2004 Nissan Altima Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 109 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2004 Nissan Altima, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 67,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “position sensor” (21% of reports).
- 109engine and engine cooling complaints
- 67,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $480typical repair cost reported by owners
- 23%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Position sensor: mentioned in 23 of 109 complaints (21%)
- Service engine: mentioned in 12 of 109 complaints (11%)
- Crank angle: mentioned in 10 of 109 complaints (9%)
- Electronic control module: mentioned in 6 of 109 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the 2004 Nissan Altima at $480, and half of them between $400 and $760.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2007–2015), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 93 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 109 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Nissan Altima engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Altima | 1 | 1% | 118,000 |
| 2020 Altima | 5 | 3% | — |
| 2019 Altima | 9 | 4% | 108,000 |
| 2017 Altima | 1 | 0% | 148,000 |
| 2014 Altima | 3 | 0% | 4,520 |
| 2013 Altima | 8 | 0% | 2,150 |
| 2012 Altima | 4 | 1% | 35,503 |
| 2011 Altima | 6 | 2% | 95,836 |
| 2010 Altima | 4 | 1% | 1,849 |
| 2009 Altima | 10 | 1% | 69,870 |
| 2008 Altima | 21 | 2% | 60,000 |
| 2007 Altima | 44 | 9% | 28,000 |
| 2006 Altima | 189 | 23% | 54,700 |
| 2005 Altima | 259 | 24% | 72,490 |
| 2004 Altima | 109 | 39% | 67,000 |
| 2003 Altima | 450 | 51% | 77,500 |
| 2002 Altima | 594 | 57% | 87,000 |
| 2001 Altima | 59 | 37% | 70,000 |
| 2000 Altima | 49 | 31% | 81,500 |
| 1999 Altima | 8 | 9% | 104,000 |
| 1998 Altima | 14 | 11% | 108,833 |
| 1997 Altima | 7 | 6% | — |
| 1996 Altima | 8 | 9% | 84,000 |
| 1995 Altima | 28 | 16% | 40,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crank angle sensor is affected by temperature variations. Under certain driving conditions, these variations in temperature can be large enough to cause a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.
Risk: If the interruption in the signal from the 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.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the ecm free of charge. The recall began on august 21, 2006. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While i was pulling out from a parking lot, my car just cut off. I have not had the money to even take it to see what was wrong with it until recently and was told that both of my catalytic converters were going bad and that it would cost $1100 to get it fixed. So i checked online to see it was any…
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted and the check engine indicator illuminated. The failure occurred multiple times. A private mechanic stated that the crank sensor needed to be replaced. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start until after several attempts were made. The check engine warning light then illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for diagnosis, who stated that the crank and cam…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 Nissan Altimas have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 109 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2004 Nissan Altima (39% of the 276 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Nissan Altima engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 67,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the 2004 Nissan Altima?
Owners report a typical cost of $480 (half paid between $400 and $760), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2004 Nissan Altima?
The most frequent phrase is “position sensor”, in 23 of 109 complaints, followed by “service engine” (12).
See all 2004 Nissan Altima problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Altima years.