Problems · by component

2003 Nissan Altima fuel system, gasoline problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Nissan Altima cite fuel system, gasoline, 3% of all 883 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
28
3% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being repaired at an independent mechanic, the mechanic informed the contact that there was rusting on the front driver’s side floor pan. The contact also noticed that the front driver’s side floorboard was soft to the touch and a fuel odor was detected while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2021Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 11430278
“VIN: [XXX] YEAR: 2003 MAKE: NISSAN MODEL: ALTIMA 2.5 S NUMBER OF OPEN RECALLS: 1 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 03V-251 RECALL DATE: JULY 14, 2003 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: P3142 TODAY ,DECEMBER 09, 2016 @ 8:30 AM , I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH[XXX] DEALER REGARDING CASE #[XXX] . AT 1:54PM THEY DID CALL TO PICK UP MY CAR. AFTER OVER 5 HOURS,THEY CHANGED FILTER -FUEL TANK ONLY ,BUT NOT FUEL PUMP ! CUSTOMER COPY # [XXX] (INVOICE #[XXX]) SHOW THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED PART #17275-8J025 ,WHICH IS FILTER -FUEL TANK(NOT FUEL PUMP WHICH IS OPEN RECALL (JUST TO REMIND YOU,THIS PART COST ONLY ABOUT $10,00 ,( AFTER REPLACEMENT A NEW FUEL PUMP ,IT SHOULD BE REPLACED ANYWAY)! PART# 170408J005 - FUEL PUMP ALTIMA; 2.5L (COST ABOUT $456,00 )WHICH IS OPEN RECALL, IS NOT DONE ! THEY REPLACED FILTER-FUEL TANK ONLY!(BECAUSE OF LOW COST , JUST TO CLOSE THIS CASE...)! AGAIN,ATTACHED DOCUMENT (REFRESHED DEC.9 ,2016), SHOWS THAT OPEN RECALL IS: FUEL PUMP ! THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE, REPLACING A FUEL FILTER ,DOES NOT MEAN SOLVING PROBLEM/ PROBLEM IS FUEL PUMP(WHICH STILL AS OPEN RECALL, I HAVE RECEIVED MANY PHONE CALLS FROM MANUFACTURER TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2016Fuel system, gasoline, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10934317
“VIN: [XXX] YEAR: 2003 MAKE: NISSAN MODEL: ALTIMA 2.5 S NUMBER OF OPEN RECALLS: 1 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: OPENS NEW WINDOW TAKES AWAY FROM VIN LOOKUP SECTION>03V-251RECALL DATE: JULY 14, 2003 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: P3142 THIS RECALL DATA LAST REFRESHED: NOV 20, 2016 RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE THE MANUFACTURER(AND NISSAN DEALER IN BOWLING GREEN KY) HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THIS ISSUE! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2016Fuel system, gasolineODI 10927158
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A BRIEF MOMENT AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V251000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2015Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 10789517
“I DROVE MY CAR FROM MS TO GA. WHEN I REACHED MY HOTEL AND TURNED MY CAR OFF AND TRIED TO LEAVE AGAIN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE LIGHT CHECKED THE NEXT THE AND IT CAME BACK READING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. WHEN I MADE IT BACK TO MS I GOT THE PART REPLACED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. 8 MONTHS LATER MY CAR STARTED CUTTING OFF AT RED LIGHTS AND NOT STARTING AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS READING FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. ONCE I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I JUST HAD THAT FIXED HE FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. REPLACED MY BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER. CARS STILL SHUTS OFF AND WONT CRANK. WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR STALLS ON ME DAILY AND SHUTS OFF AT RED LIGHTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 10594615
“THIS PROBLEM STARTED GRADUALLY IT WOULD JUST TURN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING.IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IT WAS SCARY. THANK GOD IT WOULD TURN BACK ON RIGHT AWAY. I DECIDED TO SEE IF DOING A OIL CHANGE SPARK PLUGS AND AIR FILTER WOULD HELP IT DIDN'T . ONE SATURDAY ON SEPTEMBER 21 OF THIS YEAR ON LUNCH BREAK I NEED TO COME HOME REALLY QUICK IT STOPPED BEFORE I MADE IT HOME IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AT ALL! I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TURN BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE THEY SAID MY BATTERY WAS BAD SO I BOUGHT A NEW ONE. IT CONTINUED TO STOP ON ME. IT WOULD RUN FOR A FEW DAYS WITHOUT STOPPING AT ALL UNTIL JUST A FEW DAYS AGO IT DIDN'T WANT TO START AT ALL THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. NOW THAT HAS BEEN CHECKED OFF THE LIST. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS THEN TURNED ON AND THE CODES THAT IS BEING READ OUT IS FOR A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER 22 OF 2003 R 3022 / INFINITI WHAT CAN I DO? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2013Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 10550690

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jul 14, 2003NHTSA 03V251000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.