2004 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
276 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
73,480 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 225 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 72 of 276 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 69 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 7.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 72 |
| Structure:Body | 35 |
| Engine | 30 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 22 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 72; Structure:Body: 35; Engine: 30; Electrical System: 26; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 22; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Steering: 10; Unknown Or Other: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 30 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 63 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 50 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 47 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 63; 75,000 to 99,999: 50; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 13
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (63). 51 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 35 |
| 2008 | 38 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2004: 16; 2005: 10; 2006: 11; 2007: 35; 2008: 38; 2009: 26; 2010: 25; 2011: 19; 2012: 16; 2013: 17; 2014: 20; 2015: 17; 2016: 12; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 69 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10052404 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
ONE OF THE REAR SEATBELTS IS DEFECTIVE - IT WILL NOT CLICK WITH ANY OF THE BELTS.ASSENGER SEATBELT 'RATCHETS' WHEN PULLED OUT ALL THE WAY AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE PASSENGER TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT FIRST UNBUCKLING THE SEATBELT, LETTING IT FULLY RETRACT AND THEN FASTENING IT AGAIN. QUITE OFTEN THIS HAS TO BE DONE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055063 · 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)
ONCE BACK SEAT PASSENGER IS BUCKLED IN TO SEATBELT, BELT STICKS AND WILL NOT GIVE. IF PASSENGER LEANS AGAINST THE HEAD REST, THEY WILL HAVE TO UNDO THE SEATBELT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AT ALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055069 · 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, HAS SEVERE DIFFICULTY STARTING AND JERKS IN SECOND GEAR. CAR IDLES AT ABOUT 100-200 RPM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 710 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055596 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED FOUR TIRES AND PERFORMED FRONT END ALIGNMENT. HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES BETWEEN SPEED OF 40-60 MPH. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056226 · 2004-01-31 (January 31, 2004)
2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED TO CRANK ON COLD MORNINGS 5 TIMES. IN AND OUT OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FINALLY REPLACED FUEL CONTROL MODULATOR. NEXT MORNING CAR CRANKED IN 29 DEGREE WEATHER AND NOW IS SMOKING (BLACK SMOKE). RETURNED CAR TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 1-31-04 ALONG WITH A CLOTH CONTAINING THE RESIDUE FROM THE TAIL PIPES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060967 · 2004-02-27 (February 27, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT STEERING VIBRATED AT THE SPEED OF 45 MPH AND ABOVE. IT SHOOK BADLY WHEN REACHING 55-60 MPH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER/MECHANIC 6 TIMES, AND THEY INSISTED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064198 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)
I PURCHASED MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA IN DECEMBER OF 2001 WITH 4 MILES ON IT IN MID OCTOBER. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT OVER AND OVER TO THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT CUTS OFF ON ME OUT OF THE BLUE. IT CUT OFF FIRST GOING DOWN A HILL, THE WHEEL JUST LOCKED AND IT SHUT DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY I CONTACTED PASSPORT NISSAN AND SHEEY NISSAN IN MARYLAND AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN ON THE NEXT DAY. NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AT THIS TIME. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT CUT OFF AGAIN I HAD TO PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD. I C…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064936 · 2004-03-25 (March 25, 2004)
AFTER CLOSING THE PASSENGER DOOR WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064936 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V242000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