2003 Nissan Altima Exhaust System Problems
- 40
- 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 40 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- catalytic converter · 18 records
- engine light · 12 records
- check engine · 11 records
- engine engine · 6 records
- light came · 6 records
- exhaust system · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 18 |
| 100–150k mi | 14 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
| 30–60k mi | 1 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10405429
Cooling System · Engine · Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10417787
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10383982
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10362306
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10354656
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10364101
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10343069
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10330344
Equipment · Exhaust System · Mechanical
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…
ODI 10329109
Equipment · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · Exhaust System · Fuel System, Other · Manual Transmission
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…
ODI 10327349
Exhaust System
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…
Fire reported
ODI 10324190
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10350205
Exhaust System
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
Crash reported
ODI 10349686
Exhaust System · Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
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…
ODI 10292817
Air Bags · Engine And Engine Cooling · Exhaust System · Exterior Lighting · Seat Belts · Seats
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…
Crash reported
ODI 10290059
Cooling System · Engine · Equipment · Exhaust System · Mechanical
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…
ODI 10351343
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10281373
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10418308
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10350515
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10281022
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10284184
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10314662
Engine And Engine Cooling · Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10326699
Engine · Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10270053
Exhaust System
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…
ODI 10269381