Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Nissan Altima
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Nissan Altima has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 276 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #07E074000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E063000 FMVSS 108/BROKEN AIMING MECHANISM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E054000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V242000 CRANK ANGLE SENSOR ENGINE STALL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E023000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 109 complaints
- Structure 42 complaints
- Electrical System 32 complaints
- Engine 30 complaints
- Power Train 17 complaints
- Air Bags 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).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Nissan Altima shows an average reliability with a moderate number of complaints and several recalls, primarily involving lighting and engine issues. The data available is extensive enough to identify specific common failures, but not overwhelming, indicating a mixed reliability record.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine cooling | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $300–$1,000 | common |
| Power train | Unknown | $700–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections and repairs
- Tire rotations and replacements
- Coolant flushes
- Transmission fluid changes
- Spark plug replacements
- Timing belt check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Overheating engine
- Faulty electrical systems
- Transmission faults
- Strange engine noises
- Illuminated warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Nissan Altima at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.