2003 Nissan Altima Complaint Log

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, AT A LOW SPEED, WHEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE VEHICLE DIED. IT WAS DURING THE EVENING HOURS. I WAS LUCKY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME DIDN'T RUN INTO ME. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, AND DRIVE OFF. THE CAR DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN, BUT A WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A CRANK ANGLE SENSOR. IT WAS FAULTY AND THAT'S WHY MY CAR DIED, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I FOUND OUT THAT, NISSAN HAD A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA INC AND SPOKE TO A PERSON NAME DAVID. DAVID CONFIRMED THAT THEY DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE SENSOR BUT IT WAS ONLY ON CERTAIN YEARS FOR THE ALTIMA. I TOLD DAVID THAT MAYBE ALL THE ALTIMA'S WITH THIS SENSOR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND A OWNER NOTIFICATION FROM NISSAN TELLING ME THAT MY ALTIMA, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT STOP RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND ECM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER RECEIVING THEIR NOTICE. THE DEALER REPROGRAM THE ECM UNIT, BUT NEVER REPLACED THE SENSOR. I TOLD DAVID AT NISSAN THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE SENSOR AT THE TIME WHEN THEY REPROGRAM THE ECM. IT WAS VERY SCARY WHEN MY CAR JUST DIED SUDDENLY. I WAS VERY LUCKY I DIDN'T GET HURT. I AM LETTING YOU KNOW BECAUSE I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD RECALL ALL THEIR VEHICLE EQUIP WITH THIS SENSOR. I WAS VERY VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I TOLD DAVID AT NISSAN THAT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR ANYMORE. *TR

MY CAR SHUT OF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHICH WAS HARD TO SEE BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS DIDN'T GIVE MUCH LIGHT AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK EITHER...I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA...THE CAR WOULD USUALLY TURN OF ON ME LIKE THAT BUT NOT A HIGHER SPEEDS...THE CAR'S ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD NOISE IT HAD 3 RECALLS FOR IT( HEADLAMP RECALL, ENGINE EXHAUST RECALL, & ENGINE COOLING RECALL) BEFORE I HAD THIS DONE I HAD A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0420, P0240, AND HAD 3 P0335...AFTER I HAD THE "RECALL DONE"...A WEEK LATER MY CAR "BLEW A HEAD GASKET" AND I HAD A CODE P0300...I IMMEDIATELY GOT IT FIXED FOR LIKE $1300...AFTER THAT...2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0335, P0240, & P0420...I'VE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS...I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A REGIONAL SPECIALIST WHICH CAN'T REALLY HELP ME AT ALL...NISSAN DEALER LIKE TO TAKE MONEY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TELLS ME THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE...MY CAR STILL SHUTS OFF AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T EVEN START...WHEN THE CAR START UP IT MAKES A LOUD ENGINE NOISE...SO RIGHT NOW MY CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANY SPEED RATE NOW JUST LOW SPEEDS, I DON'T HAVE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR, ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE A ROCK IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND MY CAR'S SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE ENGINE WARING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IN WHICH THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $200.00 TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). UPON CONTACT A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE VIN RANGE, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. BL

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA I'VE HAD TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS THAT ARE SAFETY ISSUES THAT I'VE NOTICED MANY OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. FIRST, I'VE HAD TWO IGNITION COILS GO BAD. EACH TIME IT OCCURRED THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE AND STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER THE SECOND IGNITION COIL FAILED THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED REPLACING OF THE REMAINING TWO ORIGINAL COILS DUE TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE FAILURE. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS THE FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. THIS PREVENTED THE CAR FROM STARTING ALTOGETHER AND STRANDED MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF LATE AT NIGHT. BOTH SENSORS WERE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY THIS FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE SEEN THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE OCCUR WHEN DRIVING. OBVIOUSLY AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. THESE PROBLEMS WERE READILY AND QUICKLY DIAGNOSED BY THE NISSAN MECHANIC, WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT HE KNEW THAT MY CAR WAS PRONE TO THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT HE HAS SEEN THEM MANY TIMES BEFORE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL, IN APPROXIMATELY 2008 FEBRUARY, MY CAR STOPPED ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD THE WORK DONE AT BUENA PARK NISSAN THEN I REALIZED THAT THE CAR HAD ALSO STARTING BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN OIL PAN LEAK, HAD THAT WORK DONE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS LATER, THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN, HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AT THE NISSAN DEALER SHIP IN ANTIOCH, CA, WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE CAR AND I CONTACTED NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICAN, AND THE DEALERSHIP IN BUENA PARK WHO BOTH DENIED ME ANY HELP. I WAS GIVEN A REFERENCE NUMBER OF 6594593 WHEN I CALLED FOR A SOLUTION IN 2009. NOW, 8/2010, I AM HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES AGAIN, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, MY ANTIFREEZE IS EVAPORATION ALONG WITH THE ENGINE OIL EVERY 300 MILES. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AGAIN TODAY AND SPOKE WITH LISA BYRNE AT EXTENSION 41661 WHO TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING NISSAN WOULD DO AT THIS POINT BECAUSE MY PREVIOUS CLAIM HAD ALREADY BEEN DENIED. I AM REPLACING OIL ON A WEEKLY BASIS AS WELL AS THE ANTIFREEZE. I CALLED NISSAN AGAIN TODAY, REF # [XXX]. I ASKED HER WHO COULD I CONTACT OTHER THAN THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND SHE STATED NO ONE AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING NISSAN WAS GOING TO DO TO RIGHT MY SITUATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5.THE CAR SHUT DOWN AS I WAS ON I-85 N WITHOUT WARNING. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO START. THE SERVICE ENGINE CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD IT'S THE CAM SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED NISSAN THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THIS ISSUE STARTED 9-1-09 AND HAS STALLED TWICE ALREADY. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN JAN, 2008. IT HAD 53,000 MI. AT 78,000 MI THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I HAD HIM REPLACE THE GASKET. AT ABOUT 79,000 MI. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS ON FIRE SO I PULLED OVER BUT THERE WAS NO FIRE. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO POWER. THE SES LIGHT WAS ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN ONTARIO, CA IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER(IT WAS CLOGGED) THEY REPLACED IT FREE BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS BURNING OIL AND THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE CONVERTER, BUT TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE HAD WORKED ON IT. THEY SAID THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT. THERE WAS NO NOTICE ABOUT ENGINE REPLACEMENT WHEN THE GASKET GOES BAD (WHICH THEY SAID WAS ALSO CAUSED BY THE CONVERTER GETTING CLOGGED UP) SOME ONE NEEDS TO FORCE NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA TO RECALL THE 2003 ALTIMA AND FIX THE ENGINE AND CONVERTER DESIGN. THERE COULD BE A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

HI! I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2.3 2003. I NEED TO CHANGE THE MOTOR BECAUSE OF THE CATALYST HAVE ENTER SOME RESIDUE INTO THE MOTOR, SO IT TAKE SO OIL LIKE HELL... I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL AND THE NISSAN GARAGE DID NEVER ASK OR TELL ME ABOUT THAT. THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE FRONT LIGHT RECALL BUT NEVER THE CATALYST. THE YELLOW LIGHT IN THE DASH LIGHT UP TO CHECK ENGINE BUT THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. BECAUSE A PHONE THEM TO ASK IF IT'S OK TO RUN THE THAT LIGHT ON, THEY SAY YES BUT COME ON THE NEXT APPOINTMENT OR IF YOU CAN COME TO GET TO ALARM CODE. SO WHEN I DID IT WAS CATALYST ALARM THAT A INSIDE DAMAGE. I WAS ABOUT 140000 KM ON THE CAR SO TOLD ME THAT A NEED TO CHANGE THE COMPLETE MOTOR.... I WAS IN SHOCK. I HAD A HONDA ACCORD 1989 AT 380000 AND NEVER LIFT THE MOTOR. AND ON A NISSAN 150000 KM OUR CAR IS OUT OF ORDER????? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT A COULD DO WITH THE NISSAN GARAGE TO MAKE THEM CHANGE THE MOTOR ON WARRANTY? AND MORE THE REMOVE THE INSIDE OF THE CATALYST IN THERE FACILITIES ( REPAIR GARAGE). I THINK THAT THEY NOT ALLOY TO DO THAT? SO CAN I HAVE SOME HELP FOR THAT ? THANK YOU! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RAPIDLY CONSUMING OIL AND OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/ HEADER/ MUFFLER/ TAIL PIPE) YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A PRE-CATALYST AND OXYGEN SENSOR BUT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BEFORE THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE I HAD AN ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON AND I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE WAY MY CAR WAS BEHAVING. AFTER INSPECTING MY CAR, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT A CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED, WHICH CREATED POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FOR ALTIMAS 2002/2003 AND THAT MY CAR SHOULD QUALIFY FOR IT BASED ON ITS VIN NUMBER ( I HAVE A PRINTOUT FROM MY MECHANIC THAT INCLUDES ELIGIBILITY OF MY CAR BASED ON VIN#). HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURE I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR NO LONGER HAS WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON MY CAR AT THAT TIME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION. MY ON-LINE RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN CANADA AND USA AND ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN US HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND NISSAN WAS NOT HELPFUL. ALSO, I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS HARD TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM AT THE VERY BEGINNING AS ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAN BE ON FOR A LOT OF REASONS. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM, AS HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS' FAILURES IN ALTIMAS BECAUSE A LOT OF HIS CUSTOMERS WHO OWN ALTIMAS TOOK THEIR CARS TO HIM TO BE FIXED. I DID TAKE MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, BUT I COULDN'T AFFORD THEIR PRICES, SO I ENDED UP GOING BACK TO MY MECHANIC. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NISSAN MANUFACTURE ASKED ME IF I RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM THEM CONFIRMING MY ELIGIBILITY FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER RECALL, BUT I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF MY CAR, SO THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ME TO RECEIVE IT. PERHAPS I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH A DAMAGED CONVERTER AND HAD NO IDEA ABOUT IT. *TR

THE FLOOR PAN IS RUSTED OUT. 03 NISSAN ALTIMA I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I FEEL SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD A BODY SHIP GIVE THEM AN ESTIMATE OF $2800 AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP. I KNOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT IT IS THERE DEFECT IN DESIGN. I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO SOME ONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU *TR

THE CAR STARTED USING OIL AROUND 30K. I NOTICED THAT I HAD TO ADD SOME BETWEEN OIL CHANGES THIS BECAME WORSE OVER TIME AND AROUND 79K IT BECAME BAD AS IN MY WIFE CALLED ME ABOUT THE ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT COMING ON WHEN SHE WAS FAR AWAY FROM HOME, WE HAD TO START CHECKING THE OIL EVERY DAY. THE VEHICLE HAD ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND WE GOT OVER 170K OUT OF OUR LAST ALTIMA BEFORE WE BOUGHT THIS ONE, THAT ONE NEVER USED OIL? I DID SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PRE-CAT BREAKING DOWN AND BEING DRAWN IN THROUGH THE EGR CAUSING FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN AND HAD IT CHECKED AND SURE ENOUGH THAT IS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH OURS ALSO. WE HAD EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE FOR REPLACEMENT BY A FEW THOUSAND MILES. HAD WE'D BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM YEARS AGO, THAT WOULD HAVE EXPLAINED OUR OIL CONSUMPTION AND WE COULD HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BY NISSAN. WE FULLY INTENDED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER NEW ALTIMA IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR THIRD. I RELY ON THE VEHICLE MY WIFE DRIVES AS SHE ALSO TRANSPORTS OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND IF SHE HADN'T CALLED AND ASKED ABOUT THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASH, I BELIEVE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED AND LEFT HER STRANDED WITH MY FAMILY SEVERAL HOURS AWAY FROM HOME POSSIBLY PUTTING THEM IN DANGER. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS, OR WORSE, ARE NEEDED TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM?? IS NISSAN HOPING THIS WILL JUST GO AWAY??. IF AN EMISSIONS COMPONENT FAILURE IS PROVEN TO CAUSE PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE ISN'T IT THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT IT OTHER THAN REDUCING THE TIME THE EGR IS OPEN TO LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF DEFECTIVE CATALYST DRAWN IN THE ENGINE. IN MY OPINION A WAY TO DELAY FAILURE OF THE ENGINE UNTIL THE FED 80K WARRANTY EXPIRES FOR THE CAT, THAT?S ALL THE PREVIOUS RECALL DID. ALSO THE TSB IS DECEPTIVE IT STARTS WITH THE EXTERNAL CONVERTER SHIELD THEN MUCH LATER MENTIONS INTERNAL CAT FAILURE, WERE THEY HIDING IT? SOUNDS LIKE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES TO ME. *TR

I WAS SOLD MY CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS HAD PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE AND I KEEP UP WITH MY MAINTENANCE AND A MONTH AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE I SPENT OVER 2500 IN REPAIRS NOW I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH CATALYST AND THE EXHAUST PIPE WHICH IS ON THE RECALL LIST FROM 7-30-2003 WHEN I START THE CAR IT DOESN'T WANT TO START AND IT IS A TAPPING SOUND THAT IS HEARD ALL THE TIME I HAVE TRIED TO GET IN TOUCH WHERE I GOT THE CAR FROM BUT THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS AND I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS ,SHOCKS, BRAKES, AND AIR CONDITIONER JUST ALOT OF STUFF AND NOW THE TAPPING NOISE IS SO BAD ITS SCARING ME AND I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN THAT RIDES WITH ME IN THAT CAR. *TR

THERE WAS AN INITIAL RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR IMPACT, AND FRONT BUMPER IMPACT BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER. FOLLOWED BY A CEMENT BARRIER IMPACT ON THE DRIVERS DOOR AND FRONT LEFT BUMPER. THE FINAL IMPACT WAS VIA A PALM TREE PLACED AT 20 FEET BY CAL TRANS ON THE 101 FREEWAY SOUTH BOUND OXNARD, CA AT ROSE AVENUE EXIT. THE FINAL IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE FRONT LEFT BUMPER. FRONT LEFT QUARTER PANEL, AND LEFT FRONT DRIVERS DOOR. CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR [XXX]. WAS KILLED. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED WITH NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT, NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AND NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE TIRES AND BRAKES WERE NEW WITH WELL KNOWN BRAND NAMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILURE TO DEPLOY CONTRIBUTED TO MY HUSBANDS DEATH AS HE DIED OF A HEAD INJURY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

A FEW YEARS AGO APPROX. 2009 OR SO I NOTICED A WHOLE IN MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE. IT SEEMED LIKE IT CAME OUT OF NO WHERE. IT IS A VERY LARGE RUSTED OUT WHOLE UNDER THE PASSENGERS SIDE WHERE YOUR FEET WOULD BE. I HAVE NO OTHER RUST ON OR UNDER THE VEHICLE BUT IN ONE SPOT!!! MY MECHANIC LOOKED INTO IT AND SAID THAT WHEN NISSAN MADE THESE VEHICLES THEY POSITIONED A TUBE THAT CARRIES LIQUID TO IN THE CAR VERSUS OUT OF THE CAR. I THEN CALLED AND WENT TO NISSAN AND SPOKE WITH THEM. THERE A MAN TOLD ME THAT IT IS A BIG ISSUE WITH 2003-2005 ALTIMAS BUT NISSAN WOULD NOT RECALL IT SO IT WOULD COST $1600 FOR A NEW FLOOR BOARD. WHILE SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE! AND QUITE THE SAFETY CONCERN. THERE IS A WHOLE IN HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES IF NOT THOUSANDS AND NISSAN WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WOULD LOVE FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE FALLS THROUGH A MOVING VEHICLE. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LOOK UNDER THEIR CAR ON A MONTHLY OR BI MONTHLY BASIS AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. MY HOPE IS THAT IF EVERYONE WHO OWNS THIS VEHICLE FINDS OUT ABOUT THIS THEY WILL TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PASSENGERS ARE SAFE. AND ALSO SHAME ON NISSAN FOR NOT CARING ENOUGH OF THEIR CUSTOMERS TO NOT WANT TO ADMIT THEIR MISTAKES!! *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AND THEN IT WENT OFF. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WE HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND THE CODE INDICATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL, BATTERY, OR CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. SAME DAY WE GOT IT DIAGNOSED WE WENT TO START THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WE CALLED AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED. WHILE WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK WE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED. WE STARTED DRIVING CAR TO GET IT TO BE REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND MY DAUGHTER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND EVERYTHING. SHE PULLED INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY. WE CALLED AND HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS AND IT INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SALEM, NH AND SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN IN SERVICE AND EXPLAINED ABOUT THE RECALL. HE ASKED FOR THE VIN NUMBER AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS. I DISPUTED IT WITH HIM AND HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROX $100 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE AND APPROX $125.00 PER HOUR TO REPLACE PLUS PARTS. I THEN CALL NISSAN CONSUMER SERVICE AND THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I AGAIN DISPUTED AGAIN THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I THEN HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (THE RECALLED PART). WE PICKED UP THE CAR DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER RELATIONS AGAIN ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY STATED THERE IS STILL NO RECALL FOR THE SENSOR ON MY VIN. SHE SAID THAT SHE COULD HELP US BY REFUNDING THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE ASKED WHERE I HAD IT REPAIRED AND I TOLD HER AT A LOCAL REPAIR CENTER. SHE SAID I CANT HELP YOU BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET IT REPAIRED AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY SHOULD OF TOLD ME THIS. *TR

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED...WASHED AND WAXED REGULARLY. I WAS CHANGING THE OIL ON 7/28/09 AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THE REMAINS OF SAID FLOOR. THERE IS A RUST HOLE APPROXIMATELY 2 FOOT LONG AND 6 INCHES WIDE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS 6 YEAR OLD CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS GENERATION ALTIMA AND NISSAN WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR SINCE THE PERFORATION WARRANTY IS OVER AS OF 10/08. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WORK AND NOBODY FROM THE DEALERSHIP EVER MENTIONED THE HOLE IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH AT THAT TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY. NISSAN FLAT OUT DENIES TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO A 6 YEAR OLD CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH A GIANT HOLE IN THE FLOOR THAT EXHAUST FUMES CAN ENTER BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP ME TO FORCE NISSAN TO ADMIT THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND GET IT FIXED AT THEIR COST. *TR

FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN NISSAN ALTIMAS.02 03 04 05. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, WHICH PRODUCED TWO CODES RELATED TO THE ENGINE. THE CODES WERE FOR THE ENGINE SPEED INPUT CIRCUIT AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SPEED CENTER. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,881.

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, ON THE MORNING OF JULY 27, 2009 I HAD DRIVEN ONLY A FEW MILES WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THAT TIME THE CAR BEGAN SEVERELY HESITATING AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING, SHUT DOWN, AFTER WHICH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO AVOID A CRASH. I TRIED TO CRANK THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD ONLY TURN OVER, HOWEVER AFTER A FEW TRIES IT DID START. I THEN DROVE APPROX. TWO MILES TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY USED A CODE READER ON THE OBD. THE CODE READER INDICATED CODE P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I DROVE BACK HOME AND CHECKED THE DEFECTS /RECALLS ON SAFERCAR.GOV WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE WITH VARIOUS NISSAN VEHICLES INCLUDING THE ALTIMA. I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY OF THE RECALLS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. SO FAR, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR REPAIRED SINCE THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD EVEN FOR REPAIR DUE TO THE UNRELIABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE OPERATION OF THIS CAR. *TR

2003 NISSA ALTIMA, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. *BF THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND AND THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER DRAGGING/DAMAGING VEHICLE BODY PARTS AND CAME TO REST ON THE LEFT SHOULDER. THE WHEEL ROLLED OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND LANDED IN A DITCH. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, ALL FIVE STUDS SNAPPED OFF AND WERE MISSING; THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER WAS DENTED DUE TO THE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND; THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR WAS BENT AND THE RIGHT FRONT DISC BRAKE WAS BENT AND DENTED FROM IMPACT WITH THE GROUND; POSSIBLE UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE AS WELL. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS OBTAINED FROM THE DITCH. THE WERE TWO LUG NUTS WITH THE STUDS STILL ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0702-90. UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10 *BF

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAVE A RECALL ON THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT SENSORS. THEY ARE FAULTY AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE CRANK SENOR REPLACED BY NISSAN AND PAID FOR IT, AND NOW THE CAM SENSOR IS BAD. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, & THEY SAID IT DOES NOT COVER MY PARTICULAR VIN# EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL THE OTHER 2003'S ??? THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS. ??? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO DOES NOT GET THIS??? HELP! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,059.

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT SEALED LEADING TO THE FOGGING OF THE LENS WHICH MAKES IT HARD OR UNCLEAR FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. *TR

1. A BOLT FALLS OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ENGINE. CAUSES GREATER OIL CONSUMPTION AND IN TIME CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. 2. HOW OFTEN? DON'T KNOW,CHECKING THE INTERNET IT WAS EASY TO FIND. 3. REPLACED THE ENGINE, AMAZING FOR AN ENGINE WITH 55,000 MILES. *TR

CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILURE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT CAME ON AT APPROX.69,300 MILES ON 7/9/09. ON 7/11/09 AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOCALLY DURING THE DAY, HAD PARKED IT FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES. STARTED THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS REMAIED ON. I SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND TRIED TO RESTRAT IT. THE CAR TRIED TO START, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 TIMES OF TURNING THE KEY AND LETTING THE CAR TRY TO START FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS EACH TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE KICKED ON. THIS TIME THE DAHBOARD DISPLAY WAS NORMAL. I DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT HOME (1 MILE). I DID NOT TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ON 7/13/09. ON 7/15/09 I WAS ADVISED THAT THE SES CODE WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE COST TO REPLACE IS $250. THE PART WAS TO COME FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP (NOT AFTERMARKET). THEY CHECKED THE VIN AND ALTHOUGH EARLY 2003 ALTIMA'S ARE COVERED BY A RECALL MINE IS NOT. FURTHER INTERNET SEARCHES HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO COVER THIS! I AM FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT CONTINUE TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE AND HAVE IT STALL IN TRAFFIC AS MANY OTHERS HAVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN MUST EXPAND THEIR COVERAGE OF THE REPAIR. MY CAR IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING FOR WEAR AND TEAR. KNOWN DEFECTS SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $297.25. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,533.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FOR HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SOON AFTER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

IN JUNE 2009 I NOTICED THAT IN MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. I ALSO NOTICED THEN THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF OIL. UPON REFILLING WITH OIL FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED AGAIN DRY DIPSTICK. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO COLONIAL NISSAN AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. FEW DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED (CODE P0420) AND THAT THERE IS AN ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CONTACTED NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA TWO TIMES IN WRITING AND WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. IT APPEARS AS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND DECLINES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. *TR

RECALL #06V242: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 6/21/09 TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IN MY NISSAN 2003 ALTIMA NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS BEING AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE SENSOR. CALLED DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY VIN NUMBER. THEY SUGGESTED CALLING NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS BEFORE GETTING BACK TO ME SAYING THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS. DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $150 TO GET CAR BACK FOR THE DIAGNOSES. ENGINE IS CUTTING OFF DURING LOW DRIVING CAUSING VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. IT HAS ALSO STALLED AFTER STARTING THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND CRANK POSITION SENSOR WERE NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR THE 2002 MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH GENERATED A RECALL BY NISSAN. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION AND SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND THAT ALL THE VEHICLES NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,638. UPDATED 07/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB

MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO START HER CAR (A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA) FOR SEVERAL TRIES (AND WITH VERY WEAK POWER WHEN IT FINALLY DID START), SO WE TOOK IT TO A NEARBY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. AFTER PAYING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, WE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO AGAIN INFORMED US OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. HE REPAIRED IT USING A DEALER-SPECIFIED PART AND INFORMED US THAT THE CAR MIGHT STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. HE ALSO GAVE US INFORMATION ABOUT A 2003 RECALL REGARDING THE CRANK SENSOR THAT STATES: "NISSAN HAS DETERMINED THAT SOME 2000-2003 MODEL YEAR NISSAN VEHICLES MAY HAVE A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. THE ENGINE MIGHT STOP RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN IF THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR FAILS. THIS MAY ALSO RESULT IN THE 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT COMING ON OR REDUCED ENGINE POWER. IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING." THIS PARTICULAR RECALL APPLIED TO THE 2003 SENTRA, MAXIMA, MURANO, AND 350Z, AS WELL AS THE 2002 ALTIMA, BUT NOT THE 2003 ALTIMA. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOW ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE INDICATE THAT THEIR 2003 ALTIMAS HAVE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, INCLUDING SOME WHICH HAVE INDEED RESULTED IN CRASHES. ALTHOUGH MY FAMILY HAS NOT YET ENCOUNTERED THIS TRAGEDY, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. TO ME THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE OWNER BUT TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL, YET NISSAN INSISTS THAT THEY ARE "NOT LIABLE" FOR ANY REPAIRS BEYOND THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR OTHER CARS FROM THE SAME MODEL YEAR THAT ARE NOW ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE TURNING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ONE MONTH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE CRANK POSITION AND CAM POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED FIRST, AND THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT WILL BE CHARGED $500 FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,024.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING OIL FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE OIL ESCAPED INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING THE ENGINE AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 7135820 BUT WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 83,700 MILES WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT USED A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR AGO. BUT PRIOR TO LEAVING HOME I READ AT THE NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS I WAS ALREADY HAVING, HOPING THIS DEALERSHIP WOULD ALSO HAVE SIMILAR, IF NOT, IDENTICAL RESULTS. TO MY DISMAY, THEY HAD NEITHER. THEREBY NO TYPE OF RECALL WAS SHOWING ON MY MODEL'S HISTORY VIA THE MANUFACTURER, SO I WAS TOLD. MY VEHICLE PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS, PER DEALER DIAGNOSIS: TW CATALYST SYS-B1 (CODE P0420), ENGINE OVER TEMP (CODE P0217), AND CYL 1 MISFIRE (CODE P0301). FURTHERMORE, MY COMPLAIN ESSENTIALLY WAS ABOUT THE CAR OVER-HEATING AND TAKING LONGER THAN USUAL PERIODS TO RESTART, USUALLY UP TO 10 MINUTES. THIS DEALER SAID IT COULD COST UPWARD FROM AT LEAST $400.00 TO FIX EITHER ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH MAY STILL NOT CORRECT THEM ALL. BUT THE MOST SERIOUS WAS THE CATALYTIC PROBLEM THAT INVOLVES HOT GASES AND DEBRIS BEING DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE INSTEAD OF GOING OUT THE EXHAUST, RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. BUT THE PROBLEM WITH STARTING DIDN'T SHOW UP UNTIL THE ONE YEAR POINT. JUST RECENTLY, I HAVE PURCHASED A TUNE-UP AS WELL AS A NEW BATTERY FOR MY VEHICLE IN ORDER TO REMEDY WHAT I THOUGHT WERE OWNER SERVICE ISSUES. SADLY, THIS LOCAL DEALER EITHER DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR RECALL OR SOMEBODY IS HIDING THIS FROM NOT JUST THEM BUT FROM OWNERS LIKE ME AS WELL. I PLAN TO CALL NISSAN-1 TOMORROW AS THEY WERE CLOSED AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. I HOPE NO FIRE RESULTS FROM THIS OR ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS RELATING TO INJURIES AS WE TRY AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN ADVANCE. *TR

WELL AS USUALLY I TOOK MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S INTO THE SHOP AND FOR REGULAR WORK. I HAVE PROOF THAT MY CAR IS UP TO DATE ON TUNEUP, COOLANT CHANGE, TRANSMISSION CHANGE, AND OIL CHANGE. TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. I TOOK A TRIP TO TEXAS AND THE CAR WAS FINE FOR THE 2 1/2 WEEKS I WAS DOWN THERE. THREE DAYS BEFORE LEAVING THE SES LIGHT COME ON, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A MINOR ISSUE BEING THE FACT THAT THEY LOOK AT MY CAR WEEKEND BEFORE GOING ON MY TRIP. WHEN I HIT LOUISIANA I EXPERIENCED A JERKING BACK AND FORTH MOTION WHEN I WAS USING THE GAS. ONLY THINGS KEPT GETTING WORSE WHEN I START SEEING THE LOST OF GAS, LOST POWER IN MY CAR, AND HEARING METALLIC NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. LUCKY, I MADE IT TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE IN AUGUSTA. I DIDN'T WANT TO CAUSE ANYMORE DAMAGE DRIVING IT BACK TO COLUMBIA, SC SO I HAD TOW TRUCK COME AND PICK IT UP 190.00. SO THEY LOOK AT THE CAR AND CALLED ME TELLING THAT ONE OF THE POWER VALVE SCREWS CAME LOOSE AND DAMAGE TWO SPARK PLUGS. NOW THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD AND MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS CRACK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THE COST OF IT WOULD BE AROUND 1350.00. I KNOW THIS IS DEFECT ISSUE AND NISSAN SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. I HOPE ALL THE INFORMATION HELPS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE NISSAN BUYERS. I WILL NEVER IN MY LIFE BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. *TR

FLOOR RUSTED THROUGH ON A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE WITH ONLY 55000 MILES ON IT. IN SERVICE DATE OF THE VEHICLE WAS APRIL 30, 2003. THE HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOTICED IN MAY OF 2009. RUST PERFORATION WARRANTY FROM NISSAN IS FOR 5 YEARS ONLY. NISSAN UNWILLING TO HELP. EXHAUST AND OTHER FUMES CAN ENTER THE CAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE. *TR

MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA STALLS AT LIGHTS,GOING SLOW,DOES NOT RESTARTS SOMETIMES, SURGES FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDS IS FAULTY,COST 225 DOLLARS WITH LABOR. I SEE SOME 2003 ALTIMAS WITH A DIFFERENT ENGINE HAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL FROM NISSAN, BUT NOT MINE. ON THE NISSAN HELP.COM WEBSITE THERE ARE 40= PAGES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME THING ON MANY YEARS OF THESE VEHICLES WITH ALOT OF SAFETY CONCERNS. I THINK ALL THEIR SENSORS ARE BAD AND ALL THESE YEARS ALTIMA VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

AT 9:30PM, ON NOVEMBER 16, 2011, A DARK RAINY NIGHT, I LEFT A HS PARKING LOT. AFTER A SHORT DISTANCE, THE ENGINE (3.5L) COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE POWERSTEERING TO ALSO STOP. THE SITUATION ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CARS BEHIND ME AND ON THE OTHERSIDE OF THE ROAD ALMOST HIT MY VEHICLE. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND CONFUSING. TWICE BEFORE, GOING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER MY INSISTANCE, A NISSAN DEALERSHIP FINALLY EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND THE CAM POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THEY REPLACED IT WITH 23731-6J90B. IT WAS PAID FOR BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE COMPANY SAID THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALLS. THAT WAS 08/04/09. FROM THAT DATE TO 11/16/11, I HAD NO PROBLEM. THEN ON 11/16/11 IT HAPPENED AGAIN (SEE ABOVE).THERE IS A BASIC DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH NEEDS TO BE FIXED. NHTSA'S CAMPAIGN # 03V455000 DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM. ALSO NVS-215 06V242 ALSO DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM. NO ONE SHOULD DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL IT IS PROPERLY FIX. IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. THE NISSAN SPECIALIST AT 800-343-6913 WAS VERY DISMISSIVE. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. *KB

MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD CAMSHAFT SENSOR...THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IT WORKS FOR A WHILE THEN THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, THEN AGAIN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER AND AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER. IN ONE CASE I ONLY NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH BECAUSE MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. NOW 4 YEARS LATER WE HAVE REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR 6 TIMES AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC DID RESEARCH AND FOUND VEHICLE OF MY SAME MAKE AND MODEL WERE PART OF A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM RECALL 01V357 AND FOLLOW UP RECALL 33411. NISSAN KEEPS TELLING ME MY CAR ISN'T AFFECTED. I SERIOUSLY FEEL IT SHOULD BE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING. DESPITE REPEATED CALLS TO NISSAN THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT MY CAR WITHOUT CHARGING ME OR CONSIDER ADDING IT TO THE RECALL. MY CAR IS NO LONGER OPERABLE BECAUSE IT STALLS SO VIOLENTLY, I AM AFRAID I WILL CRASH AND PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER. PLEASE HELP! *TR

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ALMOST WAS HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME. SOMETIMES IT WON'T CRANK SO I'VE HAD THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT ALL THE 2003 ALTIMAS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THEM. *TR

NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 STALLED AT RED LIGHT, WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF ANY SORT. FAILED TO START UP AGAIN FOR MULTIPLE TRIES. TEAM NISSAN OF MARIETTA RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF A FAILED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE SENSOR THOUGH. SURPRISING EVEN THOUGH NHTSA HAS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN 03V455000 THAT DOCUMENTS THIS PROBLEM. AM I BEING FLEECED? *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L CAR IN JULY OF 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NO ISSUES. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY 13 YEAR OLD SON HOME FROM TAE KWON DO AND WAS CROSSING A FREEWAY TO A SIDE STREET WHEN MY CAR BUCKED AND STALLED. LUCKILY I HAD SOME SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO "BARELY" GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE 55+ MPH TRAFFIC SMASHED INTO ME. THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND MAKE IT HOME AND THEN TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE CODE READ "CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR". HE REPLACED IT WITH A NISSAN PART, I PICKED UP THE CAR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED JUST BEFORE A VERY HIGH, NARROW, TWO-LANE BRIDGE IN SOLOMONS MARYLAND. I LIMPED BACK TO THE AUTO SHOP AND MY MECHANIC READ THE CODE AND IT SAID "CRANKSHAFT SENSOR" AGAIN. I CALLED NISSAN WHO INFORMED ME I HAD 3 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SHEEHY NISSAN IN WALDORF MD AT 0730. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM AT 1330 AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER SUBSTRATE DISINTEGRATING AND BEING INGESTED IN THE ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING MY VIN, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL THAT WAS COMPLETED ON MY CAR IN 2004. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO LODGE A COMPLAINT IN THAT A "KNOWN" DEFECTIVE PART FAILED "AFTER" A RECALL AND DAMAGED MY ENGINE AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING A POSSIBLY SEVERE ACCIDENT. THEY DENIED MY CLAIM BECAUSE MY CAR WAS AT 82,000 MI. I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT HAPPENED BEFORE 80,000 MI., WHICH I FOUND OUT LATER WAS BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY ACT, THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY REPLACED THE ENGINE FOR FREE. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THE FAILURE OF A PART THAT HAS "NO MAINTENANCE" REQUIREMENTS, THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED BECAUSE OF "KNOWN" DEFICIENCIES SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER. I ALSO CONTEND THAT THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF POWER AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN DEATH. *TR

I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SINCE MARCH 2009. SINCE APRIL THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE MOVING EVERY TIME I USE IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THE ENGINE CODES READ, AND THEY SAID I HAVE A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND A BAD CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. AFTER HEARING OF THIS I RESEARCHED THE PARTS AND PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING AND CAME ACROSS THE RECALL. I THEN CALLED A NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL ADDRESSED, AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF TO HAVE ON 6/24/09. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 6/25/09 SAYING THEY CAN NOT PERFORM THE RECALL (ECM REPROGRAM) UNLESS I PAY $300 + TAX TO HAVE THE SENSORS REPLACED AND THEN THEY CAN PERFORM THE RECALL FIX. I INSISTED HE PERFORM THE REPROGRAM BEFORE THE SENSORS AND HE REFUSED. SO I SAID THANK YOU AND I'LL PICK MY CAR UP LATER ON IN THE DAY. NOW MY REAL COMPLAINT IS THE SENSORS ARE GOING BAD BECAUSE NISSAN HAS A FAULTY ECM PROGRAM. NISSAN NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE ENTIRE PROBLEM NOT JUST A SIMPLE COMPUTER FIX. NISSAN IS MAKING MONEY OFF OF A BLATANT DEFECT CAUSED BY THEIR OWN MANUFACTURING AT THE COST OF SAFETY AND THEIR CUSTOMERS EXPENSE. THIS RECALL IS ONLY ADDRESSING THE INITIAL PROBLEM, NOT THE RESULTS OF THE INITIAL PROBLEM. NISSAN IS PERFORMING A SLAPSTICK RECALL CAMPAIGN AND THE CONSUMERS NEED TO HAVE RELIEF. FOR ME TO DRIVE A SAFE CAR I AND EVERYONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $300 FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S MISTAKE...NOT FAIR AND THIS SHOULD ADDRESSED ASAP. *TR

THE 148,246 MILES ENGINE IN THE NISSAN ALTIMA IS BLOWING OIL OUT THE EXHAUST AT A RATE OF 4 QUARTS WITH IN 20-40 MILES OF DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THE CAT. FILTER CAME APART AND THE MATERIAL WAS SUCKED INTO THE INTAKE OF THE CYLINDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER WALL TO THE DEGREE WHERE AS AN ENGINE AND CAT. FILTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA USES 4 QUARTERS OF OIL IN LESS THAN 50 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE DEALER SERVICE REP. SAID THAT THE ENGINE IS DAMAGE BY THE CAT. FILTER MATERIAL. HOWEVER, THERE IS WATER ON THE OIL CAP OF THE ENGINE AS IF THE HEAD IS CRACKED OR HEAD IS WARPED. I FEEL THAT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT. *TR

VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING, BURNING OIL QUICKLY DOING OIL CHANGES EVERY MONTH, NISSAN SERVICE STATION SAID CATALYTIC COVERTER. CAR STILL MAKING NOISE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM THEN ENGINE BLOWS DUE TO DEBRIS FROM CONVERTER GETTING INTO ENGINE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE CYLINDER 1 MISFIRED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET CONSUMING 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 4000 MILES AND RUNNING TERRIBLY ROUGH. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HER VEHICLE WAS AMONG THE HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHERE IT DETERIORATES AND BECOMES SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE, SCORCHING THE CYLINDERS CAUSING MASSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION THEN FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THEY BELIEVE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WILL NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ECM. *DT THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THE ECM THAT WAS RESET. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL, HOWEVER SHE WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB