2005 Nissan Altima SE from North America - Comments

I have an 05 Altima 2.5s, and at 24k the transmission started leaking. No fluid spots were left on the ground, only a strong odor brought me to bring it to a local shop that told me the entire bottom of the car was covered in fluid.

Nissan towed the vehicle into their shop (the car would no longer move). The dealership was rude and suggested that they have never seen this happen to one of these cars at this mileage. Also the alignment cannot be adjusted into specs; I've been told for rear end problems.

For my last problem, at a cold start up the engine knocks for about 20 minuets after driving. This is embarrassing to have an 05 car with 24k that has more problems than my 96 Chrysler Cirrus with 146k; this is the last Nissan I will ever buy.

I just spent $1400.00 on my 2005 Nissan Altima in October 2007. After being stranded in traffic and taking two days off from work going back and forth to the dealership, I was told by the Nissan dealership the the following repairs were required:

*replace a faulty Transmission Solenoid Assembly

*transmission power flush

*replace throttle body.

I had no other choice, but to get the repairs since I needed transportation for work; however, this will definitely be my first and last Nissan. Actually, I wouldn't take a free Nissan right now! Most people purchase new cars so that they won't have these problems, so much that! Huh, Nissan!!

I have a 2005 nissan altima (64,000) stalled right in the middle of traffic, car just cut off (no warning, no nothing) after three times - starts up, took it to nissan dealer said it was a recall ECM- OK we can fix it-for free, OK took the car home, next day- the car would not started, finally started, took it back to nissan dealer, Serviceman- we did not find a problem with this car, so I took the car home, next day car started to thud at times. I hate this car. The whole car need to be made over, I just want my money back.

I have had a couple of problems with my 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 sl. The first problem was the keys wouldn't release from the whole I would have to shake the gear shift to get the keys dislodged. Then next problem is the battery just died for no apparent reason. I got the car brand new. I don't leave my accessories on when I turn the car off. So for the batter to die not even two years into owning the car. Not that big of deal though. The next problem is I went to the store today. I had no problems it drove just fine. Not a warning that there was a problem. I put my son in his car seat and started the car and pulled out of the parking lot and the car just died. I wasn't going very fast. It just died. I was lucky I was able to restart the car and get it back in the parking lot. But every time I would restart the car it would only stay started for maybe a moment of two and then die again. I have no idea what the trouble is. I had the shop people look at it and they said it wasn't the battery or the alternator so I don't know what this problem could be. I wouldn't think it would be transmission problems because the car never jerked like other have said. I had no warning. I just died. I didn't even now it other than the car wouldn't even reeve when I would press the gas pedal. Because the car is so quiet. Most the time I never hear it running anyway. So I am just lucky I didn't pull on to the street like I normally would. My son and I could have been hurt in an accident.

I just recently purchased a 05 Altima, and to seem to notice the shifting problem between first and second. It almost feels like a car with manual shifting.

I find these comments left so far troubling. I test drove and bought a used 2005 Altima. The test drive went very well. When I got home, I too notice the same hard shift between 1 and 2. I'm surprised Nissan Corp. hasn't realized there is a problem and recommended a solution based on what I'm reading so far.

Previously I had a '97 Nissan Sentra and had no major problems with it. I sold it with 185K miles on it.

2005 nissan altima is a death trap, please take this car to the dealership now, if you are thinking about buying one don't. I have a 2005 nissan altima stalled every other day, - on the highway, middle of traffic, the worse car ever.

I just bought a 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 in December and started having the same hard thump between 1st and 2nd gears this past week. It's still under warranty, but it sickens me to think that such a late model vehicle would have these problems. I bought it so that I wouldn't have to worry about being stranded on the road somewhere. I'm going to trade it in as soon as I can. I'd rather take the monetary hit then end up on 95 with a dead car. This is my first Nissan. I was always a die hard Honda owner. Looks like I'll be going back to Honda.

I have a 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL, auto; which I bought about 1.5 years ago. I never had any problems, but it started yesterday with transmission. The gear jerks or pulls back from 1 -2 but from 2-3 the rpm raises up, but the gear does not engage instantaneously and smoothly. It shifts later.

Any idea what may be wrong, before I take it to the mechanic?

I bought a 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5s at the end of December from CarMax. I returned a 2002 VW Jetta that was making a weird engine noise 2 days after I bought it from them. So, I brought it back and got the Nissan instead. I, too, have always been a die hard Honda fan, but decided to branch out this time. The Altima was great for the first month and a half, but in the past few weeks, it's been doing the same thud between 1st and 2nd gear. I'm taking it into the Nissan Dealership (it's still under warranty, just over 53k miles) on Thursday. I've printed out some of the advice you guys have posted so far, so I don't get jerked around, but I do feel very uncomfortable continuing to own this car if they're not able to easily fix it or find "nothing" wrong.

I have a 2005 Altima Se R. I am so tired of the hard kick from 1st to second. I am taking it to the dealer in the morning to see what the problem could be, I will post another comment after I find out what's wrong.

I also have an 05 altima 2.5s I have noticed the hard shift for a while now. I got concerned when the trans would jump by letting off the throttle. Fells almost like driving a stick driving in low gear when you tap and let off the gas. I tried to do filter change, a bolt at back of the pan is being blocked by sub frame, there is a hole for 1/4inch drive extension but must have a very shallow socket. So I just changed the fluid, still does it. By the way my battery died last year also without warning. its weird we are all having the same problems...

I have a 2005 nissan altima. I am having the same problems. first jerking, then it wouldn't shift right, then the car wouldn't move. I got stuck on the freeway at 2am on my way home from work. It's been five days and my car won't even turn on so I can role the windows up. I took it to a shop and they told me that I would have to replace the transmission. actually 4 different shops told me that. I HATE NISSAN!!!

2007 Altima - When driving the rpms would jump up 2000 for no reason. The car would hesitate when doing all types of driving. The car wouldn't accelerate from standing still. The dealer last month said they couldn't find anything wrong. Bring it back if it happens again.

Now a month latter with the car bucking like a bronco, and having a 5 second delay from a stop to a crawl. It is waiting for a new transmission from the dealer. To think that I thought all of my problems were due to bad gas. (The car!)

Now the question that I have when I get my car back is 1) Do I sell it? 2) Trade it? 3) Keep it? Oh by the way it has only 12000 miles on it.

P.S. Yes it is under warranty.

I own a 1997 altima and have similar problems with hard shifting between first and second gear. It is an automatic and has 139k miles on it. I've done little experiments with it such as putting into first gear and driving it to different rpms before putting it into second and it shifts smoothly into second when first is at 4.5 - 5rpms. This is an 11 year old car and more than likely has never had a flush or the filters replaced once I get that done I'll post another with the results. I'll probably end up spending a bunch of money on it but I did buy this car with the intentions of restoring it because this model is my favorite altima model. I was just hoping the trany would come last. Sorry to read that everyone is having all these problems with the newer altimas.