Nissan Altima Complaints (2003)

883 consumer complaints on file.

#10523688July 8, 2013
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522666July 1, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
NO CRASH OR INJURY - THE FLOOR HAS RUSTED OUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND THERE ARE TONS OF FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522307June 28, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
FLOOR BOARDS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521934June 26, 2013
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520828June 20, 2013
STRUCTURE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520197June 17, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515832June 8, 2013
STRUCTURE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514723June 2, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514524May 31, 2013
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510244May 1, 2013
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508812April 19, 2013
SUSPENSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507373April 6, 2013
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507131April 4, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504608March 26, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502459March 12, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500816February 28, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500053February 25, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496255February 3, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BACKED UP CAR IN PARKING GARAGE AND BRAKES DIDN'T DECOMPRESS AT ALL, PEDAL WAS HARD, KEPT BACKING UP NARROWLY MISSING ANOTHER CAR- KEPT TRYING TO DECOMPRESS PEDAL AND EVENTUALLY IT STOPPED THE CAR BUT IT WAS HARD TO. LET CAR SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL ON AND OFF AND TESTING IT. IT SEEMED TO BE BETTER AFTER AND I DROVE HOME VERY SLOWLY RELYING ON LETTING OFF THE GAS TO SLOW AND STAYING FAR BEHIND EVERYONE. VERY SCARY- IT COULD'VE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ALSO HAPPENED THE WEEK BEFORE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS ICE UNDER THE CAR WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, IT WENT PAST THE STOP ABOUT 2 FEET. I THOUGHT IT FELT HARD BUT IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ICE/SNOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493065January 15, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING, ENGINE
ON JANUARY 15, 2013, MY CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROADWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHILE TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE CAR AND MAKE IT BACK HOME SAFELY. THANKFULLY, THE PERSON BEHIND ME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED DID NOT HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH MY CAR. THIS ALSO HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT A FAILED CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS THE REASON THAT MY CAR WAS SHUTTING DOWN. THEY ARE REPLACING THE SENSOR FOR APPROX. $400.00. HOWEVER, THIS EXACT ISSUE IS ON THE NHTSA.DOT WEBSITE AS PART OF A RECALL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT MY CAR COULD HAVE SHUT DOWN ON 95, A MAJOR CITY HIGHWAY, WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. I SPOKE TO NISSAN USA TODAY, AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS SERIOUS CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490611December 31, 2012
ENGINE
RECENTLY THE ENGINE BLEW ON MY ALTIMA. IT HAD BEEN FUNCTION PROPERLY AND RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE ITS PURCHASE DATE ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS AGO WITH ABOUT 74,000 MILES. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND OVERHEATED AT AROUND 78,000 MILES. CURRENTLY IT IS BURNING THROUGH ABOUT 3 LITERS OF OIL A WEEK. BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE ENGINE IS NO LONGER SERVICEABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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