Nissan Altima Complaints (2003)

883 consumer complaints on file.

#10873605June 10, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS THE STATE EMISSION INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,202.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10870131May 21, 2016
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 106,000. AS IS NO WARRANTY. WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH IT BLEW THE HEAD AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH I PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET. THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE ENIGINE WITH A NEW CRATE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN THE CAR LASTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS SMOKING SO BAD AND WILL ONLY DRIVE AT IDLE SPEED.. I DONT THINK THE PLACE I BOUGHT IT HAS A VERY GOOD MECHANIC AND I REALLY WOULD RATHER TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER.. BUT I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR ANOTHER ENGINE I FEEL LIKE IVE ALREADY BOUGHT THE CAR TWICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10869997May 20, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
FLOOR BOARDS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTING THROUGH, AND IT SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM TYPICAL WITH NISSAN VEHICLES BUILT IN THIS TIME FRAME. I FEAR THIS WILL AFFECT SAFETY, AND POTENTIALLY LEAD TO INCREASED RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10865452May 17, 2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK POSITION TIMING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000. UPDATED 07/27/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS AND RED LIGHTS. SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE, UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RE-STARTED. UPDATED 08/01/16.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10863672May 6, 2016
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAS FAILED, CAUSING MY CAR TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, PUT IT BACK AND TRIED TO START THE ENGINE COUPLE TIMES BEFORE I SUCCEEDED. THIS HAD PLACED ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY FREQUENTLY IN RECENT MONTHS (YEAR 2016)--EVERY TIME I STOP AT THE STOP SIGN OR STOP AT INTERSECTIONS FOR A RED LIGHT... I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY POLITELY INFORMED ME THAT MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE EXACT SAME AS THE RECALL I HAVE FOUND ONLINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10863016May 4, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FLOOR RUSTED AND FELL OUT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852666March 31, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TAKATA RECALL - THE DRIVER SEAT DOOR IS ALMOST FALLING OFF OF ITS HINGES. TAKATA RECALL - THERE IS CORROSION UNDER THE CAR FROM RUSTING, MAKING MAJOR HOLES UNDER THE CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852565March 30, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, SEATS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS ARE HEAVILY ROTTING OUT. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS EVEN MOVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10849523March 15, 2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES "NEVER RECEIVED DEFECTIVE SENSORS REPLACEMENT RECALL NOTICE". *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE SENSORS OUT-OF-POCKET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839225March 1, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
LOSS OF ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825504February 10, 2016
ENGINE, STEERING
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR NISSAN ALTIMA WITH OUR KID WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO STUTTER AND THEN IT JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND HER DID NOT HIT HER. SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND THEN WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. AFTER SHE REACHED HOME, I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A NEARBY AUTO SHOP WHEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF AND IT COULD NOT BE TURNED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULDN'T START. I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO START AND DRIVE THE CAR. I TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THEN DROVE THE CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS BAD AND UPON SEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND SIMILAR DRIVERS MENTIONED THE SAME ISSUE AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE ALL THE PAPER WORK FROM THE MECHANIC AS PROOF THAT THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN THIS LINK. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/NISSIAN-CRANKSHAFT-AND-CAMSHAFT-SENSOR-RECALL-492 I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS. THEY WEREN'T WILLING TO ADMIT THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WILL ACT ONLY WHEN THERE IS A SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10824809February 8, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAKATA RECALL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10822707January 27, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SENSOR THE LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF WHEN A PASSENGER SIT IN THE SEAT. THE SENSOR WAS REPROGRAMMED IN 4/2104 . THE OCS SENSOR CONTINUES TO COME ON AND OFF STILL DEFECTED. I HAD IT RECHECKED WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A FRONT HOOD LATCH AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THE SENSOR ON THE AIRBAG WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ME $700. I REFUSED TO PAY AND IT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF FROM NISSAN AS IT IS A DEFECTED PART NOT FROM A WEAR AND TEAR. DEALERSHIP CALLED NISSAN THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR PART BUT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LABOR. I CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS TOLD VERY CONTRADICTING ANSWERS FROM THEM AND THE REGIONAL SPECIALIST. I WILL SAY THE PEOPLE I TALKED WITH SOUNDED VERY UNEDUCATED ABOUT THE PRODUCTS AND ISSUES WITH THEIR CARS. IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH THEY WERE READING SCRIPTS AND NEVER HEARD MY SITUATION OF ALL THAT HAD OCCURRED WITH IS OCS SENSOR. I TALKED WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS, SO CALLED REGIONAL SPECIALIST AND CUSTOMER SERVICE OF WHICH REPRESENT NISSAN . I HAVE 4 DIFFERENT REFERENCE NUMBERS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH NISSAN HAS NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE OR HELPFUL AT ALL. I CONTINUE TO HEAR IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CAN NOT HELP ME. THIS COULD BE A LAWSUIT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND THIS AIRBAG DOES NOT OPEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10821704January 22, 2016
ENGINE
LOOSE POWER VALVE SCREWS - WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S BOTH ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE ARBITRARILY RAN SUPER ROUGH TO THE POINT OF ALMOST COMPLETELY CUTTING OFF IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC LANES. ONE INSTANCE WAS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES, AND THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANES AND I WAS ALMOST T-BONED BY ONCOMING CARS. FINALLY THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START AT ALL ONE DAY, SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH INTAKE POWER VALVE SCREWS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A SIGNIFICANT PRICE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED ONCE BEFORE, AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALLS, BUT OBVIOUSLY A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM FOR 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS. AFTER DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS OF THIS SAME CAR EXPERIENCING THE SAME POWER VALVE SCREW PROBLEM ALSO. I ALSO BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON 2004 AND 2005 NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AS MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811945December 23, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF OIL AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811711December 22, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD AREA HAS RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE INSIDE CARPETING. UPON RESEARCHING, IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT THAT NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AREA OF DETERIORATION ON BOTH SIDES OF UNDERBODY OF VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811352December 20, 2015
ENGINE
MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 2.5 SL HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING LOT OF VIBRATIONS AND POWER LOST WHILE TRAVELING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, THE PROBLEM SEEMS GET WORSE ONCE YOUR EXIT THE HIGHWAY SITTING AT THE LIGHT THE CAR WANT IDLE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF. NOW MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON SO I TOOK THE CAR TO TIRE PLUS CAR CARE, THEY TOLD ME THE ECM PROGRAM IS OUT DATED AND THE CODE THEY READ INDICATE NEW PROGRAM UPDATE AND POSSIBLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED $400.00 DOLLARS THEY CLEARED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND SAID THIS SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE VIBRATION AND ENGINE IDLE PROBLEM, ONE WEEK LATER ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME BACK ON, PROBLEMS OF VIBRATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO COURTESY NISSAN DEALER HAD THEM TO PERFORM DIAGNOSES SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THE ECM WAS OUT DATED SO I PAID $120.00 DOLLARS TO UPDATE ECM PROGRAM, THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THE VIBRATION IS BECAUSE MAYBE THE THROTTLE BODY (POWER VALVE SCREW) MAY BE GOING BAD AND IF POWER LOSS HAPPEN AGAIN I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AT MY EXPENSE. NOTE: I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND NISSAN NORTH AMERICA (IN THEIR VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN PAPERS) REFERS TO IT AS THE POWER VALVE. THERE ARE SMALL SCREWS ON THE VALVE THAT COME LOOSE AND GET SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. EVEN THOUGH THE 2002 THROUGH THE 2005 ALTIMA 2.5S' ALL HAVE THE QR25DE 2.5S ENGINE (WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME ENGINE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS), THE MANUFACTURER, IN THIS CASE NNA IS ABLE TO LOOPHOLE THE LAWS CONCERNING A RECALL. LIKE IN MY CASE AND OTHER PEOPLE'S CASES, WE HAVE THE 2002 AND 2003 ALTIMA THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, BUT NNA WON'T TAKE CARE OF IT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF IT AND CURRENTLY HAVE A VSC ON THE 2004 AND 2005 MODELS. *DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10809618December 11, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
THERE IS A LARGE HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR CARPET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10795029November 20, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OPERATIONAL AFTER MANUALLY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM, CRANK CAM POSITION SENSOR, AND CAM POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ; BREAK DOWN HAPPENING DAILY ANDSERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME UP UPDATED 04/24/18*JB *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10794636November 18, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT HAS CRACKED. NISSAN REPLACED IT THE 1ST TIME, I PAID TO REPLACE THE OTHER SIDE THE 2ND TIME AND NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE IT AGAIN DUE TO MILEAGE ON THE CAR. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE MOTOR FALLING OUT. PART SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE. DON'T KNOW IF IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT. I WANT NISSAN TO REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE.#
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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