The 2004 Nissan Altima has 5 safety recalls and 276 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (112 complaints).
Recalls5safety recalls
Complaints276filed by owners
Crashes · fires14 · 3reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths11 · 0reported in complaints
2004 Nissan Altima in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 07E074000 · Sep 14, 2007 · 11,300 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. DS517-B001L AND DS517-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OPTICEL SURFACE OF THE REFLECTOR IS CORRODED INHIBITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BEAMS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 07E063000 · Aug 21, 2007 · 130 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: CERTAIN ANZO AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS, P/N 02-AZ-NA02-B-A, SOLD FOR USE ON 2002-2004 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE LAMP HOUSING SHAPE DEFORMED DISTORTING THE ASSEMBLY ANGLE OF THE REFLECTOR AND INFLUENCED THE AIMING POSITION. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT ANZO AT 909-628-1440.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 07E054000 · Jul 25, 2007 · 9,145 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 315-1145L-AS AND 315-1145R-AS, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE LAMP REFLECTOR SHAPE DEFORMED CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE OPTIC SURFACE. THIS WILL CHANGE THE OPPOSITE POSITION OF LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM OPTICSAND CHANGE THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE AND ILLUMATED LOCATION WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.
Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA recall 06V242000 · Jul 7, 2006 · 294,166 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.
Risk: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE 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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 06E023000 · Mar 13, 2006 · 292,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2004 Nissan Altima 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Altima
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Altima
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 28 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Altima
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Altima
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
112
0
0
0
67,000 mi
Structure Body; Body › Door
42
0
0
0
114,000 mi
Electrical system Ignition; Starter assembly
32
3
1
4
53,500 mi
Engine
30
1
1
0
92,000 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Axle assembly
19
0
0
0
65,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor; Foundation components › Disc › Pads
12
1
0
0
34,780 mi
Air bags Frontal
11
7
1
5
107,000 mi
Steering Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
11
0
0
0
63,000 mi
Suspension Front; Multiple axle
10
2
0
1
39,554 mi
Unknown or other
9
2
0
2
113,000 mi
Visibility Power window devices and controls; Glass, side/rear
8
0
0
0
51,413 mi
Exterior lighting Headlights; Brake lights
6
1
0
0
85,000 mi
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 20, 2023Engine 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.
May 10, 2023Engine 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
Sep 13, 2022Unknown or other THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR THEN THE AXLE TWICE AND THE BRAKES THEN ETC
Aug 3, 2019 · 136,200 milesStructure › Body 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.
May 22, 2018 · 120,000 miles · crashAir bags 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.
Jan 1, 2018Unknown or other 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.
Apr 8, 2018 · 240,600 miles · crash · 1 injuryElectrical system 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…
Jan 24, 2018 · 200,000 milesEngine ENGINE STALLS DURING DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY. CAM SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
