2005 Nissan Altima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Altima years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1,091 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Altima. That ranks 4th out of 32 Altima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (351 complaints, 32%), typically at around 103,000 miles. Complaints mention 48 crashes, 18 fires, 62 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 1,091owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 48complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Nissan Altima problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 351 | 32% | 103,000 | “passenger side” (39%) | $1,400 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 259 | 24% | 72,490 | “crankshaft position” (21%) | $400 |
| Engine problems | 141 | 13% | 97,000 | “engine cooling” (21%) | $900 |
| Power Train problems | 115 | 11% | 65,749 | “clutch pedal” (22%) | $2,450 |
| Electrical System problems | 97 | 9% | 69,000 | “position sensor” (13%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 60 | 5% | 113,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 47 | 4% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 42 | 4% | 79,900 | — | — |
| Steering | 31 | 3% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 29 | 3% | 24,189 | — | — |
| Suspension | 21 | 2% | 37,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 21 | 2% | 10,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 18 | 2% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 18 | 2% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 1% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 14 | 1% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 1% | 48,250 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 1% | 112,524 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 1% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 1% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 1% | 21,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 1% | 56,750 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 0% | 135,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 0% | 45,544 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 0% | 190,250 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Nissan Altima recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the ecm free of charge. Certain my 2006 altimas which have been previously remedied under recall campaign 06v223 (nissan r0606) are not included in this recall since the reprogramming for 06v223 also included this reprogramming. The recall began on december 31, 2007. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While driving my 2005 Nissan Altima in active traffic with my [XXX] child, the vehicle suddenly stalled without any warning. The engine completely shut off while in motion, creating an immediately safety hazard in live traffic conditions. Immediately after the stall, I observed oil leakage and…
Vehicle: 2005 Nissan Altima | VIN: [XXX] To the Executive Team and Legal Counsel, I am writing this under extreme duress following a catastrophic, life-threatening vehicle failure on April 23, 2026, in Ripley, WV. While transporting my [XXX] son, my 2005 Nissan Altima suffered a sudden engine…
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding and whining sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an…
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that…
Hello, I am the owner now of this vehicle snd I see the recalls have not been taken care of? What do I do in order to get them repaired ?
Other Nissan Altima years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Altima | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 Altima | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 Altima | 41 | 1 |
| 2023 Altima | 30 | 0 |
| 2022 Altima | 31 | 0 |
| 2021 Altima | 70 | 2 |
| 2020 Altima | 158 | 6 |
| 2019 Altima | 233 | 7 |
| 2018 Altima | 226 | 2 |
| 2017 Altima | 391 | 3 |
| 2016 Altima | 554 | 4 |
| 2015 Altima | 955 | 10 |
| 2014 Altima | 1,114 | 8 |
| 2013 Altima | 2,313 | 12 |
| 2012 Altima | 426 | 4 |
| 2011 Altima | 241 | 1 |
| 2010 Altima | 381 | 3 |
| 2009 Altima | 1,547 | 4 |
| 2008 Altima | 1,030 | 4 |
| 2007 Altima | 471 | 3 |
| 2006 Altima | 824 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1,091 | 1 |
| 2004 Altima | 276 | 1 |
| 2003 Altima | 883 | 4 |
| 2002 Altima | 1,047 | 5 |
| 2001 Altima | 159 | 1 |
| 2000 Altima | 160 | 1 |
| 1999 Altima | 87 | 0 |
| 1998 Altima | 123 | 0 |
| 1997 Altima | 108 | 1 |
| 1996 Altima | 92 | 0 |
| 1995 Altima | 180 | 3 |
See all Nissan Altima problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Altima?
Owners most often report structure, engine and engine cooling, engine problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 351 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Nissan Altima?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Nissan Altima a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Altima model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.