2006 Nissan Altima Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Nov 4, 2025 · 824 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Altima years
Far more complaints than other years 9th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 824 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Nissan Altima. That ranks 9th out of 32 Altima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (221 complaints, 27%), typically at around 100,360 miles. Complaints mention 43 crashes, 14 fires, 52 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

Nissan Altima
A 2023 Nissan Altima SR I photographed in Lompoc, California. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: LukaCali, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2006 Nissan Altima problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Structure221 · ~100,360 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling189 · ~54,700 mi
Engine166 · ~110,500 mi
Power Train79 · ~55,500 mi
Electrical System72 · ~95,000 mi
Unknown or Other64 · ~101,816 mi
Air Bags43 · ~93,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control38 · ~83,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion System24 · ~127,500 mi
Electronic Stability Control (esc)21 · ~98,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Structure problems22127%100,360“floor boards” (23%)$1,250
Engine and Engine Cooling problems18923%54,700“oil consumption” (16%)$560
Engine problems16620%110,500“engine cooling” (22%)$1,100
Power Train problems7910%55,500“clutch pedal” (16%)$1,250
Electrical System problems729%95,000“crankshaft sensor” (10%)—
Unknown or Other648%101,816——
Air Bags435%93,000——
Vehicle Speed Control385%83,000——
Fuel/propulsion System243%127,500——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)213%98,000——
Suspension182%61,500——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic162%4,645——
Steering152%69,000——
Service Brakes101%79,000——
Exterior Lighting91%117,500——
Tires91%13,000——
Seats81%90,000——
Wheels71%31,071——
Fuel System, Gasoline61%4,500——
Equipment40%74,997——
Seat Belts40%71,500——
Visibility40%800——
Latches/locks/linkages30%53,250——
Fuel System, Other20%64,014——
Visibility/wiper20%90,120——
Equipment Adaptive/mobility10%80,600——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2015, with 126 complaints
2005: 420052006: 702007: 5020072008: 292009: 2420092010: 552011: 4220112012: 432013: 8020132014: 802015: 12620151262016: 862017: 5520172018: 272019: 2520192020: 62021: 820212022: 22023: 620232024: 22025: 42025

n = 824 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2006 Nissan Altima recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Engine and engine coolingNov 14, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V527000 · 653,910 vehicles

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.

Engine and engine coolingJun 21, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V223000 · 85,000 vehicles

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5l engines may experience excessive engine oil consumption as a result of improper performance of the piston rings.

Risk: If the oil is not maintained at least at the minimum level, engine damage can occur and in extreme cases result in an engine fire.

Fix: Dealers will reprogram the electronic control module (ecm or engine computer). Your vehicle will also be inspected to determine if it has been consuming engine oil at a higher than normal rate. In a small percentage of vehicles, engine replacement will be needed. On june 9, 2006, nissan notified owners of the possibility of excessive oil consumption and the importance of maintaining the oil at a proper level. Follow-up letter to owners advising them of the status of the recall was sent during august 2006. Followup letter to owners was sent on november 15, 2006. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Suspension:rearFeb 13, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V046000 · 759 vehicles

Problem: On certain vehicles, the rear subframe may have been manufactured incorrectly, which could result in a crack in a bracket which holds part of the rear suspension.

Risk: If the bracket is cracked, the stability of the vehicle may be affected under severe driving conditions. This could lead to a loss of control of the vehicle which could result in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe to determine if it was manufactured incorrectly and replace it, if necessary. The recall began on february 27, 2006. 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.

The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that since owning the vehicle, the brakes, brake pads, or brake rotors were replaced every year to a year and a half. The contact became aware of the failure while depressing the brake pedal with an abnormal, grinding sound coming from the…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received Nov 4, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11697384

I have replaced the water pump, the belt, the thermostats, the rotors, the brakes, the fuel pump, the evap vent valve solenoid, the spark plugs, and fuel injectors and my car is STILL throwing the codes P-0462 and P-447. I've checked the wires and they are good. My car keeps misfiring and stalling…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Oct 9, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11692456

Cvtc transmission stalls almost got my kids and my pregnant daughter hit I bought the car only 2 months ago

Vehicle Speed Control · received Apr 14, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11654471

Me and my fiancé had just picked the kids up from my mom’s. Got about 2 miles down the road and all of a sudden i heard a loud boom and a flash of light like a shot gun had went off in my ear. When I heard the boom my left side from my face to my hip felt like I had been hit. At the same time it…

Air Bags · received Mar 5, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11646414

The fuel gauge stopped working. Fuel gauge shows full all the time. Error code is P0462. Mechanic replaced fuel pump module assembly and this did not fix the problem. Check engine light is on and will not go off and the code will not clear.

Fuel/propulsion System · received Jun 10, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11593405

Other Nissan Altima years

← 2005 Altima · 2007 Altima →

See all Nissan Altima problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.

Similar Nissan models

Embed this 2006 Nissan Altima badge on your site

Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Nissan Altima?

Owners most often report structure, engine and engine cooling, engine problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 221 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2006 Nissan Altima?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2006 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 2006 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.