Nissan Altima Complaints (2003)

883 consumer complaints on file.

#10220250March 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY HALF AN HOUR, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) TO INCLUDE HER VEHICLE AND RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,457 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,132. UPDATED 07/07/08.*LJ UPDATED 07/03/08.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220195March 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ON OR ABOUT JAN. 20, 2006 WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLES' CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF. WE TOOK IT TOOK IT TO FONTANA NISSAN FOR REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO US ON JAN. 28, 2006. MAYBE 2 - 3 HRS. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE, WE WERE DRIVING TO L.A. AREA AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WE CALLED THE SERVICE MGR. AT FONTANA NISSAN AND HE SAID TO BRING IT BACK AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT ON THE FOLLOWING MON. WELL, WE NEVER MADE IT BACK BECAUSE WHILE WE WERE IN ROUTE HOME (FONTANA) I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS SHUTTING OFF ON THE 91 FWY. TO THE 605 INTERCHANGE. AFTER THE CRASH, THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIRED THE EXTERNAL DAMAGES (BODY WORK) BUT THE INTERNAL WAS NOT FIXED. THEN IN JUNE 2006 WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE CAR CUT OFF AGAIN. FONTANA NISSAN SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. SO WE PURCHASED A BATTERY. I REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THE NEXT TIME WE MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. IN JAN. 2007 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE NISSAN ALTIMA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAD AND CONSEQUENTLY CAUSED THE CRASH. WE WERE BEING REPRESENTED BY A LAW FIRM BUT AS TIME PASSED OUR WARRANTY EXPIRED. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHICH I HAVE NOT DRIVEN SINCE 2006. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SOMEONE'S HELP IN THIS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10219306February 27, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT LOW SPEEDS AND IT HAS RESULTED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT ALL NISSAN WAS PREPARED TO DO WAS RESET THE ECM. HOWEVER, THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT RESETING THE ECM WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON 2002, 2005 AND 2006 CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. THAT IF MY NISSAN WAS A 2002 IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE OPEN RECALL WHICH WAS EXPANDED ON NOV. 21, 2007. HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER 2003 ALTIMAS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218938February 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I OWN A 2.5S 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WENT ON, I LEARNED I NEED TO REPLACE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH, I LEARNED SEVERAL OWNERS OF A 2002 AND 2003 2.5S ALTIMA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND ALSO REMEMBERED A RECALL I HAD DONE WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW INVOLVING THE PRE-CATALYST. IT SEEMS NISSAN HAS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THIS CAR AND THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE OCCURRING SHORTLY AFTER THE 80,000 MILE COVERAGE HAS ELAPSED ON THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. IN CALLING NISSAN ON THIS I WAS TOLD SORRY YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK. I EXPECT SOME LEVEL OF SUPPORT FROM A CAR MANUFACTURER WHEN THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS AT THE SAME MILEAGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS 5 YEARS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218887February 22, 2008
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, WHEN MY PASSENGERS AND I START SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. WE LOOKED AROUND THE CAR DIDN'T SEE ANY THING, BUT THE SMELL GOT STRONGER AND MY SEAT WAS GETTING HOT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO GET SMOKY AND FLAMES STARTED COMING UP FROM THE FLOOR AND THE BACK OF MY SEAT. I HURRIED UP AND PULLED OVER AND PUT IT OUT WITH A SHEET. BURNT MY HAND IN THE PROCESS. I DO HAVE POWER SEATS AND HEATED SEATS NOT SURE IF THAT CAUSED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10218706February 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STARTING IN DECEMBER 2007, MY 2003 ALTIMA (MANUFACTURED IN NOV 2002) BEGAN TO FREQUENTLY STALL AND STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS OR ON STOP. INITIALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MOMENTARILY TURNED ON WITH EACH EPISODE AND TURNED OFF AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, BUT AFTER ONE OF THE EPISODES IT PERMANENTLY REMAINED ON. THE PROBLEM WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE ENGINE POWER WITH DIMINISHED ACCELERATION. THE OBD 2 SCANNER READ THE PROBLEM AS "CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR". THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP BOTH REPROGRAMMED THE ECM AND REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND CHARGED ME FOR THE AMOUNT OF 270 DOLLARS. THE CAR DOES NOT STOP ANYMORE BUT THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE HAS NOTICEABLY DIMINISHED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217303February 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE ON THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF, THIS COULD OF CAUSED SERIOUS HARM TO ME AND MY CHILDREN. REVIEWED RECENT RECALLS AND THERE ARE OTHER NISSAN ALTIMAS THAT ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. CONCERN FOR MINE AND MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY IS A PRIORITY AND I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE RESOLVED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE FIRST TIME I HAD A $300.00 PLUS OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216887February 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND BELOW, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER TEN MINUTES AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215697January 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. IN 2003, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING AND WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS AND THE RADIATOR AND CRANK SENSOR WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPLACED UNDER THE LEMON LAW BECAUSE THE TIME HAD EXPIRED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,435. UPDATED 02/12/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THEN SHOOTS FORWARD. UPDATED 02/12/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215516January 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE CRANK SENSOR DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215479January 20, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH PEDAL SUDDENLY LOOSES PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. THUS RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, CLUTCH PEDAL REGAINS PRESSURE. THIS TIME PERIOD VARIES, AND IS NOT CONSISTENT. DEALER RESPONSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MANY USERS ON THE INTERNET FORUM 'ALTIMAS.NET' HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE, AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING DEALERS AND NISSAN MOTOR CORP. TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215485January 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS TIMING STARTED TO FAIL. THE ENGINE WOULD STOP FOR A SECOND, AND THEN START AGAIN. THE DEALER DETERMINED VIA A DIAGNOSTIC PRINTOUT THAT THE MODULE WAS ABOUT TO COMPLETELY FAIL. WHEN I ASKED HOW THE FAILURE MIGHT IMPACT ON SAFETY, HE SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT THE ENGINE COULD STOP DEAD WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214282January 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHEN STOPPING FOR A LIGHT OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER CRANKSHAFT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,136 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,136.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214004January 7, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 NISSAN. THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT A RECALL ISSUE WITH THE 2003 ALTIMA, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE CAR WILL SPORADICALLY NOT START. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES EARLY ON, THE PLUGS WERE ALSO REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS MISFIRING, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES, THE AC AND THE HEATER DID NOT WORK (AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THEM), WATER SLOSHING SOUNDS, AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ROOTER. AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED STOPPING SPORADICALLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD FIXED IT. ON MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY, (3 MONTHS LATER) THE CAR STALLED ON US ON THE ROAD AND SHE MISSED HER OWN 3RD BIRTHDAY PARTY. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY (LESS THAN 3 YEARS FROM THE TIME IT WAS REPLACED). 2 WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I WAS ON THE ROAD WITH MY 11 MONTH OLD INFANT, MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED!!! THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS JUST INCHES AWAY FROM REAR-ENDING ME WITH MY INFANT IN THE BACK SEAT FACING BACK. I CALLED NISSAN HEADQUARTER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN AND MYSELF IN THE CAR. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WE DRIVE ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAY IN THE COUNTRY (CA ? 405). MY CHILDREN'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER EACH TIME I DRIVE THEM IN THIS CAR. I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT CAR FROM NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THAT. THIS VEHICLE IS MY MAIN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR. I FEAR BEING KILLED WITH MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR; THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHY HAS NISSAN REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM BEING KILLED IN THEIR POORLY BUILT-MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213743January 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 102K MILES ON THE 2.5LITER WAS DRIVEN ONLY ABOUT 8 MILES WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY SLOWED AND STALLED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. ALL VEHICLE SERVICE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED. UNTIMATELY MY EXPENSE TO REBUILT THE ENGINE WAS $2.2K WITH NISSAN REFUSING TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. HAVE OTHERS HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE? DID NISSAN ALSO NOT STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS? *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213459January 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 4 OR 5 ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212449December 20, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT IDLED VERY ROUGHLY AND MADE A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAS NOT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212058December 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WERE REPLACED TWICE AND CURRENTLY NEED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,675 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211920December 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. ONCE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AND NOT RESTART FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRESENT. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211857December 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CAR STALLED. WASN'T FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. POWER VALVE SCREW THAT WAS FIXED 11/20/2007 ON RECALL BY NISSAN HAS BEEN SUCKED INTO ENGINE THUS REQUIRING NEW ENGINE & CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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