Most common 2004 Nissan Altima problems
Share of the 276 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Altima complaints by model year
Best Altima years: 2022, 2025, 2023. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2009, 2002. Compare all years →
2004 Nissan Altima recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
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.
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.
What 2004 Nissan Altima owners say
Engine & cooling all 138 →
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
For the 2nd time car running very rough and stalling. Had it serviced seems the spark plugs were destroyed and not functioning. Paid over $500 for mechanic to put in new plugs now it happened again. Seems there is a voluntary service campaign qr25de power valve. Campaign id p5202. A bolt from manifold is falling into cylinder and blowing out spark plug and causing internal engine damage, my mechanic put camera in cylinder. Car is running but it has already happened to cylinder 1 and 4. Next time my 22 year old daughter May not be so lucky on her highway commute. Hopefully the local Nissan dealer can rectify problem before the problem becomes more serious. The engine light came on that says to service engine soon, it is still on...from what I have found online sounds like power valve screws are coming out and creating engine damage.
Body & structure all 42 →
During an annual inspection, it was discovered that both driver and passenger floor pans are rusting thru. Please note that this is a garage kept car with low miles for it's age. There is no other rust on the undercarriage of the car except in these areas. The inspector noted that this is not normal for a car of this age and mileage. After research on the odi site, I've found numerous complaints for the exact same issue. This is a serious safety and structural issue that is known by Nissan for years, but they refuse to act upon it. The vehicle can now be considered unsafe to drive by fault of design of the manufacture. Please have an investigator open a ticket to have a recall, or at the very least, a manufacture fix since this is a safety issue...even though Nissan is stating that it isn't and they won't act...this should be a negligence case on the part of Nissan.
There is severe rust/rot visible on at least the driver side floor board. I am the second owner of this vehicle which I purchased from a close family member and the car was well maintained. I am deeply concerned that this is a serious safety issue and why this was not detected during a recent nys dmv inspection. After doing some online research I learned that many other owners have experienced the same issue and I cannot believe that Nissan will not stand behind this issue. This is clearly a design deficiency/defect... Severe rot should not occur in just 10 years. I purchased this car nearly two years ago and this repair will not likely be cost effective.
Electrical system all 32 →
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
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
2004 Nissan Altima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Nissan Altima a good car?
Based on 276 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Altima rates better than average: 46% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Altima at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Nissan Altima?
The engine & cooling — 138 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the body & structure (42) and electrical system (32).
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Altima have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Nissan Altima, the most recent from July 7, 2006 (engine and engine cooling). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Altima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2025 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2009 and 2002. See the full Nissan Altima years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Altima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 73,000 miles; 23% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.