2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System Problems

HI! I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2.3 2003. I NEED TO CHANGE THE MOTOR BECAUSE OF THE CATALYST HAVE ENTER SOME RESIDUE INTO THE MOTOR, SO IT TAKE SO OIL LIKE HELL... I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL AND THE NISSAN GARAGE DID NEVER ASK OR TELL ME ABOUT THAT. THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE FRONT LIGHT RECALL BUT NEVER THE CATALYST. THE YELLOW LIGHT IN THE DASH LIGHT UP TO CHECK ENGINE BUT THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. BECAUSE A PHONE THEM TO ASK IF IT'S OK TO RUN THE THAT LIGHT ON, THEY SAY YES BUT COME ON THE NEXT APPOINTMENT OR IF YOU CAN COME TO GET TO ALARM CODE. SO WHEN I DID IT WAS CATALYST ALARM THAT A INSIDE DAMAGE. I WAS ABOUT 140000 KM ON THE CAR SO TOLD ME THAT A NEED TO CHANGE THE COMPLETE MOTOR.... I WAS IN SHOCK....

CAMPAIGN ID 03V455000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT CAMPAIGN ID 03V084000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT EXHAUST SYSTEM CAMPAIGN ID 06V242000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT I HAVE ATTEMPT TO CONTACT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS REGARDING THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECALLS. AFTER CAR FAILURE, AND MONEY SPENT ON TRYING TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES, NISSAN HAS NOT BEEN RESPONSIVE TO MY NUMEROUS REQUEST. I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THESE RECALLS CAME TO MY ATTENTION AFTER I LEARNED FROM A NISSAN TECHNICIAN, AND AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. PROBLEMS RELEVANT TO THE RECALLS, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING. *TT

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 WITH APPROX. 155K MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH APPROX. 20K MILES IN 2006. AT AROUND 60K I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING A LITTLE MORE OIL THAN NORMAL. I HAD IT SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS GETTING OLDER AND IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I CONTINUED TO DO THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND AT ABOUT 130K MILES IT STARTED TO USE EVEN MORE OIL. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS GETTING OLDER AND THIS WAS NORMAL AGAIN. FAST FORWARD TO THIS YEAR. AT ABOUT 145K MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I TAKE IT IN AND I AM TOLD IT IS A P0420, WHICH MEANS THAT THE CATALYST SYSTEM IS BELOW THRESHOLD, BUT NOT TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON IN 02 - 03 NISSAN ALTIMAS. I STARTED HEARING RATTLING NOISES...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED; THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL WHICH OVERHEATED THE CATALYTIC SUBSTRATE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS AWAITING A RETURN CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

I SUSPECTED THAT MY CAR DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS CONFIRMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS CRACKED. I FOUND OUT THAT PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN 2002-2003 ALTIMAS WERE ADDRESSED IN NISSAN VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN #R3007 (NHTSA #03V-084). THE WORK PERTAINING TO THAT RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY CAR ON 07/31/2006 BUT THE DEFECTIVE CATALYST HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AS INSTRUCTED ON PAGE 5 OF NISSAN RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN #NTB03-070C. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE THE CATALYST AS PART OF THE RECALL #R3007 (NHTSA #03V-084), BUT THEY REFUSED SINCE THE RECALL HAS BEEN RECORDED AS PERFORMED. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, BUT MY REQUEST TO COMPLETE THE RECALL WORK WAS DENIED. I CONTACTED CEO OF NISSAN, CARLOS GHOSN, AND EXECUTIVE VP OF NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, CARLOS TAVARES. THEY ALSO REJECTED MY REQUEST TO PROPERLY SERVICE MY CAR AS NISSAN PROMISED IN ITS RECALL...

SCREW CAME OFF OF MANIFOLD INTAKE AND WENT INTO PISTON CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF FOUR RAILROAD TRACKS. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN HEADQUARTER THEY SAID THE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT BUT 2002 2004 2005 CERTAIN MODELS DID BUT BUY OUR VIN # THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I MYSELF TOOK THE MANIFOLD OFF AND FOUND THE SCREW HAD FELL OFF THE BUTTERFLY AND WENT IN TO THE ENGINE PISTON I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO TAKE A MAGNET AND FISH OUT THE SCREW. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A FEW MILES THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON I HAVE NOT A CLUE WHAT THAT IS ABOUT. WE DONE FELL SAFE DRIVING THE 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ANYMORE,THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2003 NISSAN SMOKING, BURNING OIL, SPUTTERING. DIAGNOSED (BY $95.00 DIAGNOSTIC I WAS REQUIRED BY NISSAN TO GET A NISSAN DEALERSHIP) AS CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS GONE BAD DUE TO OVERHEATING, THIS HAS CAUSED IT TO FALL APART AND GO INTO THE MOTOR. NOW NEEDS NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MOTOR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2003 ALTIMAS FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, A PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. ACCORDING TO NISSAN MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THEREFORE I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF IT BUT NOW I HAVE THE VERY ISSUES THAT THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT BUT THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THIS MAKES ME QUESTION IF THEY MISTAKENLY LEFT OUT SOME 2003 MODELS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND I HAVE BEEN RIDING AROUND ALL THIS TIME WITH THE CHANCE MY CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE, THIS IS...

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL, IN APPROXIMATELY 2008 FEBRUARY, MY CAR STOPPED ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD THE WORK DONE AT BUENA PARK NISSAN THEN I REALIZED THAT THE CAR HAD ALSO STARTING BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN OIL PAN LEAK, HAD THAT WORK DONE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS LATER, THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN, HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AT THE NISSAN DEALER SHIP IN ANTIOCH, CA, WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE CAR AND I CONTACTED NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICAN, AND THE DEALERSHIP IN BUENA PARK WHO BOTH DENIED ME ANY HELP. I WAS GIVEN A REFERENCE NUMBER OF 6594593 WHEN I CALLED FOR A SOLUTION IN 2009. NOW, 8/2010, I AM HAVING ACCELERATION...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RAPIDLY CONSUMING OIL AND OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/ HEADER/ MUFFLER/ TAIL PIPE) YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A PRE-CATALYST AND OXYGEN SENSOR BUT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BEFORE THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I NOTICED MY NISSAN ALTIMA OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO GET IT CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR. I GOT THE OIL AND FILTER CHANGED AND A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEW ENGINE. THE REPAIRS COST IS 3,000 THAT I DON'T HAVE. I'VE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THEIR ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD SO MUCH EXHAUST COMING FROM MY CAR THAT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5SL AND THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND HIT THE CURB AND BLEW OUT MY TIRE AND DAMAGED MY RIM. THIS COST ME ABOUT $500 OUT OF MY POCKET, WHICH REALLY WAS DISAPPOINTING. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE! *TR

I AM ONE OF MANY WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 2.5 ENGINE. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP KEPT TELLING ME THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT IN FOR THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. COSTING 91.00 EACH TIME YOU HAVE THAT TEST DONE. I WAS TOLD AFTER MANY TIMES OF THE CAR STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING IT THAT IT NEEDED A COIL #3 WELL THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM THE AT ALL DRIVING THE CAR THE DAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE COIL THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. SO BECAUSE I AM AT 89,000 MILE AND THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT I AM BASICALLY OUT OF LUCK IS WHAT THEY SAID AND THEY AREN'T RESPONSIBLE. SO HERE I AM WITH A 2003 ALTIMA THAT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE CAUSE THE OF THE FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SO WHY...

MY OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 97,000 MILES. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE OIL. THE DIPSTICK WAS BONE DRY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE SAID IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT DESTROYED THE ENGINE. I NEED A NEW ENGINE. NISSAN HAD A RECALL ON THIS EXACT THING, BUT AFTER CONTACTING THEM, THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT LIABLE. WHEN I PRESSED THEM, THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE NISSAN HAD NOT BEEN SERVICING THE CAR AND I HAVE TOO MANY MILES. I PRESSED THEM AGAIN, AND THERE STORY CHANGED AGAIN. IF YOU GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME NON-ACTION FROM NISSAN. THIS IS AFTER 9 RECALLS ON THIS CAR. SOMEONE HAS TO HELP US. PLEASE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) AS STATED IN MY LAST COMPLAINT WITH ODI ID NUMBER: 10327349, I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE REPAIR SHOP THE ENGINE BLOWN.... THE CAR WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. HOWEVER, I ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AND WOULD STAY ON. ALTHOUGH, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AN REACHING THE SPEED OF 70MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BEGIN TO START BLINKING. I DON'T HAVE $3,000.00 - $4,000.00 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I'M STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE ENGINE WITH VIN: [XXX] . FURTHERMORE, I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS CAN BE FIXED/ REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY BY THE NISSAN IN CANTON, MS. THE MILEAGE PRESENTLY ON THE VEHICLE IS 155,100. I DIDN'T PURCHASE THE CAR NEW, BUT USED....

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THIS CAR IS BURNING OIL LIKE CRAZY. THERE'S NO SMOKE OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT, BUT I HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT AND PUT OIL IN MY CAR TO KEEP IT RUNNING AT LEAST EVERY 4-5 DAYS OR SO. GAS IS HIGH AND OIL IS GETTING HIGHER; I HAVE TO KEEP AT LEAST 2-3 QUARTS IN MY TRUNK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SOMETIME NOW. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IF I GO OVER 70MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STOPS BLINKING, BUT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. HOWEVER, I JUST HAD MY SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND NOW THE CAR WON'T START. PLEASE I NEED SOME HELP ASAP.... I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE AT THIS TIME, BUT WISH SOMEONE CAN TELL ME WHAT IS...

MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 83,700 MILES WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT USED A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR AGO. BUT PRIOR TO LEAVING HOME I READ AT THE NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS I WAS ALREADY HAVING, HOPING THIS DEALERSHIP WOULD ALSO HAVE SIMILAR, IF NOT, IDENTICAL RESULTS. TO MY DISMAY, THEY HAD NEITHER. THEREBY NO TYPE OF RECALL WAS SHOWING ON MY MODEL'S HISTORY VIA THE MANUFACTURER, SO I WAS TOLD. MY VEHICLE PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS, PER DEALER DIAGNOSIS: TW CATALYST SYS-B1 (CODE P0420), ENGINE OVER TEMP (CODE P0217), AND CYL 1 MISFIRE (CODE P0301). FURTHERMORE, MY COMPLAIN ESSENTIALLY WAS ABOUT THE CAR OVER-HEATING AND TAKING LONGER THAN USUAL PERIODS TO RESTART, USUALLY UP TO 10 MINUTES. THIS DEALER SAID IT COULD COST UPWARD FROM AT LEAST $400.00 TO FIX EITHER ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH MAY STILL NOT CORRECT THEM ALL. BUT...

I HAD A SIMILAR, YET EXTREME EXPERIENCE. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP (IT WAS CHEAP.) WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT HE PULLED LESS THAN A 8 OZ. OF OIL FROM THE ENGINE. HE SAID HE COULDN'T FIND ANY LEAKS, BUT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE OIL EVERYDAY. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR FOR A DRIVE TO "REOIL" THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING A BIT FUNNY: NOT STARTING RIGHT AWAY, TROUBLE SHIFTING FOR ABOUT 48 HOURS. I GOT ABOUT FIVE MILES AT ~55 MPH, AND WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A LEFT TURN, HEARD SOMETHING FALL OUT OF THE ENGINE. AFTER THAT, WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT THE EXHAUST. I KNEW THE ENGINE BLEW. THE STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT, AND I GOT IT TO THE SIDE...

IN JUNE 2009 I NOTICED THAT IN MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. I ALSO NOTICED THEN THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF OIL. UPON REFILLING WITH OIL FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED AGAIN DRY DIPSTICK. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO COLONIAL NISSAN AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. FEW DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED (CODE P0420) AND THAT THERE IS AN ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CONTACTED NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA TWO TIMES IN WRITING AND WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. IT APPEARS AS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND DECLINES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. *TR

2/11/2009 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MADE MY 2003 2.5 NISSAN ALTIMA TO STALL DURING AFTERNOON HEAVY TRAFFIC. IRONICALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED LESS THAN A MILE FROM AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHICH I UTILIZED REGULARLY. THE OUTCOME INVOLVED REPLACING THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY @ A COST OF $288.48. 6/23/2009-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. OUTCOME WAS TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR @ A COST OF $159.69. 12/9/2009 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. OUTCOME DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED INSTALLING A NEW ENGINE, AND INSTALLING A REMANNED TRANSMISSION. I AM LIVID THAT THE ISSUE WAS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS TO THE LEVEL THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLED, I BARELY MISSED BEING REAR-ENDED BY A LARGE TRUCK TRAVELING AT LEAST 55-65 MILES PER HOUR. THIS PLACED MY FAMILY AND I IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE IN ENGINE AFTER OIL CHANGE. TWO DAYS AFTER OIL WAS TOPPED OFF, OIL LEVEL SHOWED IT BURNED 4 QUARTS WITH NO LEAKS. SINCE, IT HAS CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE LOW ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AGAIN. THE CONTACT PLACED MORE OIL INTO THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC VERIFIED THE LOW OIL LEVEL AND VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE ANYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND OVER 700 COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 88,000 MILES. INTERNET COMPLAINTS SHOW 4 CYLINDER ALTIMA ENGINES HAD DESIGN FLAW AND PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATS AND ASH MATERIAL ENTERS ENGINE AND SCORES CYLINDER WALLS CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL...

