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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,272 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2006 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #45

Nov 252023

Altima

  • miles

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

I started my vehicle, as usual, and when driving at a very slow speed (neighborhood speed limits) I approached a very busy intersection and the car just stopped. Not only did it stop, it would not steer and a bunch of warning lights came on the dashboard. Tav I believe, oil, check engine light. Even with the key in the acc mode, the power steering was not functioning. Everything just stopped functioning. I know this vehicle was recalled for the same exact thing back in 2008, but obviously it wasn't permanently fixed. Recall #07v-527. If I would have been in the middle of an intersection and this happened I could have been killed.

- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA

problem #44

Aug 012021

Altima

  • miles
UNKNOWN: While driving the car will stall. After restarting it, the car will then be stuck in fifth (highest) gear. The SES (Service engine soon) light comes on. The first time this happened, after the next trip, the SES light went out. Then the same thing happened. This is a danger because if this happens in heavy traffic, it could lead to a collision.

- Cheney, KS, USA

problem #43

Nov 012018

Altima

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the clutch ceased depressed to the floor. In addition, the vehicle was unable to shift gears. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the clutch and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, a year and a half later the failure recurred. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 150,000.

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #42

Oct 132018

Altima

  • 118,031 miles

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

Discovered antifreeze to be milky white in the reservoir and radiator it's self. Will need to replace radiator and flush transmission fluid.

- Pueblo, CO, USA

problem #41

May 112018

Altima

  • 151,000 miles
Vehicle was being drove down major highway when all of the sudden it loses all power, get off highway on edge put it in park, turn key completely off and try to restart car fails to start check engine light comes on and stays. Get code pulled shows crankshaft position sensor a. get the crankshaft position sensor replaced and code cleared. Head home with car, does same exact thing that happened while on the highway in town. Have had everything else looked at and no one knows what to do to fix the problem. Car acts as if it's hard to start ever since this happened. Definitely won't be taking it out of town until something is done. Car will sit and crank and crank then eventually decides to start. Starter isn't issue it was previously replaced not even 2 months ago due to it going out.

- Kingman, KS, USA

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problem #40

May 092018

Altima

  • miles
Newly purchased used car....a slight hesitation and then sudden surge type feel under light acceleration at low speeds.

- Mather, CA, USA

problem #39

Jul 032017

Altima

  • 130,000 miles

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

Jerking transmission.transmission jerks randomly when accelerating. Occurs in city driving. This is continuous event.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #38

Jun 092017

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
Was leaving store and when pulled out onto road, I was involved in a crash! left the scene and then was taken by private vehicle to local emergency room and from there, airlifted with brain injury! was almost across the road and vehicle stalled and wouldn't accelerate and stalled and caused a horrible accident. The vehicle that hit me got me in passenger rear as he was traveling up highway and threw me and went air borne and knocked a telephone pole in half and done damage to front as well. Air bags didn't deflate at all. I am making attempt to make Nissan aware and opportunity to make right. I have researched what could cause this and recalls are effective while I'm going to state unknown to cause, as there are several reasons on forum as to what could cause this. Takata recall for air bags but unknown on other....updated 07/11/17

- Leighton, AL, USA

problem #37

May 032016

Altima

  • 150,000 miles
My 2006 Nissan Altima has started to have a transmission slip. It jerks very hard when accelerating. Very unsafe to drive.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #36

Oct 082016

Altima

  • 159,582 miles
"takata recall" automatic transmission: While driving, it shutters when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear (aprox 20 mph). Sounds and feels awful! parked it, and haven't driven it since.

- Destin, FL, USA

problem #35

Oct 012016

Altima

  • 110,000 miles

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

Crankshaft sensor is bad causing the car to stall at any time - even at high speeds. It has happened while driving slowly through a neighborhood as well as on an interstate causing the car to be difficult to steer to get off the road. This is very dangerous! check engine light came and computer says that its the crankshaft/camshaft sensor that needs replacing.

- Barataria, LA, USA

problem #34

Aug 192016

Altima

  • 219,000 miles
Just like with other Nissan recalls. My can shaft position sensor is bad and is causing my car to die/quit in the middle of traffic while driving

- Ray, OH, USA

problem #33

Aug 062016

Altima

  • 63,000 miles
Purchased this car used from a dealership 3 weeks ago. Within 1 week the car stalled while driving. Started it back up with no problems. Took car on a 750 mi. Road trip and while driving 75mph on cruise control the car bucked. After reaching our destination and turning the car off we had trouble restarting it. When it finally started the service engine soon light came on. Took it to a mechanic and codes came up for the cam and crank shaft sensors. Replaced these sensors and cleared codes. Drove car away and within 5miles the check engine light came on again and again excessive cranking when trying to start the car. Brought it back to mechanic and the brand new cam sensor that was replaced less than 24hrs before tested out bad. Replaced sensor again and cleared code and code came up for high speed input sensor along with the same codes for cam shaft and crank shaft sensors. Again trouble starting vehicle. Drove car 750mi. Back home without turning the car off for fear of not being able to start again. Dealing with a Nissan dealership to try and get this fixed. This issue was under recall before. The bucking of the car while driving at 75mph was terrifying and seriously dangerous!

- Cary, IL, USA

problem #32

Jul 112016

Altima

  • 169,050 miles
This vehicle has given me a lot of problems from steering to brakes took the boots transmission. It was hard shifting going through an intersection all the sudden it popped and the transmission gave out

- Fairfield, CA, USA

problem #31

Jun 302016

Altima

  • 192,000 miles
When driving the car the gear gets stuck and you have to allow it time to catch up with the accelerator so you can take off if your sitting at a light or trying to accelerate speed when driving. It also jerks at times when driving on the highway.

- North Richland Hills, TX, USA

problem #30

Jan 042016

Altima

  • miles
Consuming or burning a lot of oil.had to add about a quart of oil every 300 miles. It takes longer to shift and does not have power going uphill. Hard 1-2 shift.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #29

Feb 012016

Altima

  • 149,000 miles
I just bought the car used. Felt vibration in engine was told it was a motor mount. Checked on line because car shifting hard 3 days after purchase to find out it has transmission issues that cause motor mount wear and tear and replacement and may need transmission replaced. Nissan needs to fix this issue

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #28

Jan 042016

Altima

  • 91,000 miles
Vehicle is violently shifting into second gear. Transmission is starting to fail. Vehicle has only 91,000 miles.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #27

Nov 162015

Altima

  • 128,869 miles
I was driving on cruise control at 70 mph. The car bucked, but kept going. I exited the highway a few miles later and came to a complete stop. With cruise control now off, I attempted to proceed as normal, and the car lagged in power. I almost got broad sided as the car didn't go as normal. I pulled out with a right on red. The car was stuck in 5th gear.

- Nazareth, PA, USA

problem #26

Jul 012015

Altima

  • 175,000 miles
Transmission problems RPM going out and them down and don't gear well

- Arlington, VA, USA

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