CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Nissan Altima has two fairly significant problems with the floor pan rusting through & motor mounts breaking.

Altima owners report that up to a basketball-size hole develops under the floor mats where the floor pan metal rusts through. Average repair cost is over $1,000.

The broken motor mounts are less of a problem - they break at ~75,000 miles average & it's $400 to fix. Still, motor mounts should not break!

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,289 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.

2005 Nissan Altima electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #57

Jul 142014

Altima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 124,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the service engine warning lamp flashed intermittently and the vehicle misfired and stalled more than once. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the coil packs were replaced a year ago, but the failure recently recurred. The vehicle was towed to the repair shop and the coil packs were replaced again. Within 20 minutes of leaving the repair shop, the contact stated that the service engine warning lamp illuminated and the vehicle was stalled. The vehicle was towed back to the repair shop where the contact was informed that they did not have the tools to perform the diagnostic testing. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07V527000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for further inspection and diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000. Updated 10/06/15 updated 11/27/2017

- Oak Ridge, TN, USA

problem #56

Apr 252015

Altima

  • 144,000 miles
My son was driving down the interstate when he heard a loud noise, then saw smoke and stopped the car, when he raised the hood the engine was on fire tried to put it out with water after he saw he could not stop the flames called 911 the care totally burned nothing left except frame the fire dept. Put out the fire but the car was already burned.

- Smithville, TN, USA

problem #55

Feb 142015

Altima

  • miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Altima. While driving, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the crank sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

- Lake Park, GA, USA

problem #54

Mar 212015

Altima

  • 124,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the vehicle stalled and there was smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact lifted the hood and the engine was on fire. The entire warning panel illuminated. There were no injuries reported or medical attention required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

- Port Norris, NJ, USA

problem #53

Mar 072015

Altima 6-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
The car stopped the cam shaft sensors were bad.and the rattle in my passenger side cant find the problem.

- Gretna, LA, USA

problem #52

Nov 052014

Altima 6-cyl

  • 97,867 miles
Vehicle died while coasting down the side street. Once I stopped the vehicle I put it in park and turned the key to off. When trying to restart the vehicle, the engine would crack, but would not start. This problem has been listed for a recall for the 2.5 engine but not for my 3.5 engine, and Nissan will not do anything to help the situation.

- Alvaton, KY, USA

problem #51

May 132008

Altima 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles

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

Was driving at about 45mph when the engine stalled as I was about to take a turn. The steering locked up, and I had to brake hard to avoid going off the road. Luckily there was no fatal injury. Had to get car towed to dealer where they replaced the crankshaft, cam sensor.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #50

May 282014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 106,500 miles
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. I have had this issue 5-7 times where the car wouldn't start or shut off while driving ( decreasing in speed).

- Louisville , KY, USA

problem #49

Oct 072013

Altima 6-cyl

  • 165,000 miles
Car would completey shut down while driving 55 plus.at about 20 miles or more and on freeway was very dangeours. Would not turn on untile 20 mins. Later and notice if engine was warm it shut it down. Hopefully this works but car has to have motor mounts replace and being handicap need this car.iv notice 2.5 has same problems and recalled. If I had been in middle lane or no area to pull over accident would of happen plus you lose all power steering.

- Hanford, CA, USA

problem #48

May 182013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 107,200 miles
Problem begun by my vehicle being hard to start. You could attempt to start the car for 5 or so minutes without success. You could wait about 10 minutes and try again and the vehicle would eventually start but run pretty rough. It would also perform with poor power during operation. The problem got worse when the "service engine soon" light came on. Now the engine shuts down while you are driving. This has happened on 4 to 5 different occasions. The engine will re-start but runs rough. I'm afraid that this could happen at the wrong place and time my wife and family can be hurt or killed. I read a recall on defect of the crank position sensor which causes the identical symptoms that my car has but when I took it to cannon Nissan at jackson Ms. The service manager told me that my 2005 Nissan Altima was not included in that recall. What can be done to correct this? please give me a response on this if you can at [xxx] or [xxx]. thank you in advance for your care and assistance. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #47

Feb 082014

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles

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

Hi, I am the owner of a 2005 Nissan Altima. I have owned this car since 2008. I reviewed service records from 2005 prior to my purchase. There has been an extremely large amount of issues with this vehicle. The most recent of which is the "grey" area of the ECM issue in coordination with famous the camshaft crankshaft fault P0355 & P0131. I'm an engineer and fully understand the mechanics of a vehicle. This sensor was a faulty design from the beginning in which oil could enter inside the sensor, therefore causing a short and disabling the entire vehicle while in motion. This actually happened to me and was a terrifying experience. To fix the issue cheaply, Nissan issued a recall to reprogram the ECM in order to recognize the "faulty" crankshaft sensor part. But in order to save millions of dollars, Nissan would not include the warrantied replacement of the faulty crankshaft sensor design (magnet sensor). Instead, the consumer (myself) would have to pay between $300 & $450 to have the sensor replaced with the "new & improved version?. new and improved means the properly designed version. The initial design should have been recalled but it wasn't. it doesn't take an engineer to figure this out but I am one and fully understand the ?big picture? of the recall and lack of inclusion of the crankshaft sensor repairs. I am requesting Nissan to cover the full cost of the camshaft & crankshaft sensor & the associated labor. I was put in harm"S way during the initial recall issue in which my car shut off while on the highway. That is a bad enough experience. I am not willing to also pay Nissan $400 to repair the faulty sensor which was a large part of why this occurred in the first place.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #46

Dec 222013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 46,500 miles
I recently experienced my vehicle stalling as I was driving. It took several minutes for me to restart leaving me venerable to a vehicle crash. The same evening I learned of recall# 07V527000. The following day I brought my vehicle to a Nissan dealership to have the recall resolved. They advised the recall only covers reprogramming computer not replacing defective crank sensor. I feel that reprogramming computer will not resolve safety issue as the sensor is defective and could fail even with reprogramming computer. I was charged $96 dollars to have problem diagnosed. Dealer refused to replace defective part. To my understanding many other Altima owners experience this same problem and are forced to pay for defective parts that fail.dealer did not offer to reprogram computer they insisted that only replacing the defective part would resolve my issue which was not covered by recall.

- Tickfaw, LA, USA

problem #45

Nov 182013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 119,000 miles
I have a 2005 Altima and I have been having problems. I repalced the senors based on the diagnostic reading from two reputable repair shops. My check engine light keeps coming back on. I googled and found out that several Altima owners have experienced the exact same problem. I called Nissan and was told based on my VIN #, I'm not part of the recall. That makes no sense. The dealer wants to charge me an arm and a leg and will only do it for free if Nissan says so. I'm so frustrated right now. I will never buy another Nissan.

- Alsip, IL, USA

problem #44

Jun 172013

Altima

  • 107,800 miles
I have a 2005 Altima SE-R 3.5 V6 I was leaving a mcdonald's parking lot and as soon as I put the car in reverse there was a hard jerk and the transmission did not engage properly. The car reversed after a couple seconds and when I put it in drive a hard jerk and the car was in 5th gear. No other gears were available. I parked the car and shut if off...after a few seconds I started it back up and threw it in reverse and got the same result, I put it in drive then tiptronic and saw a 5 (5th gear). I called a couple friends and mechanics they said it a fail safe. So I waited again and tried to restart the car and it took a good 10-15 seconds to crank and after I reversed the car would die. I was only trying to get home (1 mike down the road) because I did not trust this car to bring me anywhere at this point. After a couple start then shut downs and letting the car sit for a few I was able to get the car running and driving in all the gears. I got on the boulevard and I was going about 20-30 and the car dies on me. Luckily it was the middle of the night and the was no traffic. I restart the car and its running in 5th gear for about 10-15 seconds and then I see my rpms going up as speed going down. The transmission was not engaging and I knew something was definitely wrong at this point. I pull to the side and pop the hood, the was so much heat but the car was not overheating. I call my mechanic and he says let it sit a bit. 20 minutes later, car cooled down a bit and a reliable friend and mechanic come help me push the car into a parking lot. We later find out the transmission failed. Fluid was still red, not burned but something else was going on inside. $2000+ later and a replacement tranny the car is up but still dying at random times, won't start. Diagnosis crank and camshaft sensors. The transmission also goes straight to 5th gear and car stalls in traffic.

- Port Saint Lucie , FL, USA

problem #43

May 312012

Altima 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Vehicle suddenly turned off and dangerously stalled while driving at low speed without any warning. After several attempts of trying to start it, it finally did and I drove it for about 10 miles without no further incidents. Engine light came on and I took it to dealer who diagnosed it as the failure of the crank shaft position sensor which had earlier been reprogrammed in 2008 due to a recall to avoid such a sudden stall from happening. Nissan was not helpfull other than replacing the same sensor from and charge you a bomb for it. Nissan North America can a do a better job when addressing their recalls rather than providing a band aid solution to their recalls. During their recall campaign, they should have replaced this sensor from the get go rather than just reprogramming the ECM which still didnt address critical issue of safety for such a sensor failing without any warning.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #42

Apr 032012

Altima

  • 140,000 miles
The vehicle will stall while driving at different speeds. At times thevehicle takes several attempts to start.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #41

Nov 252012

Altima 4-cyl

  • 106,000 miles
I already went though P0420 issue few years back and I got it again. Nissan dealer charged me whole lotta money to fix the issue and the warning sign came back again. Went to local auto zone and it show P0420 again. Please help. I read so many articles online and it turns out all Altima has this issue (crankshaft, O2 sensor, etc.).

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #40

Nov 182012

Altima 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
While driving in the highway vehicle lost power and engine shut off, was barely able to get to the side of the freeway before the car came to a complete stop. It was the most scary experience I have ever had in my life. The ses light came on only after loosing all control. I was told at the shop that this is a common issue with some Altima and that they had a recall.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #39

Dec 012011

Altima 4-cyl

  • 97,000 miles
While driving down the highway, at 70 mph, my car bucked and then shut down. Losing all control, it completely turned off. While off you lose power-steering, ABS etc. Luckily I was on a straight stretch of highway when this occurred. Came to a coasting stop. When to start my car again, and it took a while for it to turn over. The service engine light came on. The car would routinely buck, and hiccup as if it were trying to shut itself off. I called the Nissan dealer, have the ECM reprogrammed, as they thought that would be the issue. Got it done, and a day later, same thing happened, my car shut off in the middle of the highway. I got it running, and then as I got nearer home, the car shut down again at an intersection. I was lucky I didn't get in a wreck. Furiously, I called the Nissan dealer, and brought it back in. After doing some research, it was noted the cam/crankshaft sensors were bad. This is a known issue by Nissan, as there has been a recall for 2000 - 2003 models of their cars in the past. I got them replaced and paid out of pocket to do so. I contacted Nissan and they were disrespectful and not helpful at all. They know that the issue is still ongoing with their vehicles. Its a life threatening situation and should not be up to the consumer to fix the issue as its a flaw in their electrical system. There needs to be a recall for this right away as there are thousands of people this has happened to.

- Sedalia , MO, USA

problem #38

Apr 182012

Altima

  • 78,000 miles
Crankshaft position sensor bad, part has a known defect from the supplier yet Nissan will not replace or call recall notice. Car can shut down while driving, high risk for fatality.

- Newtown Square, PA, USA

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