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
    - ERIE, PA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FLOOR BOARDS, FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION AND THE RIGHT AND LEFT STABILIZER LINKS WERE ALL COVERED WITH RUST. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

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

    2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A REIMBURSEMENT FOR ENGINE EXPENSE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. ACCORDING THE INVOICE, THERE WAS POSSIBLE RING WEAR, AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE PISTONS. *JB

    Source: CONSUMER LETTER
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - HUNTSVILLE , AL

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

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - GUILFORD, CT

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED METAL CHIPS IN THE ENGINE DUE TO A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT BASED ON THE VIN, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 03/28/12*LJ THE CONSUMER HAD THE WORK PERFORMED AT A REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 06/18/12

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

    I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5 LITER ENGINE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 4 FEBRUARY 2012. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE OBD-II CODE INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THAT NISSAN HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS ON SOME 2003 AND 2004 ALTIMAS WITH A 2.5 LITER ENGINE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE THEM FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO THE RECALL NOTICES. ON 6 FEBRUARY 2012 I WENT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED ME THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER DID NOT FALL UNDER ANY OF THE RECALL NOTICES AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM ANY RECALL WORK. THEY DID ADVISE I COULD SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE AT THEIR LISTED RATES. I DECLINED. ON 6 FEBRUARY 2012 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE PERFORMED THE NECESSARY WORK. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME HE CALLED NISSAN TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF REPLACING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THE DEALER ADVISED HIM IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2003 ALTIMAS WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE AND BOTH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THE CAM POSITION SENSOR SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC FOLLOWED THE DEALERS ADVICE AND REPLACED BOTH SENSORS. IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I HAVE FOUND AT LEAST TWO RECALL NOTICES ON THE WEBSITE WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV INDICATING CRANK POSITION SENSOR PROBLEMS WITH 2003 NISSAN ALTIMAS EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5 LITER ENGINE. THESE ARE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS 03V455000 AND 06V242000. SINCE MY VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE EXACT SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL NOTICES LISTED ABOVE; AND SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME ENGINE AS THOSE IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS LISTED ABOVE; I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE SENSORS ON MY VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - BOBINA, TX

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:03V084000 ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - MARSHVILLE, NC

    CAR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD CHECKED, IT WAS A 335 CODE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, TOOK TO MECHANIC, HE CHECKED FOR MY NISSAN MODEL RECALLS AND FOUND ONE ON THIS EXACT CODE. MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS VOLUNTARY AND THEY WILL CHARGE ME UP TO $300. THE CAR KEEPS CUTTING OFF ON ME WHEN DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - KENNEWICK, WA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2007 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND CAM SHAFT SENSOR WERE NOT REPLACED AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - AKRON, OH

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FUMES TO ENTER INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE