RoadVitals

2003 Nissan Altima Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
38
Latest Mar 23, 2022
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.
4%
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.
11
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 38 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 driver-assistance

The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 23, 2022

Faulty crankshaft and camshaft sensors UNKOWN

NHTSA ID
11458058
Incident
Mar 20, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 1, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

OWNER OF A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON 2/18/2016, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CAR WASH IN LINDEN, NJ. WHEN THE CAR WASH WAS COMPLETED, I PUT MY VEHICLE ON DRIVE AND PROCEEDED SLOWLY TOWARDS THE CAR WASH EMPLOYEES AS THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO STAY ON MY LEFT SIDE, AS THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WHILE I STILL HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND AS THE EMPLOYEE PLACED THE TOWEL TO DRY OUT MY VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO JOLT TWICE WHILE I STILL HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY UNINTENDED ACCELERATING AT A HIGH SPEED. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE FRONT HOOD AND AIR BAG CAME OUT. I HAD TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL NOT TO HIT ANY ONE AS THERE WERE SEVERAL PARKED VEHICLES AND PEOPLE VACUUMING/CLEANING THEIR VEHICLES. NOT SURE HOW MANY PARKED VEHICLES WERE HIT AND MY VEHICLE HIT A PARKED SUV. AMBULANCE AND POLICE ARRIVED. I WAS IN SHOCKED, SURPRISED AND CRIED AND TOLD THE POLICE ABOUT MY VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATED SO QUICKLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKES. ALL I KEPT SAYING IS OH MY GOD, HOW COULD MY VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATED WHILE I STILL HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. WERE THERE ANY RECALLS? I TOLD THE OFFICER THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES AND THE MORE I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES, THE FASTER MY VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED WITH NO CONTROL OF STOPPING. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TAKEN AWAY BY THE TOW TRUCK. I HAD INJURIES SWOLLEN/BRUISED ON MY KNEES, ANKLES, HEAD, NECK, SHOULD, HANDS AND BACK. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND NOT AVAILABLE AS THIS TAKES A COUPLE OF DAYS. SEE ALSO ODI 10956663. *DSY

NHTSA ID
10957901
Incident
Feb 18, 2017
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 24, 2017
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL AT A CAR WASH, IT ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. ..UPDATED 04/13/17*BF *CN

NHTSA ID
10956734
Incident
Feb 18, 2017
Mileage
128,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Feb 23, 2017
Crash reported

OWNER OF A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA - ON 2/18/17 WHILE TAKING MY VEHICLE TO A CAR WASH IN LINDEN, NJ, I HAD MY VEHICLE ON NEUTRAL AND WHEN THE CAR WASH WAS COMPLETED, I PUT THE VEHICLE ON DRIVE AND PROCEEDED SLOWLY TOWARDS THE CAR WASH EMPLOYEES AS THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO STAY ON MY LEFT SIDE, AS THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. AS THE TWO EMPLOYEES PLACED THEIR TOWELS ON MY FRONT VEHICLE TO DRY OUT THE VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO JOLT TWICE WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE FRONT HOOD AND THE AIRBAG CAME OUT. I HAD TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL NOT TO HURT ANY ONE AS THERE WERE SEVERAL PARKED VEHICLES AND PEOPLE VACUUMING THEIR VEHICLES OR CLEANING OUT THEIR VEHICLES. NOT SURE HOW MANY PARKED VEHICLES WERE HIT AND MY VEHICLE HIT A PARKED SUV. AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND THE POLICE. I WAS IN SHOCKED, SURPRISED AND CRIED AND TOLD THE POLICE ABOUT MY VEHICLE TAKING OFF SO QUICKLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKES. ALL I KEPT SAYING IS OH MY GOD WHAT HAPPENED. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? WERE THERE ANY RECALLS? I KEPT SAYING I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP JUST KEPT ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. I HAD INJURIES INCLUDING MY RIGHT ANKLE, KNEE, HEAD, NECK, SHOULDERS AND BACK. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND NOT AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT AS IT TAKES A COUPLE OF DAYS. SEE ALSO ODI 10957901. *DSY

NHTSA ID
10956663
Incident
Feb 18, 2017
Mileage
128,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed May 21, 2016

I PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 106,000. AS IS NO WARRANTY. WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH IT BLEW THE HEAD AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH I PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET. THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE ENIGINE WITH A NEW CRATE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN THE CAR LASTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS SMOKING SO BAD AND WILL ONLY DRIVE AT IDLE SPEED.. I DONT THINK THE PLACE I BOUGHT IT HAS A VERY GOOD MECHANIC AND I REALLY WOULD RATHER TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER.. BUT I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR ANOTHER ENGINE I FEEL LIKE IVE ALREADY BOUGHT THE CAR TWICE.

NHTSA ID
10870131
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Driver assistance
Filed May 6, 2016

THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAS FAILED, CAUSING MY CAR TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, PUT IT BACK AND TRIED TO START THE ENGINE COUPLE TIMES BEFORE I SUCCEEDED. THIS HAD PLACED ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY FREQUENTLY IN RECENT MONTHS (YEAR 2016)--EVERY TIME I STOP AT THE STOP SIGN OR STOP AT INTERSECTIONS FOR A RED LIGHT... I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY POLITELY INFORMED ME THAT MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE EXACT SAME AS THE RECALL I HAVE FOUND ONLINE.

NHTSA ID
10863672
Incident
Apr 25, 2016
Mileage
30,200 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 8, 2014

WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR UNKNOWINGLY STOPPED! I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW UNTIL THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTERTED THE CAR WITH NO ISSUE. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE ENGINE STARTED A SLIGHT SHAKE AND EACH DAY THE SHAKE BECAME MORE INTENSE AND THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE & WHILE MY FEET IS ON THE BREAK THE METER WOULD JUMP FROM 0 TO 2 AND SHUT OFF WEN IT HIT 0. ALSO WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OFF THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S STUCK THEN IT'LL SHOOT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587325
Incident
Apr 3, 2012
Mileage
90 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 15, 2013

I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I WENT TO GO AND MY CAR STALLED OUT. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT'S DUE TO CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. DROVE THE CAR TO WORK TODAY THE CAR STALLED OUT AGAIN COMPLETELY SHUT ITSELF OFF. ONCE AGAIN HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE RODE THE BEST I COULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THANKFULLY IT TURNED BACK ON. CALLED NISSAN TODAY SPOKE WITH A CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUPERVISOR NAMED [XXX] AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT MY VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS CLAIM ON CRANKSHAFT SENSORS AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FORWARD MY INFORMATION TO A REGIONAL OFFICE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND SEE IF THEY CAN GET THEM TO PAY FOR THE PARTS BUT IN THE MEAN TIME I HAVE TO GET A DIAGNOSTICS REPORT DONE ON THE CAR AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS REPORT AND THEY WILL NOT WAIVE IT FOR ME AND IN ORDER TO GET APPROVAL FOR THE PARTS I HAVE TO GET THE DIAGNOSTICS REPORT. SO THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO A DEALERSHIP IN ALBANY NY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SPOKE WITH A GUY NAMED ED HE SAID THEY WOULD NEED MY CAR FOR 24-48 HOURS AND CAN NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL, CAN NOT WAIVE THE DIAGNOSTICS FEE AND THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR IN UNTIL AWEEK FROM NOW. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO END UP BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED IF NOT KILLED BY THIS MALFUNCTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10552448
Incident
Nov 14, 2013
Mileage
131,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 11, 2013

I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN AND EVENTUALLY CUT OFF. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND STARTED IT BACK UP. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO CUT IT BACK ON IT WOULD NOT START. *TR

NHTSA ID
10551842
Incident
Sep 26, 2013
Mileage
191,431 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jun 2, 2013

CAR JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THEN IT WILL NOT START, PAID 500 DOLLARS TO GET FIXED AND THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE PARTS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN, I FEEL THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED FOR MORE CARS.THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10514723
Incident
May 15, 2013
Mileage
123,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed Jan 15, 2013

ON JANUARY 15, 2013, MY CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROADWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHILE TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE CAR AND MAKE IT BACK HOME SAFELY. THANKFULLY, THE PERSON BEHIND ME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED DID NOT HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH MY CAR. THIS ALSO HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT A FAILED CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS THE REASON THAT MY CAR WAS SHUTTING DOWN. THEY ARE REPLACING THE SENSOR FOR APPROX. $400.00. HOWEVER, THIS EXACT ISSUE IS ON THE NHTSA.DOT WEBSITE AS PART OF A RECALL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT MY CAR COULD HAVE SHUT DOWN ON 95, A MAJOR CITY HIGHWAY, WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. I SPOKE TO NISSAN USA TODAY, AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS SERIOUS CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10493065
Incident
Jan 15, 2013
Mileage
147,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 28, 2012

MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-45 MPH THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND NOT PRODUCED FULL ENGINE POWER WHEN PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS CAUSED SERIOUS CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN SERVICE REPAIR (AUGUST 2011, ~94K MILES). NISSAN RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR CRANK/CAM SENSORS HAD FAILED. PAID $430 TO REPLACE CRANKSHAFT AND CAM/CRANK SENSORS. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2012 (~110K MILES) WHERE I EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT ISSUES ALONG WITH REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. ANOTHER LOCAL MECHANIC DETECTED THAT THE CAM/CRANK SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALL #03V455000, WHICH DESCRIBES THE EXACT SYMPTOMS THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING. I CALLED THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT REPLACED THE SENSORS IN 2011 WHO SAID THAT MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SO I DIDN'T QUALIFY. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE FOR THIS SPECIFIC YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, IT IS BEYOND ME HOW NOTHING HASN'T BEEN FLAGGED ABOUT THIS BEING AN ISSUE. ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS (MULTIPLE TIMES) YET THEY ARE TOLD THEIR VIN'S DON'T QUALIFY UNDER THE RECALL?? SOMETHING IS FISHY THERE. OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS: ODI ID NUMBERS: 10416743, 10384742,10370526,10342438,10332467, 10318898, 10318045, 10314479, 10283487, 10278805. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE OR LIGHT THAT CAN BE SHED ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490390
Incident
Aug 23, 2011
Mileage
94,301 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 20, 2012

LIKE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS, MY CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH SPEED AND STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS AND LOW SPEEDS OR WILL NOT START. I CAN'T BELIEVE NISSAN OR NHTSA HAS NOT GOT SERIOUS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I CHECKED YOUR DATABASE AND FOUND FOLLOWING COMPLIANT NUMBERS WITH SAME ISSUE OF ALTIMAS STALLING DUE TO CRANK OR CAM SENSOR FAILURE. (ODI ID NUMBERS: 10416743, 10384742,10370526,10342438,10332467, 10318898, 10318045, 10314479, 10283487, 10278805, ..... AND MANY MORE). I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I AM SURE THERE ARE MY ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS THAT DID NOT GET REPORTED DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO MANY DEATHS. I HOPE NHTSA LOOKS INTO THIS AND GET IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471579
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
95,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jun 25, 2012

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND SHE NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD. THANK GOODNESS THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS COMING AND SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITH NO INCIDENT. I PULLED THE CODES AND FOUND IT TO BE THE P0335 (CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR) AND P0725 (ENGINE SPEED SENSOR). AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB, IT APPEARS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000, NISSAN RECALL NO. R3022 THAT STATES EXACTLY WHAT DID HAPPEN - THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE REMEDY IS THAT A DEALER REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. SO, I CALLED NISSAN, FOUND THE OTHER RECALL THAT IS RELATED TO THE SENSOR, TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (BARELY - I DROVE AND THE CAR STOPPED TWICE - AGAIN, LUCKY THERE WAS NO CRASH). THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID HE COULD NOT FIX THIS RECALL BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS BAD. NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK AND PICKUP THE CAR AND PRAY AGAIN THAT I DON'T HAVE A CