2004 NISSAN ALTIMA Structure Problems

THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING AWAY. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE, FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE FROM RUST. YOU CAN FEEL AROUND THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND CHUNKS OF METAL FALL OFF . THIS WAS NOTICED DURING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE . CAR WAS STATIONARY , I HAD NOTICED THAT I WAS GETTING AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF DUST INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 136,200

I RECENTLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED AND WAS TOLD MY FLOOR PANEL HAD ROTTED THROUGH. THE CAR IS A 2004 BUT HAS LESS THAN 44,000 MILES, HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAS BEEN GARAGED PART OF THE TIME.ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET SHOW IT IS A MASSIVE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS DUE TO POOR DRAINAGE DESIGN. THE REPAIR IS OVER $2000. OTHERWISE THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF 1000'S OF REPORTS TO THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 43,000

FLOOR BOARDS (DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDES), EXTENSIVE RUST CAUSING PIECES OF FLOOR BOARDS TO FALL OFF, OR EASILY BE REMOVED WITH HAND BY MECHANIC, LEAVING INSULATION EXPOSED ON EXTERIOR, AND HOLE UNDER CARPETING. SMELL OF GAS FUMES IN CABIN. ALSO, SQUEAKING AND CRACKING SOUNDS UNDER DRIVER SEAT AND SURROUNDING AREA, WHEN DRIVING OVER MINOR/SMALL BUMPS IN ROAD, OR WHEN SHIFTING WEIGHT, WHEN SITTING IN DRIVER SEAT. NOTE: ONE OWNER, GARAGE KEPT, DRIVEN BY 115-LB. PERSON ONLY. PICTURES AVAILABLE. (IS MY SEAT FALLING THROUGH THE FLOOR? IS MY CAR SAFE TO DRIVE?) *TR

PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD RUSTING. HOLE IN THE FLOOR!

RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS/PANELS UNDER VEHICLE AT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR SIDE DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. RUST STARTED AFTER 2 YEARS OF USE .VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP AND RUST STARTED 24 MONTHS AFTERWARDS WITH NO ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEALERSHIP OF NISSAN. OWNER DECIDED TO REPAIR THE RUST AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO COMPENSATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP OF NISSAN CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. REPAIR S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RECEIPT ATTACHED. NISSAN CORPORATE CLAIM #22951460.

Mileage: 48,000

THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD HAS RUSTED OUT LEAVING A 12" X 10" HOLE RIGHT IN THE AREA THAT YOU WOULD STEP INTO THE CAR. SINCE THIS IS THE AREA THAT IS REGULARLY INSPECTED DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE OIL FILTER, HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WASN'T DETECTED PREVIOUSLY TO JUST FALLING OUT.

Mileage: 117,000

FLOOR BOARDS UNDER THE DRIVER & PASSENGER SEATS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. CAN SEE & FEEL THE CARPET FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. IF YOU STEP TOO HARD ON THE FLOOR FROM THE INSIDE, YOU FOOT WOULD GO THROUGH AND YOU WOULD TOUCH THE GROUND.

Mileage: 237,795

RUST ON FLOORBOARD REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF FLOORBOARD. MINOR RUST WAS OBSERVED VIA INSPECTION WHEN UNDERNEATH THE CAR; HOWEVER, ONCE THE SEAT WAS REMOVED, THE SHOP INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH WORSE, BECAUSE THE RUST IS OCCURRING FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS NOT TYPICAL RUST DUE TO SALT, ETC.

Mileage: 72,355

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ACCELERATING OFF FROM A COMPLETED STOP, THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RUST WAS FALLING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR IS RUSTED THRU. THE HOLE IS ABOUT 6 X 9. IF MORE OF THE RUST IS REMOVED, I KNOW IT WILL BE MUCH BIGGER. I WAS QUOTED $900-$1200 FOR THE REPAIR. IS THERE A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN FOR THIS PROBLEM. IM TOLD THIS IS COMMON FOR, THIS CAR. IF THERE ISN'T THERE SHOULD BE. [XXX] FIXED NOW WILL I GET REIMBURSED? THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 146,800

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.

