Nissan Altima Complaints (2003)
883 consumer complaints on file.
- #10130586July 29, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL OPERATED POORLY. THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT IT DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN MAY, THEY WERE ABLE TO JIGGLE THE THROTTLE, AND IT WOULD START WORKING, BUT IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. CURRENTLY, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE FOUR ON BACK ORDER AT THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10130487July 28, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILED, AND HAD TO REPLACE IT. CONTACTED NISSAN. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT FOR CRANK POSITION SENSORS A MONTH AGO. THIS HAPPENED ON 6-24-2005. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10130127July 26, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SL - MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN. WHEN SHE CAME TO A STOP AT THE STOP SIGN THE ENGINE CUT OFF, BUT ALL ELECTRICAL REMINED OPERATING. SHE COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NO CLEAR ANSWER HAS BEEN DETERMINED FOR WHY THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING, EVEN WHEN DRIVEN BY DEALERSHIP MECHANICS. I JUST FOUND A RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS. THE CONSEQUENCES LISTED IN THIS RECALL ARE SIMILAR TO THE ONE I AM EXPERIENCING. I AM GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK MINE. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO WHETHER THIS CRICUIT BOARD PROBLEM IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA CAUSING THAT CAR'S ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WHILE OPERATING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10129538July 21, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
JUNE 01, 2005 I PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ON APRIL 14,2005 FROM CROWN NISSAN IN BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA. ON MAY 22, 2005 THE VEHICLE STALLED/ STOPPED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. ON MONDAY MORNING I AGAIN HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. MRS. DREW TOLD ME THE TECHNICIANS THAT CHECKED OUT MY CAR HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED THERE MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS, AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, AND IF THE COMPUTER CANNOT PICK UP ANYTHING, THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. ON THAT DAY MAY 23, 2005 I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP FROM CROWN NISSAN, AND DROVE IT HOME. ON MAY 27, 2005 WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON ME AGAIN. MY CAR ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 AM. AFTER LEAVING THREE VOICE MESSAGES, AND SEVERAL PHONE CALLS, I FINALLY REACHED MR. DAN AT 2:16 PM WHO THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE HAZARD LIGHTS BEING ON. DAN CONTACTED THE SALES DEPARTMENT WHO AGREED TO GIVE ME CAR TO DRIVE OVER THE WEEKEND; HE STATED HE WOULD CHECK MY CAR AGAIN ON TUESDAY MAY 31, 2005 TO SEE IF HE FOUND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. HE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS SOMEONE OUT DRIVING MY CAR THEN AND THEY HAD REPLACED A ''CRANK SWITCH'' IN THE CAR HE EXPLAINED WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD KEEPS THE CAR FROM STARTING OR MAKES THE CAR CUT OF WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF IT BEING ON, MR. DAN SAID HE WOULD TRY TO HAVE MY CAR READY FOR ME ON THAT DAY. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT EVENING TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, AND TURNED IN THE VEHICLE I WAS GIVEN TO DRIVE. CAR STOPPED ON SUNDAY JULY 10, 2005 AND WAS RETURNED TO CROWN ON JULY 11, 2005, WAS DRIVEN 249 MILES BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT (NO PROBLEMS DETECTED). RETURNED BACK TO M.M.PETERSON ON THURSDAY JULY 14, 2005, STOPPED AGAIN ON MONDAY JULY 18,2005 (RETURNED TO CROWN)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10129465July 20, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA . THE ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. CONSUMER CITED A RECALL #03V455000 CONCERNING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THIS VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDEDIN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. ALSO, TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. HE HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128132July 8, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WIFE HIT A SMALL PIECE OF ROADWAY DEBRIS, THOUGHT TO BE A PIECE OF TIRE DEBRIS, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO CRACK AND LEAK FUEL FROM TANK. DAMAGE WAS NOT DISCOVERED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. RUPTURE POSED A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD IF THERE HAD BEEN AN IGNITION SOURCE. GIVEN THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY A SMALL PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS, THE TANK, MADE OF FIBERGLASS/COMPOSITE MATERIAL, DOES NOT SEEM AS SUITABLE AS A STEEL TANK IN A MAJOR COLLISION. DEALER (NORTH TEXAS NISSAN) WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY OR PASS COMPLAINT TO MANUFACTURER, SO I HAD TO PAY OVER $700 IN REPLACEMENT COSTS. DATE OF INCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128043June 28, 2005STRUCTURE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS TWO DESIGN FLAWS. ONE FLAW IS THAT THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR IS TOO SHORT. THE SECOND DESIGN FLAW WAS WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE FULLY ILLUMINATED,THE HEADLIGHTS LOOKED AS IF THEY WERE ON WHEN THEY WERE NOT. *MR *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10125174June 13, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
NISSAN ALTIMA'S RADIATORS NEED TO BE RECALLED. I HAVE A 2003 V6 AND I DO EVERY MAINTENCE POSSIBLE. THE RADIATOR LEAKED AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGED. I CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE AND NOONE SEEMS TO BE CONCERNED EVEN THOUGH THIS HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY. I BROKE DOWN ON THE INNERSTATE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM THE BACK BY ANOTHER CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER JEFF EVANS AT HALL NISSAN IN NEWPORTNEWS, VA 757 369-6600 SAYS HE HAD TO REPLACE A RADIATOR IN ONE ALTIMA THREE TIMES. I DON'T KNOW WHY NO ONE HAS RECALLED THIS BUT I HOPE THIS MESSAGE GETS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THE NEW ALTIMA MAY LOOK NICE BUT THAT'S ABOUT ALL IT'S WORTH. IT'S JUST EYE CANDY AND THEY OBVIOUSLY SPENT MORE TIME ONE THE OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT "THE INSIDE". WHO WANTS TO RIDE AROUND IN A CAR WITH THEIR KIDS THAT IS SUBJECT TO BREAK DOWN? MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND IT WILL COST MY OUT OF MY POCKET $2500. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS AND GET THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE IT MAY AFFECT. ALSO I WANT TO ADD THAT NOONE FROM NISSAN WANTED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I THINK THEY DON'T WANT TO RECALL THE PART BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BUSY TRYING TO SELL THE NEW 2005 MODEL. THANKS!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10124914June 10, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S. THE GAS DOOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. I GO GAS ONE DAY A MONTH AGO AND THE DOOR OPENED PERFECTLY. WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE IT, IT WOULDN'T SHUT. IT LOOKS LIKE THE HING ISN'T LINED UP CORRECTLY. I HAD TO FORCE IT SHUT AND IT GETS WORSE EACH TIME I USE THE DOOR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10124297June 6, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
DT: THIS WEEKEND TRIED TO PARK TO ENTER STORE. ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FROM DRIVE TO PAR, BUT THIS GEAR BECAME STUCK IN NEUTRAL. CHECKED OWNER'S MANUAL, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK. LAST NIGHT WENT TO PARK AND WHEN STARTING TO LEAVE WOULD NOT MOVE FROM TO PARK TO DRIVE. AGAIN, CONSULTED OWNER,S MANUAL. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10124747June 3, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE.*MR WHILE PASSING A VEHICLE ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE'S AIR FLOW METER WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10123693May 31, 2005AIR BAGS
I PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ON 5/13/2005. AFTER THE PURCHASE IT WAS SENT FOR DETAILING WHILE I FINISHED THE FINANCE PAPERWORK. WHEN I RETURNED HOME (ABOUT 11PM) I SHOWED MY WIFE THE CAR. SHE NOTICED A DENT ON THE DASHBOARD COVERING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS DENT WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED THE PERSON WHO SOLD ME THE CAR AND HE SAID THAT WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN ON MONDAY IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. HOWEVER IT IS NOW 18 DAYS SINCE PURCHASE AND WE ARE STILL ARGUING WITH THEM TO TAKE CARE OF IT, THEIR REASON BEING THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A USED VEHICLE IT WAS SOLD AS IS AND I DID NOT INFORM THEM OF THE DENT UNTIL AFTER I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. THAT IS NOT MY MAIN CONCERN. I WISH TO KNOW IF THIS "DENT" CAN CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO MALFUNCTION. I WAS TOLD BY A NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT TECHNICIAN THAT THIS DENTED PANEL IS AN ENTIRE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY AND NOT A SEPARATE PART. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD INVESTIGATE WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN (MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT) OR IF IT IS SIMPLY A DENT. IF YOU FIND THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE AIRBAG "COULD" FAIL AS A RESULT OF THIS DENT, DOES THE DEALER HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART? THE CAR STILL HAS SOME OF THE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY AND I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. SINCE WE ARE WITHOUT THIS CAR AT THE MOMENT (FOR ANOTHER REASON ENTIRELY) AND ARGUING WITH THE DEALER TIME IS AN ISSUE. IF YOU COULD GET BACK TO ME ASAP, I (AND MY WIFE) WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120678May 11, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AT ABOUT 60,850 MILEAGE - 850 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY CAR STARTED TO STALL WHILE IN MOTION AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT NISSAN HAD RECALLED 2002-2003 NISSAN ALTIMAS (ALOMST 75,000 OF THEM) BUT ONLY IN CANADA. I NEED TO KNOW WHY THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THESE PARTS IN AMERICA. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. THE CAR TENDS TO SHUT OFF AND LOSE ALL POWER WHILE IN MOTION. MYSELF BEING A COMMUTER TO AND FROM WORK ON HIGHWAYS, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT NISSAN HAD PUT A BULLETAN OUT ON THIS PART STATING THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. AGAIN, PLEASE ADVISE ME WHY THIS SERIOUS SITUATION HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED IN AMERICA.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120572May 10, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE FAILURE ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REFUSES TO PROVIDE SAFE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE UNTIL CAR IS REPAIRED, UNDER WARRANTY. SINGLE FEMALE HAS ALREADY BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON HIGHWAY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10113807May 6, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CRANK SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK ENGINE SHUT OFF AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. *BF *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10116908April 14, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
AFTER APPROXIMATELY 49,000 PLUS MILES ON MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, 3.5 SE, I NOTICED OOLANT LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE I PURCHASE THE CAR FROM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSONNEL TOLD ME THAT THE NEW TYPE OF RADIATORS INSTALLED ON THESE CAR MODELS HAVE PLASTIC TOPS AND ONCE RUPTURED OR DAMAGED, CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN WITH MY VEHICLE THAT HAS 49,000 PLUS MILES IN IT. I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY FOR THE RADIATOR EXPIRED AFTER 36,000 MILES. I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AS SUGGESTED BY THE NISSAN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND HAD TO PAY A HEFTY PRICE FOR A NEW ONE PLUS LABOR. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10117384April 4, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10115601March 9, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE RECALL CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING OTHER REPAIRS MADE. FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FIRE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. *NM *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10113626February 24, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY, WHEELS
NISSAN ALTIMA 2003, WITH SEVERAL FAILURES, LEAKING GASKET, ETC. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED, THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED, THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK, THE RADIATOR CAP AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AND THE WHEELS RUSTED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10111893February 21, 2005POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. THIS MORNING I I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I TURNED RIGHT AND MY AXLE JUST SNAPPED IN HALF. WITHOUT WARNING.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0