2004 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 276 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 14 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsSep 14, 2007
CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. DS517-B001L AND DS517-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OPTICEL SURFACE OF THE REFLECTOR IS CORRODED INHIBITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BEAMS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
Campaign 07E074000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsAug 21, 2007
CERTAIN ANZO AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS, P/N 02-AZ-NA02-B-A, SOLD FOR USE ON 2002-2004 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE LAMP HOUSING SHAPE DEFORMED DISTORTING THE ASSEMBLY ANGLE OF THE REFLECTOR AND INFLUENCED THE AIMING POSITION. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT ANZO AT 909-628-1440.
Campaign 07E063000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsJul 25, 2007
CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 315-1145L-AS AND 315-1145R-AS, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE LAMP REFLECTOR SHAPE DEFORMED CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE OPTIC SURFACE. THIS WILL CHANGE THE OPPOSITE POSITION OF LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM OPTICSAND CHANGE THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE AND ILLUMATED LOCATION WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.
Campaign 07E054000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingJul 7, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.
IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE 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.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 06V242000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMar 13, 2006
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
Campaign 06E023000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
11 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jun 4, 2018, crash
MY VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 35MPH. THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING IN THAT SEAT. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
Air bags, Jun 12, 2015
MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR !
Air bags, May 13, 2015
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY'S ON ALL THE TIME WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 5, 2014
WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR NOT LONG AFTER I HAD IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. *TR
Air bags, Nov 13, 2014, crash
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 20, 2014 AND MY INSURANCE CONSIDERED CAR AS " TOTAL LOSS" AFTER APPRAISAL BUT AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SEVERE DAMAGE AS I REAR ENDED CAR IN FRONT. I DID SUFFER MUSCLE ACHE FOR COUPLE OF DAYS BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED EVEN MY PRESCRIPTION GLASSES FOR DISTANCE BROKE WITH IMPACT PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR " SENSOR" ISSUES EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH CAR AND I HAD TO BEAR THE EXPENSES EVERY TIME THE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED ALMOST EVERY YEAR FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND I COMPLAINED TO NISSAN BUT THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT & NOW WITH AIR BAG NOT OPENING WITH TOTAL DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS VERY WORRISOME. I DO HAVE PICTURES / POLICE REPORT FOR ACCIDENT & NISSAN REPAIR WORK DONE IN PAST FOR SENSOR ISSUES IF NEEDED THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING..UPDATED 12/05/14*BF
Air bags, Seat belts, Nov 18, 2011, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH MAKING A U TURN, AND SUDDENLY ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT WEBBING FAILED TO TIGHTLY SECURE THE CONTACT'S BODY DURING THE IMPACT AND ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY AND DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 01/10/12
Air bags, Nov 27, 2010, crash
HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS TRAVELING 15MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 30MPH! THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED... *TR
Air bags, May 6, 2010, crash, fire
ON MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5, DUE TO SOME ONE CRASHING INTO ME , THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
Air bags, Oct 15, 2009, crash
AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ANOTHER VEHICLE DID A ILLEGAL U-TURN IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO T-BONE HER. APPROX MPH 30-35. *TR
Air bags, Dec 18, 2006
TL*- THE AIR BAG COVER ON THE DASHBOARD IS OPEN AND AIRBAG CAN DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. DEALER TOLD HER IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUES. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS TURNED ON AS WELL.
Air bags, Jul 6, 2004, crash
DURING A RECENT ACCIDENT WHERE MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA HIT THE BACK OF A 2002 CHEVY BLAZER, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NOT A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THERE WAS MORE DAMAGE ON THE DRIVER SIDE THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. *NM