Sell your 2004 Nissan Altima for cash

The 2004 Nissan Altima is a midsize car that came with a choice of 2.5L 4-cyl and 3.5L 6-cyl engines. At 22 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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NissanALTIMA2004

2004 Nissan Altima at a glance

Body style	Midsize Cars
Engines	2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions	Automatic 4-spd, Manual 5-spd
Drive	Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel	Regular Gasoline
Fuel economy	17–20 city / 24–28 highway / 20–23 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost	$2,900–$3,350 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂	386–444 grams per mile
Versions tested by EPA	4 configurations
Age	22 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

Age: at 22 years old, most of a 2004 Altima's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
Weight: as a midsize car, it weighs less than a truck or SUV, so its value leans more on parts than on scrap weight. See how scrap prices by weight work.
Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
Recalls: NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2004 Altima. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the engine and engine cooling, typically around 66,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2004 Nissan Altima recalls

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall covering the 2004 Nissan Altima. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Engine and Engine CoolingJul 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V242000

On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crank angle sensor is affected by temperature variations. Under certain driving conditions, these variations in temperature can be large enough to cause a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.

Risk: If the interruption in the signal from the sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ECM) logic does not have time to diagnose the condition, the engine may stop running without warning while the vehicle is driven at a low spee

Common 2004 Altima problems

Owners have filed 276 complaints about the 2004 Nissan Altima with NHTSA. 14 reports involved a crash and 3 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 11 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

Engine and Engine Cooling72
Structure35
Engine30
Electrical System26
Engine and Engine Cooling22
Power Train10

Typical mileage when problems were reported

Engine and Engine Cooling66,000 mi
Structure115,000 mi
Engine92,000 mi
Electrical System58,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling78,000 mi
Power Train87,000 mi

2004 Nissan Altima service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 91 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2004 Nissan Altima. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

Electrical System11
Engine and Engine Cooling10
Equipment5
Structure5
Visibility5
Equipment4

Recent bulletins

Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2026 · NTB09-131C
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement "Certification Label" or "VIN Plate/L
Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2026 · NTB09-131C
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement "Certification Label" or "VIN Plate/L
Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMay 2024 · NTB13-107G
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions o
Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2024 · NTB09-081K
WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

Other Nissan Altima years

‹ Sell a 2003 Altima · Sell a 2005 Altima › · All Nissan Altima years

Other 2004 Nissan models

Selling a 2004 Altima: questions

How much is a 2004 Nissan Altima worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2004 Altima that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2004 Altimas that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2004 Altima with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2004 Nissan Altima; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2004 Altima?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

EPA fuel economy data (specs and MPG)fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA recallsnhtsa.gov
NHTSA complaints, service bulletins and investigationsnhtsa.gov

Data retrieved October 2026.

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