ODOMETER ERROR 5% FASTER, SPEEDOMETER ERROR 5% FASTER. *TR
COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT
Nissan Altima electrical problems
1,770 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.
Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.
Reports by model year
Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1,194 reports with mileage · 576 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 owners actually said
1,770 reportsI HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT A ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SER MODEL FOR SOME REASON IT KEEPS BREAKING DOWN I A READY SPOKE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND MADE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE BUT THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY WILL FIND PROBLEM BUT NO EXPLANATIONS WAS GIVING TO ME ABOUT THIS ELECTRICAL PR…
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I HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT A ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SER MODEL FOR SOME REASON IT KEEPS BREAKING DOWN I A READY SPOKE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND MADE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE BUT THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY WILL FIND PROBLEM BUT NO EXPLANATIONS WAS GIVING TO ME ABOUT THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR
THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ALL NIGHT AND AT 330 A.M. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT HAD NEVER BEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE. THEY SAID THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUSE BOX CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD A RECALL FOR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH I HAD REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE ON REICHERT NISSAN IN WENENCHEE WA. ON 10-22-2008. AFTER DRIVING 106 MILES MY ENGINE FAILED. I CALLED REICHERT MOTORS AND THEY RESPONDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THERE DEALERSHIP BY A CERTAIN TOWING COMPANY; WHICH I D…
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MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD A RECALL FOR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH I HAD REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE ON REICHERT NISSAN IN WENENCHEE WA. ON 10-22-2008. AFTER DRIVING 106 MILES MY ENGINE FAILED. I CALLED REICHERT MOTORS AND THEY RESPONDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THERE DEALERSHIP BY A CERTAIN TOWING COMPANY; WHICH I DID. (BY THE WAY BEFORE THIS INCIDENT ,THIS CAR HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM ; THIS ALL HAPPENED AFTER THE RECALL) AFTER THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY REICHERT THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOW A CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM SO I WOULD NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOWING CHARGE AS WELL AS THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THIS SEEMS A LITTLE STRANGE TO ME THAT A CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS PRIOR WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM AFTER 106 MILES WHICH WAS THE DISTANCE TO MY HOME IN OMAK WA FROM WENECHEE . WITHIN 3 HOURS AFTER THE CAR WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS A DANGER FOR THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED NISSAN ABOUT THE PROBLEM( FILE # 6327690) AND THEY STATED THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT. IF I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE I THINK THEY WOULD OF BEEN AT FAULT. THIS COMPANY NEED TO BE REPRIMANDED FOR AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ON OUR NATIONS HIGHWAYS. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT HAS A PUSH BUTTON STAR/STOP SWITCH AND NO KEYS ARE NEEDED. I ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND PUSHED THE OFF BUTTON AND LEFT THE CAR. THE CAR TURNED OFF AND ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
I HAVE A NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 3.5 WITH 60,000 MILES AND IT JUST TURNED OFF ON ME AND WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT BACK ON IF WONT DRIVE MORE THAN 5 MILES LEFT IT UNUSED AND WHEN THE MECHANIC CAME HE TURNED THE CAR ON TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE AND THEY SAID ITS THE THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE MILES FOR THIS PART T…
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I HAVE A NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 3.5 WITH 60,000 MILES AND IT JUST TURNED OFF ON ME AND WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT BACK ON IF WONT DRIVE MORE THAN 5 MILES LEFT IT UNUSED AND WHEN THE MECHANIC CAME HE TURNED THE CAR ON TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE AND THEY SAID ITS THE THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE MILES FOR THIS PART TO BE DAMAGED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING PROPERLY MAINTAINED. LATER THAT WEEK, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING PROPERLY MAINTAINED. LATER THAT WEEK, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE STATING THAT THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL CONTROL MODULE (ECM) NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL MODULE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERABLE. SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ECM FOR THE THIRD TIME DUE TO CONSISTENT STALLING. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE STALLING RECURRED. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS SATISFIED AND THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHICH REVEALED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE REPROGRAMMING THE ECM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS FOR THE CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 10-30-08 *BF UPDATED 11/03/08. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THEN RESTARTED SOON AFTER. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS SPECIFIC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THEN RESTARTED SOON AFTER. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS SPECIFIC FAILURE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SOON AFTER. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS FAILED COMPONENT AND THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
JUST COMMUTING TO WORK AND USING MY CAR FOR LEISURE; HOWEVER, EVERY OTHER MONTH I HAVE TO PUT OIL INTO MY CAR BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS WITH ME DOING MY QUARTERLY IF NOT EARLIER OIL CHANGES. MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA ONLY HAS 73000 MILES AND IS CONSUMING OIL AND NOW HAS BEGUN SHAKING WHEN AT A STOP AND SHAKES EVEN MO…
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JUST COMMUTING TO WORK AND USING MY CAR FOR LEISURE; HOWEVER, EVERY OTHER MONTH I HAVE TO PUT OIL INTO MY CAR BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS WITH ME DOING MY QUARTERLY IF NOT EARLIER OIL CHANGES. MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA ONLY HAS 73000 MILES AND IS CONSUMING OIL AND NOW HAS BEGUN SHAKING WHEN AT A STOP AND SHAKES EVEN MORE WHEN THE A/C IS ON. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE OIL HAS TO DO WITH THE ENGINE AND THE SHAKING THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP IN THIS MECHANICAL ERROR. I'VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND I SEE THAT I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS COSTLY SITUATION. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TRUST NISSAN WHEN I FEEL AS IF THEY REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THE CONSUMERS. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SE WHICH IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO START. SYMPTOMS: WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED, IT WILL JUST TURN OVER BUT NOT START. AFTER A FEW TRIES, IT DOES START. THE MOTOR DOES NOT CUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER IT'S STARTED. *TR
Related Official recalls
314V138000 · Air Bags:frontal; Electrical System:software
Mar 25, 2014
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Air Bags:frontal
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
08V521000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:software
Oct 7, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Air Bags
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
07V599000 · Electrical System:ignition:module
Dec 28, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) REPLACED DURING SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE DEALER SERVICE SOFTWARE. IF THE TPMS IS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT ALERT THE DRIVER TO A DECREASE IN THE TIRE PRESSURE AS DESIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES IS UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TPMS FUNCTION AND REACTIVATE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2008. 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 ↗
Related NHTSA investigations
0No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.