CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2006 Nissan Altima has a trend of engine & transmission problems.

Excessive oil consumption is the main problem reported by owners. Nissan did a recall back in 2006 for oil consumption due to bad piston rings, but many owners report to us that the recall didn't fix the problem. The dealer only had to check the oil consumption rate. Typically 1 qt per 1,000 miles is "acceptable" per OEM standards ... that's a lot of oil!

The 2006 Altima also has a defect trend of CVT transmission failure showing up around the 100,000 mile mark.

It's an expensive repair at over $2,000 average repair cost. For more information see Nissan Altima CVT defect info on NissanProblems.com.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
92,327 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Nissan Altima engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 6 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #64

Dec 182014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 105,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The crank shaft sensor went out last evening. I was driving the 2006 Nissan Altima at 35mph when the power seemed to slow, I pushed the gas and nothing was happening, and immediately it returned to normal power, though this occurrence turned on the check engine light. After arriving at my first destination all was fine and the check engine light was still on. When I went to start the car to leave it would not immediately start. I had to crank it two times to start and the check engine light was on. After extensive research and a trip to autozone, I learned it was the crank sensor and it was a problem for numerous owners. Also it was a recall on only certain models. Which mine is not one of. If the problem is in many vehicles and not just the one recalled then the recall should be for every one with the problem. The repair will cost me $120 so I don't see why it shouldn't be free at Nissan. Its not even that hard of a job. But regardless its a flaw that the manufactures should be held responsible for to each vehicle that is having the problem.

- North Chicago, IL, USA

problem #63

Aug 082012

Altima 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
I have been losing oil for a couple of years now and I just kept putting it in about once a month. Nobody could find out where it was coming from. I kept asking at oil changes. I just recently had it in to replace the valve cover gasket and tune up ($1200) because valve cover was leaking oil into the spark plugs and all over.. well, they fixed it and I noticed it sounded like it was out of oil again. So I took it right back and asked if they had put oil in it and why it was sounding the way it is. I thought it was using oil because it was in need of a tune up. They took it back in and it was already down a quart. He lifted it and found the oil cool had a hole in it. He said it was not the gasket and it was the oil cooler. These cars are apparently known for that and he doesn't know why it hasn't been recalled because it will damage the engine if you run out and don't know it. So now he wants another 5-600.00 to fix it because it's a Nissan part.

- Hanoverton, OH, USA

problem #62

Dec 022014

Altima

  • 137,000 miles
While stopped at a red light my car engine shut off. After a while it started again, but the transmission wouldn't shift to lower gears and jerked hard in reverse, and service engine light came on. When I took it to the shop the cam sensor had to be replaced. After doing research, I found this was an issue and a recall on some models but not mine. Why only one model was recalled?

- Cottontown, TN, USA

problem #61

Nov 122014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My daughter was driving home from college on pa turnpike all of a sudden the car began shaking and smoke started to come from hood of car, she heard a loud pop and heavy black smoke pored into car. She proceeded to move over to shoulder when she tried to brake there was no brakes. Speed bumps in shoulder stopped the vehicle and flames started to shoot out of hood. She immediately left vehicle and within seconds of leaving the whole drivers and passenger sides were engulfed in flames. Car was totaled. I contacted Nissan 12/01/2014 by email and telephone in reference to this incidence.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #60

Nov 142014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
I went out to my car and all the sudden it would crank but not start. This began happening on a regular occasion. As I did research, I read it is most likely the crankshaft positioning sensor. It states if your car was recalled and the ECM was adjusted already, the company does not cover the issue. However, from what im reading, this is an ongoing issue with peoples vehicles. This is obviously an issue with the sensors that Nissan's original adjustment did not fix. I also read where the car will begin to stall in traffic possibly causing an accident.

- Villa Ridge, MO, USA

problem #59

Nov 262013

Altima

  • 147,000 miles
Nissan says car does not fall under recall for P0335 and P0425 engine light codes! crank and cam shaft sensors had to get both replaced $151.68 and $218! I am not happy.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #58

Sep 202014

Altima

  • 74,824 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, who stated that the cam and crank sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,824.

- San Carlos, CA, USA

problem #57

Aug 222014

Altima

  • 126,026 miles
Was driving and my engine light came on went into the store came back out my car and it wouldn't start, ,, thought maybe something wrong with the cables or something, , finally started, , come next morning it wouldn't start at all, took it to the mechanic said what it was, , electrical part went to my starter, ,he fix it.

- Alcoa, TN, USA

problem #56

Sep 062014

Altima

  • 101,575 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,575.

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #55

Aug 242014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
Based on what my daughter told me, on Sunday 8/24 she was traveling on I-96 in Maryland. She was on the millard E. tidings bridge when she had to slow for an accident. While slowing, her car just shut down and would not start. She was stuck in the left lane of I-95 on the bridge. The check engine light kept coming on when she tried to restart the car and the car would not start. Aaa was called but the police had to shut down I-95 to push her from the left lane to the right hand shoulder past the bridge. She was towed to baltimore and the vehicle was dropped at a repair facility. The next day it was diagnosed with a bad crankshaft position sensor and repaired. I researched and there is a recall by Nissan for this very problem for our year and engine Altima. When I called Nissan, they indicated our vehicle was not involved in the recall. Huh" it appears that Nissan should widen the recall as this problem obviously still exists and it puts drivers in an extremely dangerous position of having their car and all its functions shut down and not restart. Can it get any more dangerous than an interstate on a summer weekend? I'm lucky my daughter handled the entire ordeal calm and collectedly or there could have been serious consequences. Can you get Nissan to acknowledge a larger pool of defective vehicle and to expand the scope of the recall" obviously they didn't get them all.

- Pennington, NJ, USA

problem #54

Aug 012014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car engine stopped working and just finding out so did my cousins on her Nissan Altima...are there any recalls...[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #53

Jul 282014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 108,635 miles
I was traveling at highway speed when my "check engine" light came on. I was approximately 2-3 miles from my highway exit and less than 4 miles from my apartment. A minute or two later I heard a loud thud from my engine compartment. A vehicle came alongside of my vehicle and waved for me to pull over, indicating that my vehicle was on fire or smoking. I pulled over to the side of the road, which happened to also within yards of my exit. I exited my vehicle and popped my hood as my engine compartment was smoking. My engine was on fire and proceeded to burn as I called 911 and a wrecker service. It appears that a connecting rod was liberated and exited the front of the engine block while I was traveling at highway speed. This caused catastrophic engine failure and oil venting from the engine that landed on the hot surfaces ignited and burnt the engine harnesses, drive shaft boots and other plastic and rubber components in close proximity. It was determined by a mechanic that the pre-cat header lost catyst material and was ingested into the engine during the overlap cycle of the cam timing. This destroyed the internal surfaces of the piston chamber, thus leading to oil consumption and engine reciprocating component failure. GMC/Nissan demaagd (battle creek, mi) who had sold me the vehicle used with approximately 95,000 miles on it in August 2013 (only 10 months earlier) would not cover any of the repairs and estimated $7,000 for a new engine and $3,850 for a used engine. I am exceptionally disappointed that Nissan would not assist with the repair of this vehicle, which is obviously the result of a design flaw as the internet is full of similar issues with this model, make and year.

- Battle Creek, MI, USA

problem #52

Jun 192014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 91,750 miles
Engine stalls at some times, car shut off while waiting at a stop light. It just dies right in the middle of traffic. I get turn the engine off and start it again, had several problems cranking. Checked for diagnosis codes but did not get any faulty codes. I try to speak with Nissan about it, its always the same thing...ECM relay campaign had been reprogrammed and that's all we can do also engine was burning excessive oil and felt hard drive on this vehicle.

- Wallingford, CT, USA

problem #51

May 132013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 89,957 miles
My vehicle kept shutting down on me while driving or sitting in traffic/or at a light it would just shut down. Went online Nissan recall read some of the cases about the crankshaft sensor and realized this was the same thing happening to me. Took it to sheridan Nissan dupont highway in new castle, Delaware. They stated my vehicle was not part of the recall even though I was experiencing the same problems as the recall was issued for, I was told my VIN# was not included in the recall, therefore I had to pay the cost of repairs to replace the sensor total out of pocket for me was $375.I still have my receipt. If Nissan was aware of the problem and I understand they were, why would they not include all VIN#, a few times I was almost hit by other cars because my car would shut down, I want to know what resolution or relief I can receive from this matter.

- New Castle, DE, USA

problem #50

Jun 192014

Altima

  • 95,400 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while waiting at a stop light the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact restarted the vehicle and it began to function normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine crank shaft sensor was defective. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,400.

- Westmont, IL, USA

problem #49

Jun 302014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
The crankshaft position sensor is malfunctional. Upon research, it was discovered other owners of the same vehicle experienced the same problem. It appears the issue could be fatal and lead to serious crashes as the failed part may cause the vehicle to stop abruptly and shut off the engine. There has been a Nissan recall related to the problematic part. However, the recall only fixed the engine control module by reprogramming it. The recall did not resolve the fundamental problem that is the crankshaft position sensor.

- Chestnut Hill, MA, USA

problem #48

Jun 032014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 150,308 miles
The engine shuts off at various times without warning at low speeds and at idle - no power steering, brakes, or acceleration. Check engine light set with obidsii code of PO725, failed crank angle sensor. Believe this should be covered under recall campaign 07V-527, as it is a 2.5L 2006 Nissan Altima manufactured in February of 2006. Manufacturer states no recall in effect for this vehicle under that campaign, although symptoms are identical to campaign recall issue.contacted manufacturer, who stated my vehicle is not covered by this recall, as it is a recall for specific locations of production, not just production dates, which was not referenced in their defect information report to the NHTSA.

- Xenia, OH, USA

problem #47

May 232014

Altima

  • 80,138 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph the vehicle suddenly stalled. When the check engine light illuminated the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the crank shaft sensor was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA recall campaign number 07V527000(engine and engine cooling). The contact experienced the identical failure that was listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 80,138.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #46

Dec 032012

Altima 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
I had a recall on my 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5L & I took it to the dealer in 2010 because the car engine will shut off when driven. It occurred multiple times & several times it occurred on a highway going at 60 miles per hours. I took it in to the dealer & the changed the part because of the recall. After battling for month to get my money back form the dealer the problem is occurring again. In 2012. I tried to trade it in but they under valued my car because of the recall history at $2,500. I need help & Nissan is refusing to pay full trade value on a recall. All I want is the problem fix permanently instead of having this ongoing problems. Nissan is not taking my concern seriously & I am getting rob on a problem that is not my fault.

- Oakland Park, FL, USA

problem #45

Mar 222014

Altima

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled after the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the crank shaft position sensor and the cam shaft position sensor needed to be replaced. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The manufacture was notified about the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000 and the current mileage was 133,300.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

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