RoadVitals

2004 Nissan Altima Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Aug 18, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 276 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EnginePowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Aug 18, 2011

CAR WAS BACK TO DEALER ABOUT 16 MONTHS AGO FOR RECALL NTB06-051A. AT THAT TIME CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED . THIS MONTH AUGUST 2011 SAME SYMPTOMS BUCKING HARD TO START STALLING. TAKEN TO AND INDEPENDENT SHOP AND CONFIRMED ANOTHER CRANK SENSOR FAILURE. *KB

NHTSA ID
10419930
Incident
Aug 4, 2011
Mileage
87,433 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING GEARS WITH HESITATION AND JERKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND TIME, WHERE THEY STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10417088
Incident
Mar 4, 2009
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. GEAR SLIPPAGE HAS INCREASED THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A LOCAL MECHANIC FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. NO REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID
10284534
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
Mileage
93,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 13, 2009

CLUTCH DOESN'T RE-ENGAGE AND DROPS TO FLOOR ON HOT DAYS IF USING THE CLUTCH A LOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254912
Incident
Jul 14, 2007
Mileage
50,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 23, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND VICE VERSA, THERE IS A HARD JERK. IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO DROP. THE FAILURE OCCURS ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER WHEN THE CONTACT BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE DEALER FIRST SUGGESTED THAT A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS NEEDED, BUT LATER STATED THAT A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONE WAS FAILING. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10225493
Incident
May 8, 2007
Mileage
65,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 20, 2007

NISSAN ALTIMA 2004. HAS AROUND 91,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION JERK A LITTLE, LIKE IT WAS JUMPING INTO GEAR. CAR SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE COASTING AND RESTART THE CAR. THREE DAYS LATER THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LIGHT. THIS TIME IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIES TO START THE VEHICLE. AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IT STOPPED AGAIN THE SAME DAY BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP (CAR IS IN GERMANY DUE TO MILITARY). THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR FALLS UNDER 2 RECALLS. BOTH THE VALVE SCREWS AND THE SENSOR. I MAY END UP HAVING TO PAY FOR IT ALL EVEN THOUGH NNA SAYS THEY "SHOULD" HANDLE IT HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212391
Incident
Dec 15, 2007
Mileage
91,520 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 30, 2007

ALTIMA KEPT DYING AT RANDOM TIMES AND PLACES. ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AS THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. DEALER TRACED PROBLEM TO A BAD SENSOR. CAM AND CRANK SENSORS REPLACED AND SO FAR THIS HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. $$$ . *NM

NHTSA ID
10181174
Incident
Sep 6, 2006
Mileage
44,700 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Apr 24, 2006

I RENTED VEHICLE FOR THE WEEKEND AND USED IT FOR 1 DAY. I DROVE IT DOWN STATE TO CHAMPAIGN 250 MILES AND MADE A STOP. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT UP, IT HESITATED TO CHANGE GEARS BUT DID, SO I TURNED AND DROVE THE CAR HOME TO CHICAGO. THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS VERY FRIDGET OUTSIDE . WHEN I GOT TO CHICAGO THE VEHICLE STOPPED I COULD START IT UP BUT IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE SOUNDED VERY FINE THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE NOTICEABLE, NO LOUD NOISES IN THE CAR. I CALLED ENTERPRISE AAA TOWED THE CAR TO THE ENTERPRISE RENTAL PLACE. I RENTED A SMOKE COLOR VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THAT HE IS CHARGING ME $5,000.00 FOR A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION FOR A 2005 NISSAN AND FOR A SERPENTINE BELT AND A OIL CHANGE . THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY INFORMATION ON ANYTHING OR ITS WHEREABOUTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10155955
Incident
Jan 5, 2005
Mileage
70 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Sep 21, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IT BEGAN TO LEAK AND SMOKE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 39,400 MILES. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS THAT CAME ON PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2005. THIS WAS THE NINTH TIME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION, FUEL PUMP, AND AXLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE THIS NEW TRANSMISSION HAS ONLY ABOUT 5000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION FIVE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10137255
Incident
Sep 21, 2005
Transmission
Filed Feb 10, 2005

MODEL: 2004 ALTIMA-4 CYLINDER-AUTO PROBLEM: PROBLEM: ALL OF A SUDDEN, CAR WON'T DRIVE FORWARD, PRESSING GAS PEDAL DO NOTHING. THE CAR IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED ON TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN A BUSY ROAD, ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10110259
Incident
Feb 10, 2005
Mileage
6,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, A TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067497
Incident
Apr 20, 2004

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .