2003 Nissan Altima Engine

The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled and lost motive power. The vehicle had to be pushed to the side of the road and jump-started. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who replaced the CAM Sensor. The contact stated a day later the vehicle stalled and shut-off. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 187,000.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST YEAR MAY 2019 AND WITHIN A MONTH THE ENGINE BLEW. I REPLACED THE ENGINE AND NOW IT HAS ISSUES WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REAR AND FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND THE OXYGEN (O2) SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS TAKEN TO BOSAK NISSAN (220 VERPLANK RD, BURNS HARBOR, IN 46304 (219) 787-1777) TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO (ROYAL NISSAN OF CORTLAND 3901 WEST RD, CORTLAND, NY 13045(607) 753-9774) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED AND ALSO THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE POWERED DOWN. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL WRAPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED DARLING HONDA NISSAN (114 SYLVAN RD, BANGOR, ME 04401, (207) 941-1460), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V251000 (FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,875.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION STARTING AT 94,000 MILES. NO LEAKS OR EXHAUST SMOKE. HAVE READ CATALYTIC CONVERTORS WERE POORLY DESIGNED RESULTING IN LOW OIL LEVEL AND ENGINE DAMAGE. CAR STILL RUNS WELL BUT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. NISSAN FORUMS FULL OF SIMILAR COMMENTS INCLUDING NISSAN'S AWARENESS OF THE DEFECT AND LACK OF ACTION. CAR HAS DIED IN TRAFFIC ON A FEW OCCASIONS BUT RUNS WELL OTHERWISE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED JERKING AND SPUTTERING UNTIL THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO NISSAN OF MOBILE (1015 EAST INTERSTATE 65 SERVICE RD S, MOBILE, AL 36606) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE COIL PACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF CORINTH (813 S PARKWAY ST, CORINTH, MS 38834) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,286.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER INTERMITTENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. FRED ANDERSON NISSAN OF ASHEVILLE (629 BREVARD RD, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806, (828) 348-6850) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR MONTHS, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 234,000.

THIS VEHICLE IS ON ITS SECOND CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND FLEX PIPE, I PREVIOUSLY CHANGED THEM IN AUTUM OF 2017. AFTER INSTALLING A BRAND NEW ONE FROM ROCKAUTO.COM EASTERN CATALYTIC FOR $290 LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO TWO MECHANICS AND ADVANCED AUTO PARTS WHERE THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL READ CODE P0420 LOW EFFICIENCY BANK 1. I HAD NO MONEY TO REPLACE IT AND NOW IT'S SO CLOGGED UP IT'S SHOOTING CARBON MONOXIDE BACK INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAUSING ME TO END UP AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE THEY TOLD ME I HAD SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I AM SUFFERING FROM MEMORY LOSS, NONCOHERENT SPEECH, UNABLE TO SEE 20/20 VISION AND CHEST PAIN. I HOPE YOU HERE AT THE NATION HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD CAN DO SOMETHING WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THESE CHEAP PARTS COMING I FROM CHINA AND BEING SOLD TO PEOPLE AS IF THERE HIGH QUALITY GOODS. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF THIS POISON.

EVERY 100 MILES CAR START BURNING OIL TO FAST..ENGINE START RUNNING SLOW..CHECK ENGINE LIGHT START BLINKING ON AND OFF

MY CAR HAD SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM (AS VERIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP) AS CARS SUBJECT TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 [I.E., SUDDEN ENGINE STALLING & DELAYED RESTART DUE TO DEFECTIVE SENSORS], BUT NISSAN REFUSED TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MY CAR. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR SITUATIONS SHOWING UP ON THE INTERNET, POSTED BY UNHAPPY OWNERS SIMILARLY IGNORED BY NISSAN.

TAKATA RECALL ENGINE WAS REMANUFACTURED APRIL 4TH, 2012. ENGINE BURNING OIL, MORE THEN LIKELY CATAYLTIC CONVERTER, THROWING CODES. COST AROUND 5,000. ENGINE HAVING SYMPTOMS...AGAIN, FOR THE SAME THING. NISSAN OFFERED TO DIAGNOSE FOR FREE, BUT STATES THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER. ALSO FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS USED, BY SOURCE OTHER THEN THE DEALERSHIP. WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO HONOR THIS RECALL, AS IN 2012 IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR FREE UPON RECALL. IS THERE ANYTHING ANYONE CAN DO TO HELP THE SITUATION? CAR BEGAN SHAKING, AND LOSING POWER, ON THE ROAD, HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME. 25,000 MILES ON THE RECONDITIONED ENGINE, OIL BLOWING, 4 QUARTS IN 3 MILES.

WE PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, AFTER MAKING A STOP ON THE WAY HOME, 3 HOURS AWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. WE WERE STATIONARY IN A RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT. HAD IT TOWED TO A CERTIFIED NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT/CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSORS. NISSAN WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE OUR ALTIMA HAS THE 3.5 V6. APPARENTLY THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR THE 4CYL. WELL GUYS, THE SENSORS IN THE V6S DON'T WORK EITHER. SO AFTER PAYING THE $1,068.17 REPAIR COST AND MULTIPLE TRIPS BACK AND FORTH TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA (IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN THERE YOU KNOW TRAFFIC IS HORRIBLE) WE FINALLY BROUGHT THE CAR HOME. BAD BUSINESS!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WHETHER IT WAS IDLING OR BEING DRIVEN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIR A SECOND TIME; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 26771408. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,755.

"TAKATA RECALL". MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, THE ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 50K MILES ON THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. THE CODE COMES UP P0335, BUT THE MECHANIC BELIEVES IT IS A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AS WELL AS CIRCUITRY ISSUES INVOLVING THE SAME PART. APPARENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FOR THE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, HOWEVER DEALERS ARE NOT WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED FURTHER, AS I'M DISCOVERING UPON FURTHER RESEARCH THIS IS A PANDEMIC AMONG 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS AND AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED AT A STOPLIGHT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WHILE DRIVING AT A 45MPH SPEED ON A BUSY STREET WHERE THERE WERE MANY CARS AROUND ME.

I HAVE HAD MY CAR SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING IT HARD TO STEER ALMOST CAUSING OTHER CARS TO REAR END ME. THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START. EVERY YEAR I HAVE HAD TO BUY A NEW CAM SHAFT SENSOR SINCE THE INSTALL OF THE NEW ENGINE THAT WAS PUT IN BY NISSAN. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CAM SENSOR BUT MY CAR IS NOT UNDER THAT RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS THE STATE EMISSION INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,202.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK POSITION TIMING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000. UPDATED 07/27/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS AND RED LIGHTS. SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE, UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RE-STARTED. UPDATED 08/01/16.*JB

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES "NEVER RECEIVED DEFECTIVE SENSORS REPLACEMENT RECALL NOTICE". *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE SENSORS OUT-OF-POCKET.

LOOSE POWER VALVE SCREWS - WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S BOTH ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE ARBITRARILY RAN SUPER ROUGH TO THE POINT OF ALMOST COMPLETELY CUTTING OFF IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC LANES. ONE INSTANCE WAS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES, AND THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANES AND I WAS ALMOST T-BONED BY ONCOMING CARS. FINALLY THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START AT ALL ONE DAY, SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH INTAKE POWER VALVE SCREWS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A SIGNIFICANT PRICE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED ONCE BEFORE, AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALLS, BUT OBVIOUSLY A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM FOR 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS. AFTER DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS OF THIS SAME CAR EXPERIENCING THE SAME POWER VALVE SCREW PROBLEM ALSO. I ALSO BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON 2004 AND 2005 NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AS MY CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF OIL AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 2.5 SL HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING LOT OF VIBRATIONS AND POWER LOST WHILE TRAVELING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, THE PROBLEM SEEMS GET WORSE ONCE YOUR EXIT THE HIGHWAY SITTING AT THE LIGHT THE CAR WANT IDLE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF. NOW MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON SO I TOOK THE CAR TO TIRE PLUS CAR CARE, THEY TOLD ME THE ECM PROGRAM IS OUT DATED AND THE CODE THEY READ INDICATE NEW PROGRAM UPDATE AND POSSIBLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED $400.00 DOLLARS THEY CLEARED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND SAID THIS SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE VIBRATION AND ENGINE IDLE PROBLEM, ONE WEEK LATER ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME BACK ON, PROBLEMS OF VIBRATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO COURTESY NISSAN DEALER HAD THEM TO PERFORM DIAGNOSES SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THE ECM WAS OUT DATED SO I PAID $120.00 DOLLARS TO UPDATE ECM PROGRAM, THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THE VIBRATION IS BECAUSE MAYBE THE THROTTLE BODY (POWER VALVE SCREW) MAY BE GOING BAD AND IF POWER LOSS HAPPEN AGAIN I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AT MY EXPENSE. NOTE: I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND NISSAN NORTH AMERICA (IN THEIR VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN PAPERS) REFERS TO IT AS THE POWER VALVE. THERE ARE SMALL SCREWS ON THE VALVE THAT COME LOOSE AND GET SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. EVEN THOUGH THE 2002 THROUGH THE 2005 ALTIMA 2.5S' ALL HAVE THE QR25DE 2.5S ENGINE (WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME ENGINE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS), THE MANUFACTURER, IN THIS CASE NNA IS ABLE TO LOOPHOLE THE LAWS CONCERNING A RECALL. LIKE IN MY CASE AND OTHER PEOPLE'S CASES, WE HAVE THE 2002 AND 2003 ALTIMA THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, BUT NNA WON'T TAKE CARE OF IT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF IT AND CURRENTLY HAVE A VSC ON THE 2004 AND 2005 MODELS. *DT

CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE DOWN AND PARTICALS CAUSED INTERNAL WEAR TO THE MOTOR. THAT CAUSES THE MOTOR TO BURN OIL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,023.