NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Nissan Altima Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2004 Nissan Altima has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 276 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Nissan dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Nissan Altima, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2004 Nissan Altima owner complaints

Owners have filed 276 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Nissan Altima, describing incidents dated November 1, 2003 to August 20, 2023.

Most-cited components

Engine 138 complaints
Structure 42 complaints
Electrical System 32 complaints
Power Train 17 complaints
Air Bags 11 complaints
Steering 11 complaints

Of the 276 complaints on file, 14 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 276 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11543061 · Filed September 7, 2023
The car has a fuel problem and crankshaft position sensor issue causing the car to die and also not start up normal idling. When I do get it to start up it idles very groggy.
ODI #11524912 · Filed June 1, 2023
The crankshaft position sensor (cps) was not responsive when the repair shop was testing the vehicle because of the "service engine soon" light came on. After a short search online they 1.) Had no signal to the cps from the pcm 2.) That there was also a voluntary recall by nissan for this issue…
ODI #11499830 · Filed January 2, 2023
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR THEN THE AXLE TWICE AND THE BRAKES THEN ETC

Read all 276 complaints

Owner-reported

2004 Nissan Altima mileage at failure

224 of the 276 complaints on file for the 2004 Nissan Altima give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Engine	Median 70,000 miles	Middle half 55,000–90,000 miles	Based on 114 complaints
Structure	Median 115,000 miles	Middle half 85,000–140,000 miles	Based on 35 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS

NHTSA #07E074000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported September 14, 2007 · EAGLE EYES TRAFFIC INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD

Potentially affected: 11,300 vehicles

Owners notified December 11, 2007

Defect description

CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. DS517-B001L AND DS517-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OPTICEL SURFACE OF THE REFLECTOR IS CORRODED INHIBITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BEAMS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY NISSAN.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FMVSS 108/BROKEN AIMING MECHANISM

NHTSA #07E063000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported August 21, 2007 · ANZO USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 130 vehicles

Owners notified September 10, 2007

Defect description

CERTAIN ANZO AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS, P/N 02-AZ-NA02-B-A, SOLD FOR USE ON 2002-2004 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE LAMP HOUSING SHAPE DEFORMED DISTORTING THE ASSEMBLY ANGLE OF THE REFLECTOR AND INFLUENCED THE AIMING POSITION. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT ANZO AT 909-628-1440.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES FOR 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY NISSAN.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES

NHTSA #07E054000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported July 25, 2007 · MAXZONE AUTO PARTS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 9,145 vehicles

Owners notified July 16, 2007

Defect description

CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 315-1145L-AS AND 315-1145R-AS, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE LAMP REFLECTOR SHAPE DEFORMED CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE OPTIC SURFACE. THIS WILL CHANGE THE OPPOSITE POSITION OF LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM OPTICSAND CHANGE THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE AND ILLUMATED LOCATION WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.

Notes

CRANK ANGLE SENSOR ENGINE STALL

NHTSA #06V242000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported July 7, 2006 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 294,166 vehicles

Nissan campaign R0606 · Owners notified September 20, 2006 · Vehicles built August 1, 2003 – January 31, 2004 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Safety consequence

IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Notes

NISSAN RECALL NO. R0606.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR

NHTSA #06E023000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported March 13, 2006 · ANZO USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 292,000 vehicles

Owners notified May 9, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY ANZO AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2004 Nissan Altima 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

276 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Nissan Altima.

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11543061

Incident: August 20, 2023 · Filed: September 7, 2023

The car has a fuel problem and crankshaft position sensor issue causing the car to die and also not start up normal idling. When I do get it to start up it idles very groggy.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11524912

Incident: May 10, 2023 · Filed: June 1, 2023

The crankshaft position sensor (cps) was not responsive when the repair shop was testing the vehicle because of the "service engine soon" light came on. After a short search online they 1.) Had no signal to the cps from the pcm 2.) That there was also a voluntary recall by nissan for this issue covering this make an model. I called nissan and told me that the recall wasn't for that car but the vehicle was in fact built in the years covered and also had the exact issues the recall covered

Suspension; Wheels; Unknown or Other

ODI #11499830

Incident: September 13, 2022 · Filed: January 2, 2023

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR THEN THE AXLE TWICE AND THE BRAKES THEN ETC

Structure

ODI #11243671

Incident: August 3, 2019 · Filed: August 13, 2019

THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING AWAY. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE, FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE FROM RUST. YOU CAN FEEL AROUND THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND CHUNKS OF METAL FALL OFF . THIS WAS NOTICED DURING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE . CAR WAS STATIONARY , I HAD NOTICED THAT I WAS GETTING AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF DUST INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

Air Bags

ODI #11099500

Crash

Incident: May 22, 2018 · Filed: June 4, 2018

MY VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 35MPH. THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING IN THAT SEAT. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11088530

Incident: January 1, 2018 · Filed: April 17, 2018

THE SOUND PACKAGING WAS PEELING ; YET TRULY THE FLOOR BOARDS ON DRIVERSIDE AND FRONT PASENGER HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF!! SO DANGEROUS! AND I HAVE HORRIBLE ALLERGIES AND THE CARPET IS FULL OF DUST AND MILDEW.

Electrical System; Unknown or Other

ODI #11084423

Crash 1 injury

Incident: April 8, 2018 · Filed: April 10, 2018

CAR WAS STALLING 2 DAYS AGO SHUT IT OFF AND DROVE AWAY JUST FINE NOT EVEN 4 HOURS LATER MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME HE CAME UP AROUND A HILL /BEND ON A CITY STREET THE CAR LOCKED UP ON HIM ALONG WITH THE OIIL BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT THE BREAKS WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING CAR WOULDN'T STOP HE ENDED UP GOING HEAD ON INTO A TREE IN THE NEIGHBORS YARD. CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE CAR SOMEWHERE AND I BELIEVE THE SECURITY OF THE CAR OR THE ECM IS WHAT LOCKED IT UP ON HIM THERE WAS NO STEERING IN THE CAR AS WELL. NO RECALLS POP UP WITH MY VIN # BUT I AM SUSPECTED TO BELIEVE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG INTERNALLY. IT WAS AT 240,700 MILES.HE WAS EXPECTIDLY ONLY GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR BUT WITH THE PICTURES IM ATTACHING IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMPUTER TOOM OVER THE SPEED CONTROL

Engine

ODI #11064596

Incident: January 24, 2018 · Filed: January 24, 2018

ENGINE STALLS DURING DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY. CAM SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11022609

Incident: March 15, 2017 · Filed: September 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE BURNED TOO MUCH FUEL TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC WHERE THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE SAME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORT WORTH NISSAN (3451 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION AND EXHAUST FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.

Engine

ODI #11020426

Incident: August 29, 2017 · Filed: August 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE EXTENDED CRANK FAILED TO SPARK THE CRANK SENSOR. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED MIDDLETOWN NISSAN AT 860-632-6550 (LOCATED AT 1153 NEWFIELD ST, MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

Other Nissan Altima model years

Check your 2004 Nissan Altima VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Nissan Altima at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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