NHTSA Complaint #10352839 — 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BECOMING LOW ON OIL. THE CONTACT FILLED THE OIL RESERVOIR AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OIL LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THE PROBLEM WAS WIDESPREAD WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE BEFORE THEY COULD ESCALATE HER CASE TO A REGIONAL SPECIALIST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE; THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE RELATED TO RECALL 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000. UPDATED 12/02/10 *BF UPDATED 12/08/10*JB UPDATED 05/26/11 *BF UPDATED 12/07/11 *BF UPDATED 12/12/11 UPDATED 12/30/11 *CN UPDATED 06/27/12. *JB UPDATED 01/29/14