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.
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.
Structure, Oct 19, 2016
THE FLOORBOARDS ON MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE CORRODING AND RUSTING OUT. YOU CAN TOUCH THE FLOOR CARPER FROM THE BOTTOM! THIS IS HAPPENING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR MAKE/MODEL AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. I AM NOT SURE BUT THE REPAIR COSTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK.
Structure, Oct 15, 2016
RUSTING FLOORBOARDS, FRONT, BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE
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.
Structure, Sep 30, 2016
DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD RUSTED THROUGH.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 27, 2016
THE CAR PICK UP TO SLOW AND THEN START PICKING UP LITTLE BY LITTLE
Structure, Sep 24, 2016
BROUGHT MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA TO MECHANIC FOR SERVICE. HE NOTICED BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS ROTTED OUT. EACH SIDE HAS A 6" - 8" WIDE X ~18" LONG RECTANGULAR HOLE IN THE FLOORBOARD UNDERNEATH THE CARPET. YOU ARE ABLE TO PUSH UP ON THE CARPET FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ON BOTH SIDES. THE ONLY THING SEPARATING THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER'S FEET FROM THE ROAD IN THESE AREAS IS THE CARPETING.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 21, 2016
VEHICLE ENGINE STOPED WHILE APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHT.WAS A LITTLE LATE IN STARTING UP AGAIN.IT JUST DIED.WENT TO AUTOZONE,GAVE ME A CODE PO335,WHICH INDICATED A FAULT IN THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.CALL THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND ASKED FOR A ECM REPROGRAMING,WHICH IS COVERED ON RECALL RO606,NOTHING WAS DONE.PLEASE HELP.
Engine, Sep 20, 2016
WHEN I AM AT A LIGHT MY CAR JUST TURNS OFF
Structure, Sep 18, 2016
MY ALTIMA IS WELL MAINTAINED CAR BOUGHT ALL NEW FROM NISSAN DEALERSHIP. STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA NEEDS STATE INSPECTION DONE EVERY YEAR AND THIS YEAR MY ALTIMA FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION. MEANING, MY CAR IS DEEMED NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE STREET BECAUSE OF NISSAN ALTIMA'S DESIGN FLAW MAKING FLOOR-BOARD BEHIND FRONT WHEELS GO RUSTED. I USE THE CAR TO COMMUTE EVERYDAY TO WORK, UNKNOWINGLY EXPOSING MYSELF TO UNFORESEEN DANGER. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS COMMON ISSUE HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER CONSUMERS BEFORE ANY LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT OCCUR TO THEIR SO CALLED "CUSTOMERS".
Power train, Sep 13, 2016
VEHICLE BRIEFLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING BEGINNING 2014, LIKE A HICK-UP, INTERRUPTION OF POWER. HOWEVER IT WOULD CONTINUE. NO REAL PROBLEMS AT FIRST. THEN, BEGAN TO COMPLETELY POWER OFF, DIFFICULT TO RESTART AND I'D LOSE AUTO TRANSMISSION FUNCTION AND HAVE TO MANUALLY SHIFT WHICH BUCKED EVERY GEAR. PARK IT FOR A WHILE, RESTART AND IT'D DRIVE JUST FINE UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS WARM THEN IT'D POWER OFF...ALL OVER AGAIN.. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS THE TCM. REPLACED IT, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, SEEMED FINE. NOW IT'S STALLING AND SAME ISSUES WITH TRANNY. NOW PULLING A CAMSHAFT SENSOR CODE. UGH! I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN 2014 AND IT'S ONLY BEEN DRIVABLE FOR 3 MONTHS. THE BIGGEST PAIN IN MY [XXX]. SHOULD'VE BOUGHT A HORSE INSTEAD. NISSAN YOU MANUFACTURE [XXX]POOR PRODUCTS KNOWINGLY AND HIDE!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 13, 2016
AN EXISTING RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SHOULD INCLUDE THE 3.5L ENGINE AS WELL AS CAMSHAFT/CRANKSHAFT AND TCM. ALL CAUSE SIMILAR LIFE-THREATENING SYMPTOMS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY POWERS COMPLETELY OFF BRIEFLY LOSING ALL POWER TO LIGHTS ETC, DECELERATE RAPIDLY AND YOU LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND SPEED CONTROL. VEHICLES COME UP ON YOU QUICKLY AT NIGHT AND EVEN IF YOU GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED YOU HAVE NO POWER IN TRANSMISSION AND MERELY LIMP ON AT AN IDLE SPEED. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. WHY IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL 2007 RECALL IS NISSAN TRYING TO SAVE A BUCK. THEY USED THE SAME MFG & SAME PARTS AS IN THE 2.5L. THEY KNOWINGLY WITHHELD IT FROM BEING INCLUDED. I ALSO CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THE TCM. KEEP IN MIND THE WERE BITING THEIR NAILS AFTER BEING PRESENTED WITH A CLASS ACTION SUITE REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE TCM. LUCKILY FOR THEM IT WAS DISMISSED TEMPORARILY. BUT THEY NEVER MENTIONED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHEN THEY RESPONDED TO ME AND NEVER OFFERED ANY RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
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...
