RoadVitals

2004 Nissan Altima Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
276
Latest Sep 7, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
17
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 5, 2004

What this page shows

Our database holds 276 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Nissan Altima. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 276 · page 1 of 12

EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 7, 2023

The car has a fuel problem and crankshaft position sensor issue causing the car to die and also not start up normal idling. When I do get it to start up it idles very groggy.

NHTSA ID
11543061
Incident
Aug 20, 2023
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 1, 2023

The crankshaft position sensor (cps) was not responsive when the repair shop was testing the vehicle because of the "service engine soon" light came on. After a short search online they 1.) Had no signal to the cps from the pcm 2.) That there was also a voluntary recall by nissan for this issue covering this make an model. I called nissan and told me that the recall wasn't for that car but the vehicle was in fact built in the years covered and also had the exact issues the recall covered

NHTSA ID
11524912
Incident
May 10, 2023
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jan 2, 2023

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR THEN THE AXLE TWICE AND THE BRAKES THEN ETC

NHTSA ID
11499830
Incident
Sep 13, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Aug 13, 2019

THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING AWAY. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE, FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE FROM RUST. YOU CAN FEEL AROUND THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND CHUNKS OF METAL FALL OFF . THIS WAS NOTICED DURING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE . CAR WAS STATIONARY , I HAD NOTICED THAT I WAS GETTING AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF DUST INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11243671
Incident
Aug 3, 2019
Mileage
136,200 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 4, 2018
Crash reported

MY VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 35MPH. THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING IN THAT SEAT. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11099500
Incident
May 22, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
Filed Apr 17, 2018

THE SOUND PACKAGING WAS PEELING ; YET TRULY THE FLOOR BOARDS ON DRIVERSIDE AND FRONT PASENGER HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF!! SO DANGEROUS! AND I HAVE HORRIBLE ALLERGIES AND THE CARPET IS FULL OF DUST AND MILDEW.

NHTSA ID
11088530
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Electrical
Filed Apr 10, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

CAR WAS STALLING 2 DAYS AGO SHUT IT OFF AND DROVE AWAY JUST FINE NOT EVEN 4 HOURS LATER MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME HE CAME UP AROUND A HILL /BEND ON A CITY STREET THE CAR LOCKED UP ON HIM ALONG WITH THE OIIL BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT THE BREAKS WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING CAR WOULDN'T STOP HE ENDED UP GOING HEAD ON INTO A TREE IN THE NEIGHBORS YARD. CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE CAR SOMEWHERE AND I BELIEVE THE SECURITY OF THE CAR OR THE ECM IS WHAT LOCKED IT UP ON HIM THERE WAS NO STEERING IN THE CAR AS WELL. NO RECALLS POP UP WITH MY VIN # BUT I AM SUSPECTED TO BELIEVE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG INTERNALLY. IT WAS AT 240,700 MILES.HE WAS EXPECTIDLY ONLY GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR BUT WITH THE PICTURES IM ATTACHING IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMPUTER TOOM OVER THE SPEED CONTROL

NHTSA ID
11084423
Incident
Apr 8, 2018
Mileage
240,600 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 24, 2018

ENGINE STALLS DURING DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY. CAM SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
11064596
Incident
Jan 24, 2018
Mileage
200,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE BURNED TOO MUCH FUEL TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC WHERE THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE SAME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORT WORTH NISSAN (3451 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION AND EXHAUST FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.

NHTSA ID
11022609
Incident
Mar 15, 2017
Mileage
214,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE EXTENDED CRANK FAILED TO SPARK THE CRANK SENSOR. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED MIDDLETOWN NISSAN AT 860-632-6550 (LOCATED AT 1153 NEWFIELD ST, MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

NHTSA ID
11020426
Incident
Aug 29, 2017
Mileage
192,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE MANIFOLD, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND A COMPUTER CHIP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,361.

