CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2006 Nissan Altima has a trend of engine & transmission problems.

Excessive oil consumption is the main problem reported by owners. Nissan did a recall back in 2006 for oil consumption due to bad piston rings, but many owners report to us that the recall didn't fix the problem. The dealer only had to check the oil consumption rate. Typically 1 qt per 1,000 miles is "acceptable" per OEM standards ... that's a lot of oil!

The 2006 Altima also has a defect trend of CVT transmission failure showing up around the 100,000 mile mark.

It's an expensive repair at over $2,000 average repair cost. For more information see Nissan Altima CVT defect info on NissanProblems.com.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,916 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.

2006 Nissan Altima body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2006 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 9)

problem #179

Mar 272021

Altima

  • 71,600 miles

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

When I lift my car (Nissan Altima 2006 ) at the mechanic to do repair job, I discovered a huge rust hole at the driver and passenger site at the front of the car, I shocked, it is a safety concern, for me and for my family. The rust is deep, wide and penetrating, my mechanic advice me to sell it of any price but I dont want to sell it for any one, because I have a faithful conscious, and morals, I beileve in karma, I would not do it for any body, even the car has only 71,600 miles, I dont drive it alot, but from now on, I am not willing to drive it at all, or let mt daughters get in this car for a very serious safty concerns, a huge rust in the floor.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #178

Jan 092019

Altima

  • 90,000 miles
Brought my car to the Nissan dealership for routine maintenance on 9/19/2018. Prior to completing the service they told me that there was rusting underneath the passenger side. I couldn't picture what they were describing so I asked to see and I took a picture. Subsequently, I was informed by someone else (not Nissan) that this has been a long standing issue with this make, model & year (2006). It potentially could affect my suspension/steering and also cause a passenger to fall through the bottom of the vehicle. I found out that they even sent out a 13 page illustrated bulletin titled "floor panel repair" on 7/6/2015 to the dealers about a kit they developed to fix this problem; yet, there hasn't been a recall. Just today, 12/11/19, I incidentally found out my particular dealership has had numerous cases for the Nissan pathfinder. Unsure of what year(s) but it was a huge issue and there may have been a recall in those instances. There is a history of this with Altima 2002-2006 & maximas 2004-2008. I've attached a copy of the bulletin. But what made matters worse was between 1/9/19-3/20/19 there were a number of severe potholes on NJ 95 South of which knocked my suspension/steering off. (55-60mph). It felt like all of the wheels were coming off. This adds to the risk the erroding panel leading to the axles, other suspension, etc. Poses & could cause a loss of control of the vehicle at any time while driving.

- Tenafly, NJ, USA

problem #177

Aug 102019

Altima

  • 113,043 miles
I took my 2006 Nissan Altima to the shop to purchase tires and upon putting the vehicle on a lift, the mechanic called me back to show me a gaping hole on both the front driver side and front passenger side of the vehicle. If the carpet were lifted, you could see through to the road on both sides. Both floorboard panels were rusted incredibly badly. At any time my dog or grandchildren could have been seriously injured. I am unaware of how long the holes have been there but judging from the severity of the rust, I would say it has been 5+ years since they started rusting. It was huge gaping holes, so much so that I bought a new car.

- Elizabethton, TN, USA

problem #176

Apr 012010

Altima

  • miles

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

Passenger side floor board rusted through. Driver side seems ok (for now) maybe because I always do under-wash every time washing the car. First noticed the rusting after around 4 years of ownership when did a diy oil change but I just ignored it because I just thought I'm just one of the unlucky owner until did a diy oil change last month and my surprised the rust gotten worst and widened. Bought the car brand new in June, 2006 and was garage kept since day one. It also get washed regularly by me and auto carwash in the winter of course with under carriage wash. The car has now 110K miles.

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #175

Aug 272018

Altima

  • 80,000 miles
I was totally shocked to find holes rusted through the floors of our car. As I researched I have found this a huge problem, even covered by major tv networks....I reached out to Nissan and they said they wouldn't do anything.

- Park Ridge, IL, USA

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problem #174

Jan 012014

Altima

  • miles
The floor panels have completely rusted through and will require replacement. Apparently this is a known issue with this year and model of Altima

- Mentor, OH, USA

problem #173

Mar 052013

Altima

  • 90,000 miles

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

The floor pans of the driver and passenger fronts have been rusting on my Nissan Altima for years. I can not remember when I first noticed it but it would be about 5 years ago easily. Also the exterior paint on my car has prematurely degraded to the point where I almost have no clear coat left on my car. The main issue is the rust. I have never had a car rust in a flat part under neath a car where water should not be able to sit. I will be attaching pictures that show the extent of the issue. I have also come across numerous chat pages that have the exact same thing happening to their cars as well. This is an obvious safety hazard that can not possibly be meeting the minimum safety standards. I do live in a cold weather state now but the rusting happened while I was still living in South Carolina. The fixes for this issue are expensive and should not be the responsibility of the consumer to fix when it is a common issue for 2002-2006 Altima series. Not only do these rust spots allow for debris to possible come into the cabin from the underside of the vehicle but also allow for exhaust to fill the cabin. Kobe steel is a know supplier for Nissan and I would like to know if they supplied the floor panels for these year of Altima's since they have admitted to using material that is not up to standards. I would like to have the floorboards fixed without having to pay or something to make this situation right. My car currently with the rust and paint issues is un-sellable and has lost 100% of its value. Thank you for reviewing this complaint. Again the exact start time for the rust or the paint is unknown but it started around 5 years ago.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #172

Jan 012018

Altima

  • 106,000 miles
Went out to my car ( parked) and noticed something hanging from underneath drivers side. A large mass of rusted floor board was hanging to the ground. I touched it and it fell off, about a foot long and just as wide.laid on ground to see under car and the drivers side floor board is rusted out.has been for regular oil changes and the mechanic has not mentioned this.I discussed with mechanic and he notified me that he has seen this before and I shouldn't allow my teen daughter to drive her car because it is unsafe.I then checked on the internet to find out that this was happening all Nissan Altima's from 2002-2006. Yet, Nissan has not taken responsibility for this in a recall. Is Nissan waiting for my daughters foot to go through the floor and crash and die before they do the right thing. This is clearly a safety issue. Someone needs to step in or step up to resolve this before someone dies. So the car remains parked.question 'would they let there teen drive this car "" remember the drivers seat is also attached to this area will it stand up to a crash or give way throwing driver through front window " taking pictures of damage to document. Thanks

- Nottingham, MD, USA

problem #171

Dec 052017

Altima

  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. While the vehicle was being serviced, the mechanic noticed a piece of metal hanging underneath the floorboard. Upon further inspection, a hole was located on the front driver and passenger side floorboards. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a Nissan dealer for diagnostic testing. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

- Kingston, NY, USA

problem #170

Oct 152017

Altima

  • miles
I happened to look under vehicle and noticed that my drivers side floor board is completely rusted out. This is a design flaw and I have serious safety concerns with this. A whole new floor pan will be needed to hopefully fix this. Had I not seen this, I could have been seriously injured. I do not know when this started to corrode, only when I noticed it which was today 10/15/2017.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #169

Jun 272017

Altima

  • 88,733 miles

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

After a routine service call for oil change, rotate and check tires, etc., I was advised by the mechanic both floor boards were in need of repair. His advise was to drive carefully and not go over big bumps. I took it to a repair shop and immediately the owner knew exactly what the problem was. He the owner had already fixed at least 4 Altima same year. He said the steel was thin and rusted quick. My car was almost all the way through the floors. Steel is, in fact made much better and very little rust shows on cars. Mine car has no rust (except floor boards in front) it has been fixed $500.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

problem #168

Jul 022017

Altima

  • 106,000 miles
2006 Nissan Altima, the under body rusting and hole in underbody of passenger and driver side. Just noticed since I saw something hanging from my car.

- New Milford, NJ, USA

problem #167

Apr 142017

Altima

  • miles
Floorboards rusted through.04/15/2017. Found this out when car was in for service.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

problem #166

May 052017

Altima

  • 119,000 miles
Nissan Altima 2006 very bad rust underneath the car on the driver position. This is very dangerous and not safe to drive this car. I found out this problem when taking this car to regular oil change.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #165

Apr 182017

Altima

  • 101,000 miles
Rotted floor boards under drivers seat and passenger seat. Vehicle failed inspection on April 18, 2017. Vehicle had just 101K miles.

- Smithfield, RI, USA

problem #164

May 152017

Altima

  • miles
The floor boards are rusting out from the inside on both sides of the car.

- Lafayette Hill, PA, USA

problem #163

May 032017

Altima

  • miles
Takada recall yes I got looking under my car an notice that the floor board is rusting real bad an will have a big whole threw it real soon at which is not safe.

- London, KY, USA

problem #162

Apr 172017

Altima

  • 152,000 miles
On my 2006 Nissan Altima, there has been hundreds and hundreds of complaints about the rust problem on the front floorboards. I have a 16" by 8" hole on my front passenger side floorboard that I put my foot inside when I was getting inside my car and slightly injured my foot. The only thing holding this hole is the carpet that is covering the rusted out floor panel. This is a super big safety issue that needs to be recalled on all Nissan vehicles before any other injuries or complaints take place. Nissan wanted to charge me a $125 diagnosis fee for something you can physically see with your own eyes.

- Troy, MI, USA

problem #161

Mar 012011

Altima

  • 62,000 miles
My 2006 Nissan Altima has excessive and premature rust on the front driver's side floor pan. There are no other indications of rust on the passenger side, or anywhere else on the under-body of the vehicle. This issue first started showing symptoms in ~2011 when the vehicle was only 5 years old and has continued to worsen to the point where it's dangerous to drive the vehicle.

- Cranberry, PA, USA

problem #160

Mar 112017

Altima

  • 0 miles
The floor panel under the drivers side has rusted out and need to be replaced or repaired.

- Roslyn, PA, USA

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