Problems · by component

2004 Nissan Altima structure problems

42 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Nissan Altima cite structure, 15% of all 276 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
42
15% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2019StructureODI 11243671
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 19, 2017StructureODI 11000112
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2016Structure, SeatsODI 10929494
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2016StructureODI 10887744
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2016StructureODI 10881420
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2016StructureODI 10875178

Showing 6 of 42 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.