2003 Nissan Altima

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY WHILE TRAVELING 30 - 70 MPH. CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. IT WILL OPERATE CORRECTLY FOR WEEKS THEN SHUT OFF THREE TIMES IN 10 MILES. TAKEN TO DEALER TWO YEARS AGO AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE SINCE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND SAVE A CODE. PAID MY $100 AND DROVE AWAY. TOLD CAN'T DIAGNOSE WITHOUT A CODE SO NEXT TIME IT STOPS TOW IT IN IF I SURVIVE. TOLD THERE ARE 25 THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE THIS SO WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT TO PICK AND HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SPEND? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM). THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. HOWEVER, THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS REQUIRED AT A CHARGE OF $80 BEFORE THE REMEDY REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW AN ADDITIONAL COST WILL BE INCURRED FOR REQUIRED REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AND WILL BE UPDATED UPON RECEIPT OF THE COMPLAINT FORM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RE-START THE VEHICLE . THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE DURING OR AFTER THE ENGINE SHUT OFF; HOWEVER, ON DECEMBER 30, 2009, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ECM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THAT RECALL 07V527000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING WAS DIRECTLY RELATED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE RECALLED COMPONENT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER THAT HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE ECM RECALL AND IF THE ECM WAS THE CAUSE, THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE SHOULD BE REFUNDED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,520. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON JUNE 30, 2008. RECENTLY HE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND WILL NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE COST $98.000. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT NUMBER 6690712. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000, THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

2/11/2009 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MADE MY 2003 2.5 NISSAN ALTIMA TO STALL DURING AFTERNOON HEAVY TRAFFIC. IRONICALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED LESS THAN A MILE FROM AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHICH I UTILIZED REGULARLY. THE OUTCOME INVOLVED REPLACING THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY @ A COST OF $288.48. 6/23/2009-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. OUTCOME WAS TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR @ A COST OF $159.69. 12/9/2009 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. OUTCOME DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED INSTALLING A NEW ENGINE, AND INSTALLING A REMANNED TRANSMISSION. I AM LIVID THAT THE ISSUE WAS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS TO THE LEVEL THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLED, I BARELY MISSED BEING REAR-ENDED BY A LARGE TRUCK TRAVELING AT LEAST 55-65 MILES PER HOUR. THIS PLACED MY FAMILY AND I IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH SMOKE WAS EXPELLED FROM THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS LIGHT SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE IN ENGINE AFTER OIL CHANGE. TWO DAYS AFTER OIL WAS TOPPED OFF, OIL LEVEL SHOWED IT BURNED 4 QUARTS WITH NO LEAKS. SINCE, IT HAS CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE LOW ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AGAIN. THE CONTACT PLACED MORE OIL INTO THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC VERIFIED THE LOW OIL LEVEL AND VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE ANYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND OVER 700 COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 88,000 MILES. INTERNET COMPLAINTS SHOW 4 CYLINDER ALTIMA ENGINES HAD DESIGN FLAW AND PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATS AND ASH MATERIAL ENTERS ENGINE AND SCORES CYLINDER WALLS CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL USE AND ENGINE FAILURE. NHTSA HAD RECALL FOR THIS IN 2003 (NHTSA RECALL #03V08400 .ODI) NISSAN ONLY INSPECTED ENGINES BUT DID NOT REPAIR. ENGINE FAILURES CONTINUED TO OCCUR TO DATE AS NHTSA CLOSED RECALL AND DID NOT MONITOR NISSAN SINCE. NHTSA IS NEGLIGENT IN DUE DILIGENCE AND FOLLOW UP WITH NISSAN BY ALLOWING FAILURES TO CONTINUE. IN LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE PRE CONVERTER HAS CONTINUED TO FAIL AND DESTROY ENGINES. ORIGINAL RECALL ONLY DELAYED CONVERTER FAILURE UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRED AND $5000 ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS WAS PUSHED ONTO OWNER. NISSAN WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE DESIGN FLAW STILL DESTROYING ENGINES. REINSTATE RECALL AND PAYMENT BY NISSAN. *"TR

NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 - EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THIS ISSUE IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE THAT THOUSANDS OF NISSAN OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED, AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY PRE-CAT THAT SHREDS INTO SMALL PIECES AND THEN GETS STUCK IN THE ENGINE, DAMAGING IT. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR, AND AM NOW FORCED TO ADD OIL ONCE A WEEK OR ELSE RISK THE ENGINE BLOWING. *TR

MY CAR SHUT OF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHICH WAS HARD TO SEE BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS DIDN'T GIVE MUCH LIGHT AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK EITHER...I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA...THE CAR WOULD USUALLY TURN OF ON ME LIKE THAT BUT NOT A HIGHER SPEEDS...THE CAR'S ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD NOISE IT HAD 3 RECALLS FOR IT( HEADLAMP RECALL, ENGINE EXHAUST RECALL, & ENGINE COOLING RECALL) BEFORE I HAD THIS DONE I HAD A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0420, P0240, AND HAD 3 P0335...AFTER I HAD THE "RECALL DONE"...A WEEK LATER MY CAR "BLEW A HEAD GASKET" AND I HAD A CODE P0300...I IMMEDIATELY GOT IT FIXED FOR LIKE $1300...AFTER THAT...2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0335, P0240, & P0420...I'VE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS...I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A REGIONAL SPECIALIST WHICH CAN'T REALLY HELP ME AT ALL...NISSAN DEALER LIKE TO TAKE MONEY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TELLS ME THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE...MY CAR STILL SHUTS OFF AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T EVEN START...WHEN THE CAR START UP IT MAKES A LOUD ENGINE NOISE...SO RIGHT NOW MY CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANY SPEED RATE NOW JUST LOW SPEEDS, I DON'T HAVE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR, ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE A ROCK IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND MY CAR'S SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION . THE "ENGINE SERVICE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THE MOTOR MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT AND DID NOT ADDRESS THE RECALL DEFECT. THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,265. UPDATED 11/18/09.*LJ THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/19/09