2005 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 1,091 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 48 involved a crash and 18 involved a fire. 62 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine coolingNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 07V527000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsOct 25, 2007
CERTAIN TYC HALOGEN TYPE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES P/N 20-6644-00 SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR 2005-2006 NISSAN ALTIMA PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PHOTOMETRIC WERE MISALIGNED WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
MISALIGNMENT OF THE LIGHTS DIMINISHES FRONTAL ILLUMINATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
GENERA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 25, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT GENERA AT 714-522-6688.
Campaign 07E087000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
395 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Nov 26, 2018
LOOSES MOMENTUM OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IN THE LAST 2WEEKS IT STARTED. VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FINE. RECENTLY IT JUST DIES AS YOUR DRIVING.
Engine, Oct 12, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Engine, Aug 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP, WAITED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 32409124. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 2, 2018
I OWN A 2005 NISSAN. I RELY ON MY CAR DAILY TO GET TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. THE CAR STALLS IN PARK ALL LIGHTS START BLINKING THEN DIES. HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AS WELL THE CAR WILL MOVE BUT YOU CANT ACCELERATE ON THE PEDAL THIS HAPPENED IN A TRAFFIC CIRCLE MY FIANCE AND TWO FRIENDS WERE WITH ME AT THE TIME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS I COULD GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT AND DIE OR EVEN KILL MY PASSENGERS. I HAVE HAD A MECHANIC RESET MY ECM BUT THIS KEEPS HAPPENING I HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON MY OWN AND HAVE HAD NO LUCK. I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE V6 FOUR DOOR SEDAN AND I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE I WAS HOPING MY EXPERIENCE WOULD BE AWESOME IVE ALWAYS LIKED THE CARS NOW HONESTLY IM SCARED TO DRIVE IN IT AND WONT RECCOMEND ANYONE GETTING ONE. I HAVENT HAD ANY ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. ME HAVING THIS CAR IS REQUIRED MEDICALLY. ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY STAYED ON FOR A MONTH THEN JUST SHUT OFF SO NOW I HAVE NO CLUE WHATS GOING ON WITH MY CAR.
Engine, May 7, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDDLETOWN NISSAN (1153 NEWFIELD ST, MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457, (860) 632-6550) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,873.
Engine, Mar 13, 2018
BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH TIMING CHAIN. RECENTLY REPLACED IT 2/6/2013 AND I WAS JUST TOLD THAT IT WENT OUT AGAIN. VERY FRUSTRATING CAUSE IT'S NOT CHEAP TO FIX
Engine, Feb 2, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE SAME FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER (NISSAN OF STOCKTON, 3077 E HAMMER LN, STOCKTON, CA 95212) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 29720363. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Engine, Jan 23, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE TWICE MORE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. BURDICK NISSAN IN CICERO, NEW YORK WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR WITH AN OEM CRANK SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.
Engine, Jan 8, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPSTREAM OXYGEN SENSOR AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V223000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 25, 2017
2005 NISSAN ALTIMA1N4AL11D... SLOW TO ACCELERATE AFTER A TURN OR FROM A FULL STOP. SLOW TO ACCELERATE WHEN SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO DURING DRIVE TIME. VEHICLE SPEEDS UP EVEN WHEN BRAKE APPLIED CAUSING JERKING MOTION.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 4, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 3, 2017
CAR SHUTS DOWN NO POWER WILL NOT START. BACK UP ON THE FREEWAY IT JUST SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM WILL KILL ME OR PPL AROUND ME ON THE ROAD. IT WILL STOP AND YOU CAN'T PUT ON YOUR BRAKES NOR STEER TO MOVE TO A SAVE PLACE
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 5, 2017
TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE; VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER ON HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS. CAMSHAFT SENSORS; SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TRAVELING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, UNEXPECTED STALLING OR ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN AND NOT RESTART. BOTH VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU ALMOST GET RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU. THEY COME UP ON YOU TOO FAST, CONTINUING THEIR NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS NOT REALIZING YOUR VEHICLES LOSS OF POWER UNTIL THEYRE RIGHT UP ON YOU THEN HAVE TO EITHER SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES OR MAKE SUDDEN LANE CHANGE WITHOUT PROPERLY SIGNALING WARNING OTHER DRIVERS. TIMING CHAIN GUIDE AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS; WEAR OUT PREMATURELY CAUSING LOOSENING OF THE TIMING CHAIN, MAKES A VERY LOUD CLANKING OR TICKING SOUND ASBIT HITS THE GUIDE AND CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. STRUTS MOUNTS; CORRODE AND WEAR OUT CREATING A ROUGH AND UNSTABLE STEERING CONTROL AND CLANKING SOUND AS THE STRUTS HIT WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROADWAYS, CRACKS, DRIVEWAYS AND SPEED BUMPS. MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER CAUSE THE VIBRATION AND RATTLING IN THE FRONT END. THIS OCCURS IN THE 3.5 LITER ENGINE. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN SERVICE BULLETINS AND RECALLS ON THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE BUT NOT 3.5. THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME FOR BOTH ENGINES. THE SAME PARTS/MANUFACTURERS ARE USED ON BOTH YET THE 3.5 LITER WASNT INCLUDED. PROBLEMS ARE ONGOING DAILY. ITS VERY UNSAFE.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 29, 2017
CAR STALLING WHILE IN MOTION DUE TO CRANK SHAFT SENSOR DEFECT, ALSO CAR IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY DUE TO SPEED INPUT SENSOR DEFECT. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, CODES GIVEN DURING DIAGNOSTICS ARE P0335 AND P0725.
Power train, Engine, May 15, 2017
NISSAN USED PARTS IN THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM WHICH PREMATURELY FAIL AND WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR AFTER WARRANTY. THE ISSUE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DISCOVERED UNTIL IT HAD ALREADY FAILED AND IN THIS CASE, IS NOT A REPAIR THE OWNER CAN PERFORM ON THEIR OWN. CERTAIN MECHANICS HAVE EVEN CHOSE NOT TO PERFORM THIS REPAIR AND THE ONES WHICH ARE ABLE TO, CHARGE IN THE $2000+ RANGE. WHEN CONTACTING NISSAN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAD SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. ONCE THE TIMING IS EFFECTED, THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN SEEM TO HAVE DROPPED IN PERFORMANCE IN WHICH I HAVE VERY SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND CANNOT READY SPEEDS OVER 30 MPH. THERE IS NO WAY I WAS ABLE TO EVEN CHECK IF THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM HAD SIGNS OF GOING BAD, AND IF THERE WAS A RECALL, THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS. THIS FAULTY SYSTEM CREATES AN UNSAFE, UNRELIABLE MACHINE WHICH NISSAN SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.
Engine, Apr 27, 2017
IN 2008, MY CAR STATED HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS FOR THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I CHECKED WITH NISSAN AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2005 ALTIMAS BUT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE CAMSHAFT WAS REPLACE. LAST WEEK MY CAR TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING AND SHORTLY AFTER THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I FORWARDED AN E-MAIL TO NISSAN ASKING WHAT WAS THE PARAMETERS OF THE RECALL AS THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME MY CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM. THEY RESPONDED THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM MY LOCAL DEALER. I HAVE DEALT WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN THE PAST AND THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE. I HAVE READ THAT THIS SENOR CAN CAUSE MY CAR TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. I AM IN FEAR THIS WILL HAPPEN ON A NYC HIGHWAY, IN A DESERTED OR HIGH CRIME AREA. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE THAT WOULD MAKE NISSAN PAY FOR THIS $400.00 PLUS REPAIR?
Engine, Apr 18, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND CAM SHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 20, 2017
CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS ARE FAULTY. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN ALTIMA'S. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES ALREADY. STALLED ON HIGHWAY WHILE GOING 65MPH.
Engine, Jan 17, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
Engine, Nov 12, 2016
I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000.00 IN REPAIRS DURING THE PAST MONTH. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO GEORGE HARTE NISSAN IN WEST HAVEN, CHARGED $711.00 PROBLEM NOT FIXED. CAR IS BURING OIL, HARD TO START AND THIS IS THE 2ND CATALOTOR CONVENTOR I PUT IN THE CAR.
Engine, Oct 25, 2016
THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Engine, Oct 11, 2016
YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE THIS MODEL STALLING BECAUSE OF THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR THERE ARE 1000'S OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTACTED YOU ABOUT THIS! GO ONLINE! MY DAUGHTER ALMOST GOT KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS! THERE IS SOMETHING BAD WRONG HERE! EITHER AN ENTITY IS BEING PAID OFF OR THE NHTSB IS IGNORING THE ISSUE I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A [XXX] LIE IN YOUR RESPONSE, THE PROBLEM IS REAL! AND DANGEROUS! THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO WEEKS. I CHANGED THE SENSOR AGAIN TODAY. I AM A EXTREMELY QUALIFIED TECH! NO HACK! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Engine, Oct 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.
Engine, Sep 20, 2016
WHEN I AM AT A LIGHT MY CAR JUST TURNS OFF
Engine, Sep 11, 2016
TAKATA RECALL MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING.I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON A CITY STREET...