Mileage: 100,133

I OWN 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. I FOUND A HUGE RUSTED HOLE ON THE PASSENGER/RIGHT SIDE FLOOR PAN/FLOORBOARD. MY WIFE FELT VERY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE HOLE IS GETTING BIGGER WHICH CAN CAUSE A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. A LOCAL MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT HE SAW A COUPLE OF CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND IT ESTIMATED AT LEAST $1,500 TO FIX AND FIGURE OUT THE REASON OF WATER LEAKING. I THINK NISSAN HAS TO RECALL THE CARS.

MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS SEVERE CORROSION ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FLOOR BOARD. I FEAR THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE> NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS YET THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THESE CORROSION ISSUES, CLAIMING THERE ARE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 114,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS WERE RUSTED AND HAD HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOORBOARDS WERE RUSTED, FRACTURED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000. UPDATED 5/28/15 *TA UPDATED 11/23/2015*JS

Mileage: 146,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

FOUND OUT THAT THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY PANELS (FRONT FLOOR PANELS) ARE ROTTING OUT. ISSUE IS IF THEY FAIL CARS TIRES WILL TILT IN AS THE SUSPENSION IS TIDE INTO THE FRONT FLOOR PANELS. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOORBOARDS WERE CORRODED AND DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,500.

Mileage: 137,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,000.

Mileage: 202,000

I NOTICED ONE DAY SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDER MY DRIVER SIDE UNDER BODY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICE THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE UNDER BODY TO BE CORRODED OUT WITH ABOUT A 5 X 11 HOLE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND THINK NISSAN SHOULD BE SENDING OUT A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

I HAVE TWO SAFETY RELATED ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. 1) THE FRONT SUBFRAME HAS HOLES DUE TO RUST. 2) THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD IS RUSTED THROUGH WITH A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 10" X 20". I TOOK THAT CAR TO FRED MARTIN NISSAN FOR AN INSPECTION. THEY STATED THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, RECALL OR GOODWILL CAMPAIGN. THESE ISSUES APPEAR TO BE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. *TR

Mileage: 113,000

DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AS I WAS TRYING TO ENTER VEHICLE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, ANOTHER BROKE OFF. THERE IS SHARP PLASTIC WHERE IT WAS BROKEN AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT CUTTING YOURSELF. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE QUICKLY AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS NOT SAFE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

EXCESSIVE PREMATURE RUST ON FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR PAN. ABOUT 5"X10" IN SIZE AND CONSISTENT WITH MOST OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA RUST COMPLAINTS FOR CARS OF SIMILAR AGE. SINCE NOTICING THE RUST I HAVE LOOKED AT DOZENS OF SIMILAR NISSAN ALTIMAS IN STORE PARKING LOTS ALL WITH THE SAME PREMATURE RUST PATTERN. IT APPEARS THAT NISSAN DESIGNED THE FLOOR PANS WITH A DRAIN PLUG WHICH ALLOWS WATER PENETRATION ABOVE THE FLOOR PAN WHERE IT CAUSES RUST. THE REST OF THE FLOOR PAN ON THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS IN EXCEPTIONALLY PRISTINE SHAPE, BUT DUE TO THE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED/INSTALLED FLOOR PLUGS THE RUST HAS CAUSED HOLES TO DEVELOP IN THE FLOOR PAN AROUND THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UPON NOTICING THE RUST, I TALKED WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED HE HASN'T SEEN A NISSAN ALTIMA OF SIMILAR AGE IN HIS SHOP THAT DID NOT HAVE IDENTICAL RUST PATTERNS IN THE SAME SPOT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THE RUST IN THIS ONE AREA AROUND THE DRAIN PLUGS IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE LACK OF RUST EVERYWHERE ELSE. HOLES IN FLOORBOARDS OF LATE MODEL CARS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE MOST CONSUMERS WOULD NEVER SUSPECT THIS WOULD BE AN ISSUE ON LATE MODEL CARS WHICH ARE OTHERWISE NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF RUST. HOLES IN THE FLOORBOARDS CAN ALLOW PENETRATION OF DEADLY EXHAUST FUMES, ESPECIALLY IN STOP AND GO TYPE DRIVING AS WELL AS PERSONAL SAFETY RISK AS THIS WEAKENS THE OVERALL STRENGTH OF THE UNIBODY DESIGN IN A CRASH. ALSO IF UNDETECTED LONG ENOUGH IT CAN CAUSE SEATS TO LOOSEN AND FALL FROM THEIR MOUNTS. I STRONGLY URGE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD TO ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL SINCE IT APPEARS THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RISK IT IS PUTTING ON CONSUMERS. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO OF THE DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,096 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,348.

