450 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Nissan Altima cite engine and engine cooling, 51% of all 883 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK POSITION TIMING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000. UPDATED 07/27/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS AND RED LIGHTS. SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE, UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RE-STARTED. UPDATED 08/01/16.*JB”
“2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES "NEVER RECEIVED DEFECTIVE SENSORS REPLACEMENT RECALL NOTICE". *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE SENSORS OUT-OF-POCKET.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OPERATIONAL AFTER MANUALLY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM, CRANK CAM POSITION SENSOR, AND CAM POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ; BREAK DOWN HAPPENING DAILY ANDSERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME UP UPDATED 04/24/18*JB *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SOME TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT AND THE CRANK SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAM SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATE 1/13/16 LN INVALID VIN UPDATED 4/17/18*JB *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH LOCATED FAILURE CODES AT THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS AND CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS AND CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,000. UPDATED 8/10/15*CN”
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR WHEN MY CAR SHUTOFF ALL OF A SUDDEN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AND CARS WERE WHIZZING BY ME . FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL TRIES THAT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER, THE CAR STARTED AND I TOOK THE FIRST EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY. THEN ONCE I MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I MADE IT BACK HOME BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. IT COMES ON AND THEN SHUTOFF OR STAYS ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN MAKES A SOUND LIKE ITS GOING TO CUTOFF IF YOU PUT IT IN GEAR. FINALLY HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT/CRANKSHAFT SENSORS BASED ON THE CODES. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THESE PARTS SEEM TO CONTINUOUSLY GO BAD AND ENDANGER THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE. I HAVE LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. *TR”
Showing 6 of 450 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.