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.

8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$260
Average Mileage:
112,900 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
2006 Nissan Altima engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #4

Nov 012014

Altima SE 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 155,000 miles

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

The car would occasionally just die/quit running. This would happen off and on with no pattern whatsoever. It usually happened when I was driving on the highway. I considered that very dangerous and it made me very uncomfortable. I also felt that I was endangering others on the highway. The check engine light would always come on and go off sporadically, but I did have the codes ran and they said it was most likely the crank shaft sensor but that I would to let them put it on a diagnostic machine for them to know for sure. I actually did get this fixed less than a month before the motor blew up on the car. This fix was around $350. I now see that this has been a problem for quite a few other Altima Owners.

- Pamela F., St Louis, MO, US

problem #3

Mar 222012

Altima Special Edition 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,500 miles

Car shut off while I was driving home from work ( I travel 120 miles round trip daily ). Paid $75 to tow the car to a local shop.... luckily even though it took them all day to find out what the problem was, get the part, and fix it; he only charged me $160. So, the crank shaft sensor is now replaced....I leave work today for lunch and on my return trip the car shut off while waiting at a stop light! Ridiculous! I call the shop and he says maybe it has something to do with the throttle assembly being very dirty... UUUgggghhh. On to my 70 mile drive home after work...car misses and the "Service Engine Soon" light comes on again. Took the car to the shop...again... Anyone got any ideas?

- flip2win, Tuscaloosa, AL, US

problem #2

Aug 012011

Altima 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

My altima has about killed me more than once. It just dies right in the middle of traffic. I get it pulled over, turn the engine off and start it right back up. It starts every time and sometimes it will drive for 100 miles or so before it does it again. Other days it does it 5 times on a ten mile drive. The check engine light is on and the first code that comes up is about catalytic converter. I took it to shop and the mechanic said he didn't think it was converter since it runs fine at times. I called Nissan and they said they would guess its a crank shaft problem. Has anyone else had this problem?

- Erika P., Vinita, OK, US

problem #1

Jul 142010

Altima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

This vehicle is a death trap!!! Myself and or my family is in so much danger in this stupid car...but it is the only one we have. I have to drive it to work and to pick up my kids from school, each time we get in it to go anywhere we have to wonder if today is the day it will die in traffic and we will get hit by another vehicle. It was under recall but supposed to have been fixed in 2008, well I guess the repair failed or was never actually done!!! When I try to speak with Nissan about it, its always the same thing...it was reprogrammed and that's all we can do. Its bull----. I cant afford another vehicle and why should I have to pay for the repairs, when it is a problem that Nissan should fix. Let me explain what this car does... you are driving along and then it dies, it completely shuts off...my steering is greatly reduced, I practically have no brakes, I literally have to push down with both feet on the brake pedal, if I'm lucky enough to be in an area where I can do so...but most of the time I am in heavy traffic or in the middle of a curve or going up a steep hill (we live in WV). I have gotten very good at hitting the hazard light button and getting the car in neutral!!!! Just to sit dead in a line of traffic with horns honking and people yelling until the car decides to start again only to go another 50 foot or so to do it all over again, or on really rare occasions I actually make it to my destination without another episode. My fear is it is going to shut off, and I am going to be rear-ended causing harm to my children and or the people in the other vehicle, or it shut off and I can't avoided going over an embankment or into a river or some other horrible place. Nissan Altima's 2006 are crappy cars, don't ever buy one!!!!!!!!!!!

- lusk, Rock, WV, US

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