MY CAR SHUT OF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHICH WAS HARD TO SEE BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS DIDN'T GIVE MUCH LIGHT AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK EITHER...I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA...THE CAR WOULD USUALLY TURN OF ON ME LIKE THAT BUT NOT A HIGHER SPEEDS...THE CAR'S ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD NOISE IT HAD 3 RECALLS FOR IT( HEADLAMP RECALL, ENGINE EXHAUST RECALL, & ENGINE COOLING RECALL) BEFORE I HAD THIS DONE I HAD A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0420, P0240, AND HAD 3 P0335...AFTER I HAD THE "RECALL DONE"...A WEEK LATER MY CAR "BLEW A HEAD GASKET" AND I HAD A CODE P0300...I IMMEDIATELY GOT IT FIXED FOR LIKE $1300...AFTER THAT...2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0335, P0240, & P0420...I'VE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS...I'VE BEEN...

THE CAR STARTED USING OIL AROUND 30K. I NOTICED THAT I HAD TO ADD SOME BETWEEN OIL CHANGES THIS BECAME WORSE OVER TIME AND AROUND 79K IT BECAME BAD AS IN MY WIFE CALLED ME ABOUT THE ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT COMING ON WHEN SHE WAS FAR AWAY FROM HOME, WE HAD TO START CHECKING THE OIL EVERY DAY. THE VEHICLE HAD ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND WE GOT OVER 170K OUT OF OUR LAST ALTIMA BEFORE WE BOUGHT THIS ONE, THAT ONE NEVER USED OIL? I DID SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PRE-CAT BREAKING DOWN AND BEING DRAWN IN THROUGH THE EGR CAUSING FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN AND HAD IT CHECKED AND SURE ENOUGH THAT IS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH OURS ALSO. WE HAD EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE FOR REPLACEMENT BY A FEW THOUSAND MILES. HAD WE'D...

I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN JAN, 2008. IT HAD 53,000 MI. AT 78,000 MI THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I HAD HIM REPLACE THE GASKET. AT ABOUT 79,000 MI. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS ON FIRE SO I PULLED OVER BUT THERE WAS NO FIRE. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO POWER. THE SES LIGHT WAS ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN ONTARIO, CA IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER(IT WAS CLOGGED) THEY REPLACED IT FREE BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS BURNING OIL AND THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE CONVERTER, BUT TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE HAD WORKED ON IT. THEY...

I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE I HAD AN ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON AND I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE WAY MY CAR WAS BEHAVING. AFTER INSPECTING MY CAR, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT A CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED, WHICH CREATED POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FOR ALTIMAS 2002/2003 AND THAT MY CAR SHOULD QUALIFY FOR IT BASED ON ITS VIN NUMBER ( I HAVE A PRINTOUT FROM MY MECHANIC THAT INCLUDES ELIGIBILITY OF MY CAR BASED ON VIN#). HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURE I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR NO LONGER HAS WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON MY CAR AT THAT TIME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION. MY ON-LINE RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN CANADA AND...

WELL AS USUALLY I TOOK MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S INTO THE SHOP AND FOR REGULAR WORK. I HAVE PROOF THAT MY CAR IS UP TO DATE ON TUNEUP, COOLANT CHANGE, TRANSMISSION CHANGE, AND OIL CHANGE. TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. I TOOK A TRIP TO TEXAS AND THE CAR WAS FINE FOR THE 2 1/2 WEEKS I WAS DOWN THERE. THREE DAYS BEFORE LEAVING THE SES LIGHT COME ON, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A MINOR ISSUE BEING THE FACT THAT THEY LOOK AT MY CAR WEEKEND BEFORE GOING ON MY TRIP. WHEN I HIT LOUISIANA I EXPERIENCED A JERKING BACK AND FORTH MOTION WHEN I WAS USING THE GAS. ONLY THINGS KEPT GETTING WORSE WHEN I START SEEING THE LOST OF GAS, LOST POWER IN MY CAR, AND HEARING METALLIC NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. LUCKY, I MADE IT TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE IN AUGUSTA. I DIDN'T WANT...

I PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L CAR IN JULY OF 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NO ISSUES. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY 13 YEAR OLD SON HOME FROM TAE KWON DO AND WAS CROSSING A FREEWAY TO A SIDE STREET WHEN MY CAR BUCKED AND STALLED. LUCKILY I HAD SOME SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO "BARELY" GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE 55+ MPH TRAFFIC SMASHED INTO ME. THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND MAKE IT HOME AND THEN TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE CODE READ "CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR". HE REPLACED IT WITH A NISSAN PART, I PICKED UP THE CAR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED JUST BEFORE A VERY HIGH, NARROW, TWO-LANE BRIDGE IN SOLOMONS MARYLAND. I LIMPED BACK TO THE AUTO SHOP AND MY MECHANIC...

MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA USES 4 QUARTERS OF OIL IN LESS THAN 50 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE DEALER SERVICE REP. SAID THAT THE ENGINE IS DAMAGE BY THE CAT. FILTER MATERIAL. HOWEVER, THERE IS WATER ON THE OIL CAP OF THE ENGINE AS IF THE HEAD IS CRACKED OR HEAD IS WARPED. I FEEL THAT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 66K MILES ON IT 6 MONTHS AGO FROM WILSONVILLE NISSAN. THEY PROMISED THIS CAR WAS IN PERFECT RUNNING ORDER, EVEN AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE TEST DRIVE, BUT THE TECHNICIANS THERE INSISTED THAT THEY JUST FORGOT TO RESET THE COMPUTER AFTER THEY PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE. AS I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT, SES LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ON ALTIMAS FOR THIS REASON, BUT AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AROSE, WE RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND CYLINDER 1 WAS MISFIRING. THERE ARE MANY MORE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE NOW, INCLUDING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET, CONSUMING 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 400 MILES, AND RUNNING TERRIBLY ROUGH. THERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THESE SAME PRE-CAT RELATED ISSUES IN THEIR 02-06 ALTIMAS. THE PRECAT DETERIORATES AND IS SUCKED UP INTO THE ENGINE, SCORCHING THE CYLINDERS, CAUSING...

THE 148,246 MILES ENGINE IN THE NISSAN ALTIMA IS BLOWING OIL OUT THE EXHAUST AT A RATE OF 4 QUARTS WITH IN 20-40 MILES OF DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THE CAT. FILTER CAME APART AND THE MATERIAL WAS SUCKED INTO THE INTAKE OF THE CYLINDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER WALL TO THE DEGREE WHERE AS AN ENGINE AND CAT. FILTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L. THIS CAR IS AFFECTED BY RECALL # NTB03-070C, POTENTIAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN MODIFIED SEVERAL TIMES. THE "FLASH" PROGRAMMING ALONE HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY NISSAN SIX TIMES. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE IN 2004, UNDER CAMPAIGN ID R3007. THIS WAS THE FIRST VERSION OF THE RECALL AND PROGRAMMING RELEASED BY NISSAN. THE RECALL "CORRECTS" A PROBLEM OF TOO MUCH RAW FUEL BEING DUMPED INTO THE PRECATALYST ON DECELERATION. THIS EXTRA FUEL IN THE CATALYST CAUSES DETERIORATION OF THE PRECATALYST CAUSING IT TO FAIL, CLOG UP, AND RELEASE CATALYST SUBSTRATE INTO THE MOTOR (IT GETS SUCKED BACK INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER ON DECELERATION) ONCE THE CATALYST PARTICLES ARE SUCKED INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THE CYLINDER WALLS ARE SCORED, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT OIL CONSUMPTION. YOU CAN VERIFY ALL OF THIS BY REVIEWING THE RECALL. MY CAR HAS BEEN IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED. I AM...

I HAVE A 2003 ALTIMA. THE CARS ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD $850 FOR CAT CONVERTER. I THEN TOWED IT TO MY GARAGE WHEN THE NISSAN CORP. WOULD NOT HELP PAY. MY MECHANIC AFTER HE TOOK IT APART SAID ALL THE INSIDES OF THE CAT CAME OUT AND MORE THAN LIKELY HAD GOTTEN IN THE ENGINE. HE SAID HE KNEW IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HE PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER WITHOUT REPLACING THE CAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR WOULD RUN NOW BECAUSE THE CAT CONVERTER GUTS WAS OUT. WE TOPPED IT OFF WITH OIL SO I COULD DRIVE IT HOME AND BY THE TIME I GOT HOME 15 MILES LATER AND ALOT OF SMOKE THE OIL WAS EMPTY. I'VE READ ON SEVERAL SITES THAT THOUSAND ARE HAVING...

CAR WAS BEEN DRIVEN AND SHUT OFF ON HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT RESTART . CAR WAS TOWED TO AUTO MAX IN APPLE VALLEY AND DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF DEBRIS FROM THE CONVERTER BEEN SUCKED IN THE ENGINE. TOTAL COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS $4226.62. UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT IN CANADA , THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ORDER NISSAN TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BASED UPON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. IF YOU GO ON LINE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN THE SAME BOAT AS ME AND NISSAN TRIES TO PLAY IGNORANT. I HAVE ALSO TALKED WITH A DEALER IN ST. CLOUD , MN WHERE THE SERVICE MANGER GOT A FEW ENGINES REPLACED FOR CUSTOMERS AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THE ENGINE IS DYING. I HAVE TALKED AND RESEARCHED OTHERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IS NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM? *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH ABOUT 95,000 MILES. ON 9/19, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH AND HAD A SLIGHT RATTLE, AND MY OIL LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON OCCASIONALLY. THE DEALER FLUSHED AND REPLACED THE OIL, AND ALSO REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND TWO OXYGEN SENSORS, AT A TOTAL COST OF $1700. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 9/23. I WAS AWAY 9/26-9/29 AND DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR. ON WEEKDAYS, I TYPICALLY DRIVE ABOUT 10 MILES TO AND FROM WORK EACH WAY. THE NEXT WEEKEND I DROVE THE CAR APPROX. 150 MILES, AT WHICH TIME I NOTICED THE RATTLE HAD NOT SUBSIDED AND THAT MY OIL LIGHT HAD STARTED TO BLINK ON AGAIN, ESPECIALLY AS I DROVE UPHILL. I ADDED 2 QUARTS TO...

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON 1-95 AND WAS GOING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN THE FAST LANE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2008. SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING, MY CAR STOPPED MOVING. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, MY CAR WAS NOT HIT AS A RESULT OF THIS. MY MECHANIC CLAIMS THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE MOTOR. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE DEALERS LOT WITH NO RESOLUTION SINCE SEPTEMBER 30TH. *TR

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. CURRENTLY EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION CODE P0422 - REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND PRE-CAT. *TR

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA - FAILURE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT 96K MILES. RESULTING FAILURE HAS CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AND WILL RESULT IN COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I WAS THANKFULLY NOT ON THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. NISSAN IS CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITY AT THIS POINT - REPAIR WILL COST $4500. *TR

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA EXHAUST LEAK POSITIVE FOR CARBON D IN MY BLOOD MANY PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON WITH THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING MY CAR IT STARTED WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SCREW A GAS CAP ON TO AFTER YEARS OF ATTEMPTS TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY LYMPH NODES IN MY LUNGS WHEN IT WAS TOO LATE AND THEY SAW VISIBLE SIGNS INSIDE MY CAR LIKE BLACK SOOT AND A STRONG SMELL THEY LAUGHED AND SAID HEY LADY YOU HAVE A LEAK THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE O2 SENSOR WITHIN 6-8 MONTHS I STARTED TO HAVE SYMPTOMS AGAIN NAUSEA,HEADACHES, HEAVY LEGS,WHEEZING & INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE. THEN I KNEW ONCE THE SMELL STARTED THE DAMAGE WAS DONE I DID NOT HAVE THE MENTAL STRENGTH TO FIGHT WITH THEM ABOUT IT ANYMORE SO I TRADED IT IN THIS WEEK I KEPT ALL THE REPORTS...

I BROUGHT A BRAND NEW 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 FROM LEN STOLER NISSAN. WE NOTICED A LIGHT MIST OF SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE IN THE SUMMER TIME. I CALLED TO THE DEALER THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS NORMAL. THE CAR STARTED BLOWING LIGHT WHITE SMOKE, THE DEALER STATED CHANGE MY GAS TO SUPREME OCTANE. AT JUST OVER 25,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED BLOWING HEAVY WHITE SMOKE, WE HEARD A WATER SOUND UNDER THE CAR, THE OIL LIGHT WOULD COME AND GO OFF, AND IT STARTED LOSING POWER. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD US WE HAD SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. WE TURNED IN ALL SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING THAT THE MAINTENANCE WAS KEEP UP ON THE CAR. THE DEALER AND NISSAN MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SLUDGE ONLY COMES FROM LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND SLUDGE DO NOT COME FROM NOTHING ELSE AND REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID...

DEFECT REPORT SUBMITTED 2002-2003 NISSAN ALTIMA EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD WHICH COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST.*MR *TS