2003 Nissan Altima Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
THIS NISSAN IS BURNING OIL LIKE CRAZY. IT STARTED IN JAN, 2015, ENGINE WAS MAKING TERRIBLE NOISE, OIL LEVEL CHECKED, COMPLETELY EMPTY. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN WHO SAID IT WASN'T A PROBLEM AND DID OIL CHANGE. THEN, JUST THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH THE CAR WAS HARD TO START AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL SO I TURNED IT OFF AND CHECKED THE OIL- COMPLETELY EMPTY AGAIN. WE HAD TO POUR 4 QUARTS IN!!! IT DOES NOT HAVE A LEAK, NOTHING IS EVER SEEN WHERE IT HAS BEEN PARKED. IT IS JUST BURNING OIL LIKE CRAZY DUE TO SOME TYPE OF DEFECT FROM NISSAN THAT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT ON LINE IF YOU GOOGLE NISSANS BURNING OIL... AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED . I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT, PLEASE, PLEASE, LISTEN TO ALL OF US AND GET NISSAN TO ADDRESS THIS FAILURE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 100,000 ON IT AND I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500 MILES WITHOUT FAIL. I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS ALONG WITH THE OTHER HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF OTHER NISSAN OWNERS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN IN THE PAST ON MY OTHER ALTIMA ABOUT THEIR AC THAT FAILS DUE TO IT ALWAYS RUNNING WITH DEFROSTER AND IT DOESN'T TURN OFF THEN SO IT'S ALWAYS RUNNING. ALSO, I SEE MANY OTHER RUSTED OUT FLOORBOARDS, CAUSING THE PASSENGER SEAT TO NOT BE BOLTED DOWN IN THIS SAME YEAR THAT I HAD HAPPEN TO ME 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD TO SPEND $2000.00 TO FIX THAT THEY SAID THE SAME, SORRY , THIS IS NOT OUR PROBLEM. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER WOULD'VE NOT BEEN PROTECTED WHEN THEIR SEAT FLEW OFF. PLEASE, PLEASE GO AFTER THEM ....THEY ARE TERRIBLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND RATTLED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHIFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
ENGINE OIL EXCESSIVELY BEING CONSUMED/BURNING. EXHAUST LEAKAGE. THERE IS A RECALL THAT ADDRESSES THIS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 ) AND IT COVERS MY MODEL YEAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT COME UP ON THE DEALER'S COMPUTER SO THEY DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH LOCATED FAILURE CODES AT THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS AND CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS AND CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,000. UPDATED 8/10/15*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V455000: (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 6/22/2015*JS
THE CODE IS FOR CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER DURING DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE STARTED RIGHT AFTER. ONLY PUMPING GAS PEDAL WHILE TURNING THE KEY IN IGNITION WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. *TR
IN THE PAST 2.5 YEARS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 2 COILS ON 2 DIFFERENT CYLINDERS, AND 2 DIFFERENT CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AS WELL. EACH TIME IT'S COST ME UPWARDS OF $300 EACH INCIDENT. A REVIEW OF THE INTERNET WEBSITE FOR COMPLAINTS FROM NISSAN DRIVERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL/YEAR INDICATES THAT OTHERS HAVE ALSO RUN INTO THESE ISSUES WITHOUT ANY RECOMPENSE. SOME EVEN HAD THEIR CARS STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN. "LUCKILY" (AND NOTE THAT I USE THE TERM IN QUOTES), MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT THE ENGINE STARTS RUNNING ROUGH, FEELING LIKE ON JUST 3 OF ITS 4 CYLINDERS, THEN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON. IT WAS THEN ALWAYS OBVIOUS SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG. Q: WHY WASN'T THIS A RECALL ITEM FOR THE NISSAN ENGINE? P.S. I HAVE LESS THAN 60K MILES ON MY CAR AND IT'S IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND ALWAYS GARAGED. *TR
2.5L ENGINE S MODEL NISSAN ALTIMA. 2002-2003 HAS WELL DOCUMENTED BLOGS AND COMPLAINTS OF EXCESSIVE OIL USE. CAUSES ARE ANY THING TO POOR DESIGN VALVE SEALS TO DUST KICK BACK FROM OVERHEATED CATALYTIC CONVERTOR INTO PISTON/CYLINDER AREA CAUSEING RING FAILURES AS WELL. THIS CURRENT VEHICLE HAS TO BEEN DIAGNOISISED BY A NISSAN DEALER. IT BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL PER 160MILES. THE DEALER RECOMMENDS A NEW ENGINE AND NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THE REGIONAL NISSAN MANAGER CHRIS STATES NISSAN WILL NOT ASSIST IN ANY WAY TO REPLACE/REPAIR THESE ITEMS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT OWNED THE VEHICLE LONG ENOUGH. THE CAR IS WORTH $3800. THE ENGINE +CONVERTOR+ LABOR IS OVER THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SOME ONE HIGH UP SOMEWHERE DROPPED THE ROYAL BALL ON RECALLING THIS ENGINE. *TR
WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL. IT HAD 105000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, IT IS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A 2.5L (4 CYLINDER ENGINE) SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE.. WE NOTICED A VERY FOUL SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN. ALSO THE ENGINE CONSUMED 1 QUART OF OIL PER 50 TO 60 MILES. NO EXAGGERATION ! I DISCOVERED A RECALL ON THE ALTIMA CONCERNING IT'S PRECAT/CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD OVER HEAT, BREAK INTO PIECES AND SOME OF THE PIECES COULD BE SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE, SCORING THE CYCLINDER WALLS AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I EMAILED NISSAN WITH MY CONCERNS. THEY ASSIGNED A CASE # TO MY CONCERN. THEY ASKED FOR A NISSAN DEALER TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEMS AND GIVE THEM A FORMAL DIAGNOSTIC OF THE ISSUES. THE ALTIMA HAD A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSTALLED IN 2007. A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS DONE ON THE CAR AND THE OIL TOPPED OFF AND WE WERE TOLD TO COME BACK IN 250MILES SO THEY COULD CHECK THE OIL. IN 160MILES WE RETURNED AND THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK! ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND A CODE FOR "CATALYST" PROBLEMS WAS IN THE COMPUTER. THIS WAS ALL SENT TO NISSAN VIA EMAIL. NOW INSTEAD OF A REP. HANDLING THE ISSUES.. THEY HAVE SENT IT TO A REGIONAL REP. AND WE ARE AWAITING THEIR "GOODWILL" DECISION. THAT YEAR ALTIMA AND ENGINE HAS REPEAT ISSUES EVEN AFTER RECALL REPAIR. TPART OF THE RECALL STATES THAT IF THE OWNER DOES NOT CHECK THE OIL OFTEN AND IGNORES ENGINE NOISES THAT IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE! SUPPOSEDLY A EXHAUST HANGER CATCHS DEBRIS AND CAUSES THE FIRE??? LOL WHO ARE THEY KIDDING? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ACCELERATING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. THE OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS ON THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THE REASON FOR THE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS BECAUSE I HAD A BAD CRANK SENSOR. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THAT SO, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN MY VIN NUMBER AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY CAR AND I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO HIM THEY STILL WASN'T GOING TO FIX IT. THEN I CALLED THE NISSAN RECALL PLACE AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING. SO NOW WHAT DO I SUPPOSE TO DO NOW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BOTH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V4550000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND MOTOR STOPPED IN FAST LINE OF HWY 60 IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND ALMOST GOT REARENDED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC, THANK GOD THEY STOPPED . HAD CAR TOWED IN AND CAME TO FIND OUT IT BLEW A ROD, HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A NUMBER OF MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM MOTOR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO DUE TO ALL PROBLEMS THESE MOTORS HAVE CAUSED PEOPLE. YOU CANT GET A REPLACEMENT MOTOR ANYWHERE ONLY FOUND ONE AND THEY WANT 2000.00 I FEEL NISSAN NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I HAD JUST BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IN MARCH 2010 FOR $4200. A FEW WEEKS AFTER I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING THROUGH OIL EVERY FEW DAYS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATED IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE TUNE UP I NOTICED IT STARTED TO RUN ROUGH ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, NO POWER STEERING. I HAD TO GLIDE TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE HOPING AND PRAYING I WOULD MAKE IT AND NOT GET HIT. SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO THEN TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT SEEING AS I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 6 MONTHS EARLIER. SO I THEN PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I HAD THE MONEY TO REPLACE IT($2000). ONCE I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE 2 MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AGAIN. I TAKE IT BACK INTO THE MECHANIC AND HE TELLS ME ITS THE RADIATOR. I REPLACE THE RADIATOR ($200). A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME ITS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THAT HE'S DONE ATLEAST THREE NISSANS IN THE PAST MONTH WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND TO CONTACT NISSAN. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE LIKE THAT IT WOULD BLOW THE MOTOR AGAIN BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT CAUSED IT TO BLOW INITIALLY. AFTER TAKING IT TO A NISSAN DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOT "OPEN" RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER JUST AN ECM RESET AND THE HALOGEN LIGHT RECALL. THEY DID TELL ME THE CATALYTIC GONE DUE TO A CYLINDER 2 MISFIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT COVERED BY THEM. I THEN CALLED NISSAN DIRECTLY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL PREVIOUS FOR THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT IT WAS NOT AN OPEN RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEND ME THAT INFORMATION. IF I WANTED THAT INFORMATION I WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH CAR FAX. THIS WAS FROM THEIR UPPER MANAGEMENT. *TR
ON JUN 29, 2014 OUR FAMILY OF FOUR (ALONG WITH MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS) WERE IN THIS 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT AROUND 55MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE STOPPED. PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT DO ANYTHING. CARS WERE ALL OVER THE EXPRESSWAY, ZIPPING THROUGH AT A HIGH SPEEDS. A VERY SCARY SITUATION. SOMEHOW, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY FATAL TO MY ENTIRE FAMILY. ONCE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, I CALLED MY INSURANCE CO. TO SEND US A TOW TRUCK. WHILE I WAS PLACED ON HOLD, AFTER A FEW MINS WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. NEXT DAY, I CALLED NISSAN COMPANY AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MY INCIDENT AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CAR AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND OUT THAT CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS BAD AND THEY REPLACED IT AT MY COST. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN AS TO HOW MY CAR IS NOT PART OF RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE JUST CUT OUT WITH OUT ANY WARNING PUTTING MY FAMILY AT GREAT DANGER (POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH) AND NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF, BUT FAILED TO RESTART. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CRANK POSITION SENSOR, AND THE TIMING KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE BEFORE BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
IN NOV 2013 THE CAR WOULD STALL (ENGINE DIES) WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WOULD NOT START SOMETIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE THE OEM WAS REPROGRAMMED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE CAM POSITION SENSOR HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE OEM REPROGRAMMING WAS COVERED BY A RECALL BUT NOT THE SENSOR WHICH WAS VIN SPECIFIC, AS TOLD BY NISSAN. I REPLACED THE SENSOR. THIS YEAR THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING AND WOULD NOT START SEVERAL TIMES (SEEMS THE PROBLEM RE-APPEARS EVERY SUMMER). I AGAIN TOOK THE CAR FOR REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE CRANK AND CAM POSITION SENSOR. I HAVE AGAIN REPLACED THE SENSOR AND CALLED NISSAN. I WAS TOLD MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AS IT IS VIN SPECIFIC. *TR
I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ONTO A BUSY STREET WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 137,095.
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Quick Summary
The 2003 Nissan Altima has 458 Engine complaints on file. 6 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.