NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Nissan Altima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
MY CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE I AM DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING, EVERYTHING GOES COMPLETELY DEAD. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 8000 MILES. SINCE THEN, IT HAS CUT OFF AT LEAST 5 MORE TIMES. MY CAR ONLY HAS 11,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY RAN NUMEROUS DIAGNOSTICS ON MY CAR AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION ON WHY MY CAR KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN A BUSY ROAD, ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN IS BOUND TO HAPPEN. THE LAST TIME I CALLED THE DEALER THEY STATED I PROBABLY PUT BAD GAS IN THE CAR???? WHAT?S UP WITH THAT? I DON?T FEEL I SHOULD BE MAKING A CAR PAYMENT ON A BRAND NEW CAR AND HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. I WAS BETTER OFF WITH THE JUNK THAT I HAD. AT LEAST I WAS SAFE WHILE DRIVING. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT 3,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED A BOLT, AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS. AT 11,000 MILES THE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO VIBRATE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKES ASSEMBLY.*AK
MODEL: 2004 ALTIMA-4 CYLINDER-AUTO PROBLEM: PROBLEM: ALL OF A SUDDEN, CAR WON'T DRIVE FORWARD, PRESSING GAS PEDAL DO NOTHING. THE CAR IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED ON TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN A BUSY ROAD, ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN.*AK
I RENTED VEHICLE FOR THE WEEKEND AND USED IT FOR 1 DAY. I DROVE IT DOWN STATE TO CHAMPAIGN 250 MILES AND MADE A STOP. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT UP, IT HESITATED TO CHANGE GEARS BUT DID, SO I TURNED AND DROVE THE CAR HOME TO CHICAGO. THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS VERY FRIDGET OUTSIDE . WHEN I GOT TO CHICAGO THE VEHICLE STOPPED I COULD START IT UP BUT IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE SOUNDED VERY FINE THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE NOTICEABLE, NO LOUD NOISES IN THE CAR. I CALLED ENTERPRISE AAA TOWED THE CAR TO THE ENTERPRISE RENTAL PLACE. I RENTED A SMOKE COLOR VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THAT HE IS CHARGING ME $5,000.00 FOR A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION FOR A 2005 NISSAN AND FOR A SERPENTINE BELT AND A OIL CHANGE . THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY INFORMATION ON ANYTHING OR ITS WHEREABOUTS. *JB
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER HAD THE TIRE REPLACED, AND WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
ON A 2 MONTH OLD ARMADA WITCH HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT,THE ROTORS BECAME VERRY WARPED . MY GUESS IS THAT THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE FROM THE SMALLER,LIGHTER NISSAN'S. DEALER SAID THAT THE PARTS WOULD TAKE FOUR WEEKS TO GET HERE. SOUNDS LIKE A LONG ROUGH RIDE. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE HAS TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND OFF TWO OR THREE TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING . THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATIONS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL OR INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
RADIATOR FAILURE AT 45,000 MILE CHECK (OCT. 3, 2006) MECHANIC REPORT: LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE: 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L, VEHICLE PURCHASED: OCTOBER, 2003 AS OF TODAY (OCT. 4, 2006) THE RADIATOR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, WITH NO ACCIDENTS, THE RADIATOR SHOULD NOT FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE A SIMILAR FAILURE IS OCCURRING ON MY WIFE'S CAR (40,000 MILES), PURCHASED THE SAME MONTH. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO A RECALL, AND PAY FOR THIS REPLACEMENT. *NM
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FROM 55-60 MPH IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND/OR VIBRATE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT DEALER TURNED OR RESURFACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AT 9,761 MILES; SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 13,930, IN WHICH THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND CURRENTLY AT 23,000 MILES DEALER NEEDS TO RESURFACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT PADS AGAIN. CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THIS PROBLEM WOULD KEEP RECURRING.*AK
MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA IS STALLING AT RED LIGHTS AND WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT SINCE IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR WITH MY CAR UNTIL THE RECALL WORK FOR THE ECM REPROGRAMMING WAS DONE. BUT, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THEN. SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECT MORE THAN ONCE, AND NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE HAS STOPPED THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
LOST OF POWER WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM STOP.. "ENGINE SERVICE SOON LIGHT" CAME ON!! P2135 TP SENSOR CODE FOUND. REPLACED PART BY NISSAN STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.. NOT IT SURGES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE.. P0507 ISC CODE FOUND.. NISSAN REFUSED TO CHANGE THE COMPUTER AT THIS TIME.*AK NEW CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEM.. NISSAN HAD FAILED TO MAKE RECALL FOR THIS PART.. ALL 2004 NISSAN ATLMIA HAS THIS PROBLEM.. FORCE NISSAN TO FIX ALL CARS OR TAKE BACK ALL 2004 MODELS.
