RoadVitals

2005 Nissan Altima Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
14
Latest Dec 15, 2016
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.
1%
of 1,091 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.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 visibility

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

Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 15, 2016

SORRY FOR MY BELATED COMPLAINT. I JUST LEARNED OF YOUR WEBSITE. EARLY EVENING AUG 18, 2016 ENTIRE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA COMPLETELY BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FORTUNATELY -- NOBODY WAS SITTING IN BACK SEAT(S) OF MY CAR - NO ADULTS & NO CHILDREN !! WHAT A BIG MESS !! A CLEAR & NORMAL SUMMER EVENING - NO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO EVEN PROVOKE A CRAZY & SUDDEN INCIDENT LIKE THIS. LUCKILY -- I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS ON A QUIET SUBURBAN ROAD WITH RELATIVELY LOW TRAFFIC. I WAS AT STOP LIGHT & SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND -- ALMOST LIKE A GUN SHOT. I CHECKED MY REAR VIEW MIRROR & MY ENTIRE CAR REAR WINDOW WAS BLOWN OUT WITH VERY LARGE HOLES & TINY SHATTERED GLASS PIECES STREWN ALL OVER INSIDE BACK SEAT AREA OF MY CAR. SOME SHATTERED GLASS EVEN BLEW OUT ALL WAY TO FRONT SECTION WHERE I WAS SEATED !! I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE ROAD & PULLED OVER INTO NEARBY WALGREENS PARKING LOT & CALLED LOCAL POLICE. POLICEMAN CAME & EXAMINED MY CAR. HE DID NOT FEEL ANY FOUL PLAY WAS INVOLVED NOR ANY GUNSHOT NOR BASEBALL THROWN INTO MY REAR CAR WINDOW. I TOOK 24 PHOTOS ? SEE 5 UPLOADED. HE HELPED ME GATHER MOST OF BROKEN & SHATTERED GLASS INTO A PLASTIC BAG. WE NOTED A FEW PIECES HAD DARK BROWN BURN MARKS ON THEM. HE SAID MOST LIKELY IT INDICATED A "SHORT" OCCURRED IN REAR DEFROSTER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HE COULD NOT PREPARE POLICE REPORT BCUZ IT DID NOT INVOLVE ANY FOUL PLAY. NEXT DAY I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS (NCA). THEY ASKED ME TO EMAIL MY 24 PHOTOS TO NCA & ONLY AGREED TO PAY TO REPLACE REAR CAR WINDOW. I TOLD NCA IT WAS PROBABLY A SHORT IN REAR DEFROSTER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ? A SERIOUS NISSAN SAFETY ISSUE & DEFECT. FOR ME ? A SCARY INCIDENT !! I SAVED ALL SHATTERED GLASS PIECES WITH DARK BROWN BURN MARKS, BUT NCA DID NOT WANT THEM. UNFORTUNATELY -- I CAN ONLY UPLOAD 5 PHOTOS. IF YOU WANT TO VIEW ALL 24 PHOTOS - CALL OR TEXT MY CELL [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10935382
Incident
Aug 18, 2016
Mileage
91,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10809291
Incident
Dec 9, 2015
Visibility
Filed Apr 21, 2010

MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FRONT WINDOWS ROLL DOWN WHILE I AM AWAY FROM THE CAR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENS, BUT I AM WORRIED MY CAR WILL GET STOLEN. IT HAS BEEN RAINING OFTEN AND THE WOOD GRAIN IS DAMAGED, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO CRIMINALS AND NATURES ELEMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10326851
Incident
Apr 16, 2010
Mileage
87,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 19, 2010

MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FRONT WINDOWS ROLL DOWN WHILE I AM AWAY FROM THE CAR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENS, BUT I AM WORRIED MY CAR WILL GET STOLEN OR RAINED ON/IN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10312283
Incident
Jan 17, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
EngineSeat beltsSuspension+1 more
Filed Feb 12, 2009

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS ISSUES WITH TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT GOOD WITH PHONE CALLS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ON HER THIRD SET OF TIRES AT 22,000 MILES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VEHICLE HAD WEAK AXLES AND WERE OFTEN MIS-ALIGNED AT THE FACTORY. EVEN WITH THE PROPER MAINTENANCE, THE MIS-ALIGNMENT WOULD RETURN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL A CAR SEAT, BUT SHE SOON DISCOVERED, THE REAR SEAT BELT DID NOT CATCH AS IT SHOULD HAVE AND IT DID NOT RECOIL WHEN IT WAS NOT BEING USED. THE FAN WOULD BLOW AND WORK IN ALL POSITIONS, BUT THE ONLY TIME IT WOULD BLOW WARM OR HOT AIR WAS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS IN USE AND RUNNING FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THE WINDOWS WOULD DEFROST ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT NOT THE INSIDE. IT WOULD FORM A THIN LAYER OF ICE AND FOG THAT HAD TO BE SCRAPED OR WIPED WITH WARM WATER, OR IT WOULD EVENTUALLY FADE AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10259010
Incident
Feb 2, 2009
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 30, 2008

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNED ON THE INSIDE AND FOGGY LOOKING. AT NIGHT THEY ARE VERY DIM, ALMOST AS THOUGH I WAS DRIVING IN A CONSTANT THICK FOG. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS FOGGY LOOKING CIRCLES ALL OVER INSIDE THE GLASS AND MAKES VISIBILITY HARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226296
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 15, 2007
2 injuries reported

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE MADE OF CHEAP LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC AND THEY DETERIATE AND BECOME VERY FOGGY AND DRIVER CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211988
Incident
Dec 1, 2006
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Oct 31, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS ADVISED TO GO TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEE TO REPAIR THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER WOULD BE FREE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS CHARGED $185.44. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN AND THEY WERE EQUIPPED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, HAS YET TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THEY COULD ONLY INFORM HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERNAL. THE POWERTRAIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,135. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN THE DEALER STATED REAR WINDOW OPERATES REALLY SLOW, AND PILLAR/ROOF KEEPS COMING A LOOSE. UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10207544
Incident
Aug 10, 2007
EngineOther / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Sep 21, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL OR OIL PLUGS IN THE VEHICLE. HE REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN, WHERE IT WAS REGULARLY SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING OIL OR OIL PLUGS. THEY ALSO INFORMED HER THAT SOMEONE HAD TAMPERED WITH HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS SPOKEN WITH NISSAN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HAS BEEN WITHOUT HER VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS. SHE BELIEVES THEY ARE GIVING HER THE RUN-AROUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000. * UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DEALER STATED PASSENGER WINDOW MAKES NOISE, AND REMOTE SWITCH IS INOPERABLE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10203611
Incident
Aug 14, 2007
Mileage
41,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 31, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A HALF AN INCH GAP BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE FRAME WHERE THE WIPERS WERE CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

NHTSA ID
10172251
Incident
Mar 15, 2005
Mileage
10,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 13, 2006

I BOUGHT A NISSAN ALTIMA JULY 2005. ON DECEMBER WHEN THE WEATHER IN FLORIDA START TO BE NICE I OPEN THE SUNROOF AND IT START MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THAT IT NEED TO GO TO THE BODY SHOP TO BE FIX, THE SECOND APPT. WAS AT THE BODY SHOP THEY CALL ME AND SAID THAT IT WAS FIXED. WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME, THE NOISE WAS THERE I TOOK IT THE NEXT MORNING AND AFTER 4 DAYS NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE RAIL IS BENT AND THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND IT IS NOT A DEFECT FROM THE CAR SO IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 9,000 MILES AND THEY DON'T WANT TO COVER SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED UNDER THE FIRST YEAR WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10150078
Incident
Feb 13, 2006
Mileage
7,000 mi
Fuel systemInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Feb 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GAUGES THAT TURN ON THE DEFROSTER CAUSE THE DRIVER TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF OF THE ROAD. THE GAS CAP IS AT AN AWKWARD ANGLE AND TOO HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAS BACK PROBLEMS AND MUST SIT IN THE DRIVER SEAT AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE TOO CLOSE TO THE AIRBAG. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149213
Incident
Feb 1, 2006
Mileage
4,000 mi
EngineFuel systemTransmission+1 more
Filed Dec 23, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND CLUSTER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PINGING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE MID SECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THIS NOISE WAS NORMAL. A LOCAL MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS A BROKEN CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BASED ON COMPLAINTS ON A WEBSITE SHE FELT THAT A CLAMP NUT MAY BE LOOSE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER 90 MINUTES IN THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT BECAME DIZZY BY WHAT SHE FELT MAY BE RELATED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE TRANSMISSION JERKED, AND HESITATED IN LOW GEARS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER PARTIALLY DEFROSTS THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT DID NOT WORK AT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE DEFROSTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10145995
Incident
Jul 26, 2005
Visibility
Filed Sep 19, 2004

CORRESOPNDENCE I WILL MAIL TO YOU DESCRIBES WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE DEFECTIVE UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY'AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. NAMELY FOR 3 AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL POSITIONS THE AIR CONDITIONING CANNOT BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT UNSAFELY STOPPING THE CAR'S ENGINE; THIS UNSAFE PROCEDURE IS ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10091299
Incident
Sep 17, 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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .