48 complaints reported

2003 Nissan Altima Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
48
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

May 2007

I HAD A RECALL ON MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. RECALL CASE # R0606. RECALL PROBLEM BEING CAR ENGINE STOPS WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW. I WAS GLAD TO SEE THIS RECALL! BECAUSE I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT WAS NEVER FIXED. I TOOK MY NISSAN INTO ROBERT WOODALL NISSAN ON FRIDAY MARCH 2ND TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE. NO LESS THAN 24HRS LATER MY NISSAN WAS BACK DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO, AND I'M HESITANT TO DRIVE MY CAR MUCH BECAUSE IN THE RECALL IT STATES THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE GIVE ME ANY HELP YOU CAN.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2007
May 2007

WHILE DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE MY ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT. IT DID RESTART, I DROVE A FEW MORE MILES AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE ON THE TURNPIKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2006
Apr 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS IN HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN, THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK, AND THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND WAS REPAIRED IN JANUARY OF 2007. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD NO ELECTRICAL FAILURES BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2007
Feb 2007

MY WIFE'S 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 8 YEAR SON TRYING TO STEER THE CAR. THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN I ARRIVED I GOT THE CAR STARTED AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP SINCE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ON. WHILE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION TO GET INTO THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT, THE CAR DIED ON ME. I HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COAST THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND UP TO ENTRANCE TO THE PARKING LOT. THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE ADVISOR FOR THE DEALERSHIP CALLS ME AND TELLS ME THE CAR NEED 2 RECALLS ( ONE OF WHICH I KNEW ABOUT -HEADLIGHTS, THE OTHER WAS TO REPROGRAM THE ECM. THEY WOULD HAVE TO ALSO REPLACE THE CAM & CRANK SENSORS FOR $213 WHICH OF COURSE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 3.5 YEARS AND IT HAS 33,174 MILES ON IT. AFTER READING THAT THE RECALL INVOLVING THE ECM REPROGRAM WAS TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE ECM - ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. IT STATED THAT THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COULD COME ON, THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AND THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING! I CALLED 1-800-NISSAN1 AND LOGGED MY COMPLAINT THAT MY WIFE (OR MYSELF) COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND THE VERY LEAST THAT NISSAN COULD DO WAS COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. I RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM SOME KIND OF ENGINEER TYPE GUY WHO GAVE ME THE 20 MINUTE TECHNICAL VERSION OF WHY NISSAN WAS SORRY BUT TOUGH CRAP ON US COVERING THIS. I DEMANDED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ELSE AND WAS GIVEN YOUR WEB ADDRESS. I STILL SAY NISSAN KNEW THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD HAVE MADE A STRONGER ANNOUNCEMENT SOONER TO GET THIS CORRECTED. THEY SHOULD BE ON THE HOOK HERE NOT ME!! *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2007
Oct 2006

MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN CRANK ITS ENGINE. AFTER 10 MINS THE ENGINE CRANKED AND STARTED, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND EXPLAINED OF A RECALL THAT STATED, " THAT SOME 2003 ALTIMAS MIGHT STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE ECM". WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED ME BACK, THEY STATED THAT I HAD TO HAVE THE POSITION SENSOR REPLACED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. WHEN I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT ON THE RECALL NOTICE I HAD RECEIVED IT CLEARLY STATED THAT "IF ANY ONE HAD TO PAY TOP HAVE THE ISSUE RESOLVED IN BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN THAT THEY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPEATED THAT REPLACING THE SENSOR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, OUT OF POCKET. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2006
Oct 2006

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S AND MY OIL IS JUST DISAPPEARING FROM THE ENGINE. I DO NOT SEE LEAKING, BUT IT IS BEING CONSUMED SOMEHOW. THERE IS A RECALL SPEAKING OF THIS ISSUE. BUT NISSAN SAYS THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, AND YEAR SO I BELIEVE IF MY VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING, THEN SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR 2 MONTHS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BLOW UP THE ENGINE, BECAUSE IF I DRIVE ANYWHERE, ALL THE OIL IN THE ENGINE WILL BE GONE. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2006
Sep 2006

RECALL ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L - ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE ECM. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP (CENTRAL CAROLINA NISSAN - SANFORD NC) AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CRANK ANGLE AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS FREE OF CHARGE W/ THIS RECALL AND STATED THESE PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF APPRX. $600 BEFORE THEY COULD PERFORM THE UPGRADE. I REFUSED TO PAY THIS FEE AND TOOK THE CAR HOME AND THE NEXT DAY IT CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO STEER IT OFF THE HIGHWAY W/OUT INCIDENT. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR HOME AND CALLED: NCA DEPT. NISSAN N.A. INC. AND WAS PROMISED A CALL BACK BY MON. 9/25/6 - REF. # 5477581. NO ONE CALLED AND I'VE SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS TODAY 9/26/6 TRYING TO GET RESOLUTION AND HAVE NOW BEEN PROMISED A CALL BACK BY THE END OF THE DAY 9/27/6 FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE. I'M HOLDING MY BREATHE AND I'M STILL NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. RICKEY COLLINS PHONE: (919)770-9670. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2006
Sep 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED WHILE DRIVING. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PROCEED. NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE PRESENT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 02/26/06. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2005
Aug 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE ALL POWER FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAPPENED 25 TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS THE POWER STEERING FAILED DURING THE POWER LOSS. AFTER 45 SECONDS THE ENGINE COULD BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR SERVICE. ON A PRIOR VISIT THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2006
May 2006

THE VEHICLE WILL STALL DURING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE DURING OPERATION. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR IS FAULTY. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2006
May 2006

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT A WEEK AGO WITH NO WARNING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA JUST LOSS POWER AND DIED IT WAS SO SUTTLE I KEPT PRESSING THE GAS THINKING THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. ALL ALONG STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH A 4 AND A 2 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. IN THE PAST WEEK IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE LUCKILY JUST IN MY SUBDIVISION. ABOUT FOR MONTHS AGO I WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING AND NISSAN SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR GONE BAD HAD IT REPLACED NOW PROBLEM IS BACK. IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT WITH THESE CARS JUST SHUTTING OFF WITH NO WARNING. ALL MY SYMPTOMS SEEM TO POINT TO CRANK POSITION SENSOR THAT I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT . NOW IM GOING TO HAVE TO FORK OVER 5-600 HUNDRED BUCKS TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULDN'T BE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW!!!! *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2006
Apr 2006

MY CAR WOULD LOSE POWER AND TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2006
Apr 2006

1) EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ARE THAT MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS TURNED ON AND MY CAR HAS TURNED OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD. IT HAS BEEN DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY. THE A/C HAS STOPPED WORKING ALSO. MY CAR IS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL. 2.) I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PRICE IS TO HAVE MY VEHICLE CHECKED AND ITS TOO HIGH. FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD AND THAT I AM STILL PAYING ON I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ONE OF THE AUTO PARTS TO HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT ITS THE SPEED SENSOR AND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BUT THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING. I WENT AHEAD AND ORDERED THE PARTS AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO FIND A MECHANIC THAT IS NOT TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2006
Mar 2006

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR OR AT IDLE SPEED, IT WOULD STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME, HOT OR COLD. I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND HAVE FOUND THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2006
Feb 2006

2003 ALTIMA'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PERTAINING TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE. PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY. THE TECH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THEY COULD NOT REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER WITHOUT REPLACING IT. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2006
Dec 2005

DO NOT REALLY KNOW? I FOUND OUT ONLY AFTER EXTENSIVE SEARCHING AND MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. RECALLED ON OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. SAME ISSUE AS WITH THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2004
Sep 2005 Fire

THE RECALL CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING OTHER REPAIRS MADE. FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FIRE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. *NM *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2005
Apr 2005

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2005
Aug 2004

CONSUMER HAD A HARD TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. DEALER STATED THAT THE STARTER WAS DEFECTIVE, AND PROBLEM EXISTED FOR A WHILE. *AK * TC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2004
Apr 2004

THE OIL IN THE ENGINE EVAPORATED AND WHITE AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, TWICE DUE TO THE DEBRIS/FIRE RECALL 03V084000. BUT, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK NISSAN HAD NOT AUTHORIZED THE SERVICE TO PLACE A NEW ENGINE IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *SC *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2003
Jan 2004

THE DEBRIS/FIRE RECALL 03V084000 WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED BOTH TIMES. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2004
Nov 2003

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS NOW FAILED TWICE, THE SECOND TIME THE CAR JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING! FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A BIG-RIG FOLLOWING ME, OR MOST LIKELY I WOULD NOT BE ALIVE TODAY. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP WITH THE PART ON BACK ORDER, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THEY (NISSAN) ARE HAVING LOTS OF FAILURES WITH THIS PART. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND FELL THAT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM SHOULD AT LEAST BE INVESTIGATED. THANKS, RONALD J. COLFER. *NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2003
Oct 2003

WHENEVER I TRY TO START MY ENGINE THE ENGINE DOESN'T RESPOND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM BUT THE IGNITION DOESN'T SEEMS TO WORK SOMETIME. I HAD THIS PROBLEM ALMOST 3 TIMES AND THE CAR IS VERY NEW. I BOUGHT THE CAR THIS YEAR DURING FEB. *LA

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2003

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2003 Nissan Altima has 48 Electrical System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.