10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 58,216 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
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
- Brainerd, MN, USA
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.
- Grand, PA, USA
When I bought this car not long after I had it the air bag light came on and now it stays on all the time.
- Morgan City, LA, USA
I was driving down the interstate going 60-65 mph, with my girlfriend and my newborn daughter. The check engine light came on, the car shut off and the engine stalled with a river of traffic surrounding around me. After about 10 minutes the car finally started back up & ran fine. A few days later the car became harder to start and the engine shut off on the interstate once again. I got the engine code, checked out and it was P0340 (cam shaft position sensor). Upon further research I noticed that this is a very common nationwide problem. Not only does the engine stall while driving, it completely causes the motor to shut off! the motor in a vehicle shutting off while going down a jammed interstate or going across railroad tracks is extremely unsafe and it is unacceptable to not get recognized. After experiencing this horrible situation, and viewing the countless people who have experienced it as well. I am flabbergasted the cam/crankshaft sensor for the 2002-2005 Altima has yet to be recalled. The chance of the part being deficient is abnormally high. The part is incapable of performing it purpose, because once repaired it continuously has to be replaced. Nissan does state that this is a deficient part and there is a service bulletin on it. But a service bulletin does not do anyone any justice when the sensors have to be replaced once a year!!
- Lexington , VA, USA
Nissan Altima just died on the highway without warning. The vehicle was rear ended and we had to be taken to the hospital. We both sustained multiple surgeries and was admitted for about a week. Called nissanusa to inform them, but they don't care. There were suppose to get back to us and nobody did. Very disappointed in Nissan. They are crap cars!!!
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The vehicle kept showing codes P1148, P1278 and P1279. Took it to Nissan dealer several times and they changed maf sensor, all oxygen sensors, fuel system cleaning but the code kept showing up. The vehicle finally shut off on the parkway without warning and we were rear ended. Luckily we were only two in the front of the vehicle and had to be taken to the hospital. We both have suffered serious injuries from this accident. The Nissan Altima is a death trap. Nissans is a bad company....beware!!!
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Altima. The contact was driving 65 mph, when the brake and battery warning lights illuminated. The engine then began to perform with a reduction in power. The failure recurred frequently. The contact had the battery replaced three times as well as the alternator but to no avail. The vehicle was taken to dealer however, the failure could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and a claim was filed for the failure. The current mileage was 35,500. The failure mileage was 27,000.
- Lighthouse Point, FL, USA
We have had the same sensor related complaint with this car more than 3 times now. The 1st 2 times we took to a local garage, but the same issue came up a year later. So we went to woodfield Nissan, hoping that the dealership, although costs alot more, can deal with the issue better. But just as the 12 month warranty expired, the issue presented itself again, we went again to the same dealership - but they refuse to honor the warranty, even though it was within the mileage (but past the 12 months). We have now spent hundreds of dollars to take care of this crank/cram shaft sensor. The dealership has told us that it has nothing to do with our driving or care, this issue will occur every year or so and we will have to get it repaired or car will stall. The dealership said that we can pay them to take our car totally apart and then they can try to diagnose the problem - but I cannot spend that much money to the dealership to spend hours looking into my car so they can maybe fix the issue. I have been trying to get Nissan to help - but nobody returns my calls. I also tried the dealership - but there too - no one answers or returns my calls. I want Nissan to take ownership of this issue and fix it. I have 2 children and I cannot do without a car and certainly cannot pay so much to keep getting it repaired for the same issue. We have had this car repaired for the same stuff 4 times. It has stalled and we have had to deal with it. Our schedules have been affected. Our lives have been disrupted. I have been late to pick up my children, we had to cancel their activities because the car was not functional or in the shop. We have spent so much money to get it towed everytime it stopped. I think it is about time Nissan took care of its product. I can understand wear and tear - but this is beyond anything. Nissan has to help fix this problem.
- Bartlett, IL, USA
The engine stalls while being driven at low speed due to an overheated crankshaft position sensor. Nissan says my VIN is not included in the recall even though this is the same problem.
- Kingsland, TX, USA
When slowing down for a light I noticed the lights dim in the reflection of the car in front of me. I also saw a red light on the dash which I haven't seen before near the top above the gear indicator. Then when I approached the ramp to the highway I noticed the lights dim again as my RPM's dropped below 1000. All was fine on the highway and I got off at an exit near my house when slowing to make a left on my road the car just completely shut off without warning. Completely dead all the lights went off no radio no heat nothing! I shifted it out of gear into neutral and it wouldn't even turn over tried to turn my hazard lights on and they did not work either. I could not shift it out of N/D with my foot on the brake. This was an awful experience as I was almost rear ended and pissed off a number of people as I was in a dark intersection for almost 5 minutes in a black car. I tried turning the key back and forth and nothing happened ? it was only about 5 minutes later that I could hear some electrical activity (the key was in the accessory position) and then some lights on the dash and about thirty seconds later I could start the car and go on my way. All electrical settings were reset to factory defaults all radio presets etc the radio and heat were powered off.
- Kitchener, 00, USA
My 04 Nissan Altima V6 one day began to buck while on the highway. I made it home, then when I went to start it wouldn't. basically ever since that day it's been an on going problem w/ not starting, shutting off unexpectedly while driving and completely locking up making it very difficult to pull over and dangerous. At one point it would not accelerate. I am the mother of an infant so until I find a resolution I need to borrow cars to travel with him. I have replaced the camshaft sensor and the throttle position sensor which were the codes that came up and still I cannot drive my car. I then researched my make/model/year and found I was not alone. Many others have encountered the same issues and have yet to reach a resolution and apparently Nissan is not declaring a recall on 2004's but have on "02" and "03" which had the same exact issues. I do not want to continue to buy parts and try to fix something that is defective as I read many others have done. I plan on contacting the BBB and taking it from there because I don't know what to do. So here I am making payments on a vehicle that is extremely unsafe for my child and I and no answers on why these cars are malfunctioning and continuing to read camshaft...etc even after being replaced"??" please help.
- East Falmouth, MA, USA
Car shut off while driving. Car also doesn't start up right away. Tried to bring it to Nissan but they said my VIN# wasn't included in the well known recall (camshaft sensor). Bs if you ask me! they're going to put peoples lives at risk. So I went to advanced auto parts store and got the code read and it was a P-03040 which was a camshaft position sensor malfunction. I googled a bit and found out there's plenty of people out there with this problem. I even called Nissan and they didn't want to do nothing about it. Outrageous diagnostic fee also. $105 just to plug in a obd reader. You can buy your own obd reader for that price. Or just go to your local auto store and get it checked for free!!! not happy. Nissan also sounded like they didn't want to deal with me since I don't bring my car to Nissan for oil changes/repairs.
- Langhorne, PA, USA
Car shutoff when driving.
- Caguas, PR, USA
2004 Nissan Altima has been just dying out for no reason, very dangerous, in traffic car just stalls out.
- Kapaa, HI, USA
2004 Nissan Altima engine shuts down while on the run due to faulty crank position sensor and cam shaft sensor. I fixed crank sensor 2 years back after a death incident on the highway and it happened again last month. This time its the sensor next to the other. The cam sensor. According to the dealer this is a common problem in 2002 to 2008 Altima and Sentra. And Nissan continue to make faulty cheap sensors to put thousands of people at risk and not even cared about having a recall.
- Aurora, IL, USA
We purchased a 2004 Nissan Altima from crate lake Mazda, medford, or Jan 31,2009. Two weeks after we had the vehicle it started to buck and act like it wanted die when you stopped at a light. We went back to the dealer and the sales person that sold us the car and were told there was no warranty we had to pay. We took it ta a mechanic and then went back to dealer and he didn't seem interested in helping we were made to feel it was our fault. I then called Nissan and found out that were 2 recalls out on this car. The one was for a power valve failure which is exactly what was wrong with our vehicle. This ended up costing us $785. We had not even made the first payment on this car. We thought we had purchased a good car and were very disappointed with this whole mess. We are seniors and on a limited income this repair was rather devastating to us. Our mechanic used all Nissan factory parts and to their specs. This has been verified by the Nissan dealer in grants pass, or. Someone should have checked to see if there was any outstanding recalls on the vehicle and all of this could have been eliminated.
- Gold Hill, OR, USA
When rear defroster window is turned on, reception of radio fuzzes out. Told they would not cover it under the extended warrentee even though warrentee states audio and electric coverage, window is not damaged.
- Darien, CT, USA
My 2004 Nissan Altima simply shut off while driving about 60 miles an hour and the 'check engine' light came on and stayed on. When I tried to restart it, it acted like there was no 'spark' but it did turn over. After a little cool down, it cranked as normal. Several times after this, while either driving or stopped at a light it would shut down just like turning off the switch. After several tries it would start normally. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the crank angle sensor at my expense ($197.38) even though I protested that there were complaints an even recalls on other Altima in the same series. I feel that Nissan should reimburse me considering the onslaught of complaints and potential danger when this occurs. (the power steering fails to work!)
- Gonzalez, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Altima. While driving 20 mph, the vehicle shuts off at any given moment and without warning. The vehicle has never been serviced because she could not find anyone to make the repair. She was informed that the vehicle needed a crank angle sensor/ECM reprogramming. The current and failure mileages were 63,000. Updated 09/06/07.
- Cambridge, 00, USA
- Sullivan , MO, USA