2004 Nissan Altima Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENTERING HIS VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT ACTUALLY START UP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE LOOSE WIRES TO THE CRANK SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER HE WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HIS MOTOR HAD BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME AND THE VEHICLE DROVE FINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
TL-*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA SL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V24200 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT TIME AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER SHUTTING IT OFF FOR A FEW HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED FOR RECALL REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND HESITATING AT RANDOM. *JB
2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. CAR WAS HARD TO START AND EVENTUALLY WOULDN'T START. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. MANY COMPLAINTS POSTED ONLINE WITH A NISSAN CAMPAIGN FOR SOME YEARS BUT NOT THE 2004. WIDER CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE DONE. ONLY 26,000 MILES ON AUTO. *TR
2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WILL HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT HER EXPENSE, BECAUSE NISSAN CLAIMED IT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED YET. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMERS MECHANIC STATED IT WAS GOING BAD AND COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A SPARK PLUG WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BUTTERFLY SCREWS FRACTURED FROM THE POWER VALVES AND BECAME LODGED INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND REPAIRS WOULD FALL AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 133,000.
JUST AS DOZENS OTHERS HAVE ALREADY FILED AS COMPLAINTS I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CAMSHAFT/CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ORIGINALLY THIS SENSOR WENT BAD IN JUNE, 2008 AT 49,000 MILES. I HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED AND THE ECM REPROGRAMMED ACCORDING RECALL 06V242000. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT AND AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH THEY AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR (APPROX. $500). ON MARCH 3RD, 2010 AT 70,885 THE CAR WOULD NOT START SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED IT WITH A BAD CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. THE REPAIR COST ME $265. CLEARLY THERE IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THESE SENSORS AND REPROGRAMMING THE ECM IS NOT A PROPER FIX. APPARENTLY EVEN REPLACING THE SENSOR ONCE (BY A NISSAN DEALER) DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POOR CHOICE IN COMPONENTS AND PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION AND COMPENSATION FOR AFFECTED CONSUMERS. I WILL BE CONTACTING NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AGAIN. *TR
2004 NISSAN ALTIMA POWER VALVE SCREW MISSING CAUSING ENGINE TO MISFIRE, STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, VERY SCARY SINCE THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS IN CAR, ENGINE HARD TO START. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THERE WAS A RECALL 06V242000 FOR THE ECM SENSOR (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
2004 NISSAN ALTIMA ENGINE FAILURE AFTER ONLY 35,000 MILES. THE ENGINE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL (LEAVING SLUDGE AND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN). TOOK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT THE OIL NEED TO BE CHANGED (CHANGED PRIOR TO THIS EVENT APPROX. 3,500 MILES BEFORE THIS EVENT). WAS CHARGED $2,300.00 FOR OIL CHANGE AND OTHER MAINTENANCE. HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AGAIN. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS NO GOOD AND TO GET RID OF THE CAR. THIS COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND FIRE. MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SOME 2002 & OTHER YEAR NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFERED ABSOLUTELY NO HELP OR OFFERS OF ANY KIND. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS STRUNG ME ALONG FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS AND THEN WITH A PHONE CALL (AFTER I TRIED TO CONTACT THEM SEVERAL TIMES FOR UPDATES TO NO AVAIL, I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. WAS TOLD TO EITHER PURCHASE NEW ENGINE ($4,500) OR GET RID OF THE CAR BY THE DEALER. PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, ESPECIALLY OIL CHANGES. THE CAR IS 1 YEAR OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR
CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WITH OUT WARNING, NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT SEEMS TO WANT THE REPAIR REVENUE MORE THAT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. *TR
NISSAN ALTIMA 2004 WITH ABOUT 77,000 MILES. WAS PART OF RECALL FOR ECM AND I HAD THIS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP WINTER OF 2006. WAS TO PREVENT CAR FROM STALLING. THIS RECALL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. 12/31/2009 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. CAR STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE NISSAN ALTIMAS - 2002 TO 2006. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR APPEARS TO DRIVE WELL AND IT JUST SHUTS OFF. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP YET FOR REPAIR, SENT AN EMAIL TO NISSAN. RECALL FOR ECM TO REPROGRAM TO PREVENT STALLING, BUT THE REAL ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE SENSOR THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL ALL ALTIMAS 2002-2006 AND HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
DEFECT SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, A VARIATION IN TEMPERATURE OCCURS DUE TO THE UNIQUE LOCATION OF THE SENSOR IN THE ENGINE. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: 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. SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA #: 06424000 - MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THOUGH I HAVE THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. *TR
MY CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING STALLING AND IS HARD TO START. I HAVE HAD A DIAGNOSIS OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON MALFUNCTION ON THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I HAD THIS SENSOR REPLACED IN 2007 OR 2008. THE CAR HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. UPON ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS, IT IS THE SAME SENSOR. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY STATED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BUT ADVISED ME TO GO TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS DONE. WHICH I DID AND OF COURSE THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING THAT MY MECHANIC HAD ALREADY STATED. AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ORIGINAL PART WHICH IS PLASTIC ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK IN AND CAUSES A BURN OUT OF THE SENSOR SO THEY CHANGED IT TO HAVE A METAL FITTING. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN AGAIN, THEY STILL SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL BUT AN UPGRADE OF THE PART. IN MY EYES, THAT IS NOT AN UPGRADE, THAT IS A REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE PART THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT ARE ONLY ADDRESSING IN CERTAIN VEHICLES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ALREADY ON FILE AND ON THE INTERNET OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT AS I FIND MYSELF IN WHO HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED! I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A TOTALLY UNFAIR PRACTICE THAT NISSAN IS DOING AND I AM ADDRESSING MY CONCERNS TO YOU AND TO NISSAN DIRECTLY IN HOPES THAT AS A CONSUMER, WE COULD OBTAIN SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT ERROR CODES APPEARED FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE TECHNICIAN FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WAS POSSIBLY A MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER AND ENGINE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN PROPERLY REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,447 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,666.
04 ALTIMA JUST TURN OFF DOING 65MPH ON THE I5. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT WAS NOT IN RUSH HOUR AND DID NOT HIT ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME , BUT THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS NOT SO LUCKY HE HAD TO RUN OUT OFF THE FWY SO THAT HE WOULD NOT HIT ME. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RIGHT AFTER. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE NET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS MAYBE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM. (ECM, CRANKSHAFT , AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS) GONE BAD. I CALLED DEALER AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN DIAGNOSE THE CAR WITH OUT CHARGING FOR THE INSPECTION AND CHARGING ALMOST $600.00 FOR A PROBLEM THAT NISSAN SHOULD COVER AS A RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE ECM. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAM SHAFT. THESE TWO COMPONENTS CAUSE SEVERAL VEHICLES TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN TO HIS VEHICLE AFTER THE ECM IS REPLACED. HIS VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND HE FEELS THAT THIS WILL NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
CKP "CRANK POSITION SENSOR" TROUBLE CODE FOUND WHEN SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LOOKS IDENTICAL TO ISSUE FOUND IN RECALL 06V242000. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE TOOK APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES TO RESTART AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 AND NISSAN RECALL NUMBER R0606, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED BEFORE THE DEALER COULD REPAIR THE RECALL ISSUE. IN ADDITION, THE CRANKSHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $200 BEFORE THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR COULD BE REPAIRED. THIS DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO THE CONTACT SO SHE CALLED THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY WILL NOT RETURN HER CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. CAR'S DTC CODE SAID THE FAULT WAS CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THIS 2004 ALTIMA HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOR THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE RECALL. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2004 Nissan Altima has 112 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.