Mileage: 135,096

I MERELY WENT TO OPEN MY DRIVER SIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE AS NORMAL TO OPEN DOOR AND THE PLASTIC PART SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES, I HEARD OF MANY OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUEA ND SHOULD BE FIXED BY NISSAN, WILL THEY? *TR

Mileage: 110,000

RUSTING TO FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE. APPROXIMATELY 6 INCH WIDE HOLE IN FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE WHICH FROM OTHER NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET IS A PROBLEM WITH NISSAN'S FROM 2002 TO 2007. *TR

Mileage: 175,000

THREE OF THE FOUR EXTERIOR CAR-DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF IN THE PAST YEAR, INCLUDING TWO IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. I'VE NOTICED THAT OTHER ALTIMA'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. A TOW-TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THE SAME THING ON OTHER ALTIMA'S THAT HE TOWS ALL OF THE TIME. THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT BREAK. I'VE NOTICED NOW, THAT NISSAN HAS SINCE STARTED USING A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TYPE OF EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON THEIR NEWER MODEL ALTIMA'S IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. NISSAN NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON ALL OF THEIR ALTIMA CARS THAT HAVE THESE FAULTY DOOR HANDLES. THE COST TO REPLACE ONE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS IN EXCESS OF $140, BRINGING THE COST TO REPLACE TO REPLACE ALL FOUR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES IN EXCESS OF $560!!!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS HAD BECOME CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

3 OUT OF 4 DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA HAVE BROKEN OFF IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER ALTIMA'S WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION. EACH OF MY HANDLES SNAPPED RIGHT OFF WITH THE NORMAL FORCE OF OPENING THE DOOR. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY DEFECTIVE WITH HOW THE HANDLES ARE MADE AND/OR ATTACHED TO THE CARS. I'D UNDERSTAND IF ONLY 1 HANDLE BROKE OFF AND I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IT HAPPENED TO BUT WHEN 3 OUT OF 4 BREAK AND I'VE SEEN OVER 20 OTHER CARS IN MY AREA WITH BROKEN HANDLES THEN THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL BY NISSAN. I'VE CALLED NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THE MAIN CORPORATE OFFICE BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME. THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS PERSON HUNG UP OF ME WHILE I WAS STILL SPEAKING. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY MANNER OR EVEN LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINT. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

HAD OIL CHANGE. WHILE ON THE LIFT,THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT THE UNDERBODY UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS ROTTED. WENT ON LINE AND FOUND PAGES OF PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND WILL NEED TO GET REPAIRED. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN EASILY BREAK THRU IT AND INJURE THEMSELVES. I BELIEVE IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND NISSAN SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS CAR BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND IT SHOULDN'T GET THIS RUSTED OUT IN ONLY 9 YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 110,650

THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN HAS STARTED TO RUST COMPLETELY OUT. THE FLOOR PAN IS STARTING TO FALL OUT AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF A PASSENGER WERE TO PUT TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON THE FLOOR, THEIR FOOT WOULD FALL THROUGH. THEM FALLING THROUGH COULD RESULT IN THEM CONTACTING THE ROAD SURFACE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR RECEIVING CUTS TO THEIR LEG FROM THE RUST. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS GENERATION OF ALTIMA AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

MY WIFE'S 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE IS ROTTED OUT. TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN DEALER WERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE THE MANAGER FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT A JACK MADE THE PROBLEM. NOT TRUE A LOT OF NISSAN ALTIMA THIS YEAR AND OLDER HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD 75000 MILES ON IT AND THE HOLE WAS THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL NOW IT'S ABOUT OVER A FOOT LONG BY A FOOT WIDE. WHAT CAN I DO TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

THE FLOOR OF MY NISSAN ALTIMA IS RUSTING OUT. COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. *TR

WHILE TAKING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE (@ DEALER) DUE TO ADDRESS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CATALYTIC CONVERTER), THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOOK ME OUT TO MY CAR TO POINT OUT 2 LARGE RUST AREAS - 1 EACH ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER FLOOR BOARDS. THE ENTIRE REST OF THE CAR UNDERCARRIAGE HAS PRACTICALLY ZERO RUST. THE CAR WAS DEALER MAINTAINED FOR THE FIRST 5 YEARS AND OFF AND ON FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, BUT ALWAYS WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGES, COOLANT/TRANSMISSION FLUSHES, ETC.) AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, I USED THE COMPLIMENTARY VEHICLE INSPECTION - WHICH DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT RUST, BUT IT HAD TO BE OBVIOUS. RUST LIKE THAT DOES NOT JUST APPEAR OVER NIGHT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS NOT ADVISED OF THIS SOONER - IN FACT IT WAS NOT POINTED OUT AT A DEALER INSPECTION JUST 3 MONTHS EARLIER. SINCE I DO NOT PERFORM THE CAR MAINTENANCE I WOULD HAVE NO OTHER WAY OF NOTICING, UNLESS I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED SOME KIND OF RUST INSPECTION -- OR ASKED TO GO LOOK AT MY VEHICLE EVERY TIME IT WAS IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE OR OTHER MAINTENANCE. READING THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS BOARD AND THE INTERNET IN GENERAL, I'VE COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM -- SEEMINGLY ATTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY DESIGN RELATED TO A DRAIN PLUG. WHEN THERE IS PRACTICALLY ZERO RUST ELSEWHERE, YOU CANNOT CLAIM THIS TO BE THE FAULT OF THE OWNER. I WAS NOT PLANNING ON GETTING RID OF THIS CAR FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO, BUT NOW AM FORCED TO START LOOKING. THE REPAIR COST IS NOT WORTH THE VALUE OF THE CAR (BASED ON MILEAGE). WHILE I WOULD HAVE ONCE PURCHASED A NEW NISSAN WITH NO HESITATION (BASED ON MY ALTIMA'S RELIABILITY), I NOW AM FORCED TO RECONSIDER. *TR

Mileage: 171,300

FIRST OF ALL I NOTICED ON 06/07/11 THAT MY 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA3.5 SE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD HAS A BIG RUST SPOT WHICH IS ABOUT 11 INCHES BY 7 INCHES, BUT THE REST OF THE FLOOR BOARD IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION. HUH. ALSO THE TIMING TENSION CHAIN TENSIONER WENT BAD ON 05/01/12, WITH 86000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED WHICH WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE ALTIMA 3.5 L ENGINE. HMMMM. AND THEN, THE CAR KEPT ON STALLING OUT GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS, AND HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED, NOW MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, BUT ENGINE IS RUNNING GOOD NOW. I BOUGHT A NEW 2012 ALTIMA 3.5 SL BACK IN DECEMBER 2011, KEPT THE 04 ALTIMA, MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENED FIVE MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE 2012 DON'T THINK. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

THE DRIVES SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR IS ROTTED . THERE IS NO FLOOR LEFT IN CAR. THIS CAR WAS GARAGED SENSE NEW. NISSAN KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM , BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW THEY REPLACE SUB-FRAME BECAUSE OF ROT. *TR

Mileage: 68,520

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD AND CORROSION ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,615 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,815.

