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
1,091 reports, newest first.
Exterior lighting, Jan 17, 2005
I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA THE FIRST TIME I DROVE THE CAR AT NIGHT AND TURNED ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS PROJECTED FAR LESS THAN I HAD BEEN USED TO IN THE 1998 ALTIMA OR EVEN THE 1988 SUBARU THAT WE HAVE. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS SCARY, UNCOMFORTABLE AND MOST CERTAINLY DANGEROUS. MY WIFE, THE SECOND DRIVER IN OUR FAMILY, NOTICED THE PROBLEM, AS DID A NEIGHBOR.ONE EVENING I LINED UP BOTH THE 1998 ALTIMA AND THE 2005 ALTIMA SIDE BY SIDE AND TURNED ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OF EACH. THE NEW 2005 ALTIMA HEADLAMPS PROJECTED LESS THAN 2/3RDS THE DISTANCE AS THE 1998 ALTIMA. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER TO NO AVAIL. NISSAN ISSUED ME A REFERENCE COMPLAINT NO.4858724. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND THAT IT JUST MAY BE THE DESIGN. THE DESIGN! THEY ADVISED ME TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALER PREFERABLY AT NIGHT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CLOSE AT NIGHT SO THAT IS A VERY REMOTE POSSIBILITY. I ASKED IF THEY COULD RECOMMEND AFTER MARKET BULBS THAT I, AT MY OWN EXPENSE, COULD HAVE INSTALLED. THEY OFFERED NO ADVICE. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE A REAL DANGER TO ALL NIGHT DRIVERS ESPECIALLY ELDERLY DRIVERS. THIS IS A AN IMMINENT OR EVEN FATAL DANGER. AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! I SINCERELY HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS DIRE SITUATION AND I PRAY NO LIVES ARE LOST IN THE MEAN TIME. *JB
Exterior lighting, Jan 14, 2005
HIGH BEAM LIGHT CASTS A STRONG BEAM OF LIGHT STRAIGHT UP TO THE SKY. *TC THIS WAS A DISTRACTION AND DANGEROUS. AT ALL TIMES THE HIGH BEAMS WERE VISIBLE TO OBJECTS 10-15 FEET ABOVE THE VEHICLE. *SC
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2005
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED MY CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS. MY "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" ALSO WENT ON. THE CAR STALLED, AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS HAPPENED ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR IS A 2005 ALTIMA 2.5SL. AS I'M WRITING THIS MY CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALER....AGAIN TOWED IN!!!*AK
Suspension, Dec 14, 2004
FAILURE OF PASSENGER FRONT STRUT AT 2600 MILES. DAILY DRIVING OF VECHILE IN LIGHT TRAFFIC. NO POT HOLES, ETC. HIT.*AK
Tires, Dec 2, 2004
I PURCHASES A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ON NOV. 2, 2004. ON NOV. 23, 2004, MY BACK DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE, NOW HAVING 1400 MILES ON IT BLEW OUT. THERE WERE NO PUNCTURES IN THE TIRE, THE SIDEWALL JUST BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE TIRES WERE CONTINENTALS. NEITHER SUPERIOR NISSAN, NISSAN USA, NOR CONTINENTAL WOULD REPLACE MY TIRE. *AK
Electrical system, Oct 18, 2004
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED. AFTER TRYING ABOUT 15-20 TIMES, IT WILL START AND DARK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL CODES WERE NORMAL AND SUGGESTED THE BATTERY BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT REPLACE IT AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 7, 2004
I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 9/20/04. ON 10/3/04 I NOTICED THAT, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. DIPSTICK SHOWED OIL LEVEL WAS BELOW LOW MARK. DEALER INSPECTION TRACED OIL LEAK TO THE GALLEY PLUG. *NM
Visibility, Sep 19, 2004
CORRESOPNDENCE I WILL MAIL TO YOU DESCRIBES WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE DEFECTIVE UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY'AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. NAMELY FOR 3 AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL POSITIONS THE AIR CONDITIONING CANNOT BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT UNSAFELY STOPPING THE CAR'S ENGINE; THIS UNSAFE PROCEDURE IS ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.*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.
Structure, Sep 4, 2004, crash
THE DOOR IS NOT ALIGN RIGHT COULD THE CENTER BEAM BE BENT? ALSO MOLDING INSIDE OF DOOR IS NOT STAYING ON THE CENTER BEAM? DEALERSHIP MARLBOROUGH NISSAN IS CONFUSED ON THE PROBLEM. ALSO PAINT PROBLEMS NICE SPIDER WEB ON THE PAINT AND PAINT PEELING ON PASSENGER MIRROW.*AK
Structure, Aug 27, 2004
I JUST PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM COOPER NISSAN IN EASTON, PA. PROBLEM: THE TRUNK LID IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IT WILL NOT STAY UP ON A SLOPING DRIVEWAY.*AK WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND OPENED THE TRUNK ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE TRUNK LID WOULD NOT STAY UP, WHEN PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY. ABOUT A 15 DEGREE INCLINE. THE TRUNK LID HAS FALLEN ON ME SEVERAL TIMES BUT I WAS NOT CUT. I CONTACTED THE COOPER SERVICE DEPT AND THEY ORDERED NEW TORSION BARS. AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED IT APPEARED TO WORK. ON 8/14/04 I WASHING VACUUMING OUT MY TRUNK. THE TRUNK LID FELL DOWN ON MY AND CAUSED A PUNCTURE WOUND TO THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND THE BLOOD STARTED FLOWING&. EVENTUALLY WITH A COMPRESS THE BLOOD FLOW STOPPED AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR BUT THE HEADACHE LASTED FOR HOURS! I CALLED THE COOPER SERVICE DEPT AND THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID" THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, THATS THE WAY ITS DESIGNED- SORRY" I THEN CALLED THE NATIONAL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT AND THEY REVIEWED MY COMPLAINT AND SUGGESTED A COURSE OF ACTION OF CHECKED MY CAR AGAINST OTHERS ON THE LOT AND TO REPLACE THE TORSION BARS AS NEEDED. BUT I HAD ALREADY DONE THAT. AND THEIR FINAL POSTION WAS " THATS THE WAY ITS DESIGNED AND THATS ALL THEY COULD DO, SORRY IT DOESN'T WORK ON YOUR DRIVEWAY - YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO HOLD UP THE LID WHEN YOU USE THE TRUNK" AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU NEED TWO HANDS TO PUT SOMETHING IN YOUR TRUNK??? I HAVE REPEATLY ASKED FOR A CHEAP , EASY FIX TO ADD ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO THE TRUNK LID BUT I BEEN STALLED BY THE NISSAN PERSONNEL. THEY DON''T EVEN WANT TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I DON'T CARE IF IT WAS AN OFFICAL NISSAN FIX, I JUST WANTED A FIX. SO THAT I CAN SAFELY USE MY TRUNK WITHOUT BEING INJURED.
Structure, Aug 20, 2004
WHEN THE SUNLIGHT HIT THE DISPLAY ON THE DIGITAL CLOCK AND THE AUDIO DISPLAY, IT MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. *AK *SC *JB
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
Equipment, Jul 25, 2004
THE CAR RADIO FOR THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IS DEFECTIVE. I SPOKE TO NISSAN DIRECTLY AFTER THE DEALER COULDN'T FIX IT. I WAS GIVEN CASE # 4564607 ON 6/8/04 WHEN THE CAR HAD 2,650 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THAT NISSAN WAS REDESIGNING THE RADIO WITH ITS ENGINEERS + WOULD HAVE IT IN A MONTH. IT'S NOW 7/25/04 + I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. I STILL HAVE A DEFECTIVE RADIO ON A BRAND NEW CAR.*AK