2005 Nissan Altima Engine Problems
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2005 Nissan Altima, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 97,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine cooling” (21% of reports).
- 141engine complaints
- 97,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 26%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.
- Engine cooling: mentioned in 29 of 141 complaints (21%)
- Position sensor: mentioned in 28 of 141 complaints (20%)
- Stalled without: mentioned in 17 of 141 complaints (12%)
- Crank shaft: mentioned in 13 of 141 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2005 Nissan Altima at $900, and half of them between $700 and $2,750.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2017), 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 problems happen?
Based on 119 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 141 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 4 a fire.
Nissan Altima engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Altima | 5 | 12% | — |
| 2023 Altima | 6 | 20% | — |
| 2022 Altima | 7 | 23% | — |
| 2021 Altima | 6 | 9% | 51,000 |
| 2020 Altima | 33 | 21% | 12,738 |
| 2019 Altima | 48 | 21% | 52,000 |
| 2018 Altima | 14 | 6% | 22,228 |
| 2017 Altima | 39 | 10% | 51,850 |
| 2016 Altima | 86 | 16% | 53,000 |
| 2015 Altima | 66 | 7% | 55,000 |
| 2014 Altima | 77 | 7% | 67,500 |
| 2013 Altima | 158 | 7% | 61,000 |
| 2012 Altima | 68 | 16% | 80,000 |
| 2011 Altima | 36 | 15% | 86,069 |
| 2010 Altima | 50 | 13% | 68,000 |
| 2009 Altima | 107 | 7% | 80,000 |
| 2008 Altima | 54 | 5% | 100,000 |
| 2007 Altima | 31 | 7% | 121,000 |
| 2006 Altima | 166 | 20% | 110,500 |
| 2005 Altima | 141 | 13% | 97,000 |
| 2004 Altima | 30 | 11% | 92,000 |
| 2003 Altima | 117 | 13% | 122,438 |
| 2002 Altima | 92 | 9% | 124,000 |
| 2001 Altima | 7 | 4% | 133,543 |
| 2000 Altima | 4 | 3% | 136,673 |
| 1997 Altima | 1 | 1% | 131,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
Car engine cuts off. After that I have no power steering, no acceleration, brakes need to be pumped. The first years of me owning the car I had the sensors replaced by auto shop and dealership under extended car warranty. Pretty much been replacing the sensors ever since for the past 8 years. I…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2005 Nissan Altimas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 141 owner complaints about engine for the 2005 Nissan Altima (13% of the 1,091 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 2005 Nissan Altima engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 97,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2005 Nissan Altima?
Owners report a typical cost of $900 (half paid between $700 and $2,750), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2005 Nissan Altima?
The most frequent phrase is “engine cooling”, in 29 of 141 complaints, followed by “position sensor” (28).
Other 2005 Nissan Altima problems
See all 2005 Nissan Altima problems or engine problems across all Altima years.