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: power train
115 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Mar 4, 2007
THE CLUTCH STAYS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO SHIFT. *JB
Power train, Dec 7, 2006
SUDDEN FAILURE OF CLUTCH TO GO BACK UP TO NORMAL POSITION (REMAINED DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR) WHILE DRIVING NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R AT FREEWAY LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR SAFELY, IT FORCED ME TO STOP ON SIDE OF ROAD. DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER IN SANTA MONICA, CA BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. REASSURED THAT IT IS OKAY AND DROVE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK UNTIL CLUTCH GOT BURNT AND WE WERE CHARGED OF APPROX $1500.00 FOR THE REPAIR. WE WERE BACK AND FORTH TO THE NISSAN DEALER SINCE THEN FOR CREAKY NOISES WHEN STEPPING CLUTCH AND SHIFTING, DIFFICULTY TO SHIFT ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST RUN IN THE MORNING, AND CLUTCH CONTINUED FAILURE TO RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION WHEN DEPRESSED. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS MANY TIMES NOW FOR THESE PROBLEMS MORE THAN NORMAL MAINTENANCE FOR A CAR OF LESS THAN 2 YEARS. PLEASE ADVISE. CAN'T AFFORD TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE CAR NOWADAYS FOR CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE PAID. NT. *NM
Power train, Oct 23, 2006
MY CLUTCH IN MY 2005 ALTIMA SE-R HAS SANK TO THE FLOOR CAUSING ME TO PUMP THE CLUTCH WHILE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THIS IS UNSAFE FOR ANY DRIVER. THIS NOT ONLY CAUSES A WRECK BY NOT ENGAGING IN GEAR, IT ALSO PUT OTHERS IN DANGER IF MY CAR GOES OUT. *NM
Power train, Sep 11, 2006
2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. NOTICED TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT 59,000 MILES. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT THAT TIME. THEY REFUSED TO EVEN CONSIDER IT A WARRANTY ISSUE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT CHANGED AT 30,000 MILES. OWNERS MANUAL HAS SEVERAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES. MINE FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF SUBSTANTIAL HWY. DRIVING AND DOES NOT REQUIRE THE FLUID BE CHANGED UNTIL 100,000 MILES. I CONTINUED TO PURSUE THE CLAIM EVEN AFTER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRATION PERIOD. I AM NOW TOLD THAT CLAIM WILL BE DENIED BECAUSE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT DONE WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AT 59,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE FLUID ON MY FIRST VISIT (AT MY EXPENSE) AND VERY BLUNTLY TOLD ME THAT IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, I WAS ON MY OWN. THEY NEVER OFFERED TO DO A DIAGNOSTICS TEST. THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY DID A DIAGNOSTICS TEST AT 67,000 MILES AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
Power train, Aug 27, 2006
I RECENTLY HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE MY CLUTCH LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AND WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET REAR ENDED GOING 80 MPH. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH LOSES PRESSURE ONLY AFTER DRIVING DURING HOT EXTENDED PERIODS. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE AND CANNOT GET THE DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO UNCOVERED MANY OTHER ALTIMA USERS WHO ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR CLUTCH THAT I AM HAVING ON A NISSAN ALTIMA FORUM. PLEASE HELP!!!! *JB
Power train, Aug 6, 2006
NOISES FROM CLUTCH, NOISES FROM TRANSMISSION. SINCE DAY 1. ROUGH ENGAGEMENT OF 2ND GEAR. CLUTCH MAKES MANY CREAKING NOISES, TRANSMISSION WHINES IN EVERY GEAR. 2ND GEAR AND 3RD GEAR GRIND OCCASIONALLY, AND 2ND GEAR HAS A VERY ROUGH ENGAGEMENT AT TIMES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM YET. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Jun 8, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO SHIFT. AND WHEN IT SHIFTS, IT IS A ROUGH TRANSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE GROUND WIRE. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM THEREFORE THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND WHEN DRIVING AT 10 MPH THE BRAKES MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME DUST WAS BLOWN OFF THE BRAKES. ON THE SECOND AND THIRD VISIT THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACE. THE FOURTH TIME, THE BRAKES WERE DETERMINED TO BE 'GLAZED' AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Wheels, May 5, 2006
PURCHASED A 05 ALTIMA IN JUNE OF 2004. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE CAR IN AT 19,000 AND TOLD THEM MY CAR SHAKES AND THERE IS A TICKING IN THE FRONT END. SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. YOU CAN FEEL THE SHAKING IN THE SEATS, GEAR SHIFT AND STEERING WHEEL. NOT TO MENTION THE SHAKING CONTINUES TO KNOCK MY WINDOWS OUT OF PLACE. THE SHAKING HAPPENS WHEN YOUR ARE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHILE DRIVING. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. I DID THE ALIGNMENT. THEY THEN SAID THAT THE TICKING WAS NORMAL AND THE SHAKING WAS NORMAL. SO BEING A YOUNG FEMALE I WAS TOOK THEM FOR THERE WORD. I THEN WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, NO ONE WAS HURT. CALLED NISSAN SAID TIRES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SO I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE TIRE DEALER TO HAVE REPLACED, WAS TOLD RIM WAS BENT. AGAIN CALLED NISSAN WAS TOLD THAT WAS MY PROBLEM. SO I PURCHASED A NEW SET OF RIMS. JUST STARTED TO FACE THE FACT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SHAKING AND NOISE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ALONG WITH THE SHAKING AND NOISE NOW THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. WAS TOLD TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACE, ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE. ALSO GET THIS RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER RIM BENT. AGAIN! SAID IT WAS THE ROADS. TOOK TO TIRE DEALER. RIM WAS BENT. HE DID HIS PART, TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER. THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR MORE TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS THEN I CARE TO REMIND MYSELF. BUT HAS BEEN NO FIX TO ANY OF MY ISSUES. AT CLOSING OF REPAIR TICKET WAS TOLD TICKING NOISE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM BUT THEY WERE PRETTY SURE IT WAS NOT THE ENGINE. THE SHAKING WAS FROM A BROKE RACK AND PINION. SO NOW THAT I AM OVER MY 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I NEED TO PAY OVER 1300.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED. I FEEL LIKE THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND I AM NOW STUCK. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS LACK OF CONCERN NISSAN HAS WITH MY ISSUES. I NEED HELP GETTING MY CAR REPAIRED. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Visibility, Dec 23, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND CLUSTER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PINGING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE MID SECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THIS NOISE WAS NORMAL. A LOCAL MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS A BROKEN CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BASED ON COMPLAINTS ON A WEBSITE SHE FELT THAT A CLAMP NUT MAY BE LOOSE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER 90 MINUTES IN THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT BECAME DIZZY BY WHAT SHE FELT MAY BE RELATED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE TRANSMISSION JERKED, AND HESITATED IN LOW GEARS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER PARTIALLY DEFROSTS THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT DID NOT WORK AT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE DEFROSTER. *AK
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jun 24, 2005
DT: HAD THE VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NOTICED WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED, THEN WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR WAS PULLING BACK LIKE A RUBBER BAND EFFECT. CURRENTLY, THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEEN REPLACED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN IT MAKES A CLANKING NOISE . ALSO, CAN FEEL EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD.*AK
Power train, Apr 26, 2005
WHEN ACCELERATING, THE CAR ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE GEARS AND HESITATES BEFORE CHANGING INTO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN HESITATING, THE CAR LOSES ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT DOES CHANGE INTO THE NEXT GEAR, THERE IS A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. IT ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK BUT THAT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Power train, Sep 14, 2004
WHILE DRIVE AT 25 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A POP NOISE AND VEHICLE DIDN'T SHIFT FROM THE FIRST GEAR TO THE SECOND GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDICATED THE CABLE BROKE. CONSUMER INDICATED DON'T KNOW WHICH CABLE WAS BROKE AND SHE WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
Power train, Sep 14, 2004
DROVE TO THE MALL AND DROVE TO TARGET. CAME BACK TO DRIVE THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THE STICK WAS STIFF AND IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO REVERSE. I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR WHICH AGAIN IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. WHEN I STOPPED TO ENTER INTO TRAFFIC AND PROCEEDED, THE STICK POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND I COULDN'T GET THE CAR INTO GEAR AND AN ONCOMING CAR ALMOST HIT ME. I FINALLY GOT IT TO GO INTO REVERSE AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. AFTER TRYING TO MOVE THE STICK AROUND INTO ALL THE GEARS, SECOND GEAR AND REVERSE WERE THE ONLY FUNCTIONALLY GEARS I HAD. I DROVE THE CAR IN SECOND GEAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. IT WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM TARGET.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Aug 12, 2004
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN A PANIC SITUATION AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. VEHICLE SKIDDED 15 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT TIRES HAD FLAT SPOTS BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. ALSO, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS LOCKED UP. THIS FAILURE WAS LIKELY TO RECUR IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN A PANIC SITUATION AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH OR FASTER.*AK WHEN APPLYING VEHICLE BRAKES IN A PANIC THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *NM
Power train, Aug 4, 2004
WHEN APPLYING VEHICLE BRAKES IN A PANIC THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *NM