DURING A RECENT ACCIDENT WHERE MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA HIT THE BACK OF A 2002 CHEVY BLAZER, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NOT A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THERE WAS MORE DAMAGE ON THE DRIVER SIDE THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. *NM
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE MANUAL SELECTOR SWITCH IS MOVED FROM THE DEFROST POSITION. THE ONLY WAY TO DISENGAGE THE COMPRESSOR AFTER USING THE DEFROSTER IS TO STOP THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE FAN , MOVE THE SELECTOR SWITCH TO ANY FUNCTION THAT IS NOT DEFROSTER RELATED, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY MY WIFE AND I ON OUR WAY BACK FROM FLORIDA LAST MARCH. I COULD NOT GET FRESH AIR ONLY. UPON MY RETURN TO MAINE THE DEALER CHECKED OUT MY COMPLAINT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL COVERED THIS SOMEWHAT. A PREVIOUS SAME COMPLAINT STATED THAT THIS IS COVERED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN NTB03-048 DATED 5-6-03 FROM NISSAN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOTED AS A CHANGE IN OPERATION FROM EARLIER MODELS. THIS A/C ON OFF IS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOULY YEARS OF NISSAN"S OF WHICH I HAVE OWNED MANY. I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, A TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID. *AK
CAR VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF 65 AND GREATER. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BALANCED AND CHECKED FOR RUN OUT. PROBLEM STILL EXSISTS. NISSAN1 HAS NOT RETURNED MY CALLS. AFTER 1 WEEK OF NO RETURNED CALLS, I WAS FORCED TO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM AS A NEW CALL BEFORE I COULD GET A LIVE PERSON ON THE PHONE, AT WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND BASICALLY START TROUBLE SHOOTING THE PROBLEM AGAIN.*AK
WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND TWICE BEFORE STOPPING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES FROM THE INCIDENT. *JB
AFTER CLOSING THE PASSENGER DOOR WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
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 CALLED NISSAN1 USA THE FOLLOWING DAY TO REPORT THIS THEY SAID TO TAKE IT BACK TO A NISSAN DEALER. NISSAN 1 USA DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY KIND OF SUPPORT, GUIDANCE OR SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES AND MADE MENTION TO A CASE NUMBER THAT THEY GAVE ME BUT FOR SOME STRANGE REASON THEY COULD NEVER FIND MY CASE NUMBER AND I HAVE TO RESTART THIS WHOLE BORING PROCEDURE OVER AGAIN. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER MAINTAINS THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR AT 20,000 MILES AND STILL REMAINS ON UNTIL THIS DAY WHICH CURRENTLY HAS ACCUMULATED 100,000 MILES (UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO MY LINE OF BUSINESS I NEED DAILY TRANSPORTATION TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH THROUGH CITIES AND THROUGH STATES) MY CAR RIGHT NOW (CORRECTION NISSAN PIECE OF CAR) RIGHT NOW WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. IT CONTINUES TO CUT OFF AND WHENEVER I TAKE THIS TO THE DEALER THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT OR DONT EVEN PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY SAY MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERS AND NISSAN1 USA THAT I AM NOT PAYING FOR ANYTHING ELSE. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, I MISSED WORK AND BUSINESS WITH IMPORTANT CLIENTS. SAMUEL A MERRIN 301-535-7005. *AK
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
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, HAS SEVERE DIFFICULTY STARTING AND JERKS IN SECOND GEAR. CAR IDLES AT ABOUT 100-200 RPM. *AK
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
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
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
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
WE BOUGHT THIS 2004 NISSAN BACK IN NOVEMBER AND SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN IN THE NISSAN SHOP FOR MANY TIMES AND THE WORST THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE LOSE OUR TIME AND THEY DON'T EVEN PROVIDE YOU WITH A RENTAL CAR. MY PROBLEM IS THE INTERIAL TRIM ABOVE THE RADIO. IT CAME UP AND WHEN I AM DRIVING, I CAN SEE IN, BETWEEN THE TWO PLASTIC PARTS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP FOR THE FOURTH TIME NOW AND THEIR ANSWER WAS THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN 1. I CALLED NISSAN 1 AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE TO MY CONCERN WAS THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.EVEN THE DEALER SHIP ADVISORS TOLD ME, THAT WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM IN THEIR SHOP AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. WHY IS IT EASY TO BUY AN EXPENSIVE CAR BUT THEN WHEN WE NEED TO FIX SOMETHING, EVERYTHING TURNS AROUND AND NO ONE WANTS TO HELP? SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP UP FOR US. *LA
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR SAFE NIGHT DRIVING. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NOT THE MANUFACTURER.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026