2006 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 40 MPH, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT, CAUSING ME TO HAVE A HEAD ON CRASH. DRIVERSIDE AIR BAG OPERATED PREFECT. RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR THE RIGHT SEAT BELT LOCK CAUSING PASSENGER TO HIT FRONT DASH. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140093 at NHTSA ↗

IGNITION SWITCH STICKS IN LOCK POSITION. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140111 at NHTSA ↗

RECENTLY PURCHASED 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED LOUD RATTLING NOISE AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY, SWAYING IN STEERING AND VIBRATION FROM FRONT TIRE(S). TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY DROVE IT AND SAID COULD NOT HEAR ANYTHING. TOOK BACK A FEW DAYS LATER, WHEREUPON THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NEED VEHICLE FOR A WHOLE DAY AND WOULD NOT FIX IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK. I TOOK TO ANOTHER NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED PROBLEM TO THEM. THEY TOOK OFF THE FRONT AIR DEFLECTOR AND IT FIXED LOUD RATTLING. HOWEVER, STILL HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140432 at NHTSA ↗

AS I WAS CONCLUDING MY BUSINESS DAY BY DRIVING HOME, MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT. CAR DRIVEN TO A LOCAL TIRE DEALER, HE REFUSES TO FIX TIRE AND SAYS TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT. MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 2, 2005. SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED HIM THAT THE TIRE DAMAGE WAS MY FAULT, AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH A NEW TIRE. A FEW DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE COVER WAS HANGING. I CALLED MY SALESMAN, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT IT PROBABLY OCCURRED WHEN TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,402 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144090 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR IDLING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED, THE FLY WHEEL HAD HEAT DAMAGE AND THE PRESSURE PLATE WAS WARPED. THOSE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150536 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA ON DECEMBER 28, 2005. AT 60 - 65 MPH I HEARD A LOUD AND STEADY HUMMING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD AND A WHISTLING SOUND THROUGH THE WHEELS. ON DECEMBER 30, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:54 AM WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY 59 SOUTH ON THE RAMP TO BELTWAY 8 NORTH IN HOUSTON, TEXAS THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO PERFORM IN THE NORMAL WAY. I HAD STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AS I ENTERED THE RAMP AND THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE WIDE SWERVING ARCS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WHEN I TRIED TO CENTER THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD JUST SWERVE. THINKING I NEED…

Owner-reported narrative. 81 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151303 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED NISSAN ALTIMA 2006 IN SEPT.05, FROM DAY 1 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT STARTING. AFTER SERVICE HAD THE CAR FOR 2 MONTHS I INVOKED THE LEMON LAW AND RECEIVED ANOTHER NISSAN ALTIMA 2006 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THEY SAID THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY 2 NEW ALTIMA 2006 THEY'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH. THEN I FOUND OUT THESE ARE THE ONLY 2 WITH FACTORY NAVIGATION SYSTEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 524 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154522 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER TENDS TO NOT OPERATE PERIODICALLY! EXAMPLES: ON A COLD MORNING, THE CAR HAD TO BE RETURNED HOME SINCE THERE WAS NO BLOWER. ON A DAMP DAY, THE INTERIOR WINDOWS COULD NOT BE DEFOGGED DUE TO NO BLOWER. ON A DAMP MORNING, THE FROST ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE CLEARED BY THE DEFROST SETTING SINCE THE BLOWER FAILED TO OPERATE. WE WONDER HOW SAFE THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE DURING A PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN! OR DURING A SNOWFALL? PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REMEDY…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155314 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-02-13 (February 13, 2006)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE REAR SUBFRAME MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRACK IN A BRACKET WHICH HOLDS PART OF THE REAR SUSPENSION.

Consequence: IF THE BRACKET IS CRACKED, THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE AFFECTED UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUBFRAME TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2006-06-21 (June 21, 2006)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OF THE PISTON RINGS.

Consequence: IF THE OIL IS NOT MAINTAINED AT LEAST AT THE MINIMUM LEVEL, ENGINE DAMAGE CAN OCCUR AND IN EXTREME CASES RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM OR ENGINE COMPUTER). YOUR VEHICLE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING ENGINE OIL AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL BE NEEDED. ON JUNE 9, 2006, NISSAN NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE OIL AT A PROPER LEVEL. FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE STATUS OF THE RECALL WAS SENT DURING AUGUST 2006. FOLLOWUP LETTER TO OWNERS WAS SENT ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2007-11-14 (November 14, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION 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. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.