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:
22 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
33 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,769 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.
I was coming off 295 and hit a patch of black ice lost control of my car and hit a guardrail. The air bags never went off and everyone at the scene was trying to figure how or why they did not go off. My car is totaled.. updated 02/19/15 updated 3/30/2016 updated 9/20/2017
The contact owned a 2006 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 20 mph and attempting to engage the brakes, the vehicle failed to slow down and crashed into a building. The front driver and passenger side air bags deployed. The contact sustained injuries to the right arm due to the air bags that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was completely destroyed and was towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,974.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. While driving 30 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated. The failure occurred once. The dealer diagnosed that the air bag wiring harness and the air bag module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000. The dealer recommended replacing the spiral cable. Updated 02/24/15 updated 05/06/15.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph, another vehicle crashed head-on into the contact's vehicle causing the air bags to deploy. As a result of the pressure from the air bags, the contact sustained burns to both arms which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was deemed destroyed. The VIN was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.
Driver lost control of the vehicle and went into ongoing traffic and was T-boned by another vehicle. Both vehicles were going 45 miles per hour. No air bags deployed. The front airbags, nor the side airbags deployed. The passenger door came all the way over to the gear shift.
- Hickory, NC, USA
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2006 Nissan Altima. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle faulty air bag system. The consumer stated the air bag light illuminated. Nissan informed the consumer it would cost $1900, to replace the air bag.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag sensor light was illuminated and flashing. The vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the seat needed to be replaced in order to remedy the defect. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number 08V521000(air bags, electrical system) and indicated that the vehicle experienced the same defect described in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect and advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 37,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, a vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the contact's vehicle. The second vehicle was also traveling 65 mph. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained spinal injuries and a child passenger that was secured in a booster seat sustained injuries to the left leg. A police report was filed of the incident. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 74,000.
Someone pulled out in front of me turning left across the highway where I was traveling at about 40mph. I hit the brakes hard, but still hit her in the side and my airbags did not deploy. The collision shop has estimated it will be totaled, the bumper and fenders and hood all need replaced in addition to several engine/motor parts. The police said an impact causing that much damage should have caused the airbags to deploy. Fortunately, my seat belt held and my head did not hit the steering wheel. The belt left a good-sized burn on my neck, and bruised my chest and right hip. I would like to know why the airbags did not deploy.
I was driving South bound when a card slammed into my passenger side door. My car was then pushed over three lanes into the corner wall, electric box, and 2 foot high rock. My airbags did not deploy and I hit my head on the dash board.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 65 mph she crashed into another vehicle which was included in a 4 car pile-up. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy on the drivers side nor the passenger side. The contact and a passenger received abrasions to the chest and was transported to the hospital via ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was considered a total loss after the crash occurred. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000. The VIN was unavailable.
I was in an accident on the freeway, and the airbags failed, they did not deploy. Was told by the fire dept, and the highway patrol they should have deployed. There was major front damage.
The passenger air bag warning light keeps flashing indicating the air bag may not be working right. I took my car to the dealership and paid $115 to have a diagnostic test done to find out the problem. Dealership said the sensor in the passenger seat is bad and needs to be replaced. Dealership noted on my receipt (recommended service: Passenger side occupant sensor $1,617.26 otd). I declined to replace sensor due to the outrageous cost for a failed safety feature in a vehicle that is only 4 years old.
Purchased in Nov 06, Nissan Altima 2006 special edition. Supplemental air bag warning light came on 6/3/09 and has been flashing ever since. Have made an app at the Nissan dealer to see if that's covered under warranty.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Taunton, MA, USA