2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING MY SES LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER AND HAD THEM READ THE CODES WHICH WERE 0725 ENGINE SPEED SENSOR AND 0335 CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. UPON LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY NISSAN OWNERS, PARTICULARLY THE ALTIMA MODELS. NISSAN HAS ISSUED A RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, AND NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART (THE PART HAS BEEN MODIFIED FROM PLASTIC TO METAL BECAUSE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT, RIDICULOUS!) THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, WHICH HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON TWO OCCASIONS (LUCKILY NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OF ON THE HIGHWAY! BUT IT HAS HAPPENED IN MORE SERIOUS SITUATIONS TO OTHERS). *KB

WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AUTO REPAIR SHOP READ CODE AS A P0420. TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE FIXED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND BOTH O2 SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IF NOT IT COULD LEAD TO PARTICLES GETTING INTO THE ENGINE AND RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE TO SEE WHAT OTHERS WERE FACING, IT SEEMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. NOT ALL 2003 NISSAN ALTIMAS ARE COVERED UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY, NOT SURE WHY ONE TYPE OF 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD BE COVER, BUT NOT ANOTHER. VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY, ESPECIALLY AS IT CAN LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS CRASH EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. NISSAN IS NOT HELPFUL OR CARING TO THIS ISSUE AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH WHEN YOU EVEN FIRST MENTION IT TO THEM. SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE HAD LOT OF COMPLAINTS, BUT WILL NOT AND HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THOSE LISTED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

CATALYTIC CONVERTOR PROBLEM RESURFACED. ORIGINALLY FIXED IN 2004 DURING THE NISSAN RECALL CAMPAIGN. LOCAL NISSAN DEALER QOUTED A PRICE OF OVER $2000 TO FIX. THEY DO NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY ON THEIR WORK. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND BURNS THROUGH HIGH AMOUNTS OF OIL. LOCAL NISSAN DEALER DENIED ANY RECALL, EVEN THOUGH A PRINTOUT OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS PROVIDED TO THEM. NEVER, EVER WILL I BUY A NISSAN CAR AGAIN. THESE CARS ARE UNSAFE, AND YOU WILL PAY $$$ TO GET THEM FIXED AS NISSAN WILL NOT HONOR ANY WARRANTY. THESE CARS ARE PRICED CHEAP AT THE DEALERSHIPS BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSIVE FIX FOR THEM. BUY A TOYOTA OR HONDA INSTEAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMPSHAFT SENSORS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED THE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA BEGAN TO JERK BACK AND FORTH, AS IF IT WAS MISFIRING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN STARTED FLASHING. AT THE NEXT EXIT I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY TO DRIVE TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP THE CAR. GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, MY CAR STALLED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION (ALL RED LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO POWER TO MY CAR). I COULD NOT RESTART IT AND WAS STRANDED JUST PAST THE BUSY INTERSECTION NEAR THE CENTER DIVIDE. I PUT ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES, AND I AM VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HURT. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, PULL OVER TO THE SIDE IN A SAFER AREA AND HAD MY CAR TOWED BY AAA STRAIGHT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHO HAD PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE ON THE CAR A DAY BEFORE. IT TOOK THEM 2 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT THAT A POWER VALVE SCREW FAILED AND WAS SUCKED UP INTO THE ENGINE, CAUSING IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE -THE PISTON TOP, CYLINDER WALLS, SPARK PLUGS, VALVES AND CATALYST. NISSAN RECOMMENDS A LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT WITH NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH CONVERTER ($4500). AFTER MUCH RESEARCH AND SPEAKING WITH THE NISSAN SERVICE MANAGER, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH ALL ALTIMAS (MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT) UNTIL THE SCREWS WERE REDESIGNED FOR THE 2006 MODEL YEAR. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2004 NISSAN SENTRAS AND 2004-2005 ALTIMAS WITH THE 2.5 L ENGINE FOR THIS REASON. BUT THE 2003, WHICH HAS THE SAME ENGINE, WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NISSAN THAT SINCE I AM PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT HURT, AND I AM VERY UPSET THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT FOR MY MODEL YEAR. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON-LINE AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL BE ANALYZED AS WELL FOR POSSIBLE RECALL & COMPENSATION.

HI! I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2.3 2003. I NEED TO CHANGE THE MOTOR BECAUSE OF THE CATALYST HAVE ENTER SOME RESIDUE INTO THE MOTOR, SO IT TAKE SO OIL LIKE HELL... I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL AND THE NISSAN GARAGE DID NEVER ASK OR TELL ME ABOUT THAT. THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE FRONT LIGHT RECALL BUT NEVER THE CATALYST. THE YELLOW LIGHT IN THE DASH LIGHT UP TO CHECK ENGINE BUT THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. BECAUSE A PHONE THEM TO ASK IF IT'S OK TO RUN THE THAT LIGHT ON, THEY SAY YES BUT COME ON THE NEXT APPOINTMENT OR IF YOU CAN COME TO GET TO ALARM CODE. SO WHEN I DID IT WAS CATALYST ALARM THAT A INSIDE DAMAGE. I WAS ABOUT 140000 KM ON THE CAR SO TOLD ME THAT A NEED TO CHANGE THE COMPLETE MOTOR.... I WAS IN SHOCK. I HAD A HONDA ACCORD 1989 AT 380000 AND NEVER LIFT THE MOTOR. AND ON A NISSAN 150000 KM OUR CAR IS OUT OF ORDER????? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT A COULD DO WITH THE NISSAN GARAGE TO MAKE THEM CHANGE THE MOTOR ON WARRANTY? AND MORE THE REMOVE THE INSIDE OF THE CATALYST IN THERE FACILITIES ( REPAIR GARAGE). I THINK THAT THEY NOT ALLOY TO DO THAT? SO CAN I HAVE SOME HELP FOR THAT ? THANK YOU! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AFTER EACH FAILURE, BUT AFTER THE FINAL FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FOR THE 2004 INFINITI I35 WOULD CORRECT THE FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO PLACE THAT PART ON THE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

CAMPAIGN ID 03V455000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT CAMPAIGN ID 03V084000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT EXHAUST SYSTEM CAMPAIGN ID 06V242000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT I HAVE ATTEMPT TO CONTACT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS REGARDING THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECALLS. AFTER CAR FAILURE, AND MONEY SPENT ON TRYING TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES, NISSAN HAS NOT BEEN RESPONSIVE TO MY NUMEROUS REQUEST. I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THESE RECALLS CAME TO MY ATTENTION AFTER I LEARNED FROM A NISSAN TECHNICIAN, AND AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. PROBLEMS RELEVANT TO THE RECALLS, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION 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 THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.