2004 Nissan Altima problems
NHTSA has received 334 complaints about the 2004 Nissan Altima, and 42% of them involve engine. After that come body & structure (13%) and electrical system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 334 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 42% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 18 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 71,000 miles 267 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 28 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 13 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 56 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 52 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 48 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 31 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 16 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 9 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 10 |
What the data shows
Among the 267 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 71,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 70,000 miles (116 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 18 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 15 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 18th most-complained-about out of 32 model years of the Nissan Altima with enough data (180 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The vehicle kept showing codes p1148, p1278 and p1279. Took it to nissan dealer several times and they changed maf sensor, all oxygen sensors, fuel system cleaning but the code kept showing up. The vehicle finally shut off on the parkway without warning and we were rear ended. Luckily we were only two in the front of the vehicle and had to be taken to the hospital. We both have suffered serious injuries from this accident. The nissan altima is a death trap. Nissans is a bad company....beware!!!
Air bags didn't deploy. Another vehicle did a illegal u-turn in front of me causing me to t-bone her. Approx MPH 30-35.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 nissan altima. The contact was driving approximately 20 MPH making a u turn, and suddenly another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the vehicle. The front driver's side shoulder seat belt webbing failed to tightly secure the contact's body during the impact and also the air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered a concussion. A police report was filed of the incident. The vehicle was towed to a salvage facility and declared as destroyed.
My vehicle started to have a hard shift while I was riding down the beltway. The car would shift so hard that it felt like someone had hit my car from behind. Approximately two weeks later the "service engine soon" light came on. I took it to sheehy nissan of waldorf and had the car repaired. That cost me around $170.00. About two weeks later the hard shifts were back. One and a half months later my "service engine light" comes back on and this time my car will not start.
First of all I noticed on 06/07/11 that my 2004 nissan altima3.5 se passenger floor board has a big rust spot which is about 11 inches by 7 inches, but the rest of the floor board is in pristine condition. Huh. Also the timing tension chain tensioner went bad on 05/01/12, with 86000 miles and had to be repaired which was a very expensive to repair, and saw that this is a common problem on the altima 3.5 l engine. Hmmmm.