2003 Nissan Altima Complaint Log

GASOLINE SMELL AROUND VEHICLE DUE TO LEAK ON EXHAUST PIPES. *LA THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE LEAKING WAS DUE TO FAULTY FUEL TANK GAS VALVES. *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE CRANKED UP BUT WOULD TURN OVER. THERE WAS A RECALL (03V4555000) FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WELD BUT THE VIN NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE.

ENGINE NOISE (KNOCK, CLACK OR CLATTER) AT IDLE. NISSAN AMERICA HAS PUBLISHED SEVERAL BULLETINS/RECALLS/ALERTS REGARDING NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUTO-TENSIONER, PRE-CATALYST AND/OR VALVES BUT THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER NOW CLAIM THE "NOISE" IS NORMAL. ALSO, THE CAR STILL HAS A RATTLE IN DOME LIGHT THAT THE INSULATION KIT (TAPE) FAILED TO FIX. SERVICE MANAGER STATED RATTLE WAS NOT HEARD WHILE DRIVING THE CAR FOR 10 MILES BUT IF THE RATTLE COULD BE DUPLICATED AT 40,000 MILES HE WOULD REPAIR. OF COURSE, I HEARD THE KNOCK AND RATTLE WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR ONLY HAS 12,500 MILES. THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED WHICH IS WHEN I BEGAN NOTICING THE KNOCK. THIS IS A SOUR DEAL! *VEB. *NM

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED AND ACCELERATED TOWARDS TRAFFIC. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL TO STOP. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 6 DAYS BUT COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC *NLM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY SPEED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER MADE CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK CONSUMER NOTED THAT SINCE PURCHASE THERE HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AFTER A PART IN THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. ON MORNING WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING NEXT TO THE CARPOOL LANE HOPING NO ONE WOULD HIT THE VEHICLE. *PH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES AND REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,570 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 222,000.

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS NOW FAILED TWICE, THE SECOND TIME THE CAR JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING! FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A BIG-RIG FOLLOWING ME, OR MOST LIKELY I WOULD NOT BE ALIVE TODAY. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP WITH THE PART ON BACK ORDER, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THEY (NISSAN) ARE HAVING LOTS OF FAILURES WITH THIS PART. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND FELL THAT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM SHOULD AT LEAST BE INVESTIGATED. THANKS, RONALD J. COLFER. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED WINDSHIELD HAD SOME DISTORTION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THEY WERE LIKE HEAT WAVES IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE SALESMEN NOTICED IT ON THE SECOND DAY ALONG WITH OTHER NEW ALTIMA'S ON THE LOT. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL THE SECOND DAY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BUT NOTHING WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. *PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DEALER KEPT VEHICLE OVER FOUR MONTHS AND COULD NO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

A/C COMPRESSOR DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE MANUAL SELECTOR SWITCH IS MOVED FROM THE DEFROST POSITION. THIS IS COVERED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN NTB03-048 DATED 5-6-03 FROM NISSAN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOTED AS A CHANGE IN OPERATION FROM EARLIER MODELS AND I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS. THE ONLY WAY TO DISENGAGE THE COMPRESSOR AFTER USING THE DEFROSTER IS TO STOP THE CAR, MOVE THE SELECTOR SWITCH TO ANY FUNCTION THAT IS NOT DEFROSTER RELATED, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR. IF YOU DON'T THERE IS AT LEAST A 10% LOSS IN MILEAGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS OPERATING AND THE TEMP SELECTOR MUST BE ADJUSTED UP OR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WILL FREEZE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY MY WIFE AND I ON OUR WAY THROUGH CHICAGO ON I-94. I THOUGHT IT WAS A SIMPLE WARRANTY PROBLEM THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET FIXED UPON MY RETURN TO WAUKESHA. THE SERVICE BULLETIN MAKES IT SEEM THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND THE CONSUMER WILL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM. NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON I FEEL THIS IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS AND ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY BUT JUST ANOTHER WAY THE CAR MANUFACTURER HAS DECIDED TO CUT CORNERS AND NOT MAKE TWO DIFFERENT RELAYS FOR THE MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL VEHICLES. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO CARRY BLANKETS AROUND IN MY CAR TO KEEP ME WARM IN JUNE AND JULY BECAUSE MY A/C WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNLESS I RESTART MY ENGINE. WHAT FOOL WOULD DO THAT ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THIS IS NOT A DEALER PROBLEM, THIS WAS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THAT THE WAY NISSAN DESIGNED IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL CAN HIT THE "AUTO" CONTROL AND THE PROBLEM STOPS. I DON'T HAVE THAT BUTTON IN MY "MANUALLY" CONTROLLED HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ADDRESS THIS WITH NISSAN. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLETIN THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH MOST OF THE 2003 MODELS. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *NLM

