2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 860 complaints submitted for the 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - DREXEL HILL, PA

    I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT I HAD A RUSTY DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD. HE SAID THAT HE WAS ABLE TO STICK HIS HAND THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF MY FLOORBOARD AND TOUCH MY DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS HAD ME VERY CONCERNED DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH AT LEAST 2 OTHER NISSAN ALTIMAS. BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT NISSAN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO COMPENSATE. IT COST ME $550 TO FIX DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE RUST. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - EAST MEADOW, NY

    THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE MAKING THIS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS TO KEEP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, REACH OUT AND OPEN THE DOOR, THEN CLOSE WINDOW, SHUT OFF CAR, AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY IT WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THIS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN FURTHER INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - ROMEOVILLE, IL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE OIL THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013 *LJ UPDATED 1/7/2013 *JS

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - HARTLAND, WI

    UNDERBODY OF PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR WITH LARGE HOLE(20 BY 20) IN IT DISCOVERED WHEN 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS BEING DONE. THIS AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF PERSON SITTING IN THAT SEAT SINCE THE SEAT BASE IS DAMAGED AND THE SEAT WITH THE PASSENGER BUCKLED IN THAT SEAT WOULD PROPEL OUT THE WINDSHIELD IN AN ACCIDENT. HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SAFETY CONCERNS ARE NOTED ONLINE DURING A SEARCH OF NISSAN ALTIMA UNDERBODY HOLES/RUST. I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IT HAS BEEN NOTED OVER AND OVER IN COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THERE ARE NO SAFETY BULLETINS, NO RECALLS, ETC. MY SHOP SAID THIS IS THE SECOND ONE RECENTLY AND WHEN I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER HE SAID THEY HAVE ANOTHER CAR JUST TODAY THAT ALSO HAS THIS PROBLEM. IT'S OVER $1000 TO REPAIR AND NO PART IS AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THAT/ THE SEAT HAS TO BE REMOVED, THE CARPETING REMOVED, THE AREA WELDED WITH A PIECE OF METAL , ETC. ETC. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIR THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS RUST ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. ALSO, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD DUE TO THE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FLOOR BOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - EDISON, NJ

    I BOUGHT NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 ON AUGUST 20 2012. I DROVE IT AROUND 800 MILES AND DID OIL CHANGE AT LUBE EXPRESS THEY CHANGED OIL AT 67290 MILES, AFTER DRIVING FOR AROUND 200 MILES CAR WAS MAKING WEIRD NOISE FROM ENGINE. I GOT HELP OF A LOCAL MECHANIC, HE CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO ENGINE OIL IN THE CAR !!! HE PUT FULL 5 QUART ENGINE OIL. I AGAIN GOT IT INSPECTED AT LUBE EXPRESS, THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THERE WAS NO LEAKAGE. THE THIRD REFILL DOES NOT LAST FOR LONG. AFTER 3 DAYS AGAIN 5 QUART ENGINE OIL WAS DISAPPEARED FROM ENGINE. I AGAIN GOT IT INSPECTED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON 10/09/2012 THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL LEAKS AND THEY DID BURNING OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, AGAIN THERE WAS NO ENGINE OIL IN THE CAR. THEY HAD SUGGESTED ME TO CHANGE ENTIRE ENGINE!!!. I CAN NOT DRIVE CAR AT ALL. THE ENGINE MAY CAUGHT FIRE !!! I SURFED LOT OF WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT IN NISSAN ALTIMA 2003, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AND IT HAD OCCURRED AFTER 60,000 MILES I.E. AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES AND SAME HAPPENED WITH ME AS WELL. I COMPLAINED AT NISSAN BUT THEY REPLIED THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE WARRANTY EXPIRES. PROBLEM IN ALTIMA OCCURS AFTER ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRES!!!! NISSAN IS SELLING CARS WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND I WANT TO STOP THIS. PROBLEM IN ENGINE OCCURS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. PLEASE HELP SINCE THIS MAY CASE LOSS OF LIFE AND SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. NISSAN CAN NOT ESCAPE FROM ITS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THEY ARE SELLING JUNK CARS TO AMERICANS. I CAN PROVIDE LOT OF WEBSITE AND BLOGS TO PROVE THAT NISSAN SOLD 2003-ALTIMA WITH FAULTY ENGINES. THEY MUST RECALL ALTIMA 2.5L - 2003 AND THEY MUST FIND AMICABLE SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT I AM AT A BIG LOSS BUT MY EFFORT WILL HELP TO SAVE LOT OF LIVES WHO ARE DRIVING NISSAN CARS ON HIGHWAYS WITH HUGE RISK. I TRUST IN GOD AND LAW OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - COLUMBUS , OH

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CAM AND CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - KISALE, VA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER WAITING FIFTEEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRANK SENSOR. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - NIAGRA FALLS, NY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - MACON, GA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING BRAKE REPAIRS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,796.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE