2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH ENGINE TURNS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. I HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I SPOKE WITH A FRIEND WHO WORKS ON CARS AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE ORIGINAL CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD TO BE UPDATED TO STOP OIL FROM GETTING ON IT. WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY REFUSED TO HELP ME AND I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. THIS CAR STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING AND NISSAN DOESN'T WANT TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE PRODUCE A FAULTY CAR THAT CAN CAUSE A PERSON TO HAVE A DEADLY CRASH. *TR

UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE, A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE FLOORPAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN A GARAGE AND IS REGULARLY CLEANED AND WAXED. THE CORROSION PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH ALTIMAS BASED ON NHTSA COMPLAINTS AND INTERNET SEARCHES. NISSAN CHOOSES TO IGNORE THE ISSUE WHICH COULD PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE IF EXHAUST FUMES GET INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (03V084000- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS; HOWEVER, SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED INSPECTION STICKER DUE TO RUSTED OUT FLOORBOARDS BOTH ON THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. HAD TO HAVE NEW FLOORBOARDS WELDED IN. I RESIDE IN MAINE. *TR

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS LARGE RUST, BUBBLING AREA UNDER PASSENGER SEAT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR IS GARAGED. WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION NEXT TIME. THIS IS A FREQUENT COMPLAINT ONLINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED 2,000 MILES PRIOR TO THE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GET ANOTHER OIL CHANGE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED; THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY OIL CONSUMPTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

THE BODY UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH (7"X3" HOLE) DUE TO AN OBVIOUS IMPROPERLY SEALED HOLE IN THE STRUCTURE. SAME HOLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SEALED AND BODY APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO RUST. DEALER QUOTE TO REPAIR IS $1100, OR $3000 TO REPLACE ENTIRE FLOORBOARD. DEALER STATED THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF SAME ISSUE IN LAST MONTH ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF CAR. FILED COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN, BUT THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MANUFACTURING ISSUE OR OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR REPAIR. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN NHTSA DATABASE ECHO SAME ISSUES. WEAKENED/RUSTED THROUGH FLOORBOARD CAN BE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO COMPROMISED BODY STRUCTURE AND POTENTIAL POINT OF ENTRY OF FUMES INTO PASSENGER AREA. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED 01/27/11

FLOOR BOARD PANELS ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ON PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE RUSTING THROUGH FROM INSIDE OUT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, CAR HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. UPDATED 01/28/11 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED. UPDATED 02/03/11 *TR

PASSENGER SIDE DRAIN PLUG ON THE FLOOR WAS NOT SEALED FROM FACTORY ON 02-04 NISSAN ALTIMA MODELS, THE FLOOR RUSTS OUT VERY PREMATURELY LEAVING A LARGE HOLE FOR A FOOT TO GO THROUGH, OR WORSE EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR DOING A SEARCH ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WHICH NISSAN DOESN'T NOT WANT TO ADDRESS AND DOES NOT COVER. SEE HERE HTTP://WWW.NISSANFORUMS.COM/GENERAL-ALTIMA-STANZA-DISCUSSION/137783-ALTIMA-RUST-SHOCKER.HTML AND HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2002-2006-NISSAN-ALTIMA-DISCUSSION-2-5-3-5/287928-FLOORBOARD-RUST-PROBLEM.HTML. *TR

I SUSPECTED THAT MY CAR DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS CONFIRMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS CRACKED. I FOUND OUT THAT PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN 2002-2003 ALTIMAS WERE ADDRESSED IN NISSAN VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN #R3007 (NHTSA #03V-084). THE WORK PERTAINING TO THAT RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY CAR ON 07/31/2006 BUT THE DEFECTIVE CATALYST HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AS INSTRUCTED ON PAGE 5 OF NISSAN RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN #NTB03-070C. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE THE CATALYST AS PART OF THE RECALL #R3007 (NHTSA #03V-084), BUT THEY REFUSED SINCE THE RECALL HAS BEEN RECORDED AS PERFORMED. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, BUT MY REQUEST TO COMPLETE THE RECALL WORK WAS DENIED. I CONTACTED CEO OF NISSAN, CARLOS GHOSN, AND EXECUTIVE VP OF NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, CARLOS TAVARES. THEY ALSO REJECTED MY REQUEST TO PROPERLY SERVICE MY CAR AS NISSAN PROMISED IN ITS RECALL #R3007 (NHTSA #03V-084). THE CATALYST DEFECTS DESCRIBED IN NISSAN RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN #NTB03-070C ARE VERY SERIOUS. THE DEBRIS FROM CATALYST MAY DAMAGE THE ENGINE WHICH CAN RESULT IN FIRE. I KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU INVESTIGATE WHETHER NISSAN'S REMEDY (RECALL #R3007, NHTSA #03V-084) IN THIS CASE OF DEFECTIVE CATALYST WAS ADEQUATE. *TR