8.8
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
no data
Average Mileage:
19,748 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints
Most common solutions:
- new engine (3 reports)
- new enigine (1 reports)
- stop driving the car (1 reports)
engine problem
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Nissan dealer.
Helpful Websites About 2006 Nissan Altima excessive oil consumption
2006Aug 01
Altima 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 15,000 miles
I leased this Altima in August of 2006. The dealer told me that there had been a factory recall and the engine was replaced before being sold to me. To assuage my fears, Nissan increased the warranty to 100,000 miles. In January 2007, Nissan sent me a recall notice regarding the excessive oil consumption. I took the car in for review and the dealer elected to replace the engine again (after only 9,000 miles). In November of 2007, it appears that it did it again (only 6,000 miles later) I will keep you posted on what Nissan decides to do.
2007Jun 17
(reported on)Altima
- Automatic transmission
- 0 miles
The 2006 Nissan Altima was recalled due to excessive oil consumption. I was in a rental and it caught fire and burned to the ground very, very quickly. The rental agency said not to worry about the oil light being on, it had just been serviced. After three hours of driving, the car just went up in flames.
Do no drive this car.
2007Aug 11
(reported on)Altima 4DR
- Automatic transmission
- 23,000 miles
we observed excessive oil consumption shortly after leasing the vehicle while hearing a noticeable winding sound while drive at highway speed (as though in a lower gear) and especially upon checking oil level with fill-ups, which was much greater than normal. our dealers approach was to seal the dipstick so we couldn't monitor the level and request that the car come back to them in 500, 750 & 1000 mi intervals; which is ridiculous when driving around southern ca---averaging 75-100 mi most weekdays. after research we discovered that Nissan had a recall on our model for precisely this problem, and we voiced that to our dealer. a few months of in & out of their service dept. confirmed that ours was in fact one with the problem. they replace the engine. when they did so, they neglected to replace the o-ring in the a/c unit when reconnecting, and of course in June w/temps averaging 90+, the altima spent a couple more nights at the dealer. car was equipped w/continental touring radial tires, one of which picked up a piece of metal & was damaged beyond repair. again at this dealer when we went in, we noticed the front tires were excessively worn out; this at 20K mi mind you. we complained that the tires surely should have held up long than this, and were told by the dealer that at various oil change & service intervals their records indicated they had rotated as appropriate. we spent $125 on a new replacement and then went to america's tire, where they felt the tires had never been rotated. they worked w/us thru continental and continental was gracious to provide 3 replacements at a substantial discount. now, less than 6 mos after our dealer replaced the 1 bad/damaged tire--they are telling us that one of the tires (gee, i wonder which one?.. maybe theirs! that they replaced) should be replaced; it's tread is wearing to a point they need to tell us about. seems this vehicle doesn't wear sneakers very well. oh, and one rear brake light bulb was just out & replace under warranty.... must not be a GE brand or one that will provide good wear n tear. we intend to contact nissan & pursue the ca lemon law---any one w/suggestions feel free to contact me. thanks.
2006Aug 04
(reported on)Altima
- 1,500 miles
Before the first oil change in our new car it used over 3 or 4 quarts of oil. Nissan had us continue driving the car and having the dealership check the oil level every 700 miles. (we live 75 miles from a dealer) There are reports of the cars catching on fire mind you. Finally they changed the engine. Now more problems are occuring and Nissan will not replace the car and they are putting our children at risk in this faulty vehicle.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your engine problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Apr 23
Altima SE 2.5L
Bought vehicle on Mar 30, 2009 from reputable used car dealer I have known for years. I needed vehicle & he located this one for me at a Ford dealership he routinely does business with. The vehicle had a Carfax report with no problems noted.
3 weeks later the oil light flickered and I noticed a good bit of engine chatter. I took it immediately to a close by Pennzoil for an oil change (oil change window sticker mileage indicated it was almost due). The oil was excessively low. After the service the car drove fine, no light indicators and no engine chatter, but I phoned Nissan for an appointment to check it out for the next day, Apr 24. After explaining my concerns, the Nissan service tech told me, if the car was doing all right now there most likely was not a problem and we would schedule the 60,000 mi maintenance for another time (they would not be able to do it that day).
May 12 I noticed some engine chatter again as I drove home and as I was about to park the car the light flickered again. I checked the oil and the dipstick was DRY! I had to add 3 qts of oil before it registered in the ok zone and phoned Nissan to schedule an appt to check it out ASAP.
My appt was yesterday, May 14, and the prognosis is that the catalytic converter has been sucked into the engine.... Result -requires new engine and catalytic converter to the tune of $4,000. I was pole-axed.
Did some research and found Nissan had recalled some of the 2006 Altima 2.5L for excessive oil consumption due to poor performance of piston rings. Further research determined that Cat Conv failure is due to faulty valves or piston rings. The only problem is, according to the Nissan dealership, my vehicle was not one included in the recall. I have got to wonder why, since the problem is the same as listed in the recall.
So, my next step is to follow the listed protocol and phone Nissan Hqtrs, then BBB Autoline, followed by NHTSA. If I can't find some relief, then I guess it will be a Lemon-law lawyer. I am outraged. It was impossible to reasonably anticipate a problem of this magnitude in a late model vehicle. It should not occur and, particularly in light of the recall, it is a manufacturing flaw that extends beyond the vehicles that were recalled. The Nissan service tech explained that the new engine would of course extend the life of the car. That's true, but the price I paid plus this major expense increases my cost in the vehicle far beyond its market value. It's still a 2006 model and the rest of it is depreciated. The cost in my 2006 would probably be as much as a 2009 model. Plus, after buying the car, I absolutely have no money left to pay for a new engine. I bought the '06 because I couldn't afford new.
Anybody got any other suggestions, advice or know of any further recourse I might have?
Update from May 16, 2009: After researching all recall information and other information I could locate pertaining to the Cat Convert & engine, I followed the advised protocol for reporting the problem to Nissan. After conversations with the dealership and Nissan headquarters I am ecstatic to report that the engine replacement will be covered! I have to give major kudos to the Nissan dealership that went to bat for me on this and made the effort to help instead of just blowing me off. It is a HUGE relief! I am advised that the engine has been ordered, it may take a week for it to get in, and they will let me know when it arrives so we can get this show on the road again. Hurrah! (p.s. I hope they have corrected the faulty performance problems of the old engine in the new one that is coming -fingers crossed :).
accountant33
Dandridge, TN, USA
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