NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Nissan Altima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I AM A COLLAGE STUDENT AND I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA I ALWAYS LIKE THIS CAR BUT I GOT A SHOCK IN MY LIFE THE FIRST WEEK TO SCHOOL I SAW THE ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING WHEN I CHECK THERE IS NO OIL I ODD 3 QUART AND IT FILL TO THE H LEVEL THE NEXT WEEK IT WENT TO BELOW LOW LEVEL I ONLY GOT THIS CAR 3 WEEKS ONLY AND I ALMOST USED ONE GAL OIL CAN ANY ONE DO ANY THING ABOUT THE PROBLEM THE CAR DO NOT SMOKE IT JUST BURN THE OIL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT TO TRY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I WENT TO GO AND MY CAR STALLED OUT. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT'S DUE TO CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. DROVE THE CAR TO WORK TODAY THE CAR STALLED OUT AGAIN COMPLETELY SHUT ITSELF OFF. ONCE AGAIN HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE RODE THE BEST I COULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THANKFULLY IT TURNED BACK ON. CALLED NISSAN TODAY SPOKE WITH A CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUPERVISOR NAMED [XXX] AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT MY VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS CLAIM ON CRANKSHAFT SENSORS AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FORWARD MY INFORMATION TO A REGIONAL OFFICE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND SEE IF THEY CAN GET THEM TO PAY FOR THE PARTS BUT IN THE MEAN TIME I HAVE TO GET A DIAGNOSTICS REPORT DONE ON THE CAR AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS REPORT AND THEY WILL NOT WAIVE IT FOR ME AND IN ORDER TO GET APPROVAL FOR THE PARTS I HAVE TO GET THE DIAGNOSTICS REPORT. SO THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO A DEALERSHIP IN ALBANY NY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SPOKE WITH A GUY NAMED ED HE SAID THEY WOULD NEED MY CAR FOR 24-48 HOURS AND CAN NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL, CAN NOT WAIVE THE DIAGNOSTICS FEE AND THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR IN UNTIL AWEEK FROM NOW. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO END UP BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED IF NOT KILLED BY THIS MALFUNCTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CRANK CAMSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING VEHICLE. VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING. ALWAYS NEED MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START. I AM AFRAID VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTOFF IN TRAFFIC SINCE I COMMUTE SO MUCH ON HIGHWAYS. THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE OF AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN REFUSES TO INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER ON RECALL LIST. THIS IS COMPLETELY ABSURD. *TR
WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN MISSING AND STARTED TO SMOKE. AT THE SAME TIME THE HEATER QUIT PRODUCING HEAT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED CYLINDER # 4 MISFIRE. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED BY FAILED CATALYST IN THE PRE- CATALYST. OIL HAD FOULED THE MISSING CYLINDER'S SPARK PLUG. THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL WAS FULL AND THERE HAD NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF OIL CONSUMPTION, BUT THE OIL WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN COOLANT. THESE CARS ARE POPULAR FOR PARENTS TO PURCHASE FOR TEENAGERS AND APPEAR TO BE HAZARDOUS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 INDICATED THAT THIS PRE-CATALYST ISSUE WAS A FIRE HAZARD BACK IN 2003. IT APPEARS WHATEVER WAS DONE IN THIS RECALL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS FAILURE SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR
THIS PROBLEM STARTED GRADUALLY IT WOULD JUST TURN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING.IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IT WAS SCARY. THANK GOD IT WOULD TURN BACK ON RIGHT AWAY. I DECIDED TO SEE IF DOING A OIL CHANGE SPARK PLUGS AND AIR FILTER WOULD HELP IT DIDN'T . ONE SATURDAY ON SEPTEMBER 21 OF THIS YEAR ON LUNCH BREAK I NEED TO COME HOME REALLY QUICK IT STOPPED BEFORE I MADE IT HOME IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AT ALL! I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TURN BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE THEY SAID MY BATTERY WAS BAD SO I BOUGHT A NEW ONE. IT CONTINUED TO STOP ON ME. IT WOULD RUN FOR A FEW DAYS WITHOUT STOPPING AT ALL UNTIL JUST A FEW DAYS AGO IT DIDN'T WANT TO START AT ALL THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. NOW THAT HAS BEEN CHECKED OFF THE LIST. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS THEN TURNED ON AND THE CODES THAT IS BEING READ OUT IS FOR A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER 22 OF 2003 R 3022 / INFINITI WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
ENGINE OIL EXCESSIVELY BEING CONSUMED/BURNING. EXHAUST LEAKAGE. THERE IS A RECALL THAT ADDRESSES THIS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 ) AND IT COVERS MY MODEL YEAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT COME UP ON THE DEALER'S COMPUTER SO THEY DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE.
I TOOK MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA TO GET A PA INSPECTION AND WAS SHOCKED THAT THE FLOOR PANELS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED OUT. THERE IS NO OTHER VISIBLE RUST ON THE CAR AND I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH SHOULD BE REMEDIED AT NISSANS EXPENSE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN AND EVENTUALLY CUT OFF. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND STARTED IT BACK UP. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO CUT IT BACK ON IT WOULD NOT START. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT FLOOR BOARDS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. ...UPDATED 12/03/13 *BF UPDATED 12/05/2013 *JS
CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE DOWN AND PARTICALS CAUSED INTERNAL WEAR TO THE MOTOR. THAT CAUSES THE MOTOR TO BURN OIL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,655.
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA (122,000 MILES) - PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE COMPLETED RUSTED. NISSAN IS NOT HELPING WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *JB
MY TRUNK LATCH WILL RANDOMLY POP OPEN. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SECOND TIME, I CAME OUT OF A STORE TO FIND MY TRUNK OPEN. IT KEEPS POPPING OPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE NOW. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY TO SUDDENLY HAVE YOUR TRUNK FLY UP BLOCKING YOUR VIEW TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU. I HAVE JIMMY RIGGED IT WITH A BUNGEE CORD INSIDE SO THAT IT ONLY POPS UP ABOUT AN INCH OR TWO WHEN THE LATCH POPS. I WOULD JUST DUCT TAPE IT, BUT I NEED ACCESS TO MY DAUGHTER'S STROLLER. I ALSO UNPLUGGED THE INTERIOR TRUNK LIGHT SO THAT MY BATTERY WOULD NOT BE WORN OUT. THE WEIRD THING TOO IS THAT THE DOOR OPEN LIGHT DID NOT GO ON WHEN THE TRUNK OPENED. HOPING MY HUSBAND CAN FIX THIS DURING THE WEEKEND.
WE NOTICED OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THE FLOORBOARDS UNDER THE FRONT SEATS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED. I COULD HAVE BEEN WALKING MY CAR LIKE THE FLINTSTONES ANYTIME SOON. *TR
WHEN I WAS CAME HOME FROM SHOPPING I STOP CAR AND SWITCH OFF AND GO HOME AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN GOING TO SOME WHERE BUT CAR TAKE TIME TO START AFTER FEW SECOND CAR START. TRY 3 TIMES SAME. NEXT DAY GOING TO WORK AND SAME STARTING PROBLEM START CAR AND GOING ABOUT 1 MILE DRIVE POWER CUT OFF AND LUCKILY NO ONE BEHIND ME ABLE TO GO ON SIDE BECAUSE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING NO BRAKE NO GAS GOD HELP ME AFTER ONE MINT START CAR AND RICH WORK ABOUT 2 MILE . AT WORK WE HAVE MECHANIC HE HAS SOFTWARE FOR CAR DIAGNOSIS HE CHECK AND TOLD ME CODE P0340 FOR CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WE CHANGE ONE BOUGHT FROM DEALER AFTER 2 HR GOING HOME SAME PROBLEM STARTING. MECHANIC RESET AND GO HOME NEXT DAY GOING TO WORK SAME THING HAPPENED POWER SHUTOFF ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 ABLE TO PARK ONSIDE AND START AGAIN AND DROP TO REPAIR SHOP. HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME YOU HAVE TO CHANGE ANOTHER CAMSHAFT SENSOR AFTER WOK FINE FOR UP TO NOW. BUT THEY RECALL SOME CAR BEFORE FOR THIS PROBLEM IF I WAS IN HIGHWAY THEN WHAT HAPPENED DO YOU THINK I WILL ABLE TO WRITE NOW OR DIE. CAN YOU CHECK ON THIS AND DO SOMETHING OTHERWISE SOME ONE DIE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A DEALER IN 2011. THREE WEEKS AGO WHILE PUTTING NEW BRAKES, RIMS AND TIRES NOTICED THE WHOLE UNDER CARRIAGE ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS RUSTED OUT AND FALLING A PART IN CHUNKS. TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET A REPAIR ESTIMATE, IT WILL BE $2,700.00 TO FIX IT. THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IS NOT MUCH HELP AND THE NISSAN SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT NOT WILLING TO HELP OR HAVE A RECALL. I LIVE IN MARYLAND WHERE A STATE MANDATED INSPECTION IS REQUIRED BEFORE I CAN SELL OR TRADE IN THIS CAR. THE CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS FAULTY. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR BUT NOT FOR MY VIN #. THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO FLAG THAT THERE ARE OTHER NISSAN'S WITH FAULTY CRANK SHAFT SENSORS. *TR
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN INSIDE THE VEHICLE SHE SAW AN OBJECT DANGLE FROM THE FLOOR. SHE WENT TO RETRIEVE THE OBJECT AND DISCOVERED A HOLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.- LL
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A YEAR AGO STILL PAYING ON THE CAR AND UPON STATE INSPECTION PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ON A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA RUSTED THROUGH. FAILURE MILEAGE IS 100,498
I PURCHASED MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM THE DEALER 16 MONTHS AGO AND JUST LEARNED THAT MY FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR IS RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT. I WAS WALKING UP TO THE CAR AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDERNEATH BENT DOWN TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR AND SOON REALIZED IT WAS RUST. THE FLOOR WAS RUSTED OUT ON BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND TRY REFUSED TO FX IT. I HAVE 4 MORE YEARS TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT I WILL SOON NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE I HAVE LEARNED THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR CAR AND NISSAN SHOULD BE LIABLE. *TR
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA (127,000 MILES) - PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE COMPLETED RUSTED. NISSAN IS NOT HELPING WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS BEFORE NHTSA GETS INVOLVED? OVER 70 REPORTS ON THE THIS SITE AND HUNDREDS MORE IF YOU PERFORM A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH. *TT
IN EARLY AUGUST 2013, I NOTICED A RUSTED PIECE OF METAL HANGING FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGE, I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE THE PIECE OF METAL WAS COMING FROM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR'S FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH LEAVING A GAPING HOLE THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL IN FRONT OF WHERE THE PASSENGER SEAT IS LOCATED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM COVERING 3 MODEL YEARS, 2003 THRU 2006 AND HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF ALTIMAS. MY 2003 ALTIMA WAS A "CERTIFIED USED CAR" THAT WAS PURCHASED AT ARLINGTON NISSAN, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL IN 2006. IT'S CURRENT MILEAGE IS 126,000. THERE IS NOT ONE SPOT OF RUST ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I CALLED ARLINGTON NISSAN ON 9-11-13, TO ASK IF THERE HAD BEEN SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NO RECALL HAD BEEN INITIATED BY NISSAN CORPORATE. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION WHO THEN INSTRUCTED ME TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT COMPLETE WITH ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS FROM ARLINGTON NISSAN. NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION WOULD THEN TURN THE CLAIM OVER TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE THAT OVERSEES ARLINGTON NISSAN. THAT OFFICE WOULD GET BACK TO ME WITH A DECISION ON REPAIRING THE DEFECT. THERE WAS NO PROMISE OF THEM FIXING THE PROBLEM AT NO COST OR REIMBURSING ME THE COSTS OF HAVING AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP DO THE REPAIR. NOW IT IS THE WAITING GAME. THE NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A NATIONAL RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT AS IT POSES A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE DRIVING A 2003-2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND MOTOR STOPPED IN FAST LINE OF HWY 60 IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND ALMOST GOT REARENDED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC, THANK GOD THEY STOPPED . HAD CAR TOWED IN AND CAME TO FIND OUT IT BLEW A ROD, HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A NUMBER OF MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM MOTOR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO DUE TO ALL PROBLEMS THESE MOTORS HAVE CAUSED PEOPLE. YOU CANT GET A REPLACEMENT MOTOR ANYWHERE ONLY FOUND ONE AND THEY WANT 2000.00 I FEEL NISSAN NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
FLOOR BOARDS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN IDLING ONCE THE CONTACT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
WE RECENTLY WERE INFORMED THAT THE FLOOBOARDS ON OUR NISSAN WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR VEHICLE. THE ESTIMATE TO HAVE THIS FIXED IS AROUND $2,000 AND OUR CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION OTHERWISE. WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN EXTREMELY GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLE TAKING IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE EVERY 3-5,000 MILES SO I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. I HAVE READ ON-LINE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO NISSAN ALTIMAS EVERYWHERE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE PUT IN A RECALL AND FIXED THE CARS. NOW WE ARE LEFT TO EITHER PAY THOUSANDS TO FIX THE CAR OR GET RID OF IT. *TR
IN THE PAST 2.5 YEARS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 2 COILS ON 2 DIFFERENT CYLINDERS, AND 2 DIFFERENT CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AS WELL. EACH TIME IT'S COST ME UPWARDS OF $300 EACH INCIDENT. A REVIEW OF THE INTERNET WEBSITE FOR COMPLAINTS FROM NISSAN DRIVERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL/YEAR INDICATES THAT OTHERS HAVE ALSO RUN INTO THESE ISSUES WITHOUT ANY RECOMPENSE. SOME EVEN HAD THEIR CARS STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN. "LUCKILY" (AND NOTE THAT I USE THE TERM IN QUOTES), MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT THE ENGINE STARTS RUNNING ROUGH, FEELING LIKE ON JUST 3 OF ITS 4 CYLINDERS, THEN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON. IT WAS THEN ALWAYS OBVIOUS SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG. Q: WHY WASN'T THIS A RECALL ITEM FOR THE NISSAN ENGINE? P.S. I HAVE LESS THAN 60K MILES ON MY CAR AND IT'S IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND ALWAYS GARAGED. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD COMPLETELY RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS 10 YEARS OLD. THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS SITUATION WITH THESE CARS. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS HAPPENING TO QUITE A BIT OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA'S WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED IT FOR YOUR CHILD. NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS. *TR
CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHT TWICE. LATER, STALLS BUT DOESN'T GO DEAD. GAS WON'T WORK. MONTH LATER CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, TRANSMISSION OIL, FLUID AND SCREEN WAS REPLACED, BUT WHEN DRIVEN AFTERWARDS IT STALLED AGAIN. *TR
THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WERE RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THAT WAS OVER 2 YEARS AGO. I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR, NEAR THE GAS PEDAL IS ALSO STARTING TO DIP AND MAY BE RUSTED. AFTER WATCHING A NEWS REPORT I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT SINCE THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM AND I NOW BELIEVE IT TO BE AN ISSUE RELATE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETHING WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND BORE A HOLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
CAR JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THEN IT WILL NOT START, PAID 500 DOLLARS TO GET FIXED AND THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE PARTS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN, I FEEL THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED FOR MORE CARS.THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN CONSUMING OIL EXCESSIVELY BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,931.
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, MY CAR'S TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)ASSEMBLY ON ONE TIRE FELL APART/RUSTED OUT, CAUSING MY TIRE TO DEFLATE RAPIDLY. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE, FLAT AREA, AND ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE DAMAGED TIRE SO I COULD ATTACH THE SPARE AND BE ONE MY WAY. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE STEEL WHEEL FROM THE HUB, AND ENDED UP CALLING MY AUTO CLUB FOR HELP. THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PERSON SENT TO HELP ME ALSO ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE WHEEL AND ALSO FAILED. I CALLED MY AUTO CLUB AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THEY SENT OUT A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER USED A PIECE OF METAL FROM HIS TOWING EQUIPMENT TO BEAT ON THE TIRE RIM UNTIL IT BROKE LOOSE. HE ATTACHED THE SPARE TIRE, AND WAS ON HIS WAY. MY INABILITY TO REMOVE THE WHEEL FROM THE HUB HAS COME UP TWICE BEFORE WITH DIFFERENT HUBS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I CALLED MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER FOR ADVICE, AND A GUY AT THE SERVICE DESK TOLD ME TO BEAT ON THE TIRE RIM WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER, SAYING "THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETIMES TO REMOVE A WHEEL." DOESN'T THIS ACTION JEOPARDIZE THE INTEGRITY OF THE RIM? AND WHAT HAPPENS IF I ACCIDENTLY HIT ANOTHER PART OF THE CAR WHILE DOING SO? SHOULDN'T MAZDA HAVE A BETTER REMEDY FOR THIS ISSUE? I ALSO HAD THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ASSEMBLY RUST OUT ON A DIFFERENT TIRE FOR THIS CAR. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SECTION SAYS NOTHING ABOUT TPMS INSPECTION OR SERVICING. DETERIORATION AND ULTIMATE FAILURE OF THIS PART IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE HUMAN FATALITY. I WANT TO KNOW IF MY EXPERIENCE IS JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OR IF OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. IF IT'S WIDESPREAD, THEN MAZDA NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS ACTUALLY HAPPENS. *TR
MY HUSBAND WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK WHEN ANOTHER CAR HIT HIM HEAD ON. BOTH AIR BAGS CAME OUT. HIS RIGHT HAND HAD A DEEP CUT ON IT. IT REQUIRED STITCHES. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG CUT HIS HAND OR THE CANISTER PUT THE CUT ON HIS HAND. *TR
WE LIVE IN PA. WE TOOK OUR 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN FOR INSPECTION AND WERE TOLD THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANELS WERE RUSTED THOUGH TO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, AND OUR WINTERS HAVE BEEN MILD. NOTHING EVER HAS BEEN SPILLED IN THE CAR AND THE CARPET HAVE NEVER BEEN WET. HAD 4 LOCAL BODY SHOPS GIVE ESTIMATES (FROM $900 TO $1500), ALL THAT SAID THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A 10 YEAR OLD CAR AND THE REST OF THE CAR LOOKS GOOD. SPOKE WITH NISSAN CUSTOMER AFFAIRS WHO HAD US TAKE IT TO A NISSAN AFFILIATED BODY SHOP. ONE OF THE BODY SHOPS RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DRAINAGE OF THE SUNROOF OR WINDSHIELD, FORCING WATER BETWEEN THE FLOOR PAN AND ROCKER BOTTOM. MENTIONED THAT A PLUG ISN'T SEALED OR INSTALLED CORRECTLY. I CALLED NISSAN AND THE CASE WAS SENT TO A REGIONAL CUSTOMER AFFAIR REPRESENTATIVE. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF 2-3 CALLS PER DAY LEAVING MESSAGES WITH MY CONTACT NUMBER, I FINALLY HEARD BACK TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT "THE DECISION IS FINAL AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE ANY HELP IN FIXING THE PROBLEM" OR STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT/DEFECT/DESIGN FLAW. *TR UPDATED 04/09/15. *JB
RUST THROUGH THE UNDERBELLY OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE, CAN FEEL THE CARPETING ABOVE. WORRIED ABOUT RESALE AND SAFETY. I SEE THIS DEFECT IS A VERY WIDESPREAD CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT FLOORBOARD WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FLOORBOARD WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
MY CAR STALLED AT A STOPLIGHT TWICE, BOTH WHILE STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AT THE STOPLIGHT SO I PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT. IT STARTED BACK FINE. THEN IT TURNED OFF AGAIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS. TURNED BACK ON AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENED AGAIN FOR ONE WEEK. THEN THE CAR STALLED OUT WHILE IN MOTION! IT STALLED OUT AS I ACCELERATED AFTER TURNING ONTO A ROAD TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH. ALSO STALLED OUT THREE DAYS AGO WHILE IDLING IN A DRIVE-THRU. *TR
I HAVE HAD MY CAR SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING IT HARD TO STEER ALMOST CAUSING OTHER CARS TO REAR END ME. THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START. EVERY YEAR I HAVE HAD TO BUY A NEW CAM SHAFT SENSOR SINCE THE INSTALL OF THE NEW ENGINE THAT WAS PUT IN BY NISSAN. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CAM SENSOR BUT MY CAR IS NOT UNDER THAT RECALL. *TR
I NOTE SOME NISSAN ALTIMAS HAVR RECALLS ON CAMSENSOR AND SPEEDSENSONSOR. THIS VEHICLE HAS SAME PROBLEMS. VEHICLE SHUTS OFF ON THE ROAD CAM SENSOR WAS CHANGED BUT WAS GOOD FOR A COUPLE YEARS DOES THE SAME MECHANIC SAYS FAULTY PLASTIC CLIP. ALSO VEHICLE GETS STUCK IN LOW GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR WILL HAVE TO BE PULLED IVER RESTARTED TO GET IT TO RESET OTHERWISE CAR WILL RUN IN LOW GEAR AT HIGH RPMS.. I NOTICED RECALLS ON THE NISSAN ALTIMA FOR FOR THESE SENSORS. HOWEVER NOT THIS MODEL ACCORDING TO THE DEALER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE RATTLING NOISE AND LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF POWER DURING ACCELERATION. DUE TO LOCATION AND TIME OF NIGHT, I COASTED (BARELY USING ANY ACCELERATION) TO A SAFE LOCATION. TURNED ENGINE OFF TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD- COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. TRIED STARTING CAR AGAIN AND WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO MECHANIC- HE FOUND SHARDS OF METAL IN THE ENGINE OIL AND STATED THAT THE VALVES SCREWS HAD CAME OFF AND RUINED THE ENGINE. I HAD ALWAYS PUT IN SYNTHETIC OIL EVERY 5K MILES, AND DID A COMPLETE ENGINE FLUSH EVERY YEAR/25,000 MILES EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 6 YEARS AGO. THIS OCCURRED AT 133500 MILES AND THE ENGINE CANNOT BE SALVAGED. TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, THE ESTIMATES I AM RECEIVING ARE BETWEEN 2,000 AND 3,000 USD. *TR
I DROVE MY CAR FROM MS TO GA. WHEN I REACHED MY HOTEL AND TURNED MY CAR OFF AND TRIED TO LEAVE AGAIN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE LIGHT CHECKED THE NEXT THE AND IT CAME BACK READING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. WHEN I MADE IT BACK TO MS I GOT THE PART REPLACED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. 8 MONTHS LATER MY CAR STARTED CUTTING OFF AT RED LIGHTS AND NOT STARTING AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS READING FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. ONCE I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I JUST HAD THAT FIXED HE FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. REPLACED MY BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER. CARS STILL SHUTS OFF AND WONT CRANK. WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR STALLS ON ME DAILY AND SHUTS OFF AT RED LIGHTS. *TR
ON A VISIT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHT REPLACED, I WAS INFORMED THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROTTED/ROTTING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED AS OF YET B/C I'M COMPARISON SHOPPING BASED ON THE PRICE QUOTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2006, HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE IN 2011, THE RADIATOR REPLACED IN 2013 AND NOW PREPARING TO REPLACE THE FLOOR PANELS. FOR A 10 YEAR OLD CAR, WHICH HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY AND GARAGED, ROTTING SEEMS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND SHOULDN'T BE A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR A CAR. I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR REQUIRE THIS MANY COSTLY REPAIRS, AND ESPECIALLY NEVER AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE OR ROTTING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR