2006 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 824 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 43 involved a crash and 14 involved a fire. 52 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
Engine and engine coolingJun 21, 2006
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE PISTON RINGS.
IF THE OIL IS NOT MAINTAINED AT LEAST AT THE MINIMUM LEVEL, ENGINE DAMAGE CAN OCCUR AND IN EXTREME CASES RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM OR ENGINE COMPUTER). YOUR VEHICLE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING ENGINE OIL AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL BE NEEDED. ON JUNE 9, 2006, NISSAN NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE OIL AT A PROPER LEVEL. FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE STATUS OF THE RECALL WAS SENT DURING AUGUST 2006. FOLLOWUP LETTER TO OWNERS WAS SENT ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 06V223000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearFeb 13, 2006
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE REAR SUBFRAME MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRACK IN A BRACKET WHICH HOLDS PART OF THE REAR SUSPENSION.
IF THE BRACKET IS CRACKED, THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE AFFECTED UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUBFRAME TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 06V046000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
79 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 19, 2006
I OWN A NISSAN ALTIMA 2006 BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. IT HAS NOW BEEN 2 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY WHERE THEY DETECTED TRANSMISSION FAILURE... IT WAS FIXED , YET IN THE MIDDLE OF MY HECTIC DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK IT STOPS GAINING SPEED CAUSING MAJOR TRAFFIC BACKUP I'M JUST LUCKY NO ONE CRASHED IN TO ME! *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jun 27, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE; THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WAS OBSERVED BEFORE THE ENGINE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS DISCOVERED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO ADD OIL EVERY 700 MILES. THE DEALER EXPLAINED SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PISTONS THEREFORE; THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT WILL TAKE UP TO TWO MONTHS FOR THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE TO BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND EXPLAINED OIL SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ADDED.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jun 17, 2006
NISSAN HAS ADMITTED VIA A LETTER THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES (MINE IS ONE) ARE SUBJECT TO HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE RESULT COULD BE A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. NISSAN HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS BY: CHANGING THE OIL AND FILTER, PROMISING TO MONITOR THE LEVEL - SUBJECT TO ANOTHER TRIP TO THE DEALER- AT 700 SUBSEQUENT MILES, THEY WILL THEN PROVIDE AN UNKNOWN 'FIX' TO THE ISSUE IF THE OIL LEVEL HAS DECREASED TO THEIR SATISFACTION, IF NO NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN THEIR PERCEPTION, THEN MONITOR ANOTHER 700 MILES - RETURN TO DEALER AGAIN AND HAVE THEM REVIEW, POSSIBLE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THAT TIME. THE CONCERN IS THAT WHEN ONE PURCHASES A NEW VEHICLE, IF THE MANUFACTURE KNEW OF THE DEFECT AND POTENTIAL HAZARD, THEN THE SALE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED. FURTHER, A NEW VEHICLE NOW NEEDS TO BE MONITORED AND RETURNED TO THE DEALER EVERY 700 MILES - I CAN NOT THINK OF AN EXAMPLE OF MORE INCONVENIENCE. THE SAFETY HAZARD OF A FIRE OR BREAKING DOWN - ALL IN A VEHICLE WITH 1500 MILES ON IT IS INCREDULOUS. I CAN NOT LET MY FAMILY DRIVE IN THE CAR AND AM CONCERNED WITH MY OWN SAFETY. A 22000 VEHICLE THAT IS BRAND NEW SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE SOLD AND HAVE CONSUMERS ASKED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. I DO HOPE THIS IS INVESTIGATED. I UNDERSTAND THAT A TOTAL OF 80000 ALTIMAS WERE AFFECTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, WHY IT DID NOT STOP SALES IMMEDIATELY AND WHY THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT JUST FIX THE ISSUE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE VEHICLES WITHIN THE VIN RANGE THAT ARE ON NISSAN DEALER LOTS ARE BEING SENT BACK TO HAVE THE ENGINES REPLACED. NEXT, A PROBLEM AT 1500 MILES WITH THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS IN SHIFTING AND MAINTAIN GEAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING AND THE DEALER 'GETTING A PART' TO FIX IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT HAD ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT TO MALFUNCTION. *NM
Power train, Feb 17, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR IDLING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED, THE FLY WHEEL HAD HEAT DAMAGE AND THE PRESSURE PLATE WAS WARPED. THOSE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM.