2003 Nissan Altima Complaint Log

THE RECALL CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING OTHER REPAIRS MADE. FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FIRE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. *NM *JB

AT ABOUT 60,850 MILEAGE - 850 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY CAR STARTED TO STALL WHILE IN MOTION AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT NISSAN HAD RECALLED 2002-2003 NISSAN ALTIMAS (ALOMST 75,000 OF THEM) BUT ONLY IN CANADA. I NEED TO KNOW WHY THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THESE PARTS IN AMERICA. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. THE CAR TENDS TO SHUT OFF AND LOSE ALL POWER WHILE IN MOTION. MYSELF BEING A COMMUTER TO AND FROM WORK ON HIGHWAYS, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT NISSAN HAD PUT A BULLETAN OUT ON THIS PART STATING THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. AGAIN, PLEASE ADVISE ME WHY THIS SERIOUS SITUATION HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED IN AMERICA.

ON 01/13/05, THE ENGINE OF MY '03 NISSAN ALTIMA SE STALLED. THANKFULLY, I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OVER THE ENGINE AND IT DID NOT START. I WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AND THEN TRIED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT STALLED AGAIN AFTER I DROVE APPROX. 100 FEET. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROX. 9 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT BUT MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS WARMED UP. I WAITED IN THE CAR FOR APPROX. AN HOUR IN 9 DEGREE TEMPERATURE WITH MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER UNTIL I WAS PICKED UP BY A FAMILY MEMBER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STALLING. WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION, I HAD THEM CONDUCT A 15,000K SERVICE (OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION, ETC.). ON 01/23/05, I HEARD AN "ENGINE KNOCK" AND DISCOVERED OIL SPOTS ON MY DRIVEWAY FROM THE CAR. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FIRST THING THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ARE TELLING ME I NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE. THEY ARE ALSO CLAIMING THAT IT IS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THEREFORE THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, I BELIEVE THE ENGINE STALLING WAS A SAFETY PROCEDURE THAT INDICATED AN ENGINE PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, I BELIEVE THE FAILURE OF THE DEALERSHIP TO IDENTIFY,AND REPAIR, THE PROBLEM MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE DAMAGE THEY ARE REPORTING. *NM

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *NM *TC *JB

ENGINE FAILURE ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REFUSES TO PROVIDE SAFE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE UNTIL CAR IS REPAIRED, UNDER WARRANTY. SINGLE FEMALE HAS ALREADY BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON HIGHWAY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.

THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT LENS MELTED OFF FROM THE LIGHT FIXTURE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PART WAS NOT ON A RECALL OR WARRANTY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TOOK THE CAR TO BAKER JACKSON NISSAN IN HOUSTON TO REPLACE A BURNED OUT HEADLIGHT. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT THE BULB HAD MELTED TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE COMPLETE ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT $400 PLUS. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE IT UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $50 DEDUCTIBLE, BUT REFUSED TO RETURN THE MELTED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY STATING THAT IT HAD TO BE RETURNED TO NISSAN FOR THE WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD. BESIDES THE SAFETY ASPECT, THE ENGINEERING DEFECT COSTS CONSUMERS MORE THAN $400 TO REPLACE A HEADLAMP THAT SHOULD COST LESS THAN $20. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE CONSISTED OF AN ENGINE TUNE UP AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IN WHICH THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO INTERNAL DEFECTS WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AS I A DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 40-45 MPH WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WHATSOEVER. THE 1ST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS APRIL 29TH. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC CALED P0725 AND P1229 AND CALLED THE NISSAN TECH LINE BUT STILL HAD NO SUCH LUCK. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED AS I HAVE HAD MY 7 YEAR OLD CHILD WITH ME IN THE CAR BOTH TIMES. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT HAD A ACCIDENT SO FAR, BUT IT IS A VERY SCARY FEELING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WITH YOUR CHILD AT A SPEED OF 40-45 MPH AND YOUR CAR JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS INSIDE OF YOUR THE DASH OF YOUR VEHICLE START FLASHING (IE. SERVICE ENGINE, OIL, GAS, LIGHTS, ETC. *AK

THE DEALER REFUSES TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE REGION SPECIFIED FOR REPAIRS. *NM RECALL# 03V251000. *SC

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND IT DOES THIS WHEN TRYING TO PRECEDE ON FROM A STOP LIGHT. IT MIGHT GO 2-3 MPH. THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING AROUND SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 AND THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS NO FORE WARNING AND THERE WAS NO NOISE. *AK *JB

WE PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 ON 12/2002. ON 7/16/04 THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK UNTIL THE THIRD TRY. AFTER STARTING HE WOULDN'T GO BUT 15 MPH. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THE THROTTLE CHAMBER WAS DEFECTIVE. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS NOW AND THE PART HAS NOT COME IN BECAUSE THEIR TELLING ME ITS ON BACK ORDER. CALLED AND TALKED TO SEVERAL SERVICE GUYS AND REQUESTED A LOANER CAR UNTIL MY CAR GOT FIXED. WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE REPLIED ALL THE GUYS. SO I CALLED THE GM MANAGER AND LEFT A MESSAGE, HE CALLED BACK AND SAID HE WOULD CHECK ON A LOANER AND CALL ME BACK IN THE AM OF 7/30/04 BY 9AM. HE TOOK TO LONG SO I CALLED HIM AT 934AM WENT TO VOICE MAIL.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A FRAME AROUND THE STICK SHIFT TO HOLD DOWN THE PIECE OF MATERIAL THAT KEEPS FROM EXPOSING INSIDE THE GEAR. THE FRAME CAME UNGLUED AND GOT STUCK INSIDE THE GEAR, CAUSING MY GEAR TO LOCK AND FORCING ME TO SUDDENLY STOP ON THE FREEWAY ON 65 MPH TRAFFIC. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE MY CAR WAS AT 37,000, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE PARTS DEPARTMENT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON ON NISSAN ALTIMAS, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ON AN EMPTY HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PULL THE FRAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE GEAR. THE AMOUNT THAT I'M BEING CHARGED FOR THE PARTS & LABOR ARE NOT MY CONCERN AT THIS TIME AND ARE MINIMAL, HOWEVER THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS IS PRICELESS. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT IF WE CAN AVOID SERIOUS DAMAGES IN THE FUTURE IT'S VERY WELL WORTH A RECALL. *AK

WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT SHUT DOWN ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND STEERING BECAME HARD. I WAS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE TO CAUSING A CRASH. I FOUND OUT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSORS ON NISSAN ALTIMAS, INCLUDING MINE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SPEAK TO THEM ON HAVING THE ISSUE FIXED. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (AFTER PULLING MY CAR'S INFORMATION UP) THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THE SENSORS. I'M LOOKING ON /WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV FOR RECALLS, AND IT'S CLEARLY LISTED ON THERE ACCORDING TO MY SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL. I ENDED UP HAVING TO BUY THE PARTS AND HAD TO GET THE SERVICE DONE SOMEWHERE ELSE. *TR

CONSUMER HAD A HARD TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. DEALER STATED THAT THE STARTER WAS DEFECTIVE, AND PROBLEM EXISTED FOR A WHILE. *AK * TC

TRAFFIC CRASH WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. POINT OF IMPACT WAS TO FRONT END, TOWARDS DRIVER'S SIDE. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT. FORTUNATELY, MY SON'S BELT RESTRAINTS PREVENTED INJURY. CONCERNED AS TO THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED. AS INDICATED ABOVE, IMPACT POINT WAS GENERALLY TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

SHIFT LEVER EASILY SHIFTING THROUGH 1, 2, 3, N CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLLIN TO A CANAL. *AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN I COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE HIT WAS FULL FRONT AND ONLY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND PASSENGER PRETENSIONER DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE DRIVER SIDE PRETENSIONER DID NOT DEPLY. NISSAN IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING BUT FROM THE LOOKS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT INJURED BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IF I WAS GOING FASTER OR IF THE ACCIDENT WAS MORE SERIOUS, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD PROTECTION FROM A THE STANDARD DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG... E.G. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP AND HIT TWO VEHICLES HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJUROES. *AK

ON DECEMBER 14, 2003 CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V084000, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED. DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED TO BEND TOWARD THE BACK RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. AS TIME WENT BY THE SEAT BEGAN TO BEND MORE AND MORE. CURRENTLY, NOT ONLY IS THE SEAT TWISTED BUT, THERE IS A METAL BAR PROTRUDING FROM THE SEAT INTO THE CONSUMER'S BACK.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A BURNING SMELL/ODOR CAME THROUGH THE VENTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

IN MY NEW NISSAN ALTIMA 2003, THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE FOR DEVELOPING A CRACK. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO ADMIT THE RADIATOR IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THEY HAVE MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA PURCHASED IN MARCH 2003 THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THIS PAST YEAR THAT MY CAR WILL NOT START I BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER THEY FOUND 2 RECALLS BOTH WERE FIXED BUT MY CAR STILL HAS DAYS WERE IT WILL NOT START. I WENT BACK TO DEALER THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TILL THEY CAN FIND OUT HOW TO FIX PROBLEM IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR THEY TOLD ME THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO RIGHT NOW! IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX MY CAR I SHOULD GET MY MONEY BACK OR THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT! I NEVER NO FROM DAY TO DAY IF MY CAR WILL START. *CB

CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. *AK

THE DEBRIS/FIRE RECALL 03V084000 WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED BOTH TIMES. *NM

DO NOT REALLY KNOW? I FOUND OUT ONLY AFTER EXTENSIVE SEARCHING AND MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. RECALLED ON OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. SAME ISSUE AS WITH THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND BELOW, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER TEN MINUTES AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. I PURCHASED IT USED IN AUG. 2002. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR SEVERAL THINGS. FAULTY SHOCKS, WHICH TOOK THREE VISITS AND TWO DIFFERENT SHOPS TO GET IT FIXED. AND THE LATEST PROBLEM, NOT STARTING. AND TO TOP IT OFF ON CHRISTMAS EVE STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. BAA HUM BUG, NO ONE WANTED TO HELP, THEY JUST WANTED TO HONK, LIKE I CHOSE TO "PARK" IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, IN THE INTERSECTION. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE I AM UNCERTAIN THAT THEY FIXED THE CORRECT THING. THEY REPLACED THE STARER COIL. BUT WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. SO NEXT THEY REPLACED A SENSOR THAT IS A NEW RECALL CAMPAIGN. I PURCHASED MY CAR WITH EXSISTING RECALLS THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT. THE ONLY REASON I FOUND OUT WAS BECAUSE I CALL TO COMPLAIN TO THE FACTORY ABOUT THE TREATMENT I GOT FROM NORTH BAY NISSAN IN PETALUMA, CA. AND THE LADY I SPOKE WITH INFORMED ME OF 4 RECALLS! WHAT IS NISSANS STANDARDS FOR SELLING "CERTIFIED" USED VEHICLES??? I FEEL ROBBED. I HATE MY CAR, I DONT WANT IT, I DONT FEEL SAFE!

THE OIL IN THE ENGINE EVAPORATED AND WHITE AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, TWICE DUE TO THE DEBRIS/FIRE RECALL 03V084000. BUT, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK NISSAN HAD NOT AUTHORIZED THE SERVICE TO PLACE A NEW ENGINE IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *SC *JB

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP FAILED. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT HIPPODROME, TONY BRYANT, THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY THE HEADLAMP OVERHEATING AND IS A PROBLEM INHERENT IN THIS VEHICLE. THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $335 WITH NO ASSURANCE THAT THE LAMP WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN. THE HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED ON DECEMBER 19, 2003, AND DECEMBER 22, 2003. THE LAMP FAILED AGAIN ON JANUARY 26, 2004 AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ON JANUARY 27, 2004. *JB

RE: ACTION NUMBER RQ06001 MANUFACTURER: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL FOUR PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 ALTIMA THAT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CITED AS REASONS FOR THE RECALL OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. SERVICE RECORDS DOCUMENT THAT THE PROBLEM THAT MY CAR WOULD NOT CRANK WAS REPORTED AS EARLY AS 23,619 MILES WHEN I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SINCE IT WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, OTHER RECORDS SINCE THAT TIME REVEAL THE SAME COMPLAINT. EACH TIME THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN RECENTLY BECAUSE IT BEGAN CUTTING OFF ABRUPTLY WHILE TRAVELING - AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER, WITH OVER 60,000 MILES, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS AND THEY BOTH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE, IT WAS MY EXPENSE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT THE SITUATION REMINDING THEM THAT THE PROBLEM BEGAN BEFORE THE WARRANTY PERIOD WAS OVER AND THAT I HAD READ THEIR INFORMATION REPORTED TO NHTSA. I WAS TOLD THAT MY 2003 ALTIMA WAS NOT AMONG THOSE PRODUCED JUNE 1, 2001 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2002 AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED. OBVIOUSLY, MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IS ALSO ONE IN WHICH DEFECTIVE CRANK SENSORS WERE INSTALLED AS EVIDENCED BY THE ON-GOING PROBLEMS AND THE CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS GIVEN ME BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE CESSATION OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING THE INTERSTATE "COULD" HAVE COST MY LIFE. JUST AS MY CAR HAD A DEFECTIVE PART CREATING THESE PROBLEMS, THERE MAY BE OTHERS LIKE MINE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP ON YESTERDAY TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD INVOLVE REPLACING THE TWO CRANK POSITION SENSORS AT A COST OF $115 FOR THE SENSORS AND $225 FOR LABOR ($340) PLUS TAX. I ASSUME THE OLD PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *NM

WHEN USING THE HEATER THE VENTS BLEW HOT AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE VENTS BLEW OUT COLD AIR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES TRYING TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER FINALLY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE WAS NORMAL. *AK

WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A GATE. THE CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE ADD ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE STOP WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES, FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY. I KNOW THIS IS A PART OF THE RECALL ON ALL 2002 VEHICLES, RECALL DAY WAS NOV 04 2003. MY CAR IS 2003 BUT I BOUGHT IT ON NOV 15TH 2003. NISSAN SHOULD DO THE RECALL ON ALL 2003 ALSO. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO NISSAN DEALER, ON THE FIRST SERVICE, THEY CHARGED ME FOR $872.73, I TALK TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR AND SHOWED HIM ALL THE DOCUMENTS ABOUT THE SAFETY RECALL, HE SAID MY CAR IS 2003, AND ALSO SAID THIS IS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. I SAID OK AND PAID THE SERVICE BY CREDIT CARD. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME, THE CAR WON'T LAST LONGER THAN 24 HRS, THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, I AM VERY LUCKY I AM STILL ALIVE. THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED BEFORE I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER: SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS TIME THE SERVICE DIRECTOR TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM BY FIXING THE PROBLEM THAT I SHOWED HIM ONE DAY EARLIER: THAT IS REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS, CAMSHAFT POSITION, WHICH ALL INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ON 2002, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER. THE WORST THING WAS THE DEALER TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR 2ND SERVICE THAT IS ALMOST $300.00, I'M SO UPSET AND BRING UP TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR, HE VOIDED THE CHARGE BUT STILL CHARGED ME FOR THE PART = $37.84 INCLUDES TAX. I'M IN THE PROCESS TO WORK WITH MY CREDIT CARD TO DISPUTE ABOUT ALL THE CHARGE. *JB

I HAD MY CAR FOR A FEW MONTHS, WHEN I CONSISTENTLY NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE WAS INACCURATE. I TOOK MY CAR INTO GREENVILLE NISSAN TO BE WORKED ON TWICE AND THEY CLAIMED TO FIX WHATEVER WAS WRONG. THAT WAS THE DEPTH OF THE INFORMATION I RECEIVED. TO THIS DAY, MY FUEL GAUGE FLOATS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. I ALSO WROTE A LETTER TO NISSAN STATING THIS PROBLEM. THEY THANKED ME FOR THE LETTER AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE CORRESPONDENCE. ALSO, IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY, MY ROOF WAS LEAKING. RIGHT UNDER THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, MY ROOF WAS SOAKED AFTER A HARD RAINSTORM. I WENT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON MIDLOTHIAN, IN RICHMOND,VA. THE TECH TOLD ME IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF A CLOGGED RAIN DRAIN, AND THAT IT WOULD COST $80 AN HOUR JUST TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. IN 2003, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING AND WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS AND THE RADIATOR AND CRANK SENSOR WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPLACED UNDER THE LEMON LAW BECAUSE THE TIME HAD EXPIRED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,435. UPDATED 02/12/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THEN SHOOTS FORWARD. UPDATED 02/12/08 *TR

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S AND @ 3900 MILES THE RADIATOR WENT BAD , NOW @ 4800 MILES THE RADIATOR IS BAD AGAIN. DEALER IS VERY UNHELPFUL OF SITUATION AND ACTS LIKE THEY DON,T WANT TO FIX.GERMAINE NISSAN IS 2 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOME , ONLY BOUGHT FROM THEM BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE A RESPECTABLE DEALERSHIP.IT PUTS ALMOST 150 MILES ON MY CAR TO DRIVE IT UP THER AND BACK,AND THEY SAY I DON,T QUALIFY FOR A LOANER CAR.*AK

WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FUEL MILEAGE WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA. IT'S A BRAND NEW 2003 ALTIMA WITH A 2.5/4-CYLINDER ENGINE THAT NISSAN ADVERTISES ON ALL THEIR WINDOW STICKERS AS GETTING 23/29. AFTER THE BREAKING PERIOD, MY FATHER STILL WAS GETTING ONLY 20 MPG SO RETURNED THE CAR ALONG WITH THE ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER TO THE NISSAN DEALER IN HILLIARD, OH & THEY AGREED TO CHECK IT OUT WHICH THEY DID & REPORTED THAT THE CAR WAS FINE & OPERATING PROPERLY. WHEN HE PICKED THE CAR UP, HE WAS GIVEN SOME PAPERS & ASSUMED THE STICKER WAS AMONG THEM, BUT WASN'T. WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS MISSING THE STICKER, HE RETURNED TO GET IT & WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND IT. HE TOOK HIS CAMERA TO THE DEALER & TOOK PICTURES OF LIKE STICKERS ON LIKE MODEL ALTIMAS CLEARLY SHOWING THE 23/29 MPG RATING. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, HE TOOK IT IN AGAIN EXPLAINING IT WAS STILL NOT GETTING ANY BETTER MILEAGE & SOMETHING MUST BE DONE SO BONNIE, THE SERVICE MGR. THERE TOOK OVER. AGAIN THEY CHECKED IT OUT & TOLD HIM THE SAME THING...THE CAR IS PERFORMING JUST FINE & THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY HE IS NOT GETTING THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE. HE TAKES IT IN FOR A 3RD TIME, THEY BRING HIM HOME & KEEP THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I TAKE HIM BACK TO PICK IT UP & WE WAIT FOR BONNIE WHO TELLS US THEY HAVE EXHAUSTED EVERY METHOD THEY HAVE FOR TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR IS ONLY GETTING 20MPG. SHE AGREES TO CALL NISSAN HEADQUARTERS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR WOULD TRADE OUT CARS FOR MY DAD. SEVERAL DAYS LATER SHE CALLS STATING SHE MADE THE CALL. HE'S REALLY TRAPPED & AT HIS WITS END. I SUBSCRIBE TO CONSUMER REPORTS SO CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY HAD TESTED THE CAR & SURE ENOUGH THEY HAD. THEY REPORTED GETTING ONLY 22MPG ON THE EXACT SAME 2003 4-CYLINDER MODEL, WHICH MADE ME START THINKING THAT PROBABLY NOBODY WAS GETTING THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE. I STARTED ASKING EVERY PERSON I FOUND WHO HAD A 2003 4-CYLINDER ALTIMA WHAT MILEAGE THEY WERE GETTING, NOT 1 PERSON EVER EVEN TOOK A MILEAGE CHECK!

DEALER STILL HASN'T MADE CONTACT ABOUT A REPAIR ON A PARTICULAR RECALL. VEHICLE IS STILL WITH THE DEALER. *LA THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS BUT WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THEY LACKED ALL THE PARTS AND INFORMATION TO PERFORM THE WORK. THE CONSUMER REQUEST INFORMATION ON ANY OTHER LOCAL DEALERS THAT WOULD BE CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE RECALL. *PH *NM

I HAD MY BRAND-NEW 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA FOR 4 DAYS, AND HAD ONLY 300 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN THERE WAS A LEAK IN MY POWER STEERING FLUID TANK, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE VERY STIFF, ALMOST UNSTEERABLE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. AFTER MY PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED TO OCCURRING AGAIN, AFTER 2 DAYS OF BEING FIXED. I CALLED MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND THEN THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE RESERVOIR. THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING AFTER THE CAR WAS 4 DAYS OLD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT VERY ACCOMMODATING, CONSIDERING THIS PROBLEM AROSE 4 DAYS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. *LA

I GOT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ON 9/1/03. ON THE 10/10/03 IT STARTED STALLING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS A DAMAGED SPARK PLUG. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK IT BACK. A BUTTERFLY VALVE HAD COME LOOSE AND WAS LOST SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE. I WAS INFORMED OF TWO RECALLS, AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. NISSAN GAVE ME A RENTAL FOR 5 DAYS, BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR ANYMORE. IT TOOK 7 DAYS TO DELIVER THE ENGINE. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO RENT A CAR, SO I HAD TO BORROW MY SISTER'S CAR TO GET WORK. ONCE IT CAME ONE OF THE PARTS WAS WRONG. THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALOGS, AND THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THEY WOULD NOT AGREE TO A RENTAL. I CALLED NISSAN MYSELF. AFTER WAITING FOR 24 HOURS WHILE THEY REVIEWED MY FILE I WAS DENIED A RENTAL BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG I WOULD BE. THE LADY WAS VERY RUDE. I ASKED FOR A SUPERVISOR. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE 24-48 HOURS FOR THEM TO RETURN MY CALL. I WAITED A WEEK AND CALLED BACK. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY SHOULD BE CALLING ME THAT DAY OR THE NEXT. I HAVE STILL NEVER HEARD FROM THEM, AND IT IS DECEMBER 4 2003. I AM JUST GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM THE NISSAN COMPANY. I HAVE BEEN GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM NISSAN TELLING ME THE PART WILL BE IN A CERTAIN WEEK, BUT STILL NO PART. ON NOVEMBER 19TH THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A CAR, AND THEN ON NOVEMBER 20TH THEY GOT NISSAN TO GIVE ME A RENTAL. SO BETWEEN OCTOBER 25TH UNTIL NOVEMBER 19TH I HAVE HAD TO BORROW A CAR FROM MY SISTER. BOTH OF US COMMUTE, HER TO SCHOOL, AND ME TO WORK. I WORK THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT, SO THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I AM A NURSE AND AM ON CALL SOMEDAYS. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GET THERE IN A HURRY, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A CAR. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO MISS OUT ON THE OVERTIME HOURS, NOT TO MENTION STAFF MEETINGS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TREATED AS RUDELY BY A COMPANY AS NISSAN HAS TREATED ME. I HAVE BEEN GETTING NOTHING BUT FAKE PROMISES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, NOR WILL ANYONE I KNOW! *NLM

ON MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT IS ENGAGED. IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND IF I HOLD AND APPLY PRESSURE THE SQUEAKING WILL STOP. IT'S NOT A CONTINUOUS SQUEAK; HOWEVER, IT'S WHENEVER I MOVE OR WHENEVER THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED. ON 10/07, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALER'S SPRAYED SOME SORT OF "DRY" LUBRICANT....BUT STILL SQUEAKS. I THINK I NEED A WHOLE NEW PART INSTALLED. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE SEAT BELT, BUT THE PART THAT THE SEAT BELT HOOKS INTO NEXT TO THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT DRIVES ME NUTS! *LA

WHENEVER I TRY TO START MY ENGINE THE ENGINE DOESN'T RESPOND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM BUT THE IGNITION DOESN'T SEEMS TO WORK SOMETIME. I HAD THIS PROBLEM ALMOST 3 TIMES AND THE CAR IS VERY NEW. I BOUGHT THE CAR THIS YEAR DURING FEB. *LA

RIGHT FRONT STRUT ON MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN 18 MONTHS. MILEAGE IS HIGH ON MY ALTIMA, AT 40K DUE TO SEVERAL TRIPS FROM CALIFORNIA TO OREGON FOR FAMILY EMERGENCIES IN FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I AM BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I AM GETTING DEFECTIVE MCPHERSON STRUTS THAT ARE NOW MADE IN MEXICO. CAR HAS A VERY DISTINGUISHED PULL TO THE RIGHT EVERY SINCE FIRST FAILURE AT 6 MONTHS IN SERVICE. ALIGNMENTS AND NEW TIRES HAVE NOT HELPED THIS SITUATION. CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT THE DEALER, I WILL NOT LET THEM REPLACE THE STRUT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY CANNOT ASSURE ME THAT I WILL NOT GET ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. CAR IS VERY HARD TO HANDLE ESPECIALLY GOING OVER UNEASY ROADS, WHICH THERE ARE PLENTY OF IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.*AK

I HAD MY CAR IN PARK. I WENT TO CLOSE MY GARAGE DOOR AND HEARD A NOISE FROM THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED GOING IN REVERSE. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND GOT PINED UNDER AND THE CAR TOOK ME WITH IT ABOUT 15 FEET. I KNOW THE CARS GEARS SLIPED IT COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ANY OTHER WAY.