2003 Nissan Altima Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND JERK VIOLENTLY AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HWY GOING ABOUT 55 AND MY GAS PEDAL STOPPED WORKING FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A NEARBY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND SAT THERE FOR ANOTHER 10 SECONDS PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL. IT STARTED WORKING AFTER THAT AND I DROVE TO WORK TO NO FURTHER ISSUES, BUT THIS COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN A POSSIBLE DEATH(S). *TR

THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, BUT IT STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. IT WOULD DO IT ONCE OR TWICE AND THEN NOT DO IT FOR QUITE A WHILE. OVER THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND DANGEROUS. MY '03 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT IN OR OUT OF GEAR. IT HAPPENED RECENTLY WHILE EXITING THE INTERSTATE. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF GEAR BEFORE THE CAR STALLED. IF THE CAR HAD STALLED, I WOULD HAVE LOST POWER AND POSSIBLY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP. *TR

THERE IS NO INTERLOCK ON IGNITION TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY IF SHIFTER IS NOT PLACED IN PARK POSITION. CAR WAS PARKED AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED. CAR ROLLED OUT OF PARKING LOT DOWN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO TREE THEN PROCEEDED ACROSS STREET INTO A LOWER PARKING LOT HITTING GUARD RAIL BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS LACK OF A SAFETY FEATURE WAS UNKNOWN TO OWNERS AND CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT SAFETY RISK TO THE PUBLIC. *TR

CLUTCH PEDAL SUDDENLY LOOSES PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. THUS RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, CLUTCH PEDAL REGAINS PRESSURE. THIS TIME PERIOD VARIES, AND IS NOT CONSISTENT. DEALER RESPONSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MANY USERS ON THE INTERNET FORUM 'ALTIMAS.NET' HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE, AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING DEALERS AND NISSAN MOTOR CORP. TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

THE CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AT A STOPPED POSITION. IT TOOK EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO GO. AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THIS SAME THING WAS HAPPENING. IT ALMOST NEEDED TO BE FLOORED TO GET IT TO GO. IT REVVED VERY HIGH WHEN I TRIED TO GIVE IT EXTRA GAS. SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONLY HAS 76,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I NEED TO PASS OR GET RAPID ACCELERATION, I COULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NISSAN 2003 ALTIMA 2.5 S. THE CAR TURNED OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THERE HAD BEEN A RECENT RECALL BASED ON REPROGRAMMING THE CHIP THAT DESCRIBED THE CONDITION. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS THEN DIAGNOSED AS A CORRUPTED TIMING CHAIN SENSOR. WHEN REPLACED IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I ARGUED ABOUT THIS REPAIR BEING COVERED BY THE STANDARD 60 MONTH 60,000 MILE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY IT WAS NOT. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT "WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT PAID $180 TO GET HIS REPAIRED. A CAR THAT STOPS IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT TURN BACK ON FOR 5 - 45 MINUTES IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE WITH A 5SPD MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT MY CLUTCH WILL LOSE PRESSURE AND FALL TO THE FLOOR. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, CAN BE IN ANY GEAR, GOING ANY SPEED. USUALLY PULLING THE CLUTCH UP AND "PUMPING" IT WILL "SOLVE" THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBABLY HAPPENS TWICE A MONTH, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 12/31/2006. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SPOKE TO OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MANY HAVE HAD FOR YEARS SINCE THEY HAVE OWNED THEIR CARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE MECHANIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIX EASILY, BUT I AM LEFT WONDERING WHY SO MANY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IT MAY BE A POSSIBLE DESIGN ISSUE THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE ADDRESSING DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS.*AK

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE COLD SEASON THE CLUTCH STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23000. *AK UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

TL*- A SAFETY RECALL ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA CRANK SENSOR. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE RECALL REPAIR BEFORE SHE SOLD THE CAR, AND WANTS TO KNOW IF SHE WILL BE REIMBURSED. THE CONTACT WILL BE CALLED AND OFFERED THE FAQ RESPONSE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A NOISE PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE MOTOR MOUNTS AS THE SOURCE FOR THE NOISE, WHICH IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PART DEFECTIVE.*AK

MY 02 ALTIMA HAS HAD FOUR RECALLS, INCLUDING THE LAST ONE IN QUESTION. I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR LURCHING THIS SUMMER. IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO DIE. IT EVEN BEGAN TO DIE ON ME ONCE OR TWICE AT IDLE SPEEDS. ON AUG 24TH, WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, THE CAR DIED. IT DIED THREE TIMES WHILE I WAS TRYING TO TURN AROUND AND GET BACK TO THE PARKING LOT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE, ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. MEANWHILE, I CHECKED THE WEB. NO ADDITIONAL RECALLS WERE LISTED.) THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. THE CAR CONTINUED TO LURCH AND ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE TECHS RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE NISSAN DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS KNOWN. NISSAN HAD ISSUED A RECALL, THE CAR NEEDED THE ECM REPROGRAMMED. AFTER THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ECM, NISSAN STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR STILL NEEDED REPLACING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC THAT HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE SENSOR. THEY ALSO SAID IT NEEDED A NEW CAM SENSOR. THEY REPLACED BOTH SENSORS AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE CAR EXHIBITED THE SAME, PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS. I TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN. THE SERV DEPT INFORMED ME THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. THE BAD NEWS - THE COST WAS $1000. THE PART WAS ESTIMATED AT $550 AND LABOR WAS AROUND $450. ESTIMATE TIME OF REPAIR = 1 1/2 HOUR. THE WARRANTY IS 5 YRS / 60K MILES. HE STATED IF THE MILEAGE WAS 60K MILES, THEN THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY... BUT, SINCE THE MILEAGE READ 65K MILES, THEN IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE SERVICE MANAGER APPLIED FOR A GOODWILL WARRANTY. THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. I CONTACTED NISSAN. AFTER FILING THE COMPLAINT AND WAITING FOR A RESPONSE, I FINALLY OPTED TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. TO DATE, NISSAN DECLINED TO PAY FOR ANY PART OF THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIR. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE PROMISED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. *NM

DT: THIS WEEKEND TRIED TO PARK TO ENTER STORE. ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FROM DRIVE TO PAR, BUT THIS GEAR BECAME STUCK IN NEUTRAL. CHECKED OWNER'S MANUAL, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK. LAST NIGHT WENT TO PARK AND WHEN STARTING TO LEAVE WOULD NOT MOVE FROM TO PARK TO DRIVE. AGAIN, CONSULTED OWNER,S MANUAL. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. THIS MORNING I I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I TURNED RIGHT AND MY AXLE JUST SNAPPED IN HALF. WITHOUT WARNING.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A FRAME AROUND THE STICK SHIFT TO HOLD DOWN THE PIECE OF MATERIAL THAT KEEPS FROM EXPOSING INSIDE THE GEAR. THE FRAME CAME UNGLUED AND GOT STUCK INSIDE THE GEAR, CAUSING MY GEAR TO LOCK AND FORCING ME TO SUDDENLY STOP ON THE FREEWAY ON 65 MPH TRAFFIC. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE MY CAR WAS AT 37,000, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE PARTS DEPARTMENT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON ON NISSAN ALTIMAS, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ON AN EMPTY HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PULL THE FRAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE GEAR. THE AMOUNT THAT I'M BEING CHARGED FOR THE PARTS & LABOR ARE NOT MY CONCERN AT THIS TIME AND ARE MINIMAL, HOWEVER THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS IS PRICELESS. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT IF WE CAN AVOID SERIOUS DAMAGES IN THE FUTURE IT'S VERY WELL WORTH A RECALL. *AK

SHIFT LEVER EASILY SHIFTING THROUGH 1, 2, 3, N CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLLIN TO A CANAL. *AK

I HAD MY CAR IN PARK. I WENT TO CLOSE MY GARAGE DOOR AND HEARD A NOISE FROM THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED GOING IN REVERSE. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND GOT PINED UNDER AND THE CAR TOOK ME WITH IT ABOUT 15 FEET. I KNOW THE CARS GEARS SLIPED IT COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ANY OTHER WAY.

WE PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA S ON NOVEMBER 12, 2002. WE NOTICED A ROUGH VIBRATION WHEN WE ARE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN DRIVE AND WHEN WE HAVE IT IN PARK. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY TO BE CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. WE WANTED TO EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER ALTIMA OF SAME VALUE BECAUSE WE HAVE FRIENDS WITH 2002-2003 ALTIMAS AND THEY ARE NOT HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY STILL CONTINUE TO SAY IT IS NORMAL. ALSO, WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN YOU TAKE OFF IT HESITATES BEFORE IT PICKS UP SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CHANGING OUT SMOOTHLY. WE AREN'T HAVING ANY LUCK WITH THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMERS AFTER THEY GET YOUR $20,000 + CHECK. I REALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE A BETTER WAY FOR CUSTOMERS TO RECEIVE QUALITY SERVICE FROM THESE DEALERSHIPS AFTER PURCHASE. WE FEEL LIKE WE PURCHASE A 2003 LEMON AND WE THINK THAT NISSAN CORP. SHOULD MAKE THESE DEALERSHIPS THAT ARE SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS SATISFY THE CUSTOMER BEFORE/AFTER THE SALE. *TT

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 3,539 MILES ON JAN 17TH MY WIFE DROVE IT OUT FOR THE GROCERY SHOPPING. WHEN SHE CAME BACK SHE PARKED THE CAR ON THE DRIVE WAY IN 'P' WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AS SHE WAS TO GO OUT AFTER UNLOADING THE SHOPPING BAGS FROM THE TRUNK. SHE GOT OFF FROM THE CAR AND OPENED THE TRUNK AND UNLOADED THE SHOPPING BAGS AND TOOK THEM TO THE KITCHEN THROUGH THE GARAGE. SHE TOOK FEW BAGS EACH TIME TO THE KITCHEN SO SHE TRAVELED FEW TIMES FROM THE CAR TO THE KITCHEN. THEN SHE WALKED TO THE MAILBOX AND THEN TOOK THE LAST BAG FROM THE TRUNK AND AFTER CLOSING THE TRUNK WALKED TO THE KITCHEN. SOON LATER SHE OPENED THE KITCHEN DOOR AND WALKED INTO THE GARAGE WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS COMING TOWARD HER. IT HAPPENED SO FAST AND AS SHE LOOKED AT THE CAR SHE GOT PARALISED AND THE CAR BUMPED INTO THE WATER HEATER BASE AND STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN 'P'. MY WIFE DIDN'T GET HURT BY 1/16" OR SO... MY DAUGHTER RAN TO THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND VERIFIED IF THE CAR WAS IN 'P' OR NOT. IT WAS IN 'P' AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE PANEL SHOWING 'P' TOO!! I TOOK SOME PICTURES OF IT SINCE THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AT THAT MOMENT. MY WIFE WAS IN SHOCK. SO I STAYED WITH HER THAT EVENING AND RIGHT NEXT DAY EARLY MORNING TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPT CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND TOLD ME AND TO MY WIFE AND MY DAUGHTER THAT WE HAVE TO USE OUR INSURANCE TO FIX THE DAMAGES CAUSED TO THE CAR AND THE HOUSE BY THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR. NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE NISSAN DEALER REGARDING THIS ISSUE ALTHOUGH I REQUESTED TO CONTACT NISSAN USA CORP TO REPORT THE PROBLEM.