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
    - LAFARGEVILLE, NY

    THE FLOOR PAN IS RUSTED OUT. 03 NISSAN ALTIMA I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I FEEL SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD A BODY SHIP GIVE THEM AN ESTIMATE OF $2800 AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP. I KNOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT IT IS THERE DEFECT IN DESIGN. I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO SOME ONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - SALEM, NH

    WE HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AND THEN IT WENT OFF. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WE HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND THE CODE INDICATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL, BATTERY, OR CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. SAME DAY WE GOT IT DIAGNOSED WE WENT TO START THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WE CALLED AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED. WHILE WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK WE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED. WE STARTED DRIVING CAR TO GET IT TO BE REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND MY DAUGHTER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND EVERYTHING. SHE PULLED INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY. WE CALLED AND HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS AND IT INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SALEM, NH AND SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN IN SERVICE AND EXPLAINED ABOUT THE RECALL. HE ASKED FOR THE VIN NUMBER AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS. I DISPUTED IT WITH HIM AND HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROX $100 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE AND APPROX $125.00 PER HOUR TO REPLACE PLUS PARTS. I THEN CALL NISSAN CONSUMER SERVICE AND THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I AGAIN DISPUTED AGAIN THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I THEN HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (THE RECALLED PART). WE PICKED UP THE CAR DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER RELATIONS AGAIN ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY STATED THERE IS STILL NO RECALL FOR THE SENSOR ON MY VIN. SHE SAID THAT SHE COULD HELP US BY REFUNDING THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE ASKED WHERE I HAD IT REPAIRED AND I TOLD HER AT A LOCAL REPAIR CENTER. SHE SAID I CANT HELP YOU BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET IT REPAIRED AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY SHOULD OF TOLD ME THIS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - JACKSONVILLE, FL

    I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, ON THE MORNING OF JULY 27, 2009 I HAD DRIVEN ONLY A FEW MILES WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THAT TIME THE CAR BEGAN SEVERELY HESITATING AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING, SHUT DOWN, AFTER WHICH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO AVOID A CRASH. I TRIED TO CRANK THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD ONLY TURN OVER, HOWEVER AFTER A FEW TRIES IT DID START. I THEN DROVE APPROX. TWO MILES TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY USED A CODE READER ON THE OBD. THE CODE READER INDICATED CODE P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I DROVE BACK HOME AND CHECKED THE DEFECTS /RECALLS ON SAFERCAR.GOV WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE WITH VARIOUS NISSAN VEHICLES INCLUDING THE ALTIMA. I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY OF THE RECALLS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. SO FAR, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR REPAIRED SINCE THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD EVEN FOR REPAIR DUE TO THE UNRELIABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE OPERATION OF THIS CAR. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - RIPLEY, OK

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FOR HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SOON AFTER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

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

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS FAILING ON HIS VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER, JERKS VIOLENTLY, AND STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT PAID TO HAVE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO AFTER THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL OR WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - OLIVER, PA

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, WHICH PRODUCED TWO CODES RELATED TO THE ENGINE. THE CODES WERE FOR THE ENGINE SPEED INPUT CIRCUIT AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SPEED CENTER. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,881.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - YORK, PA

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $297.25. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,533.

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

    2003 NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAVE A RECALL ON THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT SENSORS. THEY ARE FAULTY AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE CRANK SENOR REPLACED BY NISSAN AND PAID FOR IT, AND NOW THE CAM SENSOR IS BAD. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, & THEY SAID IT DOES NOT COVER MY PARTICULAR VIN# EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL THE OTHER 2003'S ??? THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS. ??? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO DOES NOT GET THIS??? HELP! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - ARLINGTON, MA

    CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILURE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT CAME ON AT APPROX.69,300 MILES ON 7/9/09. ON 7/11/09 AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOCALLY DURING THE DAY, HAD PARKED IT FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES. STARTED THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS REMAIED ON. I SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND TRIED TO RESTRAT IT. THE CAR TRIED TO START, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 TIMES OF TURNING THE KEY AND LETTING THE CAR TRY TO START FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS EACH TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE KICKED ON. THIS TIME THE DAHBOARD DISPLAY WAS NORMAL. I DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT HOME (1 MILE). I DID NOT TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ON 7/13/09. ON 7/15/09 I WAS ADVISED THAT THE SES CODE WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE COST TO REPLACE IS $250. THE PART WAS TO COME FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP (NOT AFTERMARKET). THEY CHECKED THE VIN AND ALTHOUGH EARLY 2003 ALTIMA'S ARE COVERED BY A RECALL MINE IS NOT. FURTHER INTERNET SEARCHES HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO COVER THIS! I AM FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT CONTINUE TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE AND HAVE IT STALL IN TRAFFIC AS MANY OTHERS HAVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN MUST EXPAND THEIR COVERAGE OF THE REPAIR. MY CAR IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING FOR WEAR AND TEAR. KNOWN DEFECTS SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

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

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANK HANDLE SENSOR ECM DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HOT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE