2006 Nissan Altima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Altima years
- Far more complaints than other years 9th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- 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.

- 824owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 43complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2006 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 | 221 | 27% | 100,360 | “floor boards” (23%) | $1,250 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 189 | 23% | 54,700 | “oil consumption” (16%) | $560 |
| Engine problems | 166 | 20% | 110,500 | “engine cooling” (22%) | $1,100 |
| Power Train problems | 79 | 10% | 55,500 | “clutch pedal” (16%) | $1,250 |
| Electrical System problems | 72 | 9% | 95,000 | “crankshaft sensor” (10%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 64 | 8% | 101,816 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 43 | 5% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 38 | 5% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 24 | 3% | 127,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 21 | 3% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 18 | 2% | 61,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 2% | 4,645 | — | — |
| Steering | 15 | 2% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 10 | 1% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 1% | 117,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 9 | 1% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 8 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 7 | 1% | 31,071 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 1% | 4,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 0% | 74,997 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 0% | 71,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 0% | 800 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 0% | 53,250 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 64,014 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 0% | 90,120 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | 80,600 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2006 Nissan Altima recalls (3)
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.
Engine and engine cooling
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:rear
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…
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…
Cvtc transmission stalls almost got my kids and my pregnant daughter hit I bought the car only 2 months ago
Me and my fiancé had just picked the kids up from my momâs. 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…
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.
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 | 824 | 3 |
| 2005 Altima | 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 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.