CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Nissan Altima has two fairly significant problems with the floor pan rusting through & motor mounts breaking.
Altima owners report that up to a basketball-size hole develops under the floor mats where the floor pan metal rusts through. Average repair cost is over $1,000.
The broken motor mounts are less of a problem - they break at ~75,000 miles average & it's $400 to fix. Still, motor mounts should not break!
Add my car to the growing list of Altimas with rusted out floor pans. I was hoping to drive it for another decade, but now I'm weighing my options. My only certainty is that I won't be driving Nissan anymore. I started driving with the 1993 Altima, then purchased a 2005 Altima. I've put 121,000 miles on it over the last 15 years.
Who knows when the rust started. I only noticed it a few months ago when I saw exposed wires and insulation, with carpet material HANGING underneath the car. The Auto Body shops I've talked with are shocked and unwilling to work on it. The repair itself would cost as much as the car is worth. I could try some DIY repairs, but I'd really just want someone to weld a metal plate over the hole.
So far, I can only see rust on the passenger side. However, I haven't pulled back the carpet to look at driver side floor pan.
The website above and MANY others including litigation sites have earmarked this problem which Nissan refuses to issue a recall notice on. I just found out about it when having the oil changed today. I treat my car VERY well. Just 31,002 miles in 11+ years. I still hope to have it 20+ years. Bought it new in 2005. This defect makes the car rust from the inside out! I was amazed when the mechanic called my attention to it today. I'm going to check out some local body shops to see how much it may cost to repair. I know there is no stopping rust but I am really in no position to think about getting a new car now. And, besides, I really love my '05 Altima.
- Paul W.,
Springfield, MA, US
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Add my car to the growing list of Altimas with rusted out floor pans. I was hoping to drive it for another decade, but now I'm weighing my options. My only certainty is that I won't be driving Nissan anymore. I started driving with the 1993 Altima, then purchased a 2005 Altima. I've put 121,000 miles on it over the last 15 years.
Who knows when the rust started. I only noticed it a few months ago when I saw exposed wires and insulation, with carpet material HANGING underneath the car. The Auto Body shops I've talked with are shocked and unwilling to work on it. The repair itself would cost as much as the car is worth. I could try some DIY repairs, but I'd really just want someone to weld a metal plate over the hole.
So far, I can only see rust on the passenger side. However, I haven't pulled back the carpet to look at driver side floor pan.
- Chad P., Osseo, MN, US