NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
883 reports65,844 miles · Jan 8, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED ON DECEMBER 26, 2006 UNDER RECALL 06V242000 THAT SHE RECEIVED FROM NISSAN. THE CONTACTS STATED THAT SINCE THE WORK WAS COMPLETED FOR THE RECALL TO THE ENGINE AND COOLING SYSTEM THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER YET THEY REFU…
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TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED ON DECEMBER 26, 2006 UNDER RECALL 06V242000 THAT SHE RECEIVED FROM NISSAN. THE CONTACTS STATED THAT SINCE THE WORK WAS COMPLETED FOR THE RECALL TO THE ENGINE AND COOLING SYSTEM THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER YET THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN FOR FREE. THEY INSISTED THAT THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN OIL LEAK.*AK UPDATED 1/26/2007 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10178092
31,214 miles · Jan 5, 2007
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE MY ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT. IT DID RESTART, I DROVE A FEW MORE MILES AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE ON THE TURNPIKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10177922
38,450 miles · Dec 19, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
UPDATE TO ODI 10176518. POWER VALVE SCREWS WERE FOUND MISSING. SCREWS WERE INGESTED INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER OF ENGINE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10176614
38,500 miles · Dec 18, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
SLOWED VEHICLE AND SEES LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. VEHICLE DIED. RESTARTED VEHICLE. SES LIGHT ON CONSTANT. VEHICLE 'PULSES' - LIKE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10176518
66,000 miles · Dec 18, 2006
Power Train
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.
NHTSA ODI #10176508
3,200 miles · Dec 14, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN OCTOBER 2002. IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT FROM MY TEST DRIVE. MY FIRST OIL CHANGE WAS SIX WEEKS LATER BECAUSE I WAS WORKING 100 MILES ROUND-TRIP TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP INITIALLY LEFT THE CAP OFF MY RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SMOKE AND SPUTTER WHEN I PICKED IT UP. IN FEBRUARY 2003, I WAS DRIVI…
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I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN OCTOBER 2002. IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT FROM MY TEST DRIVE. MY FIRST OIL CHANGE WAS SIX WEEKS LATER BECAUSE I WAS WORKING 100 MILES ROUND-TRIP TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP INITIALLY LEFT THE CAP OFF MY RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SMOKE AND SPUTTER WHEN I PICKED IT UP. IN FEBRUARY 2003, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY CAB FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. I HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THE CAR RAN HOT. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO THE CAR. THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RADIATOR. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE "HOSES" BECAUSE RODENTS HAD EATEN THROUGH THE HOSES THAT CAUSED THE FLUID TO LEAK. I ASKED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THEY REFUSED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED EVERY HOSE ON THE CAR. I HAD TO BUY A NEW RADIATOR, HEATER COIL (THE CAR WOULD BLOW COLD AIR WHEN SITTING STILL), AND RIGHT NOW I'M WAITING ON A COMPRESSOR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PIECE OF JUNK SINCE I MADE THE PURCHASE. I HAVE OWNED 2 MAXIMAS, AND CURRENTLY HAVE AN OLDER MODEL PATHFINDER AS WELL. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE OTHER ONES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ALTIMA. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10176165
54,000 miles · Nov 29, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
HAD THE ECM REPROGRAM DONE A FEW WEEKS AGO. COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER RESET THE ECM AGAIN. PAST WEEK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. DEALER NOW SAYS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR IS BAD. WE HAD THE "STALLING ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING" ISSUE IN NOV 2003. AT THAT TIME AND UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE FROM…
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HAD THE ECM REPROGRAM DONE A FEW WEEKS AGO. COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER RESET THE ECM AGAIN. PAST WEEK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. DEALER NOW SAYS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR IS BAD. WE HAD THE "STALLING ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING" ISSUE IN NOV 2003. AT THAT TIME AND UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE FROM ME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK AND CAMSHAFT POSITION...STALLING PROBLEM SOLVED. HERE WE ARE 3 YEARS LATER BACK TO THE BAD CRANK POSITION SENSOR AGAIN AND DEALER IS SAYING MY VIN IS NOT IN THE RANGE OF THE SENSOR RECALL AND I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IN MY OPINION, NISSAN IS TRYING TO PROGRAM THE ECM TO HIDE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS AND IT'S MADE IT MORE PRONOUNCED. THE DEALER IS TRYING TO SOFTEN THE BLOW A BIT BY KNOCKING SOME OFF THE CHARGES, BUT I'M STILL HAVING TO COUGH UP $184 FOR A WELL KNOWN, WELL DOCUMENTED AND AGING DEFECT. COME ON NISSAN, FIX THE PROBLEM....IT'S A DANGEROUS ONE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174733
62,000 miles · Nov 28, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE AIR FLOW FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. A NHTSA RECALL, #06V242000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE C…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE AIR FLOW FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. A NHTSA RECALL, #06V242000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE ENGINE HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA ODI #10174606
69,750 miles · Nov 28, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S. CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION AND ENGINE SPEED INPUT CIRCUIT CAUSING THIS STALLING. THERE'S A RECALL FOR 2002 MODELS, BUT NOT FOR 2003 AND THIS IS DANGEROUS. *…
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2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S. CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION AND ENGINE SPEED INPUT CIRCUIT CAUSING THIS STALLING. THERE'S A RECALL FOR 2002 MODELS, BUT NOT FOR 2003 AND THIS IS DANGEROUS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174504
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
COURTESY COPY RE DEFECTIVE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. SHE IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM NISSAN. *TS THE VEHICLE STALLED WEATHER THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE CRANK CASE REPLA…
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COURTESY COPY RE DEFECTIVE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. SHE IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM NISSAN. *TS THE VEHICLE STALLED WEATHER THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE CRANK CASE REPLACED, THROTTLE SENSOR ADJUSTED, FUEL INJECTION FLUSHED, POWER STEERING FLUSHED, AND BRAKE FLUID FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND RECALL 06V242000 IN REFERENCE TO FAULTY ENGINE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE FELL WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL BUT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THEREFORE THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO CHECKED THE RECALLS. THE DEALER REPLACED A FAULTY CHAMBER. THE FAULTY CHAMBER RESULTED IN A THROTTLE CHAMBER REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA ODI #10174302
Official recalls
4Jul 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 & remedy
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.
Nov 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 & remedy
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.
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
Mar 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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