUT.HAS BEEN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND THE MECHANIC HAS NOT MENTIONED THIS.I DISCUSSED WITH MECHANIC AND HE NOTIFIED ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE AND I SHOULDN'T ALLOW MY TEEN DAUGHTER TO DRIVE HER CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE.I THEN CHECKED ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING ALL NISSAN ALTIMA'S FROM 2002-2006. YET, NISSAN HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IN A RECALL . IS NISSAN WAITING FOR MY DAUGHTERS FOOT TO GO THROUGH THE FLOOR AND CRASH AND DIE BEFORE THEY DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN OR STEP UP TO RESOLVE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. SO THE CAR REMAINS PARKED.QUESTION 'WOULD THEY LET THERE TEEN DRIVE THIS CAR "? REMEMBER THE DRIVERS SEAT IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THIS AREA WILL IT STAND UP TO A CRASH OR GIVE WAY THROWING DRIVER THROUGH FRONT WINDOW ? TAKING PICTURES OF DAMAGE TO DOCUMENT. THANKS
MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L BASE CONSUMES APPROX. 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 200 MILES, THERE ARE NO LEAKS SO I AM ASSUMING IT IS BURNING OIL I HAVE CHECKED VARIOUS SITES INCLUDING NISSAN,NHTSA AND IT SHOWS NO OPEN RECALLS, MY CAR ONLY HAS 139000 MILES, I HAVE OWNED VARIOUS MAKES OF AUTO OVER MY 47 YRS OF DRIVING AND NEVER RAN INTO A P…
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MY 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L BASE CONSUMES APPROX. 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 200 MILES, THERE ARE NO LEAKS SO I AM ASSUMING IT IS BURNING OIL I HAVE CHECKED VARIOUS SITES INCLUDING NISSAN,NHTSA AND IT SHOWS NO OPEN RECALLS, MY CAR ONLY HAS 139000 MILES, I HAVE OWNED VARIOUS MAKES OF AUTO OVER MY 47 YRS OF DRIVING AND NEVER RAN INTO A PROBLEM LIKE THIS!
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, STATING LOW FUEL SENSOE OUT. $1200.00 WORHT OF WORK, REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR. NOW THEY ARE STATING IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS ON FUEL PUMP SHORTING OUT. PART IS ON NATIONAL RECALL.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SEMI-TRUCK DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FAILED TO RESPOND. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND DESTROYED FROM THE IMPACT.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SEMI-TRUCK DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FAILED TO RESPOND. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND DESTROYED FROM THE IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY A REPAIR FACILITY OR DEALER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK PAINS AND WHIPLASH, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 2,2017 AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER INFLATE. IT WAS A BIG COLLISION AND THEY DIDN'T FUNCTION LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. I WAS ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED MAKING A LEFT TURN.
Official recalls
307V527000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.