While driving in a small street, gas peddle just stops working. Car just keeps moving at speed of 5miles like in neutral mode but checked being in drive mode. Then all lights start flashing and stops after some distance). Towed to dealer-states battery suddenly died. Bring it home. Then same thing happened - again just stops working at redlight with flashing all lights but clearly battery ok as…
2006 Nissan Altima cruise control problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 18 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
These 2006 Altimas show a pattern of three serious drivability defects that dealers struggle to diagnose and fix.
Engine stalling is the most reported issue. Cars shut down at traffic lights, during highway driving, and even at complete stops—sometimes multiple times per owner. The problem relates to a 2007 recall (07V527000) for crankshaft position sensor overheating, but owners say the recall repair didn't stick. Dealers often refuse to fix what they can't reproduce in the shop, leaving owners stranded. One owner reported applying the brakes 30 feet early repeatedly to prevent rear-ending other cars when the engine dies.
Unintended acceleration has caused two documented collisions. Vehicles lunge forward without driver input, especially from a standstill or when starting. One owner identified a defective throttle positioning sensor as the culprit; Nissan service didn't document or repair it. Another owner held the brake pedal down for a full year as a workaround.
Manual transmission clutch failures (SE-R models) feature pedals that stick to the floor, lose all resistance, or retract fully into the dash. Dealership repairs—including full clutch replacements—don't prevent recurrence. Nissan forums show this is widespread, but dealers claim it's not a safety issue.
Additional concerns include electrical dropouts causing engine shutdown, surging during braking, and RPM/speed loss while driving. Across all issues, owners report dealers cannot or will not diagnose and repair the underlying causes.
Same Nissan Altima cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling during operation
Engine shuts down spontaneously while driving at various speeds (35-75 mph), at traffic lights, during acceleration, or while braking. Restart is sometimes difficult. Multiple recurrences reported.
When: Across model years; incidents reported during normal driving, in traffic, and at complete stops. Some owners report episodes becoming more frequent over time.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts off without warning; Difficulty restarting after stall; Service Engine Soon light illuminated; Dashboard lights dimming before stall; Steering wheel locking after engine shutdown; Loss of power steering when engine dies
Codes mentioned: P0731 (A/T 1st Gear Function)
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealerships often unable or unwilling to repair without reproducing the problem. One owner willing to pay for repair but was refused. Some owners report the crank position sensor replacement did not resolve recurring issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 07V527000 issued for crankshaft position sensor overheating on 2.5L engines. However, owners report the recall repair did not prevent recurrence. Nissan corporate stated technicians cannot repair if problem cannot be duplicated.
Unintended acceleration / loss of throttle control
Vehicle accelerates suddenly without driver input or with foot on brake. Occurs when starting, at traffic lights, during parking, and at complete stops. Two collision incidents reported directly attributed to this failure.
When: Low mileage and used ownership periods reported; incidents include 5-month-old vehicle and vehicles at various mileage points.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration without foot on accelerator; Car lunges forward at 55-65 mph from complete stop without input; Hesitation followed by sudden acceleration; Throttle becomes unresponsive then responds violently; Vehicle accelerates while in Park or with foot firmly on brake; Engine revs jump from 1000 to 2000 RPM instantly on startup
Repairs/costs cited: One tow truck driver identified a defective throttle positioning sensor. Owner had to hold foot on brake for one year as a workaround. No systematic repair data provided by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan service declined to document or repair the issue, stating there was no problem found.
Clutch pedal malfunction (SE-R manual transmission)
Clutch pedal sticks to floor, loses resistance, or retracts fully upward into underside of dash. Affects manual transmission SE-R models. Initial repairs fail to resolve recurring issues.
When: First incident reported 4 days after purchase at 34,000 miles; recurrence 2 years later. Another owner experienced repeated failures within one year of purchase in 2010, then again 3 years later.
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal sticks to floor and won't return; Clutch pedal retracts fully upward under dash; Loss of clutch engagement resistance; Pedal falls to floor after repeated pumping; Clutch complete failure requiring tow
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced full clutch assembly ($1000). Mechanic advised master cylinder or slave cylinder failure. Problem recurred after repair. Multiple visits to dealer did not resolve root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers state nothing can be done and deny it is a safety issue despite multiple owners reporting the same problem on Nissan forums.
Surge / hesitation during braking and acceleration
Vehicle surges forward or hesitates during stop-and-go traffic, especially when braking to a complete stop. Owner must maintain extra following distance to prevent rear-end collision.
When: Recurring failures at 200 miles and 11,500 miles; another instance on interstate and local roads. Happens when car warms up.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surges forward when slowing to stop; Vehicle jerkily lurches forward during braking; Hesitation when accelerating from stop; Loss of smoothness in speed transitions
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports dealership stated repair completed, but failure recurred one month later. Owner has adapted by applying brakes 30 feet early and shutting off engine to stop the surge.
Battery / charging system electrical dropout
Sudden loss of electrical power during driving causing engine shutdown, dash light dimming, and alternator failure. Repeated incidents suggest sensor or charging system issue misdiagnosed.
When: Occurred multiple times; hood was extremely hot at time of one incident.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts off on road; All dashboard lights go dark or dim significantly; Difficulty starting after driving; requires engine cooling time of 1-5 hours; Vehicle hood extremely hot; Loss of power during acceleration; Jerking forward in stop-and-go traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer changed alternator. Owner suspects this is same crankshaft position sensor issue as 2007 recall.
Intermittent RPM and speed loss while driving
RPM and speedometer drop suddenly to zero while driving; car feels like it wants to stall but kicks back on. Brake light and battery light illuminate simultaneously. Multiple incidents in short span.
When: Occurs once car warms up. Nine instances recorded in 15-mile interstate span on one drive. Two instances on local roads two years apart.
Symptoms owners cite: All RPMs and speed drop to zero suddenly; Engine feels like it wants to die then restarts; Brake light and battery light illuminated simultaneously; Occurs more frequently as car warms up; Check Engine light on
Repairs/costs cited: Owner turned off car and restarted to restore normal speed.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 36,831 and 113,000 miles, with the median around 81,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,831; a quarter make it past 113,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.