Nissan Altima Complaints (2003)

883 consumer complaints on file.

#10182993February 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY WIFE'S 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 8 YEAR SON TRYING TO STEER THE CAR. THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN I ARRIVED I GOT THE CAR STARTED AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP SINCE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ON. WHILE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION TO GET INTO THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT, THE CAR DIED ON ME. I HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COAST THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND UP TO ENTRANCE TO THE PARKING LOT. THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE ADVISOR FOR THE DEALERSHIP CALLS ME AND TELLS ME THE CAR NEED 2 RECALLS ( ONE OF WHICH I KNEW ABOUT -HEADLIGHTS, THE OTHER WAS TO REPROGRAM THE ECM. THEY WOULD HAVE TO ALSO REPLACE THE CAM & CRANK SENSORS FOR $213 WHICH OF COURSE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 3.5 YEARS AND IT HAS 33,174 MILES ON IT. AFTER READING THAT THE RECALL INVOLVING THE ECM REPROGRAM WAS TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE ECM - ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. IT STATED THAT THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COULD COME ON, THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AND THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING! I CALLED 1-800-NISSAN1 AND LOGGED MY COMPLAINT THAT MY WIFE (OR MYSELF) COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND THE VERY LEAST THAT NISSAN COULD DO WAS COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. I RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM SOME KIND OF ENGINEER TYPE GUY WHO GAVE ME THE 20 MINUTE TECHNICAL VERSION OF WHY NISSAN WAS SORRY BUT TOUGH CRAP ON US COVERING THIS. I DEMANDED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ELSE AND WAS GIVEN YOUR WEB ADDRESS. I STILL SAY NISSAN KNEW THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD HAVE MADE A STRONGER ANNOUNCEMENT SOONER TO GET THIS CORRECTED. THEY SHOULD BE ON THE HOOK HERE NOT ME!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182341February 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S BOUGHT IN JANUARY OF 2003. CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. NISSAN DEALERS HAVE PERFORMED ALL RECALLS INCLUDING ECM SOFTWARE REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE CRANK SENSOR REPLACEMENT BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181898February 7, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WELL I HAVEN'T NECESSARILY "CRASHED" YET. I TOOK MY CAR INTO TOWN NORTH NISSAN OFF 183 DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE THAT WAS SENT TO MY HOME. I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK, AS THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NEED IT FOR AT LEAST A DAY, 2 1/2 HOURS LATER. I NOTICED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING DAY. NOBODY WAS WILLING TO HELP ME. SO LATER THAT EVENING I TOOK MY CAR TO THE AUTO ZONE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTICS SCAN DONE ON IT. SURE ENOUGH THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED. IT STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH WAS THE KEY TO THE WHOLE PROBLEM AS THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY TURNED ITSELF OFF ON MY WHILE DRIVE (HOWEVER THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181801February 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WOULD BE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT WOULD JUST STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THEN IT WOULDN'T START TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY FIXED THE RECALL BUT THE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL AND THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL MONEY. DON'T QUITE KNOW WHY WHEN THE RECALL STATES THE EXACT PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181693February 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY FIRST PROBLEM BEGAN AT ABOUT 37000 MILES. I WOULD TRY TO CRANK MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES. THERE HAS CURRENTLY BEEN NO RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. MY SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVES THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. I WAS MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND BUCK. THE CAR COMING UP FROM BEHIND ME CHANGED LANES AND PASSED, SO LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. MY THIRD PROBLEM IS WITH MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND O2 SENSOR. I HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT BOTH OF THESE ARE OUT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180823January 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL ON 2002-2003 NISSANS. AFTER HE RECEIVED THE SAFETY RECALL THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND HAS REMAINED LIT. WHILE DRIVING INTO TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ENGINE WOULD JUST LOSE POWER. ON 01/24/2007 THE VEHICLE TURNED OF FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING INTO TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER THE STALLING IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT LEAST 2 DOZEN TIMES. ONE INCIDENT CAUSED A SECOND VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180662January 24, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES UP ON MY DASHBOARD OF NISSAN ALTIMA 2003. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WILL FIX IT. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING FROM THEIR LOCATION, THE LIGHT CAME UP AGAIN. THE CAR RUNS LIKE ITS BRAKES ARE ON. IT ONCE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE IS A BIG CONCERN IF IT STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND CAUSES ACCIDENT. HOW CAN I GET NISSAN TO ADDRESS IT? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179577January 22, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA CUSTOMER PAID FOR SERVICE AND NOW RECALL NOTICE AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS**CC THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THIS CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178966January 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAD RECALL WORK DONE AND THE RESULT IS MY ENGINE NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA NOW CONSUMES 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 100 MILES. EAST CHARLOTTE NISSAN PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING RECALLS P5216 AND R0606 IN ADDITION TO THIS THEY REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR AT A COST OF $365.00. WITHIN TWO DAYS (300 MILES) OF GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND IT HAS NEEDED TO BE REFILLED EVERY 200 MILES SINCE THE ORIGINAL VISIT TO EAST CHARLOTTE NISSAN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. NISSANS OWN RECALL STATES THAT FOR A NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT WILL BE NECESSARY. THEY ARE NOT HONORING THEIR VERY OWN RECALL NOTICE. I HAVE DOCUMENTED REGULAR SERVICE ON THIS VEHICLE THAT IS WELL WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES. INCLUDING AN OIL CHANGE AT A REPUTABLE RETAILER AT INTERVALS OF 3-4000 MILES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178402January 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5, IN NOV. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STALLING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO START BACK. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, I PAID $175 TO HAVE IT SERVICED. ON JAN. 10, 2007 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THIS TIME WITH NO WARNINGS AT ALL, I TOOK MY CAR IN TO JUST AN OIL CHANGE PLACE TO HAVE THE CODE PULLED, SHOWING THE CODE FOR THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN APPT. TO HAVE MY CAR CHECK AGAIN HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 MONTHS, AND I HAVE READ SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM NISSAN OWNERS PLEASE SOMEONE HELP US WE NEED TO HAVE THIS ITEM ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECALLS. NISSAN HAS TO BE AWARE THAT THEY ARE LOSING SO MANY CUSTOMERS. I LOVE MY CAR, BUT I DON'T FEEL ITS FAIR FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO PAY OUT SO MUCH MONEY WHEN THE COMPANY IS AWARE THAT THERE IS SUCH A MASSIVE ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178092January 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED ON DECEMBER 26, 2006 UNDER RECALL 06V242000 THAT SHE RECEIVED FROM NISSAN. THE CONTACTS STATED THAT SINCE THE WORK WAS COMPLETED FOR THE RECALL TO THE ENGINE AND COOLING SYSTEM THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER YET THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN FOR FREE. THEY INSISTED THAT THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN OIL LEAK.*AK UPDATED 1/26/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177922January 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE MY ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT. IT DID RESTART, I DROVE A FEW MORE MILES AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE ON THE TURNPIKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176614December 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
UPDATE TO ODI 10176518. POWER VALVE SCREWS WERE FOUND MISSING. SCREWS WERE INGESTED INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER OF ENGINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176508December 18, 2006
POWER TRAIN
TL*- A SAFETY RECALL ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA CRANK SENSOR. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE RECALL REPAIR BEFORE SHE SOLD THE CAR, AND WANTS TO KNOW IF SHE WILL BE REIMBURSED. THE CONTACT WILL BE CALLED AND OFFERED THE FAQ RESPONSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176518December 18, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SLOWED VEHICLE AND SEES LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. VEHICLE DIED. RESTARTED VEHICLE. SES LIGHT ON CONSTANT. VEHICLE 'PULSES' - LIKE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176165December 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN OCTOBER 2002. IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT FROM MY TEST DRIVE. MY FIRST OIL CHANGE WAS SIX WEEKS LATER BECAUSE I WAS WORKING 100 MILES ROUND-TRIP TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP INITIALLY LEFT THE CAP OFF MY RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SMOKE AND SPUTTER WHEN I PICKED IT UP. IN FEBRUARY 2003, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY CAB FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. I HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THE CAR RAN HOT. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO THE CAR. THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RADIATOR. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE "HOSES" BECAUSE RODENTS HAD EATEN THROUGH THE HOSES THAT CAUSED THE FLUID TO LEAK. I ASKED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THEY REFUSED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED EVERY HOSE ON THE CAR. I HAD TO BUY A NEW RADIATOR, HEATER COIL (THE CAR WOULD BLOW COLD AIR WHEN SITTING STILL), AND RIGHT NOW I'M WAITING ON A COMPRESSOR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PIECE OF JUNK SINCE I MADE THE PURCHASE. I HAVE OWNED 2 MAXIMAS, AND CURRENTLY HAVE AN OLDER MODEL PATHFINDER AS WELL. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE OTHER ONES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ALTIMA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174733November 29, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HAD THE ECM REPROGRAM DONE A FEW WEEKS AGO. COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER RESET THE ECM AGAIN. PAST WEEK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. DEALER NOW SAYS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR IS BAD. WE HAD THE "STALLING ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING" ISSUE IN NOV 2003. AT THAT TIME AND UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE FROM ME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK AND CAMSHAFT POSITION...STALLING PROBLEM SOLVED. HERE WE ARE 3 YEARS LATER BACK TO THE BAD CRANK POSITION SENSOR AGAIN AND DEALER IS SAYING MY VIN IS NOT IN THE RANGE OF THE SENSOR RECALL AND I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IN MY OPINION, NISSAN IS TRYING TO PROGRAM THE ECM TO HIDE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS AND IT'S MADE IT MORE PRONOUNCED. THE DEALER IS TRYING TO SOFTEN THE BLOW A BIT BY KNOCKING SOME OFF THE CHARGES, BUT I'M STILL HAVING TO COUGH UP $184 FOR A WELL KNOWN, WELL DOCUMENTED AND AGING DEFECT. COME ON NISSAN, FIX THE PROBLEM....IT'S A DANGEROUS ONE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174504November 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S. CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION AND ENGINE SPEED INPUT CIRCUIT CAUSING THIS STALLING. THERE'S A RECALL FOR 2002 MODELS, BUT NOT FOR 2003 AND THIS IS DANGEROUS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174606November 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE AIR FLOW FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. A NHTSA RECALL, #06V242000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE ENGINE HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174302November 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
COURTESY COPY RE DEFECTIVE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. SHE IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM NISSAN. *TS THE VEHICLE STALLED WEATHER THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE CRANK CASE REPLACED, THROTTLE SENSOR ADJUSTED, FUEL INJECTION FLUSHED, POWER STEERING FLUSHED, AND BRAKE FLUID FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND RECALL 06V242000 IN REFERENCE TO FAULTY ENGINE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE FELL WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL BUT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THEREFORE THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO CHECKED THE RECALLS. THE DEALER REPLACED A FAULTY CHAMBER. THE FAULTY CHAMBER RESULTED IN A THROTTLE CHAMBER REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Nissan Altima