I PURCHASED MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ON MAY 05, 2003 AND IT HAD A DEFECT IN THE PAINT ON THE HOOD. I ASKED THE DEALER DORSCHEL AUTOMOTIVE FOR A NEW HOOD AND THEY REFUSED AND SAID THEY COULD PAINT IT. THE PAINT JOB WAS ABSOLUTLEY TERRIBLE AND WAS REPAINTED FIVE ADDITIONAL TIMES. ALMOST THE ENTIRE CAR HAS BEEN PAINTED AND NOW THE FRONT NOSE/SPOILER AREA IS ALL CHECKED AND CRACKED AND NEEDS TO PAINTED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 10,000 MILES. I WANT A NEW VEHICLE OR MY MONEY REFUNDED FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM BECAUSE IS MAKING A NOISE AND WHEN IT'S PARKED IT'S MAKING A NOISE EVEN MORE WORSE. OF COURSE AS ALWAYS THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO SAID THAT IS NORMAL. THE NOISE THAT MY CAR MAKE IS LIKE IF THIS WAS A DIESEL CAR. *LA

NISSAN ALTIMA 2003, WITH SEVERAL FAILURES, LEAKING GASKET, ETC. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED, THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED, THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK, THE RADIATOR CAP AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AND THE WHEELS RUSTED. *JB

NAR 04/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A MECHANICAL FAILURE, THAT WOULD REQUEST A NEW VEHICLE UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. *CB

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION. *AK

DEFECT REPORT SUBMITTED 2002-2003 NISSAN ALTIMA EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD WHICH COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST.*MR *TS

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 3,539 MILES ON JAN 17TH MY WIFE DROVE IT OUT FOR THE GROCERY SHOPPING. WHEN SHE CAME BACK SHE PARKED THE CAR ON THE DRIVE WAY IN 'P' WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AS SHE WAS TO GO OUT AFTER UNLOADING THE SHOPPING BAGS FROM THE TRUNK. SHE GOT OFF FROM THE CAR AND OPENED THE TRUNK AND UNLOADED THE SHOPPING BAGS AND TOOK THEM TO THE KITCHEN THROUGH THE GARAGE. SHE TOOK FEW BAGS EACH TIME TO THE KITCHEN SO SHE TRAVELED FEW TIMES FROM THE CAR TO THE KITCHEN. THEN SHE WALKED TO THE MAILBOX AND THEN TOOK THE LAST BAG FROM THE TRUNK AND AFTER CLOSING THE TRUNK WALKED TO THE KITCHEN. SOON LATER SHE OPENED THE KITCHEN DOOR AND WALKED INTO THE GARAGE WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS COMING TOWARD HER. IT HAPPENED SO FAST AND AS SHE LOOKED AT THE CAR SHE GOT PARALISED AND THE CAR BUMPED INTO THE WATER HEATER BASE AND STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN 'P'. MY WIFE DIDN'T GET HURT BY 1/16" OR SO... MY DAUGHTER RAN TO THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND VERIFIED IF THE CAR WAS IN 'P' OR NOT. IT WAS IN 'P' AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE PANEL SHOWING 'P' TOO!! I TOOK SOME PICTURES OF IT SINCE THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AT THAT MOMENT. MY WIFE WAS IN SHOCK. SO I STAYED WITH HER THAT EVENING AND RIGHT NEXT DAY EARLY MORNING TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPT CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND TOLD ME AND TO MY WIFE AND MY DAUGHTER THAT WE HAVE TO USE OUR INSURANCE TO FIX THE DAMAGES CAUSED TO THE CAR AND THE HOUSE BY THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR. NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE NISSAN DEALER REGARDING THIS ISSUE ALTHOUGH I REQUESTED TO CONTACT NISSAN USA CORP TO REPORT THE PROBLEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS ON HER VEHICLE ARE GETTING JAMMED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MUST PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND QUICKLY ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE NISSAN DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE HER $400 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE HER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE POWERTRAIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 50,000. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. UPDATED 08/07/07. *JB

WE PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA S ON NOVEMBER 12, 2002. WE NOTICED A ROUGH VIBRATION WHEN WE ARE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN DRIVE AND WHEN WE HAVE IT IN PARK. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY TO BE CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. WE WANTED TO EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER ALTIMA OF SAME VALUE BECAUSE WE HAVE FRIENDS WITH 2002-2003 ALTIMAS AND THEY ARE NOT HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY STILL CONTINUE TO SAY IT IS NORMAL. ALSO, WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN YOU TAKE OFF IT HESITATES BEFORE IT PICKS UP SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CHANGING OUT SMOOTHLY. WE AREN'T HAVING ANY LUCK WITH THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMERS AFTER THEY GET YOUR $20,000 + CHECK. I REALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE A BETTER WAY FOR CUSTOMERS TO RECEIVE QUALITY SERVICE FROM THESE DEALERSHIPS AFTER PURCHASE. WE FEEL LIKE WE PURCHASE A 2003 LEMON AND WE THINK THAT NISSAN CORP. SHOULD MAKE THESE DEALERSHIPS THAT ARE SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS SATISFY THE CUSTOMER BEFORE/AFTER THE SALE. *TT

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA2.5,CRANK POSITION SENSOR,STALLING ALL THE TIME,TROUBLE STARTING, ALSO CAR USING ALOT OF OIL ,ALOT OF RUN AROUND BY NISSAN DEALERSHIP CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS NEVER HAS BEEN SOLVED OR FIXED. VERY UPSETTING THAT NISSAN HAS OVER LOOKED ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT THEY HAVE HAD SINCE 2002. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE HEAD LAMP HOUSING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V517000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,556.

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS PROBLEM WITH WOODPECKER NOISE. DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. *BF THE NOISE IS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. *TC

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SAFETY RECALL REGARDING DEFECT IN FUEL PUMP. *MR RECALL#03V251000. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER CORRECTING THE DEFECT IN SOUTHERN STATES. *JB

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SAFETY RECALL REGARDING FUEL PUMP.*MR THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER CORRECTING THE DEFECT IN SOUTHERN STATES. *NM

CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL ON HER CAR AND SHE HAS PAID FOR THE CAR TO GET FIXED ALREADY CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING REFUND**CC *JB

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT SHAKES AND MAKES NOISES CUSTOMER WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE BUT IT WAS A MONTH TO LATE CUSTOMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WITH THE VEHICLE, RESULTED IN HER BEING REAR ENDED. *JB

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A RECALL ON THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR. CUSTOMER STATES A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AGAIN. *KB DESPITE THE FACT THE DEALER CLAIMED THE RECALL WAS FIXED, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING ROUGH, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS OCCASIONALLY STALLING WHILE IDLING.*JB

CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT RADIATOR LEAKS COMING FROM THE HOSE CLAMP AREA AND THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN INFORMED; HOWEVER, THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, ONLY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES CAUSED BY HIS HEAD HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG ALSO DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE HEAD. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, INCLUDING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND THE HEAT, BACK WINDOW SHATTERED. *AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PRE-CATALYST. THE CONSUMER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER BUT, THE APPOINTMENT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. *LA *JB

CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIR, AND ASKED IF VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE BEFORE REPAIR DATE, DEALER SAID YES. 2 DAYS BEFORE REPAIR DATE, VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. *LA VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN A QUARTER OF GAS ON IT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS LATER FOUND OUT THAT ICE BUILD-UP ON THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE STALLING. PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND DEALER ASSURED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ANOTHER RECALL THAT NEEDED REPAIR ON VEHICLE'S PRE-CATALYST. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT REPAIR COULDN'T BE DONE IN A MONTH AND A HALF DUE TO PARTS RESTRICTION. *LA