RoadVitals

2003 Nissan Altima Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
126
Latest Aug 24, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 883 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 126 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

The 25 most recent of 126, in the owner's own words

Body & structureFuel system
Filed Aug 24, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID
11430278
Incident
Aug 21, 2021
Mileage
87,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Apr 12, 2020

MY EXHAUST SYSTEM IS TO LOW THAT IT HITS EVERY BUMP EVEN WHEN DRIVING SLOW ,WHEN THEY LIFTED THE CAR UNDERNEATH THE CAR THERE'S A YELLOW MARK FROM ALL THE SPEED BUMPS .ALSO THE DOOR HANDLES FROM THE DRIVERS N PASSENGER SNAP OFF WHEN I TRY TO ENTER MY VEHICLE .THE SHOCKS DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WHY THE CAR IS SO LOW .

NHTSA ID
11320916
Incident
Feb 15, 2020
Mileage
162,900 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 31, 2018

HAD TO REPLACE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR PAN BECAUSE THERE WAS A HOLE ABOUT 15 INCHES LONG AND 5 INCHES WIDE DUE TO RUST. MY FRONT SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AT THIS POINT. RUST IS EXPECTED IN NEW YORK DUE TO SALT, BUT AFTER TALKING WITH NISSAN THEY SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ANYONE ELSE HAVING ISSUES DESPITE THOUSANDS OF HITS ON A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH ABOUT RUST ISSUES FOR NISSANS.

NHTSA ID
11066156
Incident
Jan 31, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 20, 2017

TAKTA RECALL. HELLO, I HAVE PURCHASED A NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S 2003. MY ENTIRE CAREXTREMELY SHAKES FROM THE MOMENT I START MY CAR UNTIL I TURN IT OFF. WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR , THE CAR AT TIMES DRIVES LIKE IT'S GOING TO FAIL. MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD STOPPED OPEREATING PROPERLY. WHEN MY CAR IS TURNED ON GAS/FUEL LIKE FUMES THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND THROUGHOUT MY VEHICAL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BREATHE AT TIMES. THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE, OUT OF KNKWHERE SHIFTED TO WHERE I CAN'T SHUT MY DOOR COMPLETELY. THE DOOR SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF AND IT DRAINS MY BATTERY BECAUSE MY DOOR DOESN'T SHUT COMPLETELY, AND THE DOOR SENSOR STAYS ON. ALSO, OUT OF KNOWWHERE THE GAS TANK DOOR, HAS SHIFTED OUT OF KNOW WHERE TO WHERE I CAN'T SHUT THE GASOLINE DOOR COMPLETELY. ALSO, MY CAR"A WINDSHIELDS GETS VERY FOGGY RAPIDLY AFTER I CLEAN THEM, MAKING VISIBILTY DIFFICULT.

NHTSA ID
11016417
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Mileage
168,374 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 2017

TOOK CAR FOR MO MANDATED SAFETY INSPECTION. CAR FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO FLOOR PAN BEING RUSTED ALL THE WAY THRU. WHEN PASSENGER SEAT CARPET WAS MOVED, YOU COULD SEE THE ROADWAY THRU THE FLOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFFECTED AREA WAS APPROX 24"X9". COST OVER $1000 TO REPLACE AFFECTED AREA.

NHTSA ID
11013644
Incident
May 26, 2015
Mileage
119,800 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 24, 2017

FLOOR PANS ROTTED OUT

NHTSA ID
11010263
Incident
Jul 19, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 7, 2016

PURCHASED A 2003 ALTIMA, 1 OWNER CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. AFTER HAVING CAR FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS NOTICED METAL RUSTED MATERIAL IN THE DRIVEWAY UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. INSPECTED AND FOUND A HOLE THE SIZE OF MY FIST GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH. ENDED UP REPLACING MOST ALL OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN DUE TO A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. IF NOT FOR THE CARPET THE PASSENGER COULD HAVE PLACED THEIR FOOT THROUGH THE AREA. HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS AT BODY SHOPS AND FOUND THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTIMA FROM 2003-2006. NOT A CHEAP FIX EITHER.

NHTSA ID
10924596
Incident
Oct 13, 2016
Mileage
125,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Oct 24, 2016

THE FLOOR BOARDS ROTTED OUT, JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, GIVE IT A FEW MORE MONTHS. I CAN BECOME FRED FLINTSTONE AND START PUSHING MY CAR AROUND WHEN THE CAMSHAFT/CRANKSHAFT SENSOR GOES OUT AGAIN. BOTH SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. BROUGHT THE CAR IN TODAY AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR YOUR CAR. THAT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE AND YOU ARE SITTING AT A LIGHT WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU. THAT'S WERE MEET THE FLINTSTONES COMES IN, USING FOOT POWER TO MOVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10918678
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
131,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 17, 2016

FLOORBOARDS ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU. IT IS MY 82 YEAR OLD MOTHERS CAR, WHICH SHE BOUGHT NEW. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND TAKEN CARE OF METICULOUSLY BY ME AND IS IN MINT CONDITION. NO RUST WHAT SO EVER ON THE CAR (EXCEPT THE FLOORBOARDS) AND HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10916523
Incident
Oct 15, 2016
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 19, 2016

RUSTING UNDERCARRIAGE ON PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE

NHTSA ID
10907972
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 2016

FLOORBOARD IS RUSTED THROUGH

NHTSA ID
10894157
Incident
Aug 8, 2016
Body & structure
Filed May 20, 2016

FLOOR BOARDS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTING THROUGH, AND IT SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM TYPICAL WITH NISSAN VEHICLES BUILT IN THIS TIME FRAME. I FEAR THIS WILL AFFECT SAFETY, AND POTENTIALLY LEAD TO INCREASED RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

NHTSA ID
10869997
Incident
May 19, 2016
Body & structure
Filed May 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FLOOR RUSTED AND FELL OUT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID
10863016
Incident
May 2, 2016
Mileage
115,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 31, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - THE DRIVER SEAT DOOR IS ALMOST FALLING OFF OF ITS HINGES. TAKATA RECALL - THERE IS CORROSION UNDER THE CAR FROM RUSTING, MAKING MAJOR HOLES UNDER THE CAR

NHTSA ID
10852666
Incident
Mar 31, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Mar 30, 2016

BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS ARE HEAVILY ROTTING OUT. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS EVEN MOVING.

NHTSA ID
10852565
Incident
Feb 12, 2016
Mileage
590,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 22, 2015

THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD AREA HAS RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE INSIDE CARPETING. UPON RESEARCHING, IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT THAT NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AREA OF DETERIORATION ON BOTH SIDES OF UNDERBODY OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10811711
Incident
Dec 21, 2015
Mileage
149,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 11, 2015

THERE IS A LARGE HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR CARPET.

NHTSA ID
10809618
Incident
Dec 11, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A PIECE OF THE FRAME HANGING DOWN UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10789494
Incident
Oct 6, 2010
Mileage
45,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 8, 2015

THE FLOOR BED IS RUSTED AND HAS HOLES ON BOTH DRIVER SIDE AS WELL AS PASSESNGER SIDE.

NHTSA ID
10789096
Incident
Nov 2, 2015
Mileage
149,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 29, 2015

VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ID
10787007
Incident
Oct 28, 2015
Body & structure
Filed Aug 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF DETERIORATION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND UPON TAKING IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE SERVICING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS PREMATURELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,900.

NHTSA ID
10747425
Incident
Jul 3, 2015
Mileage
77,900 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 24, 2015

I HAVE A LARGE RUSTED HOLE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS FLOORBOARD. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 5" WIDE X 12" LONG. THERE IS A HARD PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS NOW DRAGGING ON THE GROUND AND THE INSULATION IS READY TO FALL OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE MY FEET ARE ABOUT TO POKE THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD ALLOWING EXHAUST INTO MY CAR. I HAVE A CALL INTO THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER NISSAN BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF CONCERN FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10743303
Incident
Jul 24, 2015
Body & structure
Filed Jul 16, 2015

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 ALTIMA. RECENTLY I WAS NOTIFIED WHILE GETTING MY TIRES ROTATED THAT I HAVE A LARGE HOLE RUSTING THRU THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. THE AFFECTED AREA IS ROUGHLY 18" LONG X 10" WIDE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS NO ONE EVER LOOKS UNDER THE CAR TO CHECK FOR RUST. LUCKILY NO INJURY OCCURRED BUT IT'S JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. HOW MANY INJURIES OR WORSE YET DEATHS WILL NEED TO OCCUR BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM YET NISSAN IS NEGLECTING TO ACT UPON IT.

NHTSA ID
10734504
Incident
Jul 15, 2015
Mileage
105,999 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 9, 2015

OUR ALTMAN FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO A 9 INCH HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO THAT IT TO BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10732967
Incident
Jul 9, 2015
Mileage
71,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 8, 2015

ON MARCH 17, 2015 MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED FRONT FLOORBOARDS RUSTED THROUGH FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. I CAN PUT MY FIST THROUGH ONE OF THE HOLES. THE RUSTED FLOORBOARDS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE WELL-KNOWN TO NISSAN AND PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO NHTSA BY OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS. COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $3,000. MY NISSAN ALTIMA IS LOW MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED. IT HAS BEEN GARAGED AND IS OTHERWISE IN GREAT CONDITION. I CANNOT IN ALL GOOD CONSCIENCE DONATE THIS VEHICLE TO CHARITY AND CERTAINLY WILL GET A GREATLY REDUCED TRADE-IN VALUE FROM ANY BUY FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BUY THIS NISSAN. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO NISSAN, BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY. I PLAN TO JOIN A CLASS-ACTION SUIT AGAINST NISSAN AND ALSO ASK THE NHTSA TO ISSUE A RECALL THAT FORCES NISSAN TO REMEDY TO PROBLEM OR COMPENSATE ME FOR MY LOSS OF VALUE.

NHTSA ID
10732811
Incident
Mar 17, 2015
Mileage
74,531 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .