2003 NISSAN ALTIMA Structurebody Problems

IN EARLY AUGUST 2013, I NOTICED A RUSTED PIECE OF METAL HANGING FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGE, I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE THE PIECE OF METAL WAS COMING FROM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR'S FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH LEAVING A GAPING HOLE THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL IN FRONT OF WHERE THE PASSENGER SEAT IS LOCATED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM COVERING 3 MODEL YEARS, 2003 THRU 2006 AND HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF ALTIMAS. MY 2003 ALTIMA WAS A "CERTIFIED USED CAR" THAT WAS PURCHASED AT ARLINGTON NISSAN, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL IN 2006. IT'S CURRENT MILEAGE IS 126,000. THERE IS NOT ONE SPOT OF RUST ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE I...

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA (127,000 MILES) - PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS ARE COMPLETED RUSTED. NISSAN IS NOT HELPING WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS BEFORE NHTSA GETS INVOLVED? OVER 70 REPORTS ON THE THIS SITE AND HUNDREDS MORE IF YOU PERFORM A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH. *TT

I HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING AT 84000 MILES BECAUSE THE STEERING HAD A KNOCKING SOUND EVERYTIME YOU TURN IT LEFT OR RIGHT,OR WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP,,,,IT WAS VERY SLACK AND EVENTUALLY IT FELT AS THOUGH IT WOULD FALL OUT AT ANYTIME.....WAS ADVISED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED NO EXPLANATION COULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN . THIS WAS DONE YESTERDAY 08/22/2013. NOW THERE IS A VERY HUGE RUST HOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE CAR ...THIS CAR IS 10YRS OLD WITH 84000 MILES AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR..I BOUGHT IT IN 2006 WITH ABOUT 25000 MILES. THE HOLE IS ABOUT TWELVE INCHES BY SIX INCHES. THE LIGHTING IS SO POOR MOST TIMES AT NIGHT I ALWAYS HAVE TO USE MYHIGH BEAM ....WORST CAR I EVER HAD...THERE WERE SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH IT . THIS CAR SPENT...

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN INSIDE THE VEHICLE SHE SAW AN OBJECT DANGLE FROM THE FLOOR. SHE WENT TO RETRIEVE THE OBJECT AND DISCOVERED A HOLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.- LL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I PURCHASED MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM THE DEALER 16 MONTHS AGO AND JUST LEARNED THAT MY FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR IS RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT. I WAS WALKING UP TO THE CAR AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDERNEATH BENT DOWN TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR AND SOON REALIZED IT WAS RUST. THE FLOOR WAS RUSTED OUT ON BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND TRY REFUSED TO FX IT. I HAVE 4 MORE YEARS TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT I WILL SOON NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE I HAVE LEARNED THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR CAR AND NISSAN SHOULD BE LIABLE. *TR

NO CRASH OR INJURY - THE FLOOR HAS RUSTED OUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND THERE ARE TONS OF FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR

FLOOR BOARDS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETHING WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND BORE A HOLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT FLOORBOARD WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FLOORBOARD WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

ON A VISIT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHT REPLACED, I WAS INFORMED THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROTTED/ROTTING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED AS OF YET B/C I'M COMPARISON SHOPPING BASED ON THE PRICE QUOTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2006, HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE IN 2011, THE RADIATOR REPLACED IN 2013 AND NOW PREPARING TO REPLACE THE FLOOR PANELS. FOR A 10 YEAR OLD CAR, WHICH HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY AND GARAGED, ROTTING SEEMS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND SHOULDN'T BE A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR A CAR. I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR REQUIRE THIS MANY COSTLY REPAIRS, AND ESPECIALLY NEVER AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE OR ROTTING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

FLOOR BOARD RUST THROUGH DEFECT ON ALL 2003 TO 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA'S THAT I LOOKED AT BEFORE PURCHASING MY CURRENT ALTIMA, WHICH HAS RECENTLY SUFFERED THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT. I'M AFRAID IT WILL BECOME A FRED FLINTSTONE PEDAL CAR AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT I HAD A RUSTY DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD. HE SAID THAT HE WAS ABLE TO STICK HIS HAND THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF MY FLOORBOARD AND TOUCH MY DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS HAD ME VERY CONCERNED DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH AT LEAST 2 OTHER NISSAN ALTIMAS. BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT NISSAN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO COMPENSATE. IT COST ME $550 TO FIX DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE RUST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIR THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS RUST ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. ALSO, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD DUE TO THE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FLOOR BOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

DISCOVERED RUST UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THE ENTIRE FLOOR PLAN HAD RUSTED OFF AND WAS FLAKING OFF IN PIECES. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS HAZARDOUS GASES CAN ENTER THE CABIN AREA. MORE OVER IF I WERE TO STEP IN THE CORRECT PLACE I COULD PUSH THE CARPET OUT OF THE CAR. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE. NISSAN SHOULD FIX THIS WITH A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS THE MECHANIC NOTICED A HOLE RUSTED THROUGH UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE MECHANIC STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAINS ARE UNDERNEATH THE SEAT AND MOISTURE WAS RETAINED THERE CAUSING THE CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE AND LARGE CRACK ON THE MOTOR MOUNT. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500. UPDATED 09/18/12*LJ UPDATED 09/19/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HOLES DEVELOPED IN BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HIS FEET WOULD FALL THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD AND CAUSE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO INFORM NHTSA OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,499.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS WERE ROTTING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 10/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DUE TO BE REPAIRED ON SEPT 14, 2012. UPDATED 10/11/2012 *JS

ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND I HEARD SOMETHING SCRAPING ON THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR, I PULLED OVER TO SEE THAT THE BOTTOM OF MY FLOOR BOARD WAS DRAGGING ON THE FLOOR. IT JUST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE IS A HUGE HOLE. I HAVE NO RUST ON ANY PART OF MY VEHICLE, IT RUNS GREAT , THE BODY IS IN GOOD CONDITION IT IS GARAGE KEPT, AND I HAVE A WHOLE ON MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE ONLY RUST SPOT ON THE WHOLE CAR! AND HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE BEFORE NISSAN HAS TO RECALL THIS? I HAVE READ OVER 50 COMPLAINTS ON THIS..... UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

1. THE FLOOR UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER HAS ROTTED OUT MAKING THIS CAR VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. THE OTHER ONES I LIST BECAUSE I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LIFE OF THIS CAR AND BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF MULTIPLE STORIES OF THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. 2. THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. 3. GAS CAP WILL NOT CLOSE/OPEN PROPERLY 4. TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT CLOSE. 5. MOON/SUN ROOF IS OFF ITS HINGE AND WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. 5. PLASTIC PART OF THE KEY BROKE NOT ALLOWING IT TO ATTACH TO A KEY CHAIN. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO MIDAS, BURLINGTON, MA FOR BRAKE ASSISTANCE, AND WHILE UP ON THE LIFT THE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR PANEL WAS VERY RUSTED. WARNED NOT TO USE THAT SPOT WHEN JACKING UP THE CAR WHEN CHANGING A TIRE, ETC. (MENTALLY ADD THIS TO $$ TO SPEND THIS YEAR...) HAD MY CAR AT NTB IN CAMBRIDGE, MA TO CHECK A FRONT END RATTLE AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE RUST AGAIN. HE IS ALSO A STATE SAFETY INSPECTOR AND WANTED TO LET ME KNOW SINCE IT WAS RUSTED THOUGH IT WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION (DUE IN AUGUST). NEXT STOP WAS A LOCAL BODY SHOP AND THE ESTIMATE WAS $2K. THEN SAW SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE ALTIMA. I FEEL THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY NISSAN. MY CAR IS WELL CARE FOR AND...

PURSUANT TO A NON-RELATED INCIDENT, MY NISSAN CERTIFIED INSURANCE ADJUSTER WARNED ME OF THE UNUSUAL RUST FORMED HOLES ON THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. ACCORDING TO HIM, THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL RUST ISSUE THAT HE HAS ONLY NOTICED ON OLDER (2002-2003) NISSAN ALTIMA'S. I HAVE INITIATED MY OWN RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM WITH ALTIMA'S, IRRESPECTIVE OF MILEAGE, WHERE SOME HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM AT 50,000 AND OTHERS AT 160,000 MILES. DESPITE THE MANY COMPLAINTS, NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE RUST PROBLEM. MANY, WHO HAD THE PROBLEM, CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE THEREOF, UNTIL A MECHANIC OR AUTO DEALER INFORMED THEM OF THE ISSUE, AS WAS THE CASE WITH MY ALTIMA. AS SUCH, I CAN IMAGINE THAT EVEN MORE ALTIMA DRIVERS ARE AFFECTED, YET NISSAN...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WHERE IT WAS DETECTED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,800.

I WENT TO HAVE CAR INSPECTED AND FOUND OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, THIS IS SOME SORT OF DEFECT AS I AM READING MORE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM....NISSAN WILL NOT COVER THIS REPAIR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FLOOR BOARDS, FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION AND THE RIGHT AND LEFT STABILIZER LINKS WERE ALL COVERED WITH RUST. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FUMES TO ENTER INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORBOARD ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE ROTTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RETURN CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR RUSTING THROUGH FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE , WAS TOLD IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED IN ORDER TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. WAS TOLD EVENTUALLY EXHAUST FUMES MAY LEAK INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH ROTTED FLOOR. CAR ONLY HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT . WORRIED THAT CORROSION WILL WORK ITS WAY TO THE SEAT SUPPORT AND WILL FALL THROUGH. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD HAS ROTTED OUT. IT IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT SINCE ALL OTHER FLOORBOARDS ARE RUST FREE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REPAIR THIS PROBLEM ON A DAILY BASIS.

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. *TR

FLOOR BOARD RUSITING ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE WITH BOTH FLOORBOARDS RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE, A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE FLOORPAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN A GARAGE AND IS REGULARLY CLEANED AND WAXED. THE CORROSION PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH ALTIMAS BASED ON NHTSA COMPLAINTS AND INTERNET SEARCHES. NISSAN CHOOSES TO IGNORE THE ISSUE WHICH COULD PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE IF EXHAUST FUMES GET INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS LARGE RUST, BUBBLING AREA UNDER PASSENGER SEAT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR IS GARAGED. WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION NEXT TIME. THIS IS A FREQUENT COMPLAINT ONLINE. *TR

THE BODY UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH (7"X3" HOLE) DUE TO AN OBVIOUS IMPROPERLY SEALED HOLE IN THE STRUCTURE. SAME HOLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SEALED AND BODY APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO RUST. DEALER QUOTE TO REPAIR IS $1100, OR $3000 TO REPLACE ENTIRE FLOORBOARD. DEALER STATED THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF SAME ISSUE IN LAST MONTH ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF CAR. FILED COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN, BUT THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MANUFACTURING ISSUE OR OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR REPAIR. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN NHTSA DATABASE ECHO SAME ISSUES. WEAKENED/RUSTED THROUGH FLOORBOARD CAN BE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO COMPROMISED BODY STRUCTURE AND POTENTIAL POINT OF ENTRY OF FUMES INTO PASSENGER AREA. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED 01/27/11

FLOOR BOARD PANELS ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ON PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE RUSTING THROUGH FROM INSIDE OUT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, CAR HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. UPDATED 01/28/11 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED. UPDATED 02/03/11 *TR

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 CYL. AUTOMATIC . FRONT END UNDER BODY ALL THE STEEL PARTS AR RUSTED . THE OIL PAN IS RUSTED SO BAD IT WAS LEAKING OIL ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD TO REMOVE THE OIL PAN NOT TO MENTION THE RUSTED BOLTS HOLDING THE PAN. UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER THE FLOOR IS STARTING TO RUST SO FAR IS ONLY A SIZE OF 1/2 A DOLLAR. WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS . PLEASE DO SOMETHING THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS . NISSAN IS DENYING THERE IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANEL RUSTING OUT. EVENTUALLY SOMEONE WILL PUT THEIR FOOT THROUGH THE FLOOR. NOT CORRECTED YET. *TR

RUSTED PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD IN 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SL. SAFETY ISSUE AS CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH A HOLE IN THE FLOOR. CAR HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES. IN READING FORUMS ON SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR, NISSAN HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AS IT IS OCCURRING IN NUMEROUS MODELS OF THE SAME CAR. *TR

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA-86,958 MI. PURCHASED NEW MARCH 2003 RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS I, TOO, AM A VICTIM OF RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS(FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER) THAT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THIS WAS FOUND DURING AN OIL CHANGE ON 4/21/10. ALL MY MAINTENANCE WORK IS DONE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHY WASN'T THIS NOTICED 3/30/10 WHEN I HAD A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED OR ON 10/23/09 AT ANOTHER OIL CHANGE AND MULTI-POINT INSPECTION OR AT ANY OF THE OTHER MANY GARAGE APPOINTMENTS? MY AUTO-BODY TECHNICIAN FOUND MANUFACTURER'S TAPE OVER THE DRAIN HOLES. THEY SENT PICTURES TO THE NISSAN REGIONAL SPECIALIST. I WAS TOLD BY THIS PERSON THEY HANDLE THINGS CASE-BY-CASE, AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HELP ME FINANCIALLY TO GET THIS REPAIRED! THE AUTO-BODY TECHNICIAN NEEDS A SECTION OF FLOOR. THE HOLE IS SO BAD PATCHING WITH A PIECE OF METAL WON'T DO THE JOB. I HAVE SINCE BEEN SEARCHING...

MY '03 NISSAN ALTIMA CAR HAS A LARGE RUST HOLES IN THE FLOOR. I TOOK MY CAR TO NISSAN DEALER THE THEY WERE QUICK TO TELL ME THAT MY CAR NO LONGER HAD RUST PROTECTION. YESTERDAY, I TOOK MY CAR TO REPUTABLE BODY SHOP AND THEY PULLED CARPET BACK IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND SHOWED ME A HOLE THAT ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE GROUND. THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS A SAFETY HAZARD!!! *TR

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED...WASHED AND WAXED REGULARLY. I WAS CHANGING THE OIL ON 7/28/09 AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THE REMAINS OF SAID FLOOR. THERE IS A RUST HOLE APPROXIMATELY 2 FOOT LONG AND 6 INCHES WIDE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS 6 YEAR OLD CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS GENERATION ALTIMA AND NISSAN WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR SINCE THE PERFORATION WARRANTY IS OVER AS OF 10/08. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WORK AND NOBODY FROM THE DEALERSHIP EVER MENTIONED THE HOLE IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH AT THAT TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY. NISSAN FLAT OUT...