Exterior lighting, Sep 8, 2016
I BOUGHT THIS '05 ALTIMA ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT A LOT BUT WHEN I DID FOR THE 1ST TIME, I NOTICED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE IN THE TREES. I FOUND AN ADJUSTMENT SCREW ON BACK OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THAT WHEN I ADJUSTED IT, IT TURNED BOTH THE HI AND LOW BEAMS DOWN. WHEN THE LOW BEAMS CAME CLOSE TO LEVEL- THE HI BEAMS WERE NOW HITTING THE GROUND 15 FT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I FOUND A RECALL # ON LINE FOR THIS VERY ISSUE DATING BACK TO BLOGS IN LATE 2004. IT'S # 07E087000. SUNNYVALE (CA) NISSAN TURNED ME AWAY THIS MORNING SAYING THAT BASED ON MY VIN- THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A HAZARD AS I HAVE LITTLE LIGHT ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT UNLESS I DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHTS ON. CAN YOU HELP? THANKS *TR
Structure, Aug 24, 2016
MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD HAS RUSTED THROUGH. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A LOCAL WELDING SHOP I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A "TYPICAL" ISSUE WITH OLDER NISSAN'S. THEY INFORMED ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ON ABOUT 6 NISSAN'S IN MY AREA. I FEEL EVEN IF A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN CALLED, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED SOMEHOW OF THE POTENTIAL ISSUE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AS THIS IS NOT JUST A RARE OCCURRENCE. MY VEHICLE HAS JUST UNDER 107,000 MILES AND I AM BAFFLED HOW THE OTHER BODY AREAS SHOW NO SIGNS OF RUST WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE AREA OF FLOORBOARD. I AM NOT PROVIDING A PHOTO AS THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED NATIONALLY FOR SOME TIME NOW AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR ANYTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. YOU CAN GOOGLE "NISSAN FLOORBOARD RUST" IF YOU NEED A VISUAL.
Structure, Aug 16, 2016
RUST THROUGH OF UNDERCARRIAGE UNDER PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS. WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL ON. THE RUST OCCURS FROM THE INSIDE OUT DUE TO INADEQUATE DRAINAGE OF WATER. FOUND OUT ABOUT IT JUST TODAY WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE.
Engine, Aug 15, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE STATUTE EXPIRED TO RECEIVE THE REPAIR, AND REFUSED TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Structure, Aug 11, 2016
I PURCHASED A USED 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA - ONLY TO FIND MY PASSENGER FLOOR NEAR THE DOOR IS ROTTED/RUSTED OUT!! I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO SPEND THOUSANDS TO REPAIR THIS. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY POSTS ON THE MATTER BUT UNFORTUNATELY ONLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR!
Structure, Aug 5, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FLOORBOARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS CORRODING THROUGH AND A HOLE WAS FORMING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000.
Structure, Aug 3, 2016
I JUST NOTICED MY FLOORBOARD IS RUSTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS UNTIL MAYBE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN A PART OF THE RUG T J AT COVERS IT CAME APART AND WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH I CAN SEE THE GROUND.
Structure, Aug 1, 2016
WE NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING DOWN FROM UNDER PASSENGER SIDE AND FOUND THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE FLOORBOARD ARE COMEPLETELY RUSTED OUT WITH BIG HOLES IN THE FLOOR!! WE HAVE A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WE CALLED A BODY SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST OVER $2000 TO FIX. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL AND SAFETY ISSUE?? NISSAN DO YOU NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS SAFETY?? WE WERE GONNA BUY ANOTHER NISSAN MAYBE A NISSAN ROGUE BUT IF THIS IS HOW THEY(NISSAN) TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWNERS THEN IM NOT SO SURE!! STEP UP NISSAN AND DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!!
Structure, Jul 21, 2016
SAW SOMETHING HANGING DOWN UNDERNEATH DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. TOOK IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD BOTH FRONT FLOOR PANS RUSTED THROUGH AND CARPET SHOWING UNDERNEATH CAR.
Other or unspecified, Jul 19, 2016
THE FLOORBOARDS ON MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. YOU CAN SEE THE CARPET FROM THE UNDERBED ON BOTH SIDES (DRIVER AND PASSANGER). I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY BE A FLAW IN THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF MY CAR AND IT'S PRETTY COSTLY TO GET THIS REPAIRED & TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT REPAIRED. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ALTIMAS.
Engine, Jul 17, 2016
AS I WAS TURNING ON A MAIN ROAD, CAR WAS IN DRIVE, STARTED TO TURN RIGHT, GAVE LITTLE GAS, CAR DIED IMMEDIATELY. NO SPUTTERING, JUST STOPPED. THE PERSON BEHIND ALMOST HIT ME.