Nissan Altima Complaints (2003)

883 consumer complaints on file.

#10649508October 23, 2014
AIR BAGS
MY HUSBAND WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK WHEN ANOTHER CAR HIT HIM HEAD ON. BOTH AIR BAGS CAME OUT. HIS RIGHT HAND HAD A DEEP CUT ON IT. IT REQUIRED STITCHES. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG CUT HIS HAND OR THE CANISTER PUT THE CUT ON HIS HAND. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10644282October 13, 2014
ENGINE
I HAD JUST BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IN MARCH 2010 FOR $4200. A FEW WEEKS AFTER I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING THROUGH OIL EVERY FEW DAYS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATED IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE TUNE UP I NOTICED IT STARTED TO RUN ROUGH ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, NO POWER STEERING. I HAD TO GLIDE TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE HOPING AND PRAYING I WOULD MAKE IT AND NOT GET HIT. SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO THEN TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT SEEING AS I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 6 MONTHS EARLIER. SO I THEN PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I HAD THE MONEY TO REPLACE IT($2000). ONCE I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE 2 MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AGAIN. I TAKE IT BACK INTO THE MECHANIC AND HE TELLS ME ITS THE RADIATOR. I REPLACE THE RADIATOR ($200). A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME ITS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THAT HE'S DONE ATLEAST THREE NISSANS IN THE PAST MONTH WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND TO CONTACT NISSAN. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE LIKE THAT IT WOULD BLOW THE MOTOR AGAIN BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT CAUSED IT TO BLOW INITIALLY. AFTER TAKING IT TO A NISSAN DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOT "OPEN" RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER JUST AN ECM RESET AND THE HALOGEN LIGHT RECALL. THEY DID TELL ME THE CATALYTIC GONE DUE TO A CYLINDER 2 MISFIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT COVERED BY THEM. I THEN CALLED NISSAN DIRECTLY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL PREVIOUS FOR THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT IT WAS NOT AN OPEN RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEND ME THAT INFORMATION. IF I WANTED THAT INFORMATION I WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH CAR FAX. THIS WAS FROM THEIR UPPER MANAGEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10643395October 8, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CRANK POSITION SENSOR, AND THE TIMING KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640808October 2, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
I TOOK MY CAR TO GET FIXED LAST WEEK AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE BAD NEWS. BOTH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVERS SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE IS COMPLETED ROTTED OUT. HE SAID NISSAN ALTIMAS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS AND HE HAS ACTUALLY FIXED 5 OF THE SAME YEAR (2003) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN AND THERE ARE A MILLION COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS SAME EXACT ISSUES FOR 2003 ALTIMAS. WHY ARE THERE NO RECALLS? IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE US SO IT IS NOT THE ROADWAYS AND SALT TO BLAME. NO HONDAS OR TOYOTAS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AT 83K MILES. SO I CALLED AN AUTOBODY PLACE AND ASKED THEM TO QUOTE ME THE JOB. WITHOUT EVEN TELLING THEM WHAT KIND OF CAR I HAVE, HE SAID LET ME GUESS, YOU HAVE A 2003 ALTIMA. WHAT THE HECK? NISSAN KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE JUST BY SEEING ALL THE PEOPLE FILING COMPLAINTS FOR RUSTED OUT FLOORS. MY CAR IS DOWN TO THE CARPET AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I GET A CAR WASH ALL THE TIME AND IT ONLY HAS 83K MILES, IT'S OLDER, BUT I NEVER DRIVE IT! WHY DOESN'T ANYONE FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? THIS IS NUTS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640385October 1, 2014
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING LEGAL SPEED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 59 SOUTH FROM MERIDIAN MS TO SLIDELL LOUISIANA. CAR STARTED USING OIL EVERY 20 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO NISSAN DEALER ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT WS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS BAD. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA TO ASK FOR THEM TO REPAIR UNDER RECALL #03V084000. THIS RECALL STATES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. NISSAN DECLINED TO FIX MY CAR. I CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THEY DID NOT HELP. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640363September 30, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING
WAS DRIVING 45MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF, AND I HAD TO MANEUVER TO SAFETY. TRIED REPEATEDLY TO TURN ON THE CAR, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN THE CAR TURNED ON NORMALLY. I HAVE A FAMILY OF NISSAN OWNERS AND THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS EVER HAPPENING. I JUST WANT NISSAN TO HELP FIX THIS, OR RISK LOOSING A VALUED CUSTOMER TO ANOTHER CAR BRAND. CONSIDERING INFINITY JUST LOST 2 CEO'S TO OTHER BRANDS MAKES ME (AS A CONSUMER) UNCERTAIN ABOUT THIS BRANDS FUTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633058September 14, 2014
ENGINE
ON JUN 29, 2014 OUR FAMILY OF FOUR (ALONG WITH MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS) WERE IN THIS 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT AROUND 55MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE STOPPED. PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT DO ANYTHING. CARS WERE ALL OVER THE EXPRESSWAY, ZIPPING THROUGH AT A HIGH SPEEDS. A VERY SCARY SITUATION. SOMEHOW, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY FATAL TO MY ENTIRE FAMILY. ONCE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, I CALLED MY INSURANCE CO. TO SEND US A TOW TRUCK. WHILE I WAS PLACED ON HOLD, AFTER A FEW MINS WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. NEXT DAY, I CALLED NISSAN COMPANY AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MY INCIDENT AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CAR AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND OUT THAT CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS BAD AND THEY REPLACED IT AT MY COST. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN AS TO HOW MY CAR IS NOT PART OF RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE JUST CUT OUT WITH OUT ANY WARNING PUTTING MY FAMILY AT GREAT DANGER (POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH) AND NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631242September 6, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE REPLACING FRONT ROTORS/BRAKES, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A FAIRLY LARGE RUST HOLE IN THE FLOORBOARD, PASSENGER SIDE WAS DISCOVERED. I CALLED A COLLISION SHOP SEEKING ADVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD REQUIRE A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT COSTING APPROX. $2,100/$2,500, AS THIS WAS THEIR POLICY. I CALLED ANOTHER SHOP LOOKING FOR AT LEAST A PATCH REPLACEMENT. PER THEIR INSPECTION, THEIR ESTIMATE IS APPROX. $700.00/$800.00, TAKING AT LEAST 1 FULL DAY TO WORK ON REPAIR. DECIDED TO CHECK ON SIMILAR ISSUES ON-LINE AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THERE ARE MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING RUSTED FLOORBOARDS. NISSANS' RESPONSE WAS THAT SALTED ROADS WAS THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MANY COMPLAINTS WERE FROM STATES THAT USE SAND AND/OR IN SUNSHINE STATES. I CALLED NISSAN, MY REFERENCE NO. 15121312. PRESENTLY CAR AT SUBURBAN TROY DEALERSHIP, AS THERE WERE RECALLS ON MY CAR. NO WORD FROM DEALER OR NISSAN ON RUSTED FLOORBOARD ISSUE BEING REPLACED/REPAIRED. WHAT IS NEEDED FOR ISSUING RECALLS, AS WE ALL BELIEVE PROBLEM IS FROM DEFECTED STEEL AND/OR POOR DESIGN ??? SHOULD I (AND ALL OF US) CONTACT OUR LOCAL STATE AND/OR WASHINGTON ELECTED OFFICIALS ???, AS THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT TIME TO DO SO, BEING THAT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR !!! I'M HOPING THAT THIS WILL NOT BE A CASE OF WAITING FOR A SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH(S) TO OCCUR BEFORE CORRECTIONS TO THIS ISSUE GETS RESOLVED AND IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THESE RUSTED FLOORBOARDS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR LOOKING INTO AND RESOLVING THE "RUSTED FLOORBOARDS" PROBLEMS ! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628254August 25, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF, BUT FAILED TO RESTART. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622454August 15, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A SCRAPING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR BOARD WAS HANGING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE UNDER BODY WAS RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620644August 7, 2014
ENGINE
I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ONTO A BUSY STREET WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620646August 7, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614530July 18, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611213July 17, 2014
ENGINE
IN NOV 2013 THE CAR WOULD STALL (ENGINE DIES) WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WOULD NOT START SOMETIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE THE OEM WAS REPROGRAMMED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE CAM POSITION SENSOR HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE OEM REPROGRAMMING WAS COVERED BY A RECALL BUT NOT THE SENSOR WHICH WAS VIN SPECIFIC, AS TOLD BY NISSAN. I REPLACED THE SENSOR. THIS YEAR THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING AND WOULD NOT START SEVERAL TIMES (SEEMS THE PROBLEM RE-APPEARS EVERY SUMMER). I AGAIN TOOK THE CAR FOR REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE CRANK AND CAM POSITION SENSOR. I HAVE AGAIN REPLACED THE SENSOR AND CALLED NISSAN. I WAS TOLD MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AS IT IS VIN SPECIFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609932July 11, 2014
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOORBOARD WAS ENTIRELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE FLOORBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608873July 8, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE BEFORE BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606758June 29, 2014
STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN MAY 2014 I STARTED TO RUN MY AC UNIT AND WAS GETTING A VERY BAD SMELL FROM THE AC UNIT- THE AC UNIT WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THE AC UNIT LAST YEAR AND HE FOUND DEAD MICE UP IN THE AC UNIT SO HE REPLACED THE AC FILTER AND SPRAYED OUT THE CAR GOOD. MY HUSBAND WENT UNDERNEATH THE CAR YESTERDAY TO FIND THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR ARE ROTTED AND THEY ARE TWO LARGE HOLES. WE LOOKED ONLINE AT 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA'S TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A CAR DEFECTIVE AND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I PLAN ON CONTACTING NISSAN TOMORROW TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS WELL. THERE IS A 99.9% THAT NISSAN'S FLOOR BOARDS ROT OUT OVER TIME FOR IT IS MANUFACTURERS FLAW. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL ALL NISSAN'S AND REPLACE ALL THEIR FLOOR BOARDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594933May 29, 2014
STRUCTURE
I HAVE THE NOTORIOUS FLOORBOARD RUST PROBLEM. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE. I HAVE A FOOT SIZE HOLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. IT IS RUSTED OUT ALL THE WAY TO THE INTERIOR CARPET. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM NISSAN NEEDS TO PAY TO FIX. NOT THE CONSUMERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT ON HOW THE CAR WAS MADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594615May 28, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I DROVE MY CAR FROM MS TO GA. WHEN I REACHED MY HOTEL AND TURNED MY CAR OFF AND TRIED TO LEAVE AGAIN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE LIGHT CHECKED THE NEXT THE AND IT CAME BACK READING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. WHEN I MADE IT BACK TO MS I GOT THE PART REPLACED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. 8 MONTHS LATER MY CAR STARTED CUTTING OFF AT RED LIGHTS AND NOT STARTING AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS READING FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. ONCE I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I JUST HAD THAT FIXED HE FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. REPLACED MY BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER. CARS STILL SHUTS OFF AND WONT CRANK. WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR STALLS ON ME DAILY AND SHUTS OFF AT RED LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593661May 23, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 137,095.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Nissan Altima