2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Electrical System Problems

THE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA RECENTLY STARTED STALLING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. INITIALLY IT HAPPENED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THEN PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION THERE WAS MINIMAL RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. THEN YESTERDAY AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR HESITATED BRIEFLY BEFORE ACCELERATING AND THEN WITHIN SECONDS ALL POWER WAS LOST. IT TOOK NEARLY 15 TRIES TO RESTART, AT WHICH POINT, I PARKED IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO WA STELLING ME THAT THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THE CRANK SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM), AND THEREWAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO IF THEY CAN'T GET IT TO REPEAT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. A MONTH AGO, I HAD II AT DEALER WHEN THIS PROBLEM ORIGINALLY OCCURRED AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM IN...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 3 OR 4 OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. HOWEVER, ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESTART FOR AN HOUR. THE MECHANIC SERVICED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE ON 04/26/2006. THEN, ON MAY 1, 2006 NISSAN REPLACED THE CRANK AND CAM SENSORS. ON JANUARY 4, 2007 THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CRANK AND CAM SENSORS. THE CONTACT HAS AN INVOICE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 69,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,013 *AK THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES. UPDATE 4/30/07 *TR

MY WIFE'S 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 8 YEAR SON TRYING TO STEER THE CAR. THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN I ARRIVED I GOT THE CAR STARTED AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP SINCE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ON. WHILE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION TO GET INTO THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT, THE CAR DIED ON ME. I HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COAST THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND UP TO ENTRANCE TO THE PARKING LOT. THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE ADVISOR FOR THE DEALERSHIP CALLS ME AND TELLS ME THE CAR NEED 2 RECALLS ( ONE OF WHICH I KNEW ABOUT -HEADLIGHTS, THE OTHER WAS TO REPROGRAM THE ECM. THEY WOULD HAVE TO ALSO REPLACE THE CAM & CRANK SENSORS FOR $213 WHICH OF...

WELL I HAVEN'T NECESSARILY "CRASHED" YET. I TOOK MY CAR INTO TOWN NORTH NISSAN OFF 183 DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE THAT WAS SENT TO MY HOME. I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK, AS THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NEED IT FOR AT LEAST A DAY, 2 1/2 HOURS LATER. I NOTICED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING DAY. NOBODY WAS WILLING TO HELP ME. SO LATER THAT EVENING I TOOK MY CAR TO THE AUTO ZONE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTICS SCAN DONE ON IT. SURE ENOUGH THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED. IT STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH WAS THE KEY TO THE WHOLE PROBLEM AS THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY TURNED ITSELF OFF ON MY WHILE DRIVE (HOWEVER THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION). *NM

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES UP ON MY DASHBOARD OF NISSAN ALTIMA 2003. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WILL FIX IT. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING FROM THEIR LOCATION, THE LIGHT CAME UP AGAIN. THE CAR RUNS LIKE ITS BRAKES ARE ON. IT ONCE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE IS A BIG CONCERN IF IT STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND CAUSES ACCIDENT. HOW CAN I GET NISSAN TO ADDRESS IT? *NM

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

2003 ALTIMA'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PERTAINING TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE. PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY. THE TECH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THEY COULD NOT REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER WITHOUT REPLACING IT. *NM

2003 ALTIMA THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. CHAMBER ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL SHE RECEIVED FOR THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE IS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S AND MY OIL IS JUST DISAPPEARING FROM THE ENGINE. I DO NOT SEE LEAKING, BUT IT IS BEING CONSUMED SOMEHOW. THERE IS A RECALL SPEAKING OF THIS ISSUE. BUT NISSAN SAYS THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, AND YEAR SO I BELIEVE IF MY VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING, THEN SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR 2 MONTHS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BLOW UP THE ENGINE, BECAUSE IF I DRIVE ANYWHERE, ALL THE OIL IN THE ENGINE WILL BE GONE. *NM

MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN CRANK ITS ENGINE. AFTER 10 MINS THE ENGINE CRANKED AND STARTED, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND EXPLAINED OF A RECALL THAT STATED, " THAT SOME 2003 ALTIMAS MIGHT STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR AND THE ECM". WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED ME BACK, THEY STATED THAT I HAD TO HAVE THE POSITION SENSOR REPLACED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. WHEN I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT ON THE RECALL NOTICE I HAD RECEIVED IT CLEARLY STATED THAT "IF ANY ONE HAD TO PAY TOP HAVE THE ISSUE RESOLVED IN BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN THAT THEY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPEATED THAT REPLACING THE SENSOR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, AND...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE ALL POWER FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAPPENED 25 TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS THE POWER STEERING FAILED DURING THE POWER LOSS. AFTER 45 SECONDS THE ENGINE COULD BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR SERVICE. ON A PRIOR VISIT THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. LOSS OF POWER ON HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES. WILL NOT CRANK AFTER A FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CRANKING. THE PROBLEM IS GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. *JB

THE VEHICLE WILL STALL DURING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE DURING OPERATION. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR IS FAULTY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT A WEEK AGO WITH NO WARNING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA JUST LOSS POWER AND DIED IT WAS SO SUTTLE I KEPT PRESSING THE GAS THINKING THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. ALL ALONG STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH A 4 AND A 2 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. IN THE PAST WEEK IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE LUCKILY JUST IN MY SUBDIVISION. ABOUT FOR MONTHS AGO I WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING AND NISSAN SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR GONE BAD HAD IT REPLACED NOW PROBLEM IS BACK. IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT WITH THESE CARS JUST SHUTTING OFF WITH NO WARNING. ALL MY SYMPTOMS SEEM TO POINT TO CRANK POSITION SENSOR THAT I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT . NOW IM GOING TO HAVE TO FORK OVER 5-600 HUNDRED BUCKS...

1. CAR STALLED AND ONCE I HELD THE GAS PEDAL DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE KEY OVER AND CRANK THE ENGINE A HUGE PUFF OF BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE CAR AND IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE, ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY AFTER A WEEK OR SO. 2) A WEEK OR SO LATER I STARTED THE CAR, IT TURNED OVER FINE BUT HAD NO POWER, IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT GO. IT DID NOT EVEN REALIZE I WAS PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. 3) I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN FRUSTRATION AND THEN TRIED AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WORKED FINE. IT REVVED WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN TOOK OFF JUST FINE. 4) THIS BEGAN TO BE A MORE COMMON OCCURRENCE AND IF I TOOK THE KEY OUT OR WAITED A FEW MINUTES IT...

MY CAR WOULD LOSE POWER AND TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR OR AT IDLE SPEED, IT WOULD STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME, HOT OR COLD. I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND HAVE FOUND THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, CAR HAS BEEN STALLING AND REFUSING TO START UP. ONCE, IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AND LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS NOT HEAVY, SO COULD MANAGE TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER. MANAGED TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF TRYING. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON, AND THERE IS HARDLY ANY POWER WHEN YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD ME THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SYMPTOM, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, MY VIN # DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. THAT IS SO STRANGE. I HOPE NISSAN REALIZES THAT THERE ARE OTHER ALTIMA'S FROM 2003 THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

DO NOT REALLY KNOW? I FOUND OUT ONLY AFTER EXTENSIVE SEARCHING AND MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. RECALLED ON OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. SAME ISSUE AS WITH THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE RECALL CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING OTHER REPAIRS MADE. FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FIRE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. *NM *JB

THE OIL IN THE ENGINE EVAPORATED AND WHITE AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, TWICE DUE TO THE DEBRIS/FIRE RECALL 03V084000. BUT, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK NISSAN HAD NOT AUTHORIZED THE SERVICE TO PLACE A NEW ENGINE IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *SC *JB

CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIR, AND ASKED IF VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE BEFORE REPAIR DATE, DEALER SAID YES. 2 DAYS BEFORE REPAIR DATE, VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. *LA VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN A QUARTER OF GAS ON IT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS LATER FOUND OUT THAT ICE BUILD-UP ON THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE STALLING. PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND DEALER ASSURED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ANOTHER RECALL THAT NEEDED REPAIR ON VEHICLE'S PRE-CATALYST. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT REPAIR COULDN'T BE DONE IN A MONTH AND A HALF DUE TO PARTS RESTRICTION. *LA

THE DEBRIS/FIRE RECALL 03V084000 WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED BOTH TIMES. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS NOW FAILED TWICE, THE SECOND TIME THE CAR JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING! FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A BIG-RIG FOLLOWING ME, OR MOST LIKELY I WOULD NOT BE ALIVE TODAY. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP WITH THE PART ON BACK ORDER, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THEY (NISSAN) ARE HAVING LOTS OF FAILURES WITH THIS PART. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND FELL THAT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM SHOULD AT LEAST BE INVESTIGATED. THANKS, RONALD J. COLFER. *NLM