Mileage: 115,615

I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE ONLY SERVICED THIS CAR AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. UPON A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD HAD A 12" X 24" AREA THAT WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE REST OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS IN PERFECT SHAPE (FOR NOW). I THOUGHT THIS RATHER ODD. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 68,305 MILES ON IT. IT IS CARED FOR WITH DELUXE WASHING. IT IS KEPT IN A GARAGE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. THEY HAD NISSAN REPS IN TO CHECK OUT OTHER CARS IN THE RECENT PAST. NOTES WERE MADE. NO ACTION. I REPORTED MY SITUATION TO THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. MY CASE WAS KICKED UP TO A SECOND REP. HE WILL BE CONTACTING MY DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT CAN BE "WORKED OUT". I ASKED IF THEY HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS, YES THEY HAD. HE SAID IF MORE PEOPLE FILE COMPLAINTS THERE COULD BE A RECALL. FILE YOUR COMPLAINT! SPREAD THE WORD! *TR

Mileage: 68,305

EXCESSIVE PREMATURE RUST ON DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR PAN. BOTH ARE ABOUT 5"X10" IN SIZE AND CONSISTENT WITH MOST OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA RUST COMPLAINTS FOR CARS OF SIMILAR AGE. SINCE NOTICING THE RUST I HAVE LOOKED AT DOZENS OF SIMILAR NISSAN ALTIMAS IN STORE PARKING LOTS ALL WITH THE SAME PREMATURE RUST PATTERN. IT APPEARS THAT NISSAN DESIGNED THE FLOOR PANS WITH A DRAIN PLUG WHICH ALLOWS WATER PENETRATION ABOVE THE FLOOR PAN WHERE IT CAUSES RUST. THE REST OF THE FLOOR PAN ON THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS IN EXCEPTIONALLY PRISTINE SHAPE, BUT DUE TO THE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED/INSTALLED FLOOR PLUGS THE RUST HAS CAUSED HOLES TO DEVELOP IN THE FLOOR PAN AROUND THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UPON NOTICING THE RUST, I TALKED WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED HE HASN'T SEEN A NISSAN ALTIMA OF SIMILAR AGE IN HIS SHOP THAT DID NOT HAVE IDENTICAL RUST PATTERNS IN THE SAME SPOT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THE RUST IN THIS ONE AREA AROUND THE DRAIN PLUGS IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE LACK OF RUST EVERYWHERE ELSE. HOLES IN FLOORBOARDS OF LATE MODEL CARS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE MOST CONSUMERS WOULD NEVER SUSPECT THIS WOULD BE AN ISSUE ON LATE MODEL CARS WHICH ARE OTHERWISE NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF RUST. HOLES IN THE FLOORBOARDS CAN ALLOW PENETRATION OF DEADLY EXHAUST FUMES, ESPECIALLY IN STOP AND GO TYPE DRIVING AS WELL AS PERSONAL SAFETY RISK AS THIS WEAKENS THE OVERALL STRENGTH OF THE UNIBODY DESIGN IN A CRASH. ALSO IF UNDETECTED LONG ENOUGH IT CAN CAUSE SEATS TO LOOSEN AND FALL FROM THEIR MOUNTS. I STRONGLY URGE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD TO ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL SINCE IT APPEARS THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RISK IT IS PUTTING ON CONSUMERS. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I TAKE GOOD CARE OF. I DON'T DRIVE IT IN THE WINTER SO IT DOESN'T SEE MUCH SALT.I RECENTLY NOTICED RUST HOLES IN BOTH MY DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE FLOORBOARDS WHICH IS RIDICULOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE CONSIDERING THE CAR IS BARELY SEVEN YEARS OLD AND SO WELL TAKEN CARE OF.MY OPINION IS THAT THE METAL USED IS FAR TOO THIN AND THAT IT IS A FLAWED DESIGN.NISSAN SHOULD RECALL ALL OF THESE ALTIMAS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE IT RIGHT.I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN... *TR

Mileage: 98,777

RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS IN PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF 2001-2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FLOOR BOARDS DUE TO A DRAINAGE PLUG THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED. CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK AFTER THEY SAID I WOULD GET A CALL BACK. THE RUSTED OUT FLOOR PANS CAN BECOME A HAZARD IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO SEE THEM THEN YOU WILL NOT NO THEY ARE THERE. MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE FOUND; IT SEEMS THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS HAVE RUSTED ALL THEY WAY THROUGH TO THE MAIN CABIN. I AM AFRAID THAT IF PEOPLE NEVER CHECK FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT WILL PROGRESSIVELY RUST THROUGH AND AFFECT YOUR SEATS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS THERE. LOOKS LIKE NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM! THEY DON'T CARE! *TR

Mileage: 134,000