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: engine and engine cooling
109 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 4, 2006
RADIATOR FAILURE AT 45,000 MILE CHECK (OCT. 3, 2006) MECHANIC REPORT: LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE: 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L, VEHICLE PURCHASED: OCTOBER, 2003 AS OF TODAY (OCT. 4, 2006) THE RADIATOR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, WITH NO ACCIDENTS, THE RADIATOR SHOULD NOT FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE A SIMILAR FAILURE IS OCCURRING ON MY WIFE'S CAR (40,000 MILES), PURCHASED THE SAME MONTH. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO A RECALL, AND PAY FOR THIS REPLACEMENT. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 2, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE POWER VALVE SCREWS LOCATED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAME LOOSE AND CUT INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE ROUGHLY. DUE TO THIS, THE BOLT DAMAGED ONE OF THE PISTON VALVES CAUSING THE NEED FOR A NEW ENGINE. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 14, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. SIX DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURED WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED NO RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 25, 2006
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES CAMSHAFT CENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. THE CONTACT STATES THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT CAUSED A RECALL ON THE 2003 MODELS BUT IT IS NOT EFFECTIVE TO THE 2004 MODELS.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Apr 24, 2006
I RENTED VEHICLE FOR THE WEEKEND AND USED IT FOR 1 DAY. I DROVE IT DOWN STATE TO CHAMPAIGN 250 MILES AND MADE A STOP. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT UP, IT HESITATED TO CHANGE GEARS BUT DID, SO I TURNED AND DROVE THE CAR HOME TO CHICAGO. THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS VERY FRIDGET OUTSIDE . WHEN I GOT TO CHICAGO THE VEHICLE STOPPED I COULD START IT UP BUT IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE SOUNDED VERY FINE THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE NOTICEABLE, NO LOUD NOISES IN THE CAR. I CALLED ENTERPRISE AAA TOWED THE CAR TO THE ENTERPRISE RENTAL PLACE. I RENTED A SMOKE COLOR VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THAT HE IS CHARGING ME $5,000.00 FOR A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION FOR A 2005 NISSAN AND FOR A SERPENTINE BELT AND A OIL CHANGE . THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY INFORMATION ON ANYTHING OR ITS WHEREABOUTS. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jan 19, 2006
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE MANIFOLD, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jun 10, 2005
DT: 2004 NISSIAN ALTIMA CONSUMER'S VEHCILE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT. CAME ON AND THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE LIGHT AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND THE MOTOR STARTED SHAKING. DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SCREW LOOSE. THEY FOUND THE SCREW MISSING IN THE POWER VALVE. THEY HAD TO THE REMOVE THE EXHAUT MANAFOLD TO GET THE SCREW OUT, THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE MANAFOLD INTAKE/GASKET THROTTL/ A SPARK PLUG/BEARING SEAL/THE GASKET EXHAUT/GASKET ADAPTER, AND THE GASKET MANAFOLD. TWO DAYS LATER CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE VEHCILE STILL SHAKING WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH . CONSUMER FOUND THAT WHEN TEST DRIVING VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 80 MPH. PROBLEM STARTED ON JUNE 1, 2005. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 30, 2004
I PURCHASED MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA IN DECEMBER OF 2001 WITH 4 MILES ON IT IN MID OCTOBER. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT OVER AND OVER TO THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT CUTS OFF ON ME OUT OF THE BLUE. IT CUT OFF FIRST GOING DOWN A HILL, THE WHEEL JUST LOCKED AND IT SHUT DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY I CONTACTED PASSPORT NISSAN AND SHEEY NISSAN IN MARYLAND AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN ON THE NEXT DAY. NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AT THIS TIME. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT CUT OFF AGAIN I HAD TO PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD. I CALLED NISSAN1 USA THE FOLLOWING DAY TO REPORT THIS THEY SAID TO TAKE IT BACK TO A NISSAN DEALER. NISSAN 1 USA DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY KIND OF SUPPORT, GUIDANCE OR SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES AND MADE MENTION TO A CASE NUMBER THAT THEY GAVE ME BUT FOR SOME STRANGE REASON THEY COULD NEVER FIND MY CASE NUMBER AND I HAVE TO RESTART THIS WHOLE BORING PROCEDURE OVER AGAIN. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER MAINTAINS THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR AT 20,000 MILES AND STILL REMAINS ON UNTIL THIS DAY WHICH CURRENTLY HAS ACCUMULATED 100,000 MILES (UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO MY LINE OF BUSINESS I NEED DAILY TRANSPORTATION TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH THROUGH CITIES AND THROUGH STATES) MY CAR RIGHT NOW (CORRECTION NISSAN PIECE OF CAR) RIGHT NOW WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. IT CONTINUES TO CUT OFF AND WHENEVER I TAKE THIS TO THE DEALER THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT OR DONT EVEN PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY SAY MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERS AND NISSAN1 USA THAT I AM NOT PAYING FOR ANYTHING ELSE. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, I MISSED WORK AND BUSINESS WITH IMPORTANT CLIENTS. SAMUEL A MERRIN 301-535-7005. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Jan 31, 2004
2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED TO CRANK ON COLD MORNINGS 5 TIMES. IN AND OUT OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FINALLY REPLACED FUEL CONTROL MODULATOR. NEXT MORNING CAR CRANKED IN 29 DEGREE WEATHER AND NOW IS SMOKING (BLACK SMOKE). RETURNED CAR TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 1-31-04 ALONG WITH A CLOTH CONTAINING THE RESIDUE FROM THE TAIL PIPES. *JB