2006 Nissan Altima Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Nissan Altima most often report rusted-through front floor pans, stalling and no-start conditions traced to crankshaft/camshaft position sensors, and high oil consumption on 2.5L cars. Many complaints come in at high mileage, though the floor pan and oil consumption reports often appear well before 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Rusted-through front floor pans

   • 211 complaints (26%)
   • median 100,680 mi at 9.4 yrs old (168 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2021

   Owners describe rust holes in the driver and passenger front floorboards, sometimes large enough that a foot can go through or carpet is the only thing left between the footwell and the road. Many say the rest of the underbody and the opposite side look clean, and that the rust appeared years earlier than expected. Complaints describe repair shops calling it common on this generation, and owners report the repair cost often exceeds the car's value; some mention a dealer or manufacturer service program for the floor pan but say it had expired or did not cover their car. Reported from roughly 54,000 to over 210,000 miles, but often noticed during routine service or tire work rather than after a specific event.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look under both front footwells from below with a flashlight and press on the metal with a screwdriver handle; check the carpet for dampness. Ask whether the floor pan service campaign was ever performed on the car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my car in for routine maintenance and my mechanic noticed the floor board on the passenger side was rotted. The rotting is approximately 12' x 6' the front seat will eventually fall out of the car if it's not repaired soon and/or mold will start developing soon posing a serious health issue. Upon research of this issue, I found this is a common defect on Altima's from 2002-2006.”

   NHTSA complaint #10504786, filed 2013-03, 130,000 miles

   “I took my vehicle in for an oil change and the garage informed me that the floor board on the driver side was rusted out so bad that you could touch the carpet from the bottom. Also the passenger side was rusted with a hole but not as big as the driver side. I am not sure why Nissan has not issued a recall for this being there are hundreds of complaints for this. This problem is a safety issue considering it will not pass a safety inspection.”

   NHTSA complaint #10720995, filed 2015-05, 105,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls, no-start from crank/cam sensor

   • 229 complaints (28%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (190 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2025

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at speed, at stop lights, or failing to restart, with the check engine light coming on. Owners frequently report that shops replaced the crankshaft position sensor, and sometimes the camshaft sensor, and that in some cases the stalling returned after the repair. Several mention being told their vehicle was not covered by the related crankshaft sensor recall and that the manufacturer or dealer offered no assistance. Spread from about 30,000 to over 200,000 miles, with many reports in the 80,000-130,000 range.

   Recall 07V527000

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the crankshaft position sensor recall work was completed and whether sensors have already been replaced; scan for stored codes and test-start the car from cold.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle's check engine light came on one day so I took it to a mechanic and they said it was the crankshaft sensor so they replaced it. Then right after I left my light came back on and I took it to the mechanic again and he said it was the same code for the crankshaft sensor. After checking it again the mechanic said there is some sort of eletrical problem there because it tells him to check circuits but even after messing around with the circuits my light is still on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11394326, filed 2021-02, 116,389 miles

   “On sept 3rd 2010 (labor day weekend), I drove on I-17 (az) at about 70 MPH for about half an hour. The car suddenly lost the acceleration. No matter how hard I pressed the gas pedal, there is no acceleration. The engine service light was on and the car quickly decelerate. I had to turn on emergency light and moved out. Then I went to autozone and had the code read. P2138, error with pedal position sensor and throttle position sensor. I had to drive locally to send the car to the power Nissan at tempe (dealer) for repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10549305, filed 2013-10, 48,280 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   High oil consumption and exhaust smoke (2.5L)

   • 181 complaints (22%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (136 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2024

   Owners of 2.5L cars describe the oil level dropping quickly, in some cases a quart every several hundred to a thousand miles, with no visible leaks on the driveway. Complaints mention having to add oil weekly, blue or white smoke from the exhaust, a lit check engine light, and reduced fuel economy. Some say the dealer checked oil level and advised frequent checks or offered an extended warranty rather than an engine repair, and others report catalytic converter damage following the oil use. Reported from as little as a few hundred miles on nearly new cars up to around 150,000 miles, with most reports between roughly 60,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 06V2230001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the dipstick on a cold engine and note the level, look for smoke at the exhaust after a highway run, and ask whether the piston ring recall or any ECM reprogramming was done for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I drive the vehicle, the engine light constantly pops on and off the car consumes a large amount of oil each week, I have to check the oil and keep a case of oil with the filter in my truck to constantly fill it up. The car drains gas like crazy, and it's slow and driving and sluggish. The car has cut off on me in the middle of driving where I had to spend over $500 to get it repaired.”

   NHTSA complaint #11217011, filed 2019-05, 140,000 miles

   “I have a 2006 Altima and there was a recall on oil consumption, the dealer said I needed a catalytic converter, then he said it wasn't under warranty, when I called Nissan hq they said I have up to 80,000 miles which I only have 53,000 on my car. The end result the catalytic converter caused my engine to seize and now I have no car and still have 10,000 dollars of car payments. The dealer is hillside Nissan in new jersey.”

   NHTSA complaint #10340960, filed 2010-07, 53,025 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, airbags not deploying

   • 38 complaints (5%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 24 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2025

   Complaints describe the airbag warning light flashing or staying lit on the passenger side or instrument cluster, with dealers diagnosing wiring harness, module, or spiral cable replacement. Separately, owners report frontal collisions in which the airbags did not deploy; in some of those cases the manufacturer declined help because of the vehicle's age. Warning-light reports appear from around 56,000 to 130,000 miles; non-deployment reports cluster above 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the airbag light goes out after the self-test; if it stays on or flashes, ask for the stored airbag codes and a written diagnosis before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased in nov 06, Nissan Altima 2006 special edition. Supplemental air bag warning light came on 6/3/09 and has been flashing ever since. Have made an app at the Nissan dealer to see if that's covered under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10273048, filed 2009-06, 56,000 miles

   “The contact owned a 2006 Nissan Altima. While driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, upper back, and right foot. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10876096, filed 2016-06, 111,000 miles

Buying note. Check the floor pans from underneath before anything else, since that is the most frequently reported problem and expensive to fix. Then verify oil level and consumption on 2.5L cars, confirm any open recall or sensor repairs in the service history, and scan for stored codes.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.