Most common 2006 Nissan Altima problems
Share of the 824 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 →
2006 Nissan Altima recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ECM free of charge. Certain my 2006 altimas which have been previously remedied under recall campaign 06V223 (Nissan r0606) are not included in this recall since the reprogramming for 06V223…
Engine and engine cooling
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5l engines May experience excessive engine oil consumption as a result of improper performance of the piston rings.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the electronic control module (ECM or engine computer). Your vehicle will also be inspected to determine if it has been consuming engine oil at a higher than normal rate.
Suspension › Rear
On certain vehicles, the rear subframe May have been manufactured incorrectly, which could result in a crack in a bracket which holds part of the rear suspension.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe to determine if it was manufactured incorrectly and replace it, if necessary. The recall began on February 27, 2006. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What 2006 Nissan Altima owners say
Engine & cooling all 352 →
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed at approximately 30 MPH. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed by the dealer that there was no assistance available. The contact was not made aware of the diagnosis. The contact was informed by the dealer of NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V527000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 209,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 - 70 MPH, the vehicle began emitting white smoke coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact pulled to the side of the road and allowed the vehicle to cool off and added oil to the engine and the smoke subsided. The contact became aware of oil around the bumper of the vehicle. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle however, oil had to be added often for the vehicle to operate as intended. The dealer was contacted to schedule an appointment however, the vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The dealer confirmed there was no recall or warranty coverage on the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.
Body & structure all 221 →
My elderly parent just took their 2006 Nissan Altima, garage kept with less than 40K miles to the local dealership for inspection. I was shocked when the technical explained that the drivers and passenger side floor boards are completely rusted out, soon pavement underneath their feet. They took pictures to prove the damage and submit to Nissan for repair. Apparently Nissan acknowledges the problem, but doesn't want to pay to fix (about $1000) or do a [redacted] thing about the problem until someone gets hurt or killed! This is a outrage!!!!!!! Nissan knowingly built the piece of [redacted] car, with crappy, rusty metal and sold the cars to the American people, but now what's to blame the consumer for the problem, we didn't build the car....Nissan did!!!!! This is not only road a hazard, but a huge safety issue. …
During a recent oil change, my mechanic brought to my attention that the front seat floor boards were rusting on both the drivers and passenger sides. The rusting areas look almost identical. I researched this on the internet to find that this is a common problem with 2002-2006 Nissan altimas. There apparently have been a few class action lawsuits filed and several television reports on the matter. I have called Nissan; however, they claim it is not a defect. I discussed with a neighbor recently who also owns a Nissan Altima built in that timeframe and found out that he too recently discovered the rusting floor board issue. Nissan told me that I lived in a salt state and did not know how I maintained my vehicle; however, given the hundreds and probably thousands of complaints filed, it is nearly impossible for this issue to be due to owner negligence. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 79 →
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled upon the depression of the accelerator after coming to a complete stop. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights appeared during the failure. The contact was able to pull the vehicle off the road and into the entrance of a parking lot. She then stated that the vehicle independently lurched forward through a fence and rolled down a hill and into a five-lane road. The air bags did not deploy during the incident. A police report was not filed and the contact was injured. With the assistance of a fellow motorist, the contact was able to move the vehicle to a nearby independent mechanic. The mechanic attempted to jumpstart the vehicle but the vehicle failed to start up. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was given a case number. …
I started my vehicle, as usual, and when driving at a very slow speed (neighborhood speed limits) I approached a very busy intersection and the car just stopped. Not only did it stop, it would not steer and a bunch of warning lights came on the dashboard. Tav I believe, oil, check engine light. Even with the key in the acc mode, the power steering was not functioning. Everything just stopped functioning. I know this vehicle was recalled for the same exact thing back in 2008, but obviously it wasn't permanently fixed. Recall #07v-527. If I would have been in the middle of an intersection and this happened I could have been killed.
2006 Nissan Altima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Nissan Altima a good car?
Based on 824 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Altima rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Altima at the same age. It is one of the Altima years we suggest avoiding. 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 2006 Nissan Altima?
The engine & cooling — 352 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the body & structure (221) and transmission & drivetrain (79).
How many recalls does the 2006 Nissan Altima have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2006 Nissan Altima, the most recent from November 14, 2007 (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 2006 Nissan Altima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 24% 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.