2003 Nissan Altima Other Problems

Your Nissan has a safety recall that can cause the engine to stop running without warning while you're driving, which could result in a crash. The dealership has refused to complete the recall because a specific diagnostic code hasn't appeared yet, even though the service staff have experienced the problem firsthand. Nissan corporate is telling you to keep driving the car until the code shows up, but you're uncomfortable doing this with a child in the vehicle. You want the recall completed as originally promised.

Your 2003 Altima has multiple unresolved issues: the engine loses power while driving on the highway, your headlights flicker on and off, the fuel gauge reading fluctuates, and the car uses gas much faster than normal. After a dealer reprogrammed your engine computer and performed an idle air volume learning procedure, your check engine light came back on within two days. The dealer is now charging you $140 for diagnostics rather than investigating the 10 recalls listed for your vehicle. Resolving these issues may involve diagnosing the engine power loss, electrical system problems with the headlights, fuel gauge sensor malfunction, and fuel consumption issues.

DASH CAMERA RECORDED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. WATCH UNTIL THE END OF THE VIDEO TO SHOW THE BROKEN PIECE THAT CAME OFF FROM MY CAR. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=XURGKIXXQOS I AM AN OWNER OF NISSAN ALTIMA 2003. SOME RUBBER PART IN THE FRONT UNDER MY CAR (I THINK IT'S A COVER OF SOMETHING) FELL OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 1 IN NEW JERSEY. IT CAUSED A LOSS CONTROL OF MY CAR. MY CAR SPIN AND DRIFT 180 DEGREES AND FACED AGAINST THE TRAFFIC FLOW. THEN IT GLIDED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CONTACTED NISSAN TO INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO DO SO BECAUSE I SENT MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. NISSAN STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OF THE VEHICLE REGARDING TO THAT PART AND I HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE COST OF DAMAGE. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE FALL OFF THE CAR AND CAUSE THE LOSS OF CONTROL. IF MY CAR DRIFT TO THE OTHER DIRECTION, I WOULD BE DEAD. THERE ARE SO MANY CARS WITH THE SAME MODEL AS MINE. I HOPE SIMILAR ACCIDENT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. AGAIN, PLEASE REFER TO THE YOUTUBE VIDEO THAT I UPLOADED.

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN IDLE. IT HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. CAR WOULD NOT GO ON PARK AND WAS STUCK ON DRIVE. CAR HAS STOPPED UNDER RED LIGHT ON BUSY INTERSECTION. IT WILL START EVENTUALLY. MAYBE 5 MINUTES, BUT IT DOES THIS WITHOUT WARNING. MY CAR HAS 158,000 MI. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SO FAR AND IT'S INTERMITTENT. MECHANIC NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS AS DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWS NO PROBLEMS.

PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR PANS, DUE TO RUST/CORROSION HAVE FAILED. THIS APPEARS FROM ON LINE RESOURCES TO HAVE BEEN A MANUFACTURING FLAW OF 2002 - 2006 ALTIMAS. A RUSTED THROUGH FLOOR PAN CERTAINLY AFFECTS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CAR AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS. ROAD OBJECTS OR PASSENGERS FEET COULD EASILY PUNCTURE THROUGH WHAT IS REMAINING OF THE FLOOR BOARDS. IRONICALLY, I REMEMBER HAVING AN ISSUE SIMILAR TO THIS ON A 1979 CHEVETTE. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED SUCH A DESIGN FLAW IN MORE RECENT AUTOS. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OLDER SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL FAILURE IN SUB BODY STRUCTURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR.

TAKATA RECALL

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT HAS CRACKED. NISSAN REPLACED IT THE 1ST TIME, I PAID TO REPLACE THE OTHER SIDE THE 2ND TIME AND NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE IT AGAIN DUE TO MILEAGE ON THE CAR. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE MOTOR FALLING OUT. PART SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE. DON'T KNOW IF IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT. I WANT NISSAN TO REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE.#

CAR SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE YOUR FMDRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. CHECK ENGINE COMES ON ANDTURNS VEHICLE OFF. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I FONT UNDERSTAND WHY IT HASNT BEEN RECALLED. MOST OF THE COMMENTS ARE SAID TO BE EITHER THE CAMSHAFT OR CRANKSHAFT. THEY REPLACED THE PART AND IT WAS FINE FOR 3 MONTHS AND IT CCONTINUES TO DO IT. IM GOING TO END UP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND NISSAN DOESNT EVEN CARE....

RUSTED FLOORBOARD- DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER. SECTION OF FLOORBOARD HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED--ALL THAT REMAINS BETWEEN DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER AND STREET SURFACE IS AUTO'S CARPET. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL THAT RUSTING OF THE FLOORBOARDS COMPROMISES THE AUTO'S INTEGRITY, AND THE WEAKENING OF THE AUTO'S STRUCTURE CAN DEFINITELY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND RESULT IN INJURY TO DRIVER AND OTHERS. NISSAN CONTENDS THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY, SINCE THE AUTO IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SUCH RUSTING WHICH COMPROMISES THE AUTO'S INTEGRITY AND SAFETY SHOULD BE INDEFINITELY WARRANTED. ALSO, IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF TECHNOLOGY, I FEEL THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT AN AUTO'S FLOORBOARD WON'T RUST OUT UNDER THE CONSUMER. NISSAN ADVERTISES QUALITY/SAFETY AND SHOULD STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS. I REALIZE THIS IS A 2003 MODEL. BUT, WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY, 2003 IS NOT REALLY OLD FOR A VEHICLE. SHOULD I EXPECT ANOTHER CRUCIAL PART TO FAIL?? MAYBE, THE HOOD OF THE AUTO WILL FLY OFF. ANOTHER COMMENT-----IS THIS PROBLEM AN ALTIMA ISSUE, OR DO OTHER VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME FLOORBOARD ISSUES?

THE CAR HAS GIVEN REPEATED PROBLEMS STARTING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS SHOWN A CRANK AND CAM POSITON SENSOR ERROR. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THESE SENSORS CHANGED WITH GENUINE NISSAN PARTS AND THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL.

MY TRUNK LATCH WILL RANDOMLY POP OPEN. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SECOND TIME, I CAME OUT OF A STORE TO FIND MY TRUNK OPEN. IT KEEPS POPPING OPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE NOW. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY TO SUDDENLY HAVE YOUR TRUNK FLY UP BLOCKING YOUR VIEW TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU. I HAVE JIMMY RIGGED IT WITH A BUNGEE CORD INSIDE SO THAT IT ONLY POPS UP ABOUT AN INCH OR TWO WHEN THE LATCH POPS. I WOULD JUST DUCT TAPE IT, BUT I NEED ACCESS TO MY DAUGHTER'S STROLLER. I ALSO UNPLUGGED THE INTERIOR TRUNK LIGHT SO THAT MY BATTERY WOULD NOT BE WORN OUT. THE WEIRD THING TOO IS THAT THE DOOR OPEN LIGHT DID NOT GO ON WHEN THE TRUNK OPENED. HOPING MY HUSBAND CAN FIX THIS DURING THE WEEKEND.

SMELL OF WET CARPET/MOLD AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IN RAINY CONDITIONS. FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE MAT WAS SOAKED AND MOLDY SMELLING. TOOK CAR TO DEALER TO DETERMINE SOURCE OF LEAK. PASSENGER SIDE UNDER CARRIAGE TOWARD DOOR HAD A RUSTED AREA ABOUT 11 X 5 INCHES; NOTHING ON DRIVER'S SIDE. EXPLANATION FROM DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS THAT WATER WAS MIGRATING TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FROM THIS LEAK EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER SIDE WAS NOT WET. DEALER SERVICE REP SAID THIS RUSTED AREA SEEN ON OTHER ALTIMAS. ESTIMATED $900.00 TO REPAIR. CALLED NISSAN FOR EXPLANATION AND ASSISTANCE. NISSAN DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS WAS THEIR POSITION EVEN WHEN TOLD OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I HAD FOUND FROM OTHER OWNERS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND ONLY SERVICED BY DEALER.

CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL ON HER CAR AND SHE HAS PAID FOR THE CAR TO GET FIXED ALREADY CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING REFUND**CC *JB

ARM REST IN THE FRONT OF CAR HAS ON, SEVERAL OCCASIONS CUT MY ELBOW. I FEEL THAT IF I WAS DRIVING THE CUT COULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE RESULT FROM CUTTING MY ELBOW IS STAINS OF BLOOD ON THE INTERIOR FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR. *JB

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *NM *TC *JB

I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA PURCHASED IN MARCH 2003 THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THIS PAST YEAR THAT MY CAR WILL NOT START I BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER THEY FOUND 2 RECALLS BOTH WERE FIXED BUT MY CAR STILL HAS DAYS WERE IT WILL NOT START. I WENT BACK TO DEALER THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TILL THEY CAN FIND OUT HOW TO FIX PROBLEM IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR THEY TOLD ME THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO RIGHT NOW! IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX MY CAR I SHOULD GET MY MONEY BACK OR THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT! I NEVER NO FROM DAY TO DAY IF MY CAR WILL START. *CB

WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FUEL MILEAGE WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA. IT'S A BRAND NEW 2003 ALTIMA WITH A 2.5/4-CYLINDER ENGINE THAT NISSAN ADVERTISES ON ALL THEIR WINDOW STICKERS AS GETTING 23/29. AFTER THE BREAKING PERIOD, MY FATHER STILL WAS GETTING ONLY 20 MPG SO RETURNED THE CAR ALONG WITH THE ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER TO THE NISSAN DEALER IN HILLIARD, OH & THEY AGREED TO CHECK IT OUT WHICH THEY DID & REPORTED THAT THE CAR WAS FINE & OPERATING PROPERLY. WHEN HE PICKED THE CAR UP, HE WAS GIVEN SOME PAPERS & ASSUMED THE STICKER WAS AMONG THEM, BUT WASN'T. WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS MISSING THE STICKER, HE RETURNED TO GET IT & WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND IT. HE TOOK HIS CAMERA TO THE DEALER & TOOK PICTURES OF LIKE STICKERS ON LIKE MODEL ALTIMAS CLEARLY SHOWING THE 23/29 MPG RATING. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, HE TOOK IT IN AGAIN EXPLAINING IT WAS STILL NOT GETTING ANY BETTER MILEAGE & SOMETHING MUST BE DONE SO BONNIE, THE SERVICE MGR. THERE TOOK OVER. AGAIN THEY CHECKED IT OUT & TOLD HIM THE SAME THING...THE CAR IS PERFORMING JUST FINE & THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY HE IS NOT GETTING THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE. HE TAKES IT IN FOR A 3RD TIME, THEY BRING HIM HOME & KEEP THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I TAKE HIM BACK TO PICK IT UP & WE WAIT FOR BONNIE WHO TELLS US THEY HAVE EXHAUSTED EVERY METHOD THEY HAVE FOR TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR IS ONLY GETTING 20MPG. SHE AGREES TO CALL NISSAN HEADQUARTERS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR WOULD TRADE OUT CARS FOR MY DAD. SEVERAL DAYS LATER SHE CALLS STATING SHE MADE THE CALL. HE'S REALLY TRAPPED & AT HIS WITS END. I SUBSCRIBE TO CONSUMER REPORTS SO CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY HAD TESTED THE CAR & SURE ENOUGH THEY HAD. THEY REPORTED GETTING ONLY 22MPG ON THE EXACT SAME 2003 4-CYLINDER MODEL, WHICH MADE ME START THINKING THAT PROBABLY NOBODY WAS GETTING THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE. I STARTED ASKING EVERY PERSON I FOUND WHO HAD A 2003 4-CYLINDER ALTIMA WHAT MILEAGE THEY WERE GETTING, NOT 1 PERSON EVER EVEN TOOK A MILEAGE CHECK!

DEALER STILL HASN'T MADE CONTACT ABOUT A REPAIR ON A PARTICULAR RECALL. VEHICLE IS STILL WITH THE DEALER. *LA THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS BUT WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THEY LACKED ALL THE PARTS AND INFORMATION TO PERFORM THE WORK. THE CONSUMER REQUEST INFORMATION ON ANY OTHER LOCAL DEALERS THAT WOULD BE CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE RECALL. *PH *NM