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!

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,865 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Nissan Altima drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2005 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #42

May 142015

Altima

  • 99,992 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car shuddered and RPM dropped and then came back up to current RPM level. Came to stop light and vehicle was then put into limp mode. Would not accelerate and RPM's would not go over 2000. Pulled over and turned car off. Restarted car and began to try and drive it again. Service engine light came on and vehicle would not shift gears. Tried to manually shift the automatic trans and it would hit hard upon gear shifts but was able to make it home the remaining few miles.. brought vehicle in to a mechanics shop the next morning and the codes indicate cam position sensor failures. I see numerous complaints and a recall for this under R2022 but of course my vehicle is not listed. This appears to be a common problem and all vehicles should be included in this recall as it is completely dangerous issue that comes out of nowhere while driving the vehicle. I am waiting for the vehicle to be repaired to see if the problem is completely resolved at my expense. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

- Oswego, IL, USA

problem #41

Sep 142014

Altima 6-cyl

  • 93,567 miles
The clutch will go to the floor. It will happen whenever it wants to. Then it will go back to normal. It happens when you start it or in the middle of driving. No warning signs. It just happens.

- Vandenberg Afb, AA, USA

problem #40

Aug 012013

Altima

  • 49,875 miles
1. precat failure which led to needing of a complete long block replacement. @ 49875 miles 2. clutch pedal assembly caused premature clutch failure and replacement of manual transmission.@ 94571 miles 3. passenger side floor has completely rotted thru!!!! @ 100000 miles, this cuts the cake! car is junk!

- Lonaconing, MD, USA

problem #39

Mar 242015

Altima 4-cyl

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was backing into a space in a garage and the car just speed backwards on its own at high speed. The car was totaled. This is the second time this happened where the car seemed to go on its own. Last year it went forward and I could not stop it right away. This happened in the same garage. Luckily it finally stopped and I did not hit another car.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #38

Mar 202015

Altima 6-cyl

  • 111,503 miles
Went to go start the car, pushed in clutch as normal, started fine, but when I went to go put the car in gear, it wouldn't go. I lifted the clutch and it was stuck on the floor. I had to manually lift it up with my hand. When I started it again it was fine. Then when I am driving it does not go up all the way it drops about 2 inches and stays which grinds the clutch and causes premature wear!

- Sycamore, IL, USA

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problem #37

Sep 062014

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
Car starts and stalls/engine light on. Was told it is the crank and cam sensor as well as the transmission input speed sensor. We noticed this is a big issue and many cars have been recalled for this issue but not all, including ours. If this is such a major issue why are only some being repaired by dealer. Is there anything we can do to get the dealer to repair it. This is my father's car but it is my information below. He doesn't speak english. Thank you very much. Updated 4/13/2015

- Pawtucket, RI, USA

problem #36

Dec 112014

Altima

  • 134,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving my 2005 Nissan Altima, it appears to have shifting issues that are known to Nissan. Nissan needs to step up to the plate and stand by their product. Hard shift from 1st to 2nd at initial start up. Also have shifting issues from 3rd to 4th. The shifting from 3/4 is when vehicle is at operating temps. There is a very hard shift and delay in shift. I have called several dealers, and all claim not to have any recalls or bulletins, or deny hearing of any shifting issues. Very poor customer service. Going into 4th from 3rd, vehicle seems to have a delay and stalls, unit revs, and finally kicks into gear.

- La Habra, CA, USA

problem #35

Jan 102005

Altima 4-cyl

  • 100 miles
I purchased my 2005 Altima 2.5 S December 2004 and within a couple of weeks I had taken it in to the dealer that I purchased it from for a clunking noise coming front the engine area and a feeling under my feet like someone was under my car striking it with a hammer, this occurs at take off, shifting gears and coming to a stop (still down shifting), I also felt as if the transmission shifted very rough for a new car, it just really always felt like my motor was about to drop on the ground. The dealership service advisor came out to me and said that the mechanic said he could not get the car to repeat it so it should be fine. As I drove away it happened again, I was heated and called the dealer when I got home, they made me another appt. And this repeated again and again and again and again, never being repaired. Now after hitting 100K my car is great except for this darn clunking, so I researched the internet and it seems to be a common issue, engine mounts broken, mainly passenger side. So I ordered parts and had them all replaced and sure enough, I am amazed I didn't loose my motor the passenger one was almost like nothing was there, obviously this is a part that has been broken for a really long time. With so many complaints and known issues, why has this not become a recall?

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #34

Jun 232014

Altima

  • miles
My 2005 Nissan maxima bought used didn't even have it for six months transmission failed. When ever it is driven for 15 or so minutes it wont shift gears and when coming to a stop it feels like someone slammed into me from behind. I feel very unsafe in this vehicle. I noticed that this is a common problem with this make and model. What is going to be done about this?

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #33

Aug 062014

Altima

  • miles
Trying to leave for work one morning and my car stops at a traffic light. I put my car in park and try to turn it on, and it does but as I start speeding up it turns off again (at the intersection) and now the check engine service light comes on. It almost caused the car behind me to rear end me but he swerved to avoid an accident. I found out it was a faulty crankshaft from the mechanic and told me to call the dealership because he thought there was a recall. L called the dealership and they said there was a recall but not on my car (different year), instead they said they could change the part for $350 with labor. So I could have seriously injured someone or vise versa and it's not their fault? I'm am so upset about how they are not at fault for making parts that don't work and at the end they aren't liable...updated 09-24-14

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #32

Jun 082014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 88,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My wife was driving the car at 25 mph and the car lost all speed as if the brakes were implied and almost caused a three car pile up. Now the car is stuck in 5th gear. I am really worried because my 2 year old daughter was in the car at the time. I have done research online and this is a major problem.

- Travis Afb, CA, USA

problem #31

Nov 182009

Altima 6-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
This issue has actually happened several times since I've had the car. The issue is with the clutch pedal bracket assembly and the clutch master cylinder in the 3.5 SE-R model of the car. The clutch pedal bracket since 2009 when I bought the car has broken 8 times. The clutch master cylinder has needed replacing 5 times. The most recent incident (May 2014) the master cylinder failed 2 months after getting it fixed and then again 3 days later after that. The last 2 times, it was replaced by the dealership, and when it failed I was in heavy traffic on the highway. When it fails it's impossible to put the car into gear. Honestly, I'm actually surprised I wasn't killed in traffic.

- Milpitas, CA, USA

problem #30

May 062011

Altima 6-cyl

  • 65,498 miles
Premature transmission failure X2.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #29

May 052014

Altima 6-cyl

  • 100,677 miles
The transmission is stuck in 5th gear, even if you try to downshift it manually it wouldn't come out of 5th gear.

- East Patchogue, NY, USA

problem #28

Feb 122008

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
Motor mount failure. This is a continuing problem starting at 20000 miles. There are numerous internet and blogs with other Nissan owners experiencing the same problem causing hundreds of dollars in repairs and other safety problems like exhaust manifold cracks leaking into the environment.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #27

Dec 102012

Altima 4-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
This recall number, #03V084 describes my situation precisely. My vehicle currently has 97,000 miles on the odometer and I have been experiencing (over the last course of a year) severe oil consumption. Soon after I changed my oil in may of 2013, I began to notice unusual engine noise. I took my vehicle to a mechanic and he discovered that my motor was only running on a quart and a half of oil. The mechanic replenished my oil to its normal level and since then, the motor consumes oil at an abnormally rapid rate. According to the NHTSA"?S recall #03V084, the catalytic converter disintegrates and the particles of the converter are drawn back into the motor, which causes scaring on the cylinder walls. This problem is the only logical explanation for my vehicle's rapid oil consumption. It?"S my intention to approach Nissan of North America about this issue. I would greatly appreciate your support.

- Pinole, CA, USA

problem #26

Sep 102008

Altima 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
I purchased this car brand new. A little after it was 3 years (08)that I had it the transmission went out. Nissan told me that the car was over mileage so I was responsible out of pocket. So I took it to a mechanic 1200 dollars out of pocket, a little over a year (09), same problem another 1200, in 2012 once again another 1000 and now as of last month transmission number 4 another 1000. As of today July 30. 2013 the car once again is stalling. Friend of mind told me bout the class action lawsuit bout the Nissan trans. As a woman who depends on her car alot I can tell you that owning this car has not been pleasant at all. I have had it stall on me at busy intersections, highways, and in the middle of the nite while working. Nissan doesn't seem to realize that their way of doing business and hiding the truth behind their defective vehicles is and continues to put people lives in jeopardy. All they care about is their product being out on the street. If I would have known that such a pretty car was a piece of crack, I would have spent alot less than 20000 dollars on a new car that was so called good quality.

- Lakewood, NJ, USA

problem #25

Jun 172013

Altima

  • 107,800 miles
I have a 2005 Altima SE-R 3.5 V6 I was leaving a mcdonald's parking lot and as soon as I put the car in reverse there was a hard jerk and the transmission did not engage properly. The car reversed after a couple seconds and when I put it in drive a hard jerk and the car was in 5th gear. No other gears were available. I parked the car and shut if off...after a few seconds I started it back up and threw it in reverse and got the same result, I put it in drive then tiptronic and saw a 5 (5th gear). I called a couple friends and mechanics they said it a fail safe. So I waited again and tried to restart the car and it took a good 10-15 seconds to crank and after I reversed the car would die. I was only trying to get home (1 mike down the road) because I did not trust this car to bring me anywhere at this point. After a couple start then shut downs and letting the car sit for a few I was able to get the car running and driving in all the gears. I got on the boulevard and I was going about 20-30 and the car dies on me. Luckily it was the middle of the night and the was no traffic. I restart the car and its running in 5th gear for about 10-15 seconds and then I see my rpms going up as speed going down. The transmission was not engaging and I knew something was definitely wrong at this point. I pull to the side and pop the hood, the was so much heat but the car was not overheating. I call my mechanic and he says let it sit a bit. 20 minutes later, car cooled down a bit and a reliable friend and mechanic come help me push the car into a parking lot. We later find out the transmission failed. Fluid was still red, not burned but something else was going on inside. $2000+ later and a replacement tranny the car is up but still dying at random times, won't start. Diagnosis crank and camshaft sensors. The transmission also goes straight to 5th gear and car stalls in traffic.

- Port Saint Lucie , FL, USA

problem #24

Jun 262010

Altima 4-cyl

  • 33,000 miles
After driving in stop and go traffic on a very hot day, the clutch pedal lost pressure and was very difficult to use and shift gears. The pedal lost all but the last amount of pressure. This has happened multiple times since the first incident. Always occurs in warm, humid weather and heavy usage. Could be very dangerous if all pressure is lost and shifting is impossible. This must be corrected!

- Roscoe, IL, USA

problem #23

May 182013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 95,470 miles
Car felt hot even after sitting and when weather was cool. Car cut off on me at a stoplight, and another time while stopped. Car seemed to slip gears a few times.

- Winston-Salem, NC, USA

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