2003 Nissan Altima recalls and problems

The 2003 Nissan Altima has 4 recalls and 883 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

How the 2003 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 27 Altima model years — 8th most.

4recalls

883complaints

41crashes

13fires

25injuries

84,900median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Engine

Jul 7, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V242000 · 294,166 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine, the crank angle sensor is affected by temperature variations. Under certain driving conditions, these variations in temperature can be large enough to cause a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Risk: If the interruption in the signal from the sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ECM) logic does not have time to diagnose the condition, the engine May stop running without warning while the vehicle is driven at a low speed increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will reprogram the ECM free of charge. The recall began on August 21, 2006. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Nissan recall no. R0606.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Engine

Nov 17, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V455000 · 630,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor May have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Risk: This could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation, which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01V357, are also included in this new campaign. The replacement sensors used in that campaign are also affected. Owner notification began on December 22, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.

Nissan recall no. R3022/Infiniti recall no. R3021.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Fuel System

Jul 14, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V251000 · 377,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. At extremely cold temperatures, moisture in the fuel tank could freeze and form ice crystals. These ice crystals May obstruct the suction opening of the fuel pump.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP.

Risk: This can prevent the supply of fuel to the engine and cause the engine to stop, which could result in a crash without warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a screen at the suction opening of the fuel pump to prevent ice crystals from blocking the opening. Owner notification began on August 18, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-333-0829.

Nissan recall nos. R3012/P3142.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Engine

Mar 11, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V084000 · 338,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin May catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. Also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions May cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE.

Risk: Either of these two conditions could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. In addition to the corrective action, in order to reduce the risk of fire in the event of poor or improper maintenance that could result in oil spillage, heat shield(s) will be installed on the pre-catalyst and exhaust tube. Owner notification began on July 28, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261. Nissan recall nos. R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, R3017. Also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions May cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. If substrate particles enter the combustion chamber, they could score the cylinder walls, resulting in increased oil consumption. If the engine oil level is not checked on a periodic basis and drops below the low level, and the driver continues to operate the vehicle ignoring noticeable engine noise, engine damage May occur which could result in a fire. The pre-catalyst will be tested to ensure it is working properly and replaced if necessary. If damage is found inside the pre-catalyst, it will be necessary to replace the engine.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine559

Structure126

Electrical System89

Fuel System50

Power Train34

Vehicle Speed Control33

Air Bags28

Unknown or other25

Exterior Lighting17

Suspension15

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

ENGINE STALL - CRANK POSITION SENSOR

RQ06001 · opened Feb 22, 2006 · closed Jul 18, 2006 · led to recall 06V242000

Summary

ON JUNE 28, 2006 NISSAN SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) A PART 573 REPORT ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 NISSAN SENTRA AND NISSAN ALTIMA SEDANS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES WOULD BE RECALLED TO REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM). THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V242. THE SUBJECT POPULATIONS OF THE RECALL ARE 14,587 NISSAN SENTRA VEHICLES AND 186,279 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN DETERMINED THAT THE OPERATION OF THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IN ALTIMA AND SENTRA SEDANS EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS DUE TO THE UNIQUE LOCATION OF THE SENSOR. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS MAY CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.IF THE INTERRUPTION IS BRIEF ENOUGH, SUCH THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED. AS A REMEDY, NISSAN WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM TO PREVENT THE STALLING INCIDENTS DUE TO SIGNAL INTERRUPTIONS FROM THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR.ADDITIONALLY, AS PART OF THE RECALL QUERY, NISSAN WAS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR MY 2004 ALTIMA FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES.NISSAN HAS INDICATED TO ODI THAT THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO THE MY 2003 AS COMPARATIVELY, THE MY 2004 COMPLAINT RATE IS SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE COMPLAINT RATE OF THE MY 2004 ALTIMA. ACCORDIN…

2003 vs. other Nissan Altima years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Nissan Altima have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Nissan Altima, the latest from Jul 7, 2006 (engine). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Altima?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (559), structure (126), electrical system (89). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.