Major Problems with 2003 Nissan Altima Derived from Complaints & Recalls
Custom-fit Add-ons
Worst 3 complaints of 2003 Nissan Altima
2003 Nissan Altima
SEAT BELTS
Victims: 2
2003 Nissan Altima
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Victims: 2
Mileage: 20000 miles
2003 Nissan Altima
FRONTAL
Victims: 2
Mileage: 5 miles
Browse 2003 Nissan Altima complaints by category
Problems with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE and ENGINE are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Nissan Altima owners.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the vehicle cranked up but would turn over. there was a recall (03v4555000) for the crank position sensor weld but |
256
~ 72349 miles |
| ENGINE due to faulty cat converter which nissan failed to replace the engine is burning oil excessively due to debris from... |
109
~ 101774 miles |
| ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING while driving at any speed vehicle shut down. dealer kept vehicle over four months and could no duplicate or correct |
106
~ 62022 miles |
| BODY > STRUCTURE i own a 2003 nissan altima that was purchased brand new. the car has never been in an accident and... |
93
~ 98689 miles |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i have a 2002 nissan altima 3.5 se. the crankshaft position sensor has now failed twice the second time the... |
73
~ 62275 miles |
| EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING defect report submitted 2002-2003 nissan altima exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road which could be ignited |
40
~ 94362 miles |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL while applying the brakes the vehicle suddenly surged and accelerated towards traffic. the brakes did not stop and the vehicle... |
27
~ 60315 miles |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER i am very unhappy with my 2003 nissan altima. i purchased it used in aug. 2002. it has been in... |
23
~ 70375 miles |
| STRUCTURE nissan altima 2003 with several failures leaking gasket etc. *bf the consumer stated the water pump failed the windshield leaked... |
21
~ 129609 miles |
| AIR BAGS airbags did not deploy during a collision. *ak... |
21
~ 80521 miles |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE at about 60 850 mileage - 850 miles after the warranty expired my car started to stall while in motion... |
17
~ 66207 miles |
| MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING on december 14 2003 consumer received nhtsa recall 03v084000 the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road |
16
~ 79947 miles |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM while driving on the street and about to turn the car suddenly stopped running while driving. since i was in... |
15
~ 63747 miles |
| CATALYTIC CONVERTOR > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM check engine light was on & off engine was consuming oil faster then normal . started having engine noise dealer... |
14
~ 85042 miles |
| AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN 2003 nissan altima with 3 539 miles on jan 17th my wife drove it out for the grocery shopping. when... |
14
~ 35698 miles |
| COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING my 2003 nissan altima has the engine install issue.... i have called the headquarters and the dealership and have been... |
13
~ 80652 miles |
| RADIATOR ASSEMBLY > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING consumer was complaining about radiator leaks coming from the hose clamp area and the top of the radiator. dealership had |
12
~ 26295 miles |
| STEERING my nissan 2003 nissan altima 3.5v6 has shut down and locked up while driving. this has occurred twice in the... |
10
~ 116837 miles |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING my low beam headlights keep burning out every 6 months or so. there is a service bulletin on this but... |
10
~ 62055 miles |
| SUSPENSION 1) the car would always pull to the right. i took the car in numerous times to the dealership to... |
9
~ 79945 miles |
| CRANKCASE (PCV) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM car stalled stopped working and then had difficulty starting. engine light stayed on. rough starting until fixed with stalling. turned... |
9
~ 64081 miles |
| POWER TRAIN tl*- a safety recall on 2003 nissan altima crank sensor. the contact paid for the recall repair before she sold... |
8
~ 129860 miles |
| EQUIPMENT engine noise (knock clack or clatter) at idle. nissan america has published several bulletins/recalls/alerts regarding noise associated with the auto-tensioner... |
8
~ 75089 miles |
| SEAT BELTS dt*: the contact stated while driving 30-35 mph a child located behind the driver seat became caught in the seat... |
7
~ 59286 miles |
| FRONTAL > AIR BAGS consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 40 mph. upon impact only the passenger's side air... |
6
~ 9880 miles |
| FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE floor rusted through on a 2003 nissan altima 3.5 se with only 55000 miles on it. in service date of... |
5
~ 58675 miles |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL while driving through a busy intersection and a railroad crossing my car suddenly seemed to have lost all power. my... |
5
~ 92840 miles |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER i have a 2003 nissan altima 2.5 s. the gas door is not functioning correctly. i go gas one day... |
5
~ 71200 miles |
| GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING crank sensor failed causing the engine to seize while driving. owner contacted the manufacturer but has not received any assistance.... |
5
~ 63400 miles |
| MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT we purchased a 2003 nissan altima 3.5 on 12/2002. on 7/16/04 the car wouldn't crank until the third try. after... |
5
~ 104950 miles |
| SEATS while driving at 20 mph driver's seat started to bend toward the back right of the vehicle. as time went... |
5
~ 185200 miles |
| IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM whenever i try to start my engine the engine doesn't respond. i don't know what is the problem but the... |
5
~ 49029 miles |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC nar 04/28/2003 mr the consumer experienced a mechanical failure that would request a new vehicle under factory warranty. *cb... |
5
~ 60063 miles |
| SERVICE BRAKES backed up car in parking garage and brakes didn't decompress at all pedal was hard kept backing up narrowly missing... |
4
~ 89833 miles |
| UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE underbody of passenger side of car with large hole(20 by 20) in it discovered when 4 wheel alignment was being... |
4
~ 119000 miles |
| TIRES i have been having numerous problems with my car moving very slowly not staying in the road pulling away from... |
4
~ 27250 miles |
| MODULE > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM recall on 2003 nissan altima 2.5l - electrical problem between the crank angle sensor and the ecm. my check engine... |
4
~ 62352 miles |
| TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE gasoline smell around vehicle due to leak on exhaust pipes. *la the dealer suggested that the leaking was due to |
4
|
| AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT a/c compressor does not disengage when the manual selector switch is moved from the defrost position. this is covered by... |
4
~ 39404 miles |
| FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2003 nissan altima safety recall regarding fuel pump.*mr the consumer contacted the dealer to have the recall done and was |
4
~ 10514 miles |
| FRONT > SUSPENSION my husband's 2003 nissan altima crashed him into a parked car when the front suspension bar cracked. it break off... |
3
~ 72040 miles |
| POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY faulty driver side and passenger side power windows. when the car is locked approximately 5 minutes later the headlights blink |
3
~ 34629 miles |
| EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i was making a left-hand turn at an intersection at 12:00 midnight on a sunday and depressed the accelerator pedal... |
3
~ 46702 miles |
| MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN i have a 2003 nissan altima with a manual transmission. there is a frame around the stick shift to hold... |
3
~ 37891 miles |
| ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL while parking the vehicle accelerated forward. as a result the vehicle crashed into a parked car. no injuries reported. *ak |
3
~ 33008 miles |
| HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING drivers side headlamp failed. according to the service manager at hippodrome tony bryant the failure is caused by the headlamp... |
3
~ 50997 miles |
| VISIBILITY nissan altima 2003 with several failures leaking gasket etc. *bf the consumer stated the water pump failed the windshield leaked... |
3
~ 78833 miles |
| WHEELS nar 04/28/2003 mr the consumer experienced a mechanical failure that would request a new vehicle under factory warranty. *cb... |
3
|
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2003 nissan altima 3.5l v6 se - the door locks keep locking repeatedly. will do this while i am in... |
2
~ 54000 miles |
| LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES driver's door inside latch release became inoperative causing inability to exit the vehicle. in order to exit th evehicle key |
2
~ 10950 miles |
| PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) > CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN tl* - the contact called regarding the 2003 nissan altima. the contact stated that during the cold season the clutch... |
2
~ 36500 miles |
| FRONT UNDERHOOD > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1) events that have happened are that my service engine light has turned on and my car has turned off... |
2
~ 23352 miles |
| CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL at approximately 45 000 miles my cruise control set button popped off my 2003 nissan altima. i took it to... |
2
~ 58000 miles |
| ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC dt: the contact stated the brakes locked in cold weather. the dealer informed the contact they could not find the... |
2
~ 57500 miles |
| PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN shift lever easily shifting through 1 2 3 n causing the vehicle to rollin to a canal. *ak ... |
2
~ 18900 miles |
| HEATER CORE > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY when using the heater the vents blew hot as long as the vehicle was moving. as soon as the vehicle... |
2
~ 35009 miles |
| SIDEWALL > TIRES tire sidewall blowout at low speed from stoplight. over half the tire shredded from blowout. ... |
1
~ 109000 miles |
| SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS in october 2010 the air bag light flashing result: retrieved code b1129-rh side air bag module open circuit not detected... |
1
|
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY i have a 2003 nissan altima. this car is burning oil like crazy. there's no smoke or anything of that... |
1
|
| INFLATOR MODULE > DRIVER SIDE > FRONTAL 2003 nissan altima. consumer expresses concern that other 2003 nissan altima vehicles were not identified or included in campaigns related... |
1
|
| ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. while driving approximately 5 mph the check engine light came on and there... |
1
~ 42038 miles |
| FILLER PIPE AND CAP > TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. while driving approximately 5 mph the check engine light came on and there... |
1
~ 42038 miles |
| LABELS > OTHER > EQUIPMENT i was driving my vehicle 2003 nissan altima at a low speed when for no apparent reason the vehicle died.... |
1
~ 74444 miles |
| LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS 2003 nissa altima right front wheel came off. *bf the vehicle fell to the ground and the consumer drove to... |
1
|
| ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT in october of 2006 i had a problem the craft shaft position sensor on my 2003 nissan altima 2.5 s.... |
1
|
| VALVE > TIRES on june 1 2007 purchased 4 new tires and valves from bob's tire service in martinsburg wv. on august 1... |
1
~ 122500 miles |
| SEAT HEATER/COOLER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS i was driving down the road going approximately 60 mph when my passengers and i start smelling something burning. we... |
1
~ 52940 miles |
| CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN clutch pedal suddenly looses pressure while driving causing an inability to shift gears. thus rendering the car undrivable. after a... |
1
~ 81200 miles |
| RACK AND PINION > STEERING 2003 nissan altima with recall for a sensor. consumer states that she would like reimbursement because she did not take... |
1
~ 61616 miles |
| DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN nissan 2003 altima 2.5 s. the car turned off while in traffic. there had been a recent recall based on... |
1
~ 47000 miles |
| BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2003 nissan altima recall crank sensor issue customer request reimbursement of the funds to replace crank angle sensor and the... |
1
~ 98254 miles |
| RIM > WHEELS dt*: the contact stated there have been too many recalls on the vehicle and each new recall was more severe.... |
1
|
| WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY dt*: the contact stated the windshield wipers stopped working while driving 65 mph on a wet highway. the dealership was |
1
~ 50000 miles |
| WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM faulty driver side and passenger side power windows. when the car is locked approximately 5 minutes later the headlights blink |
1
~ 46000 miles |
| INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM customer took her car in for service was told that nothing was wrong but the service engine light was flashing... |
1
|
| TRUNK LID > BODY > STRUCTURE tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2003 nissan altma the trunk lid randomly popped open. there was no... |
1
|
| ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM dt*: the contact stated the engine intermittently operated at a reduced speed while driving. each time this happened the contact... |
1
~ 19500 miles |
| HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. the vehicle is excessively burning oil due to a flaw in the piston... |
1
~ 40000 miles |
| GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN dt: this weekend tried to park to enter store. attempted to move from drive to par but this gear became... |
1
~ 22000 miles |
| SWITCH > TURN SIGNAL > EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2003 nissan altima has two design flaws. one flaw is that the turn signal indicator is too short. the second... |
1
|
| AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN i have never been in any accident. this morning i i was on my way to work and i turned |
1
~ 19058 miles |
| CONCEALMENT DEVICES > HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING the consumer noticed while the vehicle was parked the passenger side head light lens melted off from the light fixture.... |
1
|
| MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY windshield wipers came on and off intermittently when traveling in inclement weather. dealer was aware of the problem. consumer took |
1
|
| STARTER ASSEMBLY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM consumer had a hard time starting the vehicle. it was towed to the dealer and the problem could not be |
1
~ 11900 miles |
| DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY while driving a burning smell/odor came through the vents. consumer took vehicle to the dealer for inspection and mechanic could |
1
|
| SHOCK ABSORBER > REAR > SUSPENSION i am very unhappy with my 2003 nissan altima. i purchased it used in aug. 2002. it has been in... |
1
|
| ROOF AND PILLARS > BODY > STRUCTURE i had my car for a few months when i consistently noticed that my fuel gauge was inaccurate. i took... |
1
|
| FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER i had my car for a few months when i consistently noticed that my fuel gauge was inaccurate. i took... |
1
|
| HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING i had my brand-new 2003 nissan altima for 4 days and had only 300 miles on the odometer when there... |
1
~ 300 miles |
| BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS on my 2003 nissan altima there is a squeaking noise when the drivers seat belt is engaged. it's very annoying... |
1
|
| MACPHERSON STRUT > FRONT > SUSPENSION right front strut on my 2003 nissan altima has failed 4 times in 18 months. mileage is high on my... |
1
~ 21062 miles |
| WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY consumer stated windshield had some distortion. dealer notified. *ak they were like heat waves in the windshield. this caused a... |
1
~ 106 miles |
| HOOD > BODY > STRUCTURE i purchased my 2003 nissan altima on may 05 2003 and it had a defect in the paint on the... |
1
~ 7 miles |
| FRONT > SEAT BELTS consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 40 mph. upon impact only the passenger's side air... |
1
~ 7300 miles |
| HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE consumer made an appointment with the dealer for a recall repair and asked if vehicle is safe to drive before... |
1
|
| REAR WINDOW > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY when vehicle was turned on including the rear defroster and the heat back window shattered. *ak... |
1
|
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