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: service brakes
10 reports, newest first. Show all
Seats, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 28, 2012
EVERY WINTER OR WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF RAW GAS COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, WHEN CAR WARMS UP IN MORNING EVEN WITH ALL WINDOWS OPEN SMELL IS CHOKING AND UNBEARABLE. ALSO BRAKES SQUEAK TERRIBLY LIKE A BIG TRUCK WHEN TURNING TO LEFT AND BRAKING, EVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS, SUCH AS IN A DRIVE THRU OR PARKING. EVEN BRAND NEW BRAKES. LASTLY AND MOST SCARY IS THE DRIVER SEAT SHIFTS, ROCKS, FORWARD AND BACK WHEN BRAKING HARD OR DURING A SUDDEN STOP. PURCHASED CAR IN 2007 AS A LEASE RETURN. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 14, 2012
WHEN CAR SITS IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATE BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND LOCKS UP. LOOSING THE ABILITY TO COME TO A STOP. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS IN WEATHER BELOW 20 DEGREES. IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN OWNERS HAVING PROBLEM WITH NISSANS FAULTY BRAKE VACUUM VALVE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 1, 2010
WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 32 DEGREES,WHEN CARE IS FIRST STARTED POWER BRAKES DO NOT WORK UNTIL CARE WARMS UP, TAKING CARE TO DEALER THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR CAR TO WARM UP BECAUSE OF A CHECK VALVE ON BRAKE BOOSTER HAVING MOISTURE INSIDE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 2, 2008, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD SCREECH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESET THE BRAKE SENSORS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THE FAILURE. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND, INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE LOSING SPEED AND EVENTUALLY COMING TO A STOP, IT JUST MADE A SCREECHING NOISE AND CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE NISSAN DEALER, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 2, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OR LOWER, THE VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT WILL SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT EVEN START. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT EXCEED 30 MPH. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE JERKS BACK AS IF IT WILL SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Equipment, Jan 15, 2008
I OWN A 2004 ALTIMA WITH 97,000 MILES. CAR VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF 60 AND GREATER. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT SATISFACTION. THIS VIBRATION WAS DUE TO INFERIOR ROTORS. AFTER I REPLACED THE ROTORS WITH ANOTHER NON-NISSAN BRAND AT 50,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. ALL THIS FRUSTRATION WAS DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF NISSAN ROTORS. I WENT TO THE WEBSITE TIRERACK.COM AND BOUGHT BETTER QUALITY ROTORS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 4, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE VDC AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. AS OF OCTOBER 4, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,800.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 27, 2005
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FROM 55-60 MPH IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND/OR VIBRATE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT DEALER TURNED OR RESURFACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AT 9,761 MILES; SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 13,930, IN WHICH THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND CURRENTLY AT 23,000 MILES DEALER NEEDS TO RESURFACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT PADS AGAIN. CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THIS PROBLEM WOULD KEEP RECURRING.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 8, 2005
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT 3,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED A BOLT, AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS. AT 11,000 MILES THE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO VIBRATE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKES ASSEMBLY.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 21, 2004
ON A 2 MONTH OLD ARMADA WITCH HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT,THE ROTORS BECAME VERRY WARPED . MY GUESS IS THAT THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE FROM THE SMALLER,LIGHTER NISSAN'S. DEALER SAID THAT THE PARTS WOULD TAKE FOUR WEEKS TO GET HERE. SOUNDS LIKE A LONG ROUGH RIDE. *AK