2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

2/11/2009 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MADE MY 2003 2.5 NISSAN ALTIMA TO STALL DURING AFTERNOON HEAVY TRAFFIC. IRONICALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED LESS THAN A MILE FROM AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHICH I UTILIZED REGULARLY. THE OUTCOME INVOLVED REPLACING THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY @ A COST OF $288.48. 6/23/2009-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. OUTCOME WAS TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR @ A COST OF $159.69. 12/9/2009 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. OUTCOME DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED INSTALLING A NEW ENGINE, AND INSTALLING A REMANNED TRANSMISSION. I AM LIVID THAT THE ISSUE WAS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS TO THE LEVEL THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLED, I BARELY MISSED BEING REAR-ENDED BY A LARGE TRUCK TRAVELING AT LEAST 55-65 MILES PER HOUR. THIS PLACED MY FAMILY AND I IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH SMOKE WAS EXPELLED FROM THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS LIGHT SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE IN ENGINE AFTER OIL CHANGE. TWO DAYS AFTER OIL WAS TOPPED OFF, OIL LEVEL SHOWED IT BURNED 4 QUARTS WITH NO LEAKS. SINCE, IT HAS CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE LOW ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AGAIN. THE CONTACT PLACED MORE OIL INTO THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC VERIFIED THE LOW OIL LEVEL AND VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE ANYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND OVER 700 COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 88,000 MILES. INTERNET COMPLAINTS SHOW 4 CYLINDER ALTIMA ENGINES HAD DESIGN FLAW AND PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATS AND ASH MATERIAL ENTERS ENGINE AND SCORES CYLINDER WALLS CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL USE AND ENGINE FAILURE. NHTSA HAD RECALL FOR THIS IN 2003 (NHTSA RECALL #03V08400 .ODI) NISSAN ONLY INSPECTED ENGINES BUT DID NOT REPAIR. ENGINE FAILURES CONTINUED TO OCCUR TO DATE AS NHTSA CLOSED RECALL AND DID NOT MONITOR NISSAN SINCE. NHTSA IS NEGLIGENT IN DUE DILIGENCE AND FOLLOW UP WITH NISSAN BY ALLOWING FAILURES TO CONTINUE. IN LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE PRE CONVERTER HAS CONTINUED TO FAIL AND DESTROY ENGINES. ORIGINAL RECALL ONLY DELAYED CONVERTER FAILURE UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRED AND $5000 ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS WAS PUSHED ONTO OWNER. NISSAN WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE DESIGN FLAW STILL DESTROYING ENGINES. REINSTATE RECALL AND PAYMENT BY NISSAN. *"TR

NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 - EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THIS ISSUE IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE THAT THOUSANDS OF NISSAN OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED, AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY PRE-CAT THAT SHREDS INTO SMALL PIECES AND THEN GETS STUCK IN THE ENGINE, DAMAGING IT. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR, AND AM NOW FORCED TO ADD OIL ONCE A WEEK OR ELSE RISK THE ENGINE BLOWING. *TR

I BOUGHT A NISSAN 2003 ALTIMA 2.5S FROM DRIVE TIME ON 10-09-2009 , AND AS SOON AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE CARS I STARTED TO FEEL AND HEAR A VIBRATION AND LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE FRONT STRUT MOUNT KIT THAT IS RATTLING AND MAKE LOUD BANG WHICH MAKE THE FRONT LEFT TIER SHACK VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WAS GOING TO COME OFF THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON EVEN ROADS OR BUMPY ROADS. THE REMEDY IS TO REPLACE THE STRUT MOUNT KIT COMPLETELY THE COST WITH LABOR IS $360.00. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM DRIVE TIME AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PART. THEY SAY THAT IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I AS THE DRIVE FEEL IT IS, WHEN THE TIRE FEEL LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO COME OF THE CAR. AS OF YET THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT I FEEL THAT IF NOT CORRECTED THIS MAY LEAD TO A CRASH AND OR A FATALITY. *TR

MY CAR SHUT OF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHICH WAS HARD TO SEE BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS DIDN'T GIVE MUCH LIGHT AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK EITHER...I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA...THE CAR WOULD USUALLY TURN OF ON ME LIKE THAT BUT NOT A HIGHER SPEEDS...THE CAR'S ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD NOISE IT HAD 3 RECALLS FOR IT( HEADLAMP RECALL, ENGINE EXHAUST RECALL, & ENGINE COOLING RECALL) BEFORE I HAD THIS DONE I HAD A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0420, P0240, AND HAD 3 P0335...AFTER I HAD THE "RECALL DONE"...A WEEK LATER MY CAR "BLEW A HEAD GASKET" AND I HAD A CODE P0300...I IMMEDIATELY GOT IT FIXED FOR LIKE $1300...AFTER THAT...2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0335, P0240, & P0420...I'VE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS...I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A REGIONAL SPECIALIST WHICH CAN'T REALLY HELP ME AT ALL...NISSAN DEALER LIKE TO TAKE MONEY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TELLS ME THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE...MY CAR STILL SHUTS OFF AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T EVEN START...WHEN THE CAR START UP IT MAKES A LOUD ENGINE NOISE...SO RIGHT NOW MY CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANY SPEED RATE NOW JUST LOW SPEEDS, I DON'T HAVE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR, ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE A ROCK IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND MY CAR'S SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION . THE "ENGINE SERVICE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THE MOTOR MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT AND DID NOT ADDRESS THE RECALL DEFECT. THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,265. UPDATED 11/18/09.*LJ THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/19/09

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OUTLINED IN RECALL #06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE REPAIR A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT REPLACED. AS A CONSEQUENCE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, AT A LOW SPEED, WHEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE VEHICLE DIED. IT WAS DURING THE EVENING HOURS. I WAS LUCKY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME DIDN'T RUN INTO ME. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, AND DRIVE OFF. THE CAR DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN, BUT A WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A CRANK ANGLE SENSOR. IT WAS FAULTY AND THAT'S WHY MY CAR DIED, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I FOUND OUT THAT, NISSAN HAD A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA INC AND SPOKE TO A PERSON NAME DAVID. DAVID CONFIRMED THAT THEY DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE SENSOR BUT IT WAS ONLY ON CERTAIN YEARS FOR THE ALTIMA. I TOLD DAVID THAT MAYBE ALL THE ALTIMA'S WITH THIS SENSOR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND A OWNER NOTIFICATION FROM NISSAN TELLING ME THAT MY ALTIMA, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT STOP RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND ECM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER RECEIVING THEIR NOTICE. THE DEALER REPROGRAM THE ECM UNIT, BUT NEVER REPLACED THE SENSOR. I TOLD DAVID AT NISSAN THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE SENSOR AT THE TIME WHEN THEY REPROGRAM THE ECM. IT WAS VERY SCARY WHEN MY CAR JUST DIED SUDDENLY. I WAS VERY LUCKY I DIDN'T GET HURT. I AM LETTING YOU KNOW BECAUSE I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD RECALL ALL THEIR VEHICLE EQUIP WITH THIS SENSOR. I WAS VERY VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I TOLD DAVID AT NISSAN THAT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR ANYMORE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES SUSTAINED TO BOTH VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE MASSIVE LEVEL OF IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 136,000. UPDATED 10/29/09 *CN AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AT 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB