Nissan Altima Complaints (2003)

883 consumer complaints on file.

#10242257September 15, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT CRANK CASE SENSOR FAILED. RECENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND SHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 01/03/12*LJ UPDATED 01/05/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241944September 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. IT CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND TAKES 5-10 MINUTES TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED ON ONE OCCASION DUE TO THE FAILURE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE RECALL STATES THAT THE DEALER WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FOR FREE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT THEY WILL DO MORE. SHE IS ABLE TO FAX OR SEND THE NOTICE SHE RECEIVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241889September 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF IT WERE ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AS WELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2002, 2005, AND 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA'S, BUT NONE PERTAINING TO THE 2003 MODEL. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURES, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE 2003 MODEL; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241896September 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL TIMES THE ENGINE STOPPED ON RED LIGHT. THE LAST TIME WAS TODAY 09/11/2008. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2002 MODEL RELATED TO THE SAME PROBLEM. IN SOME WAY 2003 OWNERS WILL BENEFIT FOR THE SAME OR SIMILAR RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241612September 9, 2008
STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE SENSORS TO MAKE THE LIGHT DIM. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE BRAKE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS HESITANT TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST AND FEARED THAT SOMETHING WOULD FAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 01/09/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/09/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241139September 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CAR SEEMS TO NOT START ONCE IT RAN FOR A SHORT TIME. EXAMPLE I DRIVE TO THE SUPERMARKET TURNS ON FINE, ONCE I LEAVE IT IS HARD TO START. ALMOST SEEM TO BE FLOODED. IT USE TO DO IT ONCE A WEEK KNOW ITS DOING IT EVERYDAY. JUST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING AND IT TURNED OFF ON ME. FROM THE NISSAN BLOGS IT LOOKS LIKE THIS YEAR HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS. ANOTHER COMPLAIN IS THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS THEY ARE FADED OR STAIN FROM INSIDE, THIS COULD CAUSE A VISIBILITY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241085September 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE FAILURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,432 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241121September 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TLA*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NIACIN ALTON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE IS BURNING INEFFICIENTLY. SHE MUST CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 500 MILES. BEFORE THE OIL IS CHANGED, IT RESEMBLES BLACK SLUDGE. WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, LOST POWER, AND WOULD NOT RESTART QUICKLY. THE DEALER REBUILT THE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $2,500, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR 30 DAYS AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240915September 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I HAVE A 2003 ALTIMA (ALMOST 55,000 MILES). THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ALL THE SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE WAS AND IS UP TO DATE. WHEN DRIVING THERE IS OFTEN A SLIGHT PULL/STALL LIKE IT IS GOING TO SHUT OFF. IT WAS CHECKED NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. SERVICE ENGINE LIKE CAME ON. HAD THE DIAGNOSTICS DONE IT SHOWED SOMETHING WRONG WITH STARTER. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH STARTER, NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS STARTING. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL 2003 ALTIMAS ARE COMING UP WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARE FAIRLY NEW, SHUTTING OFF WITH OUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. NISSAN DOESN'T APPEAR TO NO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT ARE UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ERRORS WITH THE CAM AND CRANK SENSORS HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT THERE FOR THE REASON THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HOWEVER, REPLACING THIS HAS NOT PROVED TO BE THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240839September 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY 20003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS RECURRING STALLING PROBLEM WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED BY NISSAN EVEN THOUGH IT HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR VEHICLES OF MY TYPE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241492September 2, 2008
TIRES:VALVE
ON JUNE 1, 2007 PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES AND VALVES FROM BOB'S TIRE SERVICE IN MARTINSBURG WV. ON AUGUST 1, 2008 I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER RETURNING HOME ON THE SPAR I REINFLATED THE FLAT AND FOUND THE VALVE LEAKING. THE TIRE SIDEWALL WAS DAMAGED AND THE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON AUG 10, 2008 ANOTHER TIRE FROM THE SAME SET WENT FLAT. THIS TIME IT WAS AT LOW SPEED, THE VALVE HAD FAILED AGAIN. ON AUG, 18 2008 A THIRD TIRE FROM THE SET WENT FLAT ON I95 IN VIRGINIA. ONCE AGAIN IT WAS A BAD VALVE, CRACKED AND LEAKING THAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL. THE ONE REMAINING VALVE WAS REPLACED BEFORE IT FAILED, IT WAS A DILL TR414 VALVE ACCORDING TO BOB'S TIRE THEY WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN DILL VALVES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239257August 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, BUT IT STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. IT WOULD DO IT ONCE OR TWICE AND THEN NOT DO IT FOR QUITE A WHILE. OVER THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND DANGEROUS. MY '03 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT IN OR OUT OF GEAR. IT HAPPENED RECENTLY WHILE EXITING THE INTERSTATE. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF GEAR BEFORE THE CAR STALLED. IF THE CAR HAD STALLED, I WOULD HAVE LOST POWER AND POSSIBLY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238916August 19, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA STALLED AND WOULD NOT START IN TRAFFIC AT 40MPH. WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES. SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS BUT NO ONE HIT US. COMPUTER CODES SAY CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. IF CODES ARE CLEARED (AND AFTER VEHICLE COOLS) THEY REAPPEAR IMMEDIATELY AT THE STALL POINT. TIME TO STALL VARIES APPARENTLY WITH HEAT. 2003 NISSANS ARE UNDER VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN SAYS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT SHOULD BE. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238709August 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5. PURCHASED USED ON 12/31/06 FROM NISSAN DEALER. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS STALLED EITHER WHILLE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHILE IN GEAR WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC. ON 8/14/08 ABOUT A MILE INTO A TRIP, I TURNED A CORNER AFTER STOPPING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER & BUCK. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CAR DIED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND GET INTO A PARKING LOT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN BUT IT WOULD DIE IF I GOT UNDER 1500 RPM AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 2000 RPM. I FOUND OUT THAT DAY THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON 2003 2.5 ALTIMA'S FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, BUT NISSAN SAYS MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I THINK IT'S VERY ODD THAT I'VE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL OF OTHER 2003 ALTIMA'S BUT NISSAN DECLINES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A KNOWN DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238147August 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
MY NISSAN 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5V6 HAS SHUT DOWN AND LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THE LAST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS APPROXIMATELY JULY 20, 2008. BOTH TIMES IT HAS OCCURRED, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PRIOR TO IT SHUTTING DOWN. THE STEERING AND ENGINE SHUT OFF IN EACH INSTANCE AND I COULD'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTERWARDS I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, RESTART THE ENGINE AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE. I HAVE READ OTHER POSTS THAT CLAIM THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236996August 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SIX MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237071August 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 39,578 MILES ON IT ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2006. AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS, THE RADIATOR STARTED TO LEAK FROM THE TOP. I TOOK IT TO A RADIATOR SHOP AND THEY FIXED IT WHILE SAYING THAT NISSAN HAD USED CHEAP PARTS. A CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO GET THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL WHEN CRANKING/STARTING AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT SOME POINTS AND TIMES BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER REPLACING THIS SENSOR, LATER TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SENSOR AND WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL EVENTHOUGH I ASSUME THE SAME PARTS ARE USED ON ALL MODELS OF THE SAME KIND, ANOTHER SENSOR IS NOW CAUSING MY CAR TO IDLE HIGH WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IN THE CAR CAUSES MORE GAS CONSUMING WHICH IN TODAY'S ECONOMIC BATTLE WITH FUEL PRICES, IS NOT FAVORABLE. NOW THAT I HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON 2002-2005 ALTIMA MODELS. IF THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED SOONER, THE CAR COULD HAVE STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC, WHICH IS WHY IT WAS RECALLED, AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT MAYBE EVEN DEATH. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN CONFIDENCE THAT IT WOULD BE DEPENDABLE FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILD BUT SINCE I HAVE CALLED TO LOG A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR HAS THREE OTHER RECALLS THAT WERE STATED AS " SERIOUS TO MY SAFETY". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236899August 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SO THEY COULD REPROGRAM THE ECM. THE MECHANIC ALSO PROVIDED HER WITH A RECALL LETTER IDENTIFYING THE DEFECT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIM, BUT IF IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, THE REPAIRS WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE RECAL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236740August 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
IN OCTOBER OF 2006, I HAD A PROBLEM THE CRAFT SHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SENSOR AT NO COST. IT IS AUGUST 2008, AND ONCE AGAIN THIS CODE IS COMING UP. I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR ALL 2002 AND 2003 NISSAN ALTIMAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236687August 1, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO RECALL # 06V242000. MY CAR IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS ON THIS RECALL. THEY ALREADY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BUT THE SENSOR IS STILL THROWING FAULTS ONCE IN A WHILE. THIS LAST TIME MY CAR SHUTDOWN AT A SLOW SPEED AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING AND HIT A CURB. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED. AUTO ZONE SAID THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS BAD AND WILL COST $60 FOR THE PART. BUT HOW MUCH TO PUT IT IN? $100 $200? THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT, AS I'VE SEARCHED ON THE FORUMS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Nissan Altima