2003 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

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 A…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,539 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003603 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016944 at NHTSA ↗

NAR 04/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A MECHANICAL FAILURE, THAT WOULD REQUEST A NEW VEHICLE UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017645 at NHTSA ↗

A/C COMPRESSOR DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE MANUAL SELECTOR SWITCH IS MOVED FROM THE DEFROST POSITION. THIS IS COVERED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN NTB03-048 DATED 5-6-03 FROM NISSAN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOTED AS A CHANGE IN OPERATION FROM EARLIER MODELS AND I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS. THE ONLY WAY TO DISENGAGE THE COMPRESSOR AFTER USING THE DEFROSTER IS TO STOP THE CAR, MOVE THE SELECTOR SWITCH TO ANY FUNCTION THAT IS NOT DEFROSTER RELATED, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR. IF YOU DON'T THERE IS AT LEAST A 10% LOSS IN MILEAGE DUE …

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023943 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DEALER KEPT VEHICLE OVER FOUR MONTHS AND COULD NO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029754 at NHTSA ↗

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030743 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED WINDSHIELD HAD SOME DISTORTION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THEY WERE LIKE HEAT WAVES IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE SALESMEN NOTICED IT ON THE SECOND DAY ALONG WITH OTHER NEW ALTIMA'S ON THE LOT. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL THE SECOND DAY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BUT NOTHING WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 106 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031255 at NHTSA ↗

DEFECT REPORT SUBMITTED 2002-2003 NISSAN ALTIMA EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD WHICH COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST.*MR *TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032345 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE.

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN. IN ADDITION TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE IN THE EVENT OF POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN OIL SPILLAGE, HEAT SHIELD(S) WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE PRE-CATALYST AND EXHAUST TUBE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. NISSAN RECALL NOS. R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, R3017. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF SUBSTRATE PARTICLES ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THEY COULD SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS, RESULTING IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. IF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL IS NOT CHECKED ON A PERIODIC BASIS AND DROPS BELOW THE LOW LEVEL, AND THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IGNORING NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THE PRE-CATALYST WILL BE TESTED TO ENSURE IT IS WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND INSIDE THE PRE-CATALYST, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

Reported: 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP.

Consequence: THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SCREEN AT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP TO PREVENT ICE CRYSTALS FROM BLOCKING THE OPENING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-333-0829.

Reported: 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Reported: 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.