Complaints
334
Crashes
18
Fires
3
Injuries
15
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2004 Nissan Altima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#172 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:66,620 mi
#235 complaints
Body Structure
Avg mileage:115,435 mi
#330 complaints
Engine Problems
Avg mileage:105,880 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Nissan Altima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine & Cooling | 72 | — | — | 66,620 mi | |
| Body Structure | 35 | — | — | 115,435 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 30 | 1 | 1 | 105,880 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 26 | 3 | 1 | 68,801 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 22 | — | — | 77,990 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 10 | — | — | 59,715 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 10 | — | — | 78,089 mi | |
| Airbags | 7 | 3 | — | 106,600 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv) | 7 | — | — | 85,192 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 7 | — | — | 95,172 mi | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | 96,250 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | 1 | — | 87,667 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 2 | — | — | — |
Engine & Cooling
72
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,620
Body Structure
35
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
115,435
Engine Problems
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
105,880
Electrical Faults
26
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
68,801
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,990
Automatic Transmission
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,715
Steering Defects
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,089
Airbags
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,600
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,192
Transmission / Drivetrain
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,172
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,250
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,667
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Rear/Other
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan Altima Years
2004 Nissan Altima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Nissan Altima reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2004 Nissan Altima has 334 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine & Cooling with 72 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Nissan Altima?
Top reported problems: Engine & Cooling (72 complaints, avg 66,620 mi); Body Structure (35 complaints, avg 115,435 mi); Engine Problems (30 complaints, avg 105,880 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Nissan Altima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 84,001 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Nissan Altima include 18 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2004 Nissan Altima as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2004 Nissan Altima?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 Nissan Altima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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