Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Car engine cuts off. After that I have no power steering, no acceleration, brakes need to be pumped. The first years of me owning the car I had the sensors replaced by auto shop and dealership under extended car warranty. Pretty much been replacing the sensors ever since for the past 8 years. I believe I replaced over 10 sensors of the time I owned my Nissan. I can be on the hallway, streets anywhere with out any warnings my car engine will stop. It has to do with turning back on the car while it's warm. That's when I seen the problem the most.
The cars battery and brake lights came on while driving and then after about 10 mins my gas pedal stopped working and I almost got in a really bad car accident. If i rev the car over 3000 rpms the lights go out. So while i was cruising i had to shift to natural and rev the car and shift back to drive when i needed to go faster. I brought the car to the mechanic got a new alternator and battery. When driving it home after picking it up the same thing happened after about ten mins. When the mechanic got it back he said the alternator was dead it was only putting out 3.5 volts. He figured maybe he got a defective alternator so he replaced it again with another battery. Same thing happened for the 3rd time. He said he couldn't figure it out and recommend me to bring it to the dealership. So I did and just for them to look at your car is 150 walking in the door. …
The following is a detailed account of the automobile accident that occurred on February 24, 2011. At approximately 11:30 am, while driving my father's 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5s, which I regularly drive, I pulled into the parking lot of a local shopping center. I pulled into a parking space in which my vehicle was separated by a curbed sidewalk in front of the building. I placed the gear shift into park while the engine was still running. I glanced to the right of me at the passenger's seat to make sure I had my belongings. My hands were neither on the steering wheel or the gear shift when unexpectedly the vehicle instantly launch forward. It jumped the curb and hit into the shopping carts which were between my vehicle and the building's wall. …
I was slowly pulling into a parking spot in front of my apartment building. As I reached the front of the spot (the end where the front of my car would be), my 2005 Nissan Altima bucked backward slightly, then suddenly accelerated. The car hit a tree, then continued forward until it stopped in the bedroom of my downstairs neighbor. My foot was on the brake the whole time. I am sure of this, as this is the second time in a year that this has happened to me. The first time, I was pulling into a parking spot in a parking garage, and the car accelerated into a concrete pole. Repairs to the auto body (only) were completed, but it seemed as though the engine was downshifting very hard. I had Nissan check it out, and was told there was nothing wrong. I am not nuts. I am not senile. I am not elderly (52). I have been driving for 34 yrs. And have had an excellent driving record (until now). …
Car shuddered and RPM dropped and then came back up to current RPM level. Came to stop light and vehicle was then put into limp mode. Would not accelerate and RPM's would not go over 2000. Pulled over and turned car off. Restarted car and began to try and drive it again. Service engine light came on and vehicle would not shift gears. Tried to manually shift the automatic trans and it would hit hard upon gear shifts but was able to make it home the remaining few miles.. Brought vehicle in to a mechanics shop the next morning and the codes indicate cam position sensor failures. I see numerous complaints and a recall for this under r2022 but of course my vehicle is not listed. This appears to be a common problem and all vehicles should be included in this recall as it is completely dangerous issue that comes out of nowhere while driving the vehicle. …
An existing recall on this vehicle should include the 3.5l engine as well as camshaft/crankshaft and TCM. All cause similar life-threatening symptoms while driving the vehicle suddenly powers completely off briefly losing all power to lights etc, decelerate rapidly and you lose steering control and speed control. Vehicles come up on you quickly at night and even if you get the vehicle restarted you have no power in transmission and merely limp on at an idle speed. Very very dangerous. Why it wasn't included in the original 2007 recall is Nissan trying to save a buck. They used the same mfg & same parts as in the 2.5l. They knowingly withheld it from being included. I also contacted them about the TCM. Keep in mind the were biting their nails after being presented with a class action suite regarding the defective TCM. Luckily for them it was dismissed temporarily. …
I own a 2005 Nissan. I rely on my car daily to get to medical appointments. The car stalls in park all lights start blinking then dies. Has happened while driving as well the car will move but you cant accelerate on the pedal this happened in a traffic circle my fiance and two friends were with me at the time. This is very dangerous I could get into a bad accident and die or even kill my passengers. I have had a mechanic reset my ECM but this keeps happening I have tried to fix the problem on my own and have had no luck. I own a 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5se v6 four door sedan and I feel unsafe driving. Something needs to be done I was hoping my experience would be awesome ive always liked the cars now honestly im scared to drive in it and wont reccomend anyone getting one. I havent had any accident or anything. Me having this car is required medically. …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Nissan Altima. While driving 40mph, the driver engaged the brakes and the vehicle failed to stop. He attempted to engage the emergency brake and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The cruise control was not engaged. There were no warning indicator lights present during, before or after the crash occurred. The contact was unable to stop or gain control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a tree and the vehicle was destroyed. The driver had back injuries in three places. A police report and photos are available. The police report indicated that they observed the driver attempting to stop for two hundred feet. After the vehicle was destroyed, the contact received a recall notice. The recall notice stated that there is a possibility that the engine May stop running while being driven due to the computer and could cause a crash without warning. …
Crankshaft position sensor same thing is happening to the 2005 summary: on certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor. Consequence: if the interruption in the signal from the crankshaft position 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.
My wife was going to wendy's. She turned into wendy's parking lot, she went around wendy's to the other side and went to the last parking spot when the car accelerated on its own. Car jumped curb and hit a tree. Witness said they saw a puff of smoke , there were no tire marks anywhere. Almost $ 5000.00 damage. Car was taken Nissan dealer, but they could not find any thing wrong. I have filed a complaint with Nissan.
Acceleration complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2005 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Nissan Altima, 4% of the model year's 1,091 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Nissan Altima acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2005 Nissan Altima, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Nissan Altima acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.