NHTSA ID
11000672
Incident
Jun 22, 2017
Mileage
1,361 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 19, 2017

I RECENTLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED AND WAS TOLD MY FLOOR PANEL HAD ROTTED THROUGH. THE CAR IS A 2004 BUT HAS LESS THAN 44,000 MILES, HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAS BEEN GARAGED PART OF THE TIME.ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET SHOW IT IS A MASSIVE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS DUE TO POOR DRAINAGE DESIGN. THE REPAIR IS OVER $2000. OTHERWISE THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF 1000'S OF REPORTS TO THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11000112
Incident
Jun 16, 2017
Mileage
43,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 12, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL"TENGO PROBLEMA CON MI CARRO DESDE Q LO AGARRE SIEMPRE FALLABA DE LO MISMO ENGINE Y HASTA AHORA SE DESCOMPUSO Y NO PUEDO ARREGLARLO Q TENGO Q HACER O SOBRE EL PROGRAMA RECALL .GRACIAS

NHTSA ID
10944951
Incident
Nov 1, 2016
Engine
Filed Jan 3, 2017

MI CARRO TIENE PROBLEMAS CON LAS CABEZAS .Y AHORITA NO LO PUEDO USAR PORQ ESTA PARADO POR NO ARREGLARLO TODAVIA QUISIERA SABER SOBRE RECALL.GRACIAS

NHTSA ID
10939520
Incident
Nov 20, 2016
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Dec 1, 2016

FLOOR BOARDS (DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDES), EXTENSIVE RUST CAUSING PIECES OF FLOOR BOARDS TO FALL OFF, OR EASILY BE REMOVED WITH HAND BY MECHANIC, LEAVING INSULATION EXPOSED ON EXTERIOR, AND HOLE UNDER CARPETING. SMELL OF GAS FUMES IN CABIN. ALSO, SQUEAKING AND CRACKING SOUNDS UNDER DRIVER SEAT AND SURROUNDING AREA, WHEN DRIVING OVER MINOR/SMALL BUMPS IN ROAD, OR WHEN SHIFTING WEIGHT, WHEN SITTING IN DRIVER SEAT. NOTE: ONE OWNER, GARAGE KEPT, DRIVEN BY 115-LB. PERSON ONLY. PICTURES AVAILABLE. (IS MY SEAT FALLING THROUGH THE FLOOR? IS MY CAR SAFE TO DRIVE?) *TR

NHTSA ID
10929494
Incident
Oct 14, 2016
Fuel system
Filed Aug 29, 2016

CAR DOES NOT START. ACTS LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL...MECHANIC SUGGESTING CPS VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR ONLY TEN MINUTES.. RAN JUST FINE BEFORE HAND.

NHTSA ID
10899386
Incident
Aug 27, 2016
Mileage
127,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 28, 2016

PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD RUSTING. HOLE IN THE FLOOR!

NHTSA ID
10902025
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Body & structure
Filed Jul 22, 2016

RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS/PANELS UNDER VEHICLE AT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR SIDE DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. RUST STARTED AFTER 2 YEARS OF USE .VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP AND RUST STARTED 24 MONTHS AFTERWARDS WITH NO ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEALERSHIP OF NISSAN. OWNER DECIDED TO REPAIR THE RUST AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO COMPENSATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP OF NISSAN CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. REPAIR S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RECEIPT ATTACHED. NISSAN CORPORATE CLAIM #22951460.

NHTSA ID
10887744
Incident
May 20, 2006
Mileage
48,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 29, 2016

THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD HAS RUSTED OUT LEAVING A 12" X 10" HOLE RIGHT IN THE AREA THAT YOU WOULD STEP INTO THE CAR. SINCE THIS IS THE AREA THAT IS REGULARLY INSPECTED DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE OIL FILTER, HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WASN'T DETECTED PREVIOUSLY TO JUST FALLING OUT.

NHTSA ID
10881420
Incident
Jun 28, 2016
Mileage
117,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 20, 2016

FLOOR BOARDS UNDER THE DRIVER & PASSENGER SEATS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. CAN SEE & FEEL THE CARPET FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. IF YOU STEP TOO HARD ON THE FLOOR FROM THE INSIDE, YOU FOOT WOULD GO THROUGH AND YOU WOULD TOUCH THE GROUND.

NHTSA ID
10875178
Incident
Jun 17, 2016
Mileage
237,795 mi
Engine
Filed May 7, 2016

FOR THE 2ND TIME CAR RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND STALLING. HAD IT SERVICED SEEMS THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DESTROYED AND NOT FUNCTIONING. PAID OVER $500 FOR MECHANIC TO PUT IN NEW PLUGS NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SEEMS THERE IS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN QR25DE POWER VALVE. CAMPAIGN ID P5202. A BOLT FROM MANIFOLD IS FALLING INTO CYLINDER AND BLOWING OUT SPARK PLUG AND CAUSING INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE, MY MECHANIC PUT CAMERA IN CYLINDER. CAR IS RUNNING BUT IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TO CYLINDER 1 AND 4. NEXT TIME MY 22 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY ON HER HIGHWAY COMMUTE. HOPEFULLY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER CAN RECTIFY PROBLEM BEFORE THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE SERIOUS. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAYS TO SERVICE ENGINE SOON, IT IS STILL ON...FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND ONLINE SOUNDS LIKE POWER VALVE SCREWS ARE COMING OUT AND CREATING ENGINE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
10863752
Incident
May 5, 2016
Mileage
92,000 mi
Filed May 6, 2016

I WAS UNSURE HOW THE RUST ON THE FLLORBOARD OF MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD OCCURRED BUT IS IT SO BAD THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN MY FLOORBOARD. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT HAS NOW AFFECTED THE FRAME OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10863574
Incident
Oct 20, 2011
Mileage
113,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 30, 2016

RUST ON FLOORBOARD REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF FLOORBOARD. MINOR RUST WAS OBSERVED VIA INSPECTION WHEN UNDERNEATH THE CAR; HOWEVER, ONCE THE SEAT WAS REMOVED, THE SHOP INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH WORSE, BECAUSE THE RUST IS OCCURRING FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS NOT TYPICAL RUST DUE TO SALT, ETC.

NHTSA ID
10852494
Incident
Mar 30, 2016
Mileage
72,355 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 16, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

REAR SUSPENSION BUSHINGS & TAKATA RECALL THE CAR SLIPS IN THE REAR WHEELS SIMILAR TO "FISH-TAILING" IN SNOW. NISSAN OFFERED A RECALL IN 2006 TO REPLACE PARTS ON REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME UNTIL 2015, MONTHS BEFORE THE RECALL EXPIRED. NOTICES NEVER CONTAINED ANY NOTIFICATION OF ANY EXPIRATION DATE. AFTER HOURS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMED THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL; THEN YES THERE WAS A RECALL THAT I HAD REPLACED IN 2007; THEN CLAIMING THE WORK WAS COMPLETED IN 2014, THEY FINALLY AGREED TO HAVING THE CAR INSPECTED REGARDING THIS RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP AT WOODFIELD NISSAN CLAIMED THAT MY CAR WAS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE" AND LISTED EVERY OTHER PART OF MY SUSPENSION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OTHER THAN THE MAIN ONE IN THE RECALL. A SERVICE ORDER WAS CREATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO GIVE ME WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER LOST HIS TEMPER AND GOT PHYSICALLY INTIMIDATING TOWARDS ME. MY WIFE AND I ARE FRIGHTENED TO EVER GO TO THIS DEALERSHIP DUE TO THIS. NOW I AM DRIVING AN "UNSAFE TO DRIVE" VEHICLE THAT NISSAN LEFT ME WITHOUT ANY PAPERWORK TO ADVISE ME WHAT IS UNSAFE ABOUT IT. AFTER ASKING NISSAN CORPORATION TO STEP IN, AS WELL AS BBB & IL A.G. REPORTS WERE FILED, NO ONE TO DATE HAS GIVEN ME DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THIS INSPECTION. THIS DEALERSHIP'S OWNER ALSO OWNS THE OTHER DEALERSHIP NEAR ME AND MY WIFE WHERE WE ARE NO LONGER WELCOMED. THIS, AND THE FACT THAT THE CORPORATION REFUSES TO HELP RESOLVE THIS, MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE THE TAKATA RECALL WORK COMPLETED WITHOUT GOING THRU FURTHER STRESS WITH NISSAN AND LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THAT IS VERY UNETHICAL, IF NOT ILLEGAL.

NHTSA ID
10850108
Incident
Feb 11, 2015
Mileage
146,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE TOO EXPENSIVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. UPDATED 03/11/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10819745
Incident
Jan 5, 2016
Mileage
45,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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