2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Structure Problems
22 NHTSA complaints on file
Structure Issues in the 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
22 structure complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
22
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Structure Complaints
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A SCRAPING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR BOARD WAS HANGING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE UNDER BODY WAS RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOORBOARD WAS ENTIRELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE FLOORBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
IN MAY 2014 I STARTED TO RUN MY AC UNIT AND WAS GETTING A VERY BAD SMELL FROM THE AC UNIT- THE AC UNIT WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THE AC UNIT LAST YEAR AND HE FOUND DEAD MICE UP IN THE AC UNIT SO HE REPLACED THE AC FILTER AND SPRAYED OUT THE CAR GOOD. MY HUSBAND WENT UNDERNEATH THE CAR YESTERDAY TO FIND THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR ARE ROTTED AND THEY ARE TWO LARGE HOLES. WE LOOKED ONLINE AT 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA'S TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A CAR DEFECTIVE AND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I PLAN ON CONTACTING NISSAN TOMORROW TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS WELL. THERE IS A 99.9% THAT NISSAN'S FLOOR BOARDS ROT OUT OVER TIME FOR IT IS MANUFACTURERS FLAW....
I HAVE THE NOTORIOUS FLOORBOARD RUST PROBLEM. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE. I HAVE A FOOT SIZE HOLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. IT IS RUSTED OUT ALL THE WAY TO THE INTERIOR CARPET. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM NISSAN NEEDS TO PAY TO FIX. NOT THE CONSUMERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT ON HOW THE CAR WAS MADE. *TR
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA (122,000 MILES) - PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE COMPLETED RUSTED. NISSAN IS NOT HELPING WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *JB
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A YEAR AGO STILL PAYING ON THE CAR AND UPON STATE INSPECTION PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ON A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA RUSTED THROUGH. FAILURE MILEAGE IS 100,498
WE RECENTLY WERE INFORMED THAT THE FLOOBOARDS ON OUR NISSAN WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR VEHICLE. THE ESTIMATE TO HAVE THIS FIXED IS AROUND $2,000 AND OUR CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION OTHERWISE. WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN EXTREMELY GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLE TAKING IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE EVERY 3-5,000 MILES SO I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. I HAVE READ ON-LINE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO NISSAN ALTIMAS EVERYWHERE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE PUT IN A RECALL AND FIXED THE CARS. NOW WE ARE LEFT TO EITHER PAY THOUSANDS TO FIX THE CAR OR GET RID OF IT. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD COMPLETELY RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS 10 YEARS OLD. THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS SITUATION WITH THESE CARS. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS HAPPENING TO QUITE A BIT OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA'S WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED IT FOR YOUR CHILD. NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS. *TR
WE LIVE IN PA. WE TOOK OUR 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN FOR INSPECTION AND WERE TOLD THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANELS WERE RUSTED THOUGH TO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, AND OUR WINTERS HAVE BEEN MILD. NOTHING EVER HAS BEEN SPILLED IN THE CAR AND THE CARPET HAVE NEVER BEEN WET. HAD 4 LOCAL BODY SHOPS GIVE ESTIMATES (FROM $900 TO $1500), ALL THAT SAID THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A 10 YEAR OLD CAR AND THE REST OF THE CAR LOOKS GOOD. SPOKE WITH NISSAN CUSTOMER AFFAIRS WHO HAD US TAKE IT TO A NISSAN AFFILIATED BODY SHOP. ONE OF THE BODY SHOPS RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DRAINAGE OF THE SUNROOF OR WINDSHIELD, FORCING WATER BETWEEN THE FLOOR PAN AND ROCKER BOTTOM. MENTIONED THAT...
THE FLOORBOARD IS ROTTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE TALKED TO MECHANICS WHO SAY THEY SEE THIS ALL THE TIME IN NISSANS. I ALSO KNOW OF OTHERS WITH THE PROBLEM. EVERYONE SAYS IT'S A DEFECT IN STAMPING BUT NISSAN WILL NOT ADMIT IT OR HELP ANYONE. *JS
RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM, IT FELT LIKE WATER WAS SPLASHING UP UNDER MY FLOOR PAN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED A LOT OF RUST AND A HOLE. I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK AND SEE IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL AND LO AND BEHOLD, MANY HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND ALL HAVE SAID THE SAME THING...AND THAT IS THAT NISSAN IS UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I TRIED CONTACTING NISSAN ONLINE, BUT NO ONE HAS RESPONDED TO MY INQUIRY. FROM WHAT I AM SEEING OTHERS REPORT, NISSAN JUST DOESN'T WANT TO HELP. HAVING RUSTED FLOOR PANS IS A DANGEROUS THING AND NISSAN SHOULD BE WILLING TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I'M AFRAID THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE A GIGANTIC HOLE AND PERHAPS MY SEAT COULD FALL THROUGH. INCIDENT DATE...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FLOOR BOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AS WELL AS AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLOOR BOARD COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH OPENING A 16IN LONG BY 8 IN WIDE HOLE IN PASSENGER FLOOR. NO OTHER RUST ANYWHERE ELSE FOUND ON VEHICLE. APPEARS RUST ORIGINATED AROUND FLOOR PLUG. EXHAUST FUMES CAN ENTER THE CABIN OF THE CAR. *TR
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED INSPECTION STICKER DUE TO RUSTED OUT FLOORBOARDS BOTH ON THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. HAD TO HAVE NEW FLOORBOARDS WELDED IN. I RESIDE IN MAINE. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE DRAIN PLUG ON THE FLOOR WAS NOT SEALED FROM FACTORY ON 02-04 NISSAN ALTIMA MODELS, THE FLOOR RUSTS OUT VERY PREMATURELY LEAVING A LARGE HOLE FOR A FOOT TO GO THROUGH, OR WORSE EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR DOING A SEARCH ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WHICH NISSAN DOESN'T NOT WANT TO ADDRESS AND DOES NOT COVER. SEE HERE HTTP://WWW.NISSANFORUMS.COM/GENERAL-ALTIMA-STANZA-DISCUSSION/137783-ALTIMA-RUST-SHOCKER.HTML AND HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2002-2006-NISSAN-ALTIMA-DISCUSSION-2-5-3-5/287928-FLOORBOARD-RUST-PROBLEM.HTML. *TR
LARGE HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. MY MECHANIC WAS TOLD BY NISSAN DEALER THAT ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT NISSAN WONT DO ANYTHING TO FIX/RECALL. *TR
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, THE FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CARE ARE ROTTING THROUGH. *TR
I WAS ON THE INTERNET JUST LOOKING UP THINGS ABOUT MY CAR (NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 V6 3.5) AND FOUND ALTIMA OWNERS POSTING IN FORUMS ABOUT RUST OCCURRING UNDER THE FRONT FLOOR PANS (EITHER DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER) AND I PROCEEDED TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE AND FOUND A RUST HOLE ABOUT 7"X7" IN SIZE. THE CAR IS OUT OF ITS 5 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD AND NISSAN IS NOT ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE SENSORS TO MAKE THE LIGHT DIM. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE BRAKE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS HESITANT TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST AND FEARED THAT SOMETHING WOULD FAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 01/09/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/09/09. *JB
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS TWO DESIGN FLAWS. ONE FLAW IS THAT THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR IS TOO SHORT. THE SECOND DESIGN FLAW WAS WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE FULLY ILLUMINATED,THE HEADLIGHTS LOOKED AS IF THEY WERE ON WHEN THEY WERE NOT. *MR *SC
NISSAN ALTIMA 2003, WITH SEVERAL FAILURES, LEAKING GASKET, ETC. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED, THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED, THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK, THE RADIATOR CAP AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AND THE WHEELS RUSTED. *JB
Other 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Problem Areas
Engine And Engine Cooling
256 complaints
Engine
117 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
106 complaints
Structurebody
94 complaints
Electrical System
75 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System
40 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
28 complaints
Unknown Or Other
25 complaints
Air Bags
21 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
18 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe
16 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
16 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor
14 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
14 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System
13 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly
12 complaints
Exterior Lighting
11 complaints
Steering
11 complaints
Suspension
10 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcrankcase Pcv
9 complaints
Power Train
9 complaints
Equipment
8 complaints
Seat Belts
7 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
6 complaints
Electrical Systemignition
5 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
5 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
5 complaints
Fuel System Other
5 complaints
Seats
5 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
5 complaints
Structureframe And Members
5 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionmodule
4 complaints
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
4 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump
4 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly
4 complaints
Service Brakes
4 complaints
Structureframe And Membersunderbody Shields
4 complaints
Tires
4 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Control
3 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlights
3 complaints
Power Trainmanual Transmission
3 complaints
Suspensionfront
3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
3 complaints
Visibility
3 complaints
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
3 complaints
Wheels
3 complaints
Electrical Systemwiringfront Underhood
2 complaints
Latcheslockslinkages
2 complaints
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
2 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmissionparkneutral Start Interlock Switch
2 complaints
Power Trainclutch Assemblypedalhand Levermotorcycle
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
2 complaints
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core
2 complaints
Air Bagsfrontaldriver Sideinflator Module
1 complaint
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
1 complaint
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
1 complaint
Electrical Systemalternatorgeneratorregulator
1 complaint
Electrical Systemstarter Assembly
1 complaint
Electrical Systemwiring
1 complaint
Equipment Adaptivemobility
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingbrake Lights
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingheadlightsconcealment Devices
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingturn Signalswitch
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assemblyfiller Pipe And Cap
1 complaint
Fuel System Otherdeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Fuel System Otherstoragefuel Gauge System
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmissiongear Position Indication Prndl
1 complaint
Power Trainaxle Assembly
1 complaint
Power Trainclutch Assembly
1 complaint
Power Traindriveline
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfront
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly
1 complaint
Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
1 complaint
Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System
1 complaint
Steeringrack And Pinion
1 complaint
Structurebodyhood
1 complaint
Structurebodyroof And Pillars
1 complaint
Structurebodytrunk Lid
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontmacpherson Strut
1 complaint
Suspensionrearshock Absorber
1 complaint
Tiresvalve
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemrear Window
1 complaint
Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly
1 complaint
Visibilitywindshield
1 complaint
Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher
1 complaint
Visibilitywindshield Wiperwashermotor
1 complaint
Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds
1 complaint
Wheelsrim
1 complaint