2003 Nissan Altima Engine Problems
- 106
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 106 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
What owners report
- engine light · 25 records
- check engine · 22 records
- position sensor · 18 records
- engine engine · 17 records
- failure mileage · 16 records
- engine cooling · 13 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 40 |
| 30–60k mi | 27 |
| 100–150k mi | 15 |
| 1–30k mi | 6 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
Driving on interstate car died almost had wrecks,car shut down. Thought maybe bad gas. Husband on the crosstown car died,it is at the dealers now. The service personal at the dealer ship said a lot of the altima's were having that trouble and he would see if the might be a recall. Have not heard anything yet. *nm
ODI 10161283
Engine
Dt*: the contact stated a quart of oil needed to be added to the engine every week. Once the oil runs low there is a shaking noise until more is added. Upon inspection the dealership determined although there is no leak, the engine needed to be over-hauled because it burns excessive oil. Updated 7/3/2006 - although it was clear that eh vehicle used excessive amounts of oil the dealer refused to overhaul the engine…
ODI 10158978
Engine
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. While driving approximately 60 mph on normal road conditions, the vehicle did not respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road. Suddenly, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The service engine, battery, and brake warning indicators illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an…
ODI 10266223
Electrical System · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
ODI 10157487
Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline
One year into the ownership of the vehicle, while driving, the car would simple shut off. If you were moving at the time it would eventually come back on to the running position. If you happened to be at a stop sign or a light and the "stutter" would happen it would completely shut off then you would have to try and start the car again. It would turn over but sometimes it would take several tries to start the car…
Fire reported
ODI 10158425
Automatic Transmission · Engine
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. While driving approximately 35 mph, the engine shut off without warning. The engine restarted after several attempts. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that crank case sensor failed. Recently, the transmission began slipping and shifted erratically. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
ODI 10242257
Engine
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine intermittently stalled. This also resulted in no start conditions at various times. The vehicle was taken to the local dealership for inspection. The dealer discovered the crank shaft sensor needed replaced. Since the repair work was completed, the vehicle operates normally.
ODI 10150429
Engine
Last month, as my '03 altima 2.5s was nearing 65,000 miles, it would intermittently stall when stopping at red lights. After it happened 4 times, i took it to a local mechanic and they found no problems with it. 2 days ago, it happened again immediately after i started the car. It took several tries to restart the car. There was no warning prior to the engine stalling. *jb
ODI 10152164
Engine
2003 altima 2.5s events leading up to the failure: the car stalled twice during operation (almost caused 2 accidents) the crank position sensor was replaced (we found some info on the internet that others had issues with this and the car has not stalled since. *nm
ODI 10152696
Engine
2003 nissan altima 2.5 sl, engine stalls-8 times in last two months-took to dealer, they could not identify the problem. It always restarts either by key ignition or by motion. Some bulletin boards indicate a faulty crank sensor. Very dangerous when turning into traffic lane. *nm
ODI 10147880
Engine
I have a 2003 nissan altima, i purchased in 03 while driving the vehicle it would just stop. At one point while turning in front of heavy traffic car just quit, and every time i cranked it would quit, which could have caused major accident for me and my 5 year old daughter. I work very far from home and , to get on a busy freeway and car would just quit is not safe. I was under the impression nissan is a good car…
ODI 10140496
Engine
My 2003 nissan altima stalled in the middle of a busy intersection. I had to have the car towed 85 miles, back to the nissan dealer in devon, pa. After several attempts to start the car, it finally started, but when i tried to drive it, it had no power when i pressed the accelerator. Also, the car jumped all around, so it was impossible to drive it. I was away on vacation in nj, so i wasn't even near my home. Dealer…
ODI 10141144
Engine
1) the power valve screws located in the engine intake valve on my 2003 nissan altima 2.5s have started to come loose, causing power loss in the engine. One of the power valve screws actually came loose and was sucked into the engine, damaging the cylinders, thus ruining the engine. The exhaust manifold, o2 sensor and other components in the engine compartment have been damaged also. This has resulted in several…
ODI 10138489
Engine
2003 nissan altima - 2.5 liter engine: engine stalled without warning and the service engine soon light came on.the engine was diagnosed and the cause was failure of the crank position sensor. There was no warning before the engine stalled. The engine stalled approximately 8 times before i was able to correct the problem. The engine did not start right away after stalling'.the starter engaged for a lengthy period…
ODI 10137422
Automatic Transmission · Engine
While driving at all speeds vehicle just dies. Consumer has not resolved this problem. *ts while driving the vehicle stalls unexpectedly. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer numerous times. The vehicle also hesitates intermittently. The transmission intermittently slips out of gear when the consumer was accelerating from a red light. *nm update: called the listed number but was told no one live there by that…
ODI 10138875
Engine
Starting september 2005, my car "service engine soon" light began coming on and the car stalled several times at slow speeds. I took the car to the dealer 4 times and the problem has still not been solved. The car continues to stall at unpredictable times and the dealer and nissan's tech people have not been able to identify a problem. *nm phone interview update (feb 1, 06): the dealer replaced the throttle sensor…
ODI 10146172
Engine
Dt: the contact stated while driving vehicle it will completely shut down . Once the vehicle shuts down the dash lights will illuminate. The consumer stated that once the vehicle stalled oncoming traffic did not know the vehicle stopped, and this could cause an accident. The service dealer could not duplicate the problem. But they did adjust the idle and suggested routine maintenance. The consumer took the vehicle…
ODI 10133198
Engine
Excessive oil consumption. I have a nissan altima with the 3.5 v6, there was a recall on the catalytic converter that when on the 03 altimas the engine would leak oil past the rings and damage the cat that would destroy the cat and then let the material go back into the motor and cause oil consumption. My car after telling the dealer last year, still uses a quart every week (roughly every 600 miles). The dealer told…
ODI 10159310
Engine
Dt: the contact owned a 2003 nissan altima . The engine failed, causing the power steering to lock while driving down the freeway. Check engine light did come on before the engine died. Consumer cited a recall #03v455000 concerning engine and engine cooling. This vehicle was doing the same thing, but was not includedin the recall due to vin. Also, talked to the manufacturer. He has been having this problem for about…
ODI 10129465
Engine
Car cuts off while driving. Has cut off several times. Nissan diagnostics test says nothing is wrong, but car continues to cut off. The vehicle is getting harder and harder to restart after the engine stalled out. Once when making a left turn the engine stalled and almost got hit by an oncoming vehicle. There was a recall on an engine sensor for nissans manufactured 2000 to july 2002. My car was manufactured october…
ODI 10140165
Engine · Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10134454
Engine
On 01/13/05, the engine of my '03 nissan altima se stalled. Thankfully, i was driving slowly on a residential street and was able to safely coast to the side of the road. I turned over the engine and it did not start. I waited a few moments and then tried again. The vehicle started but stalled again after i drove approx. 100 feet. The outside temperature was approx. 9 degrees fahrenheit but my vehicle's engine…
ODI 10107883
Engine
CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *LA
ODI 10054795
Engine
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. While driving 25 mph and below, the engine stalled. The vehicle would restart after ten minutes and the service engine warning light illuminated. The failure occurred intermittently. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was serviced for nhtsa campaign id number 06v242000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure occurred more frequently after the ecm was reprogrammed. The…
ODI 10216887
Engine
Re: action number rq06001 manufacturer: nissan north america i have experienced all four problems with my 2003 altima that nissan north america cited as reasons for the recall of the defective part. Service records document that the problem that my car would not crank was reported as early as 23,619 miles when i had to have my car towed in to the service department. Since it was an ongoing problem, other records…
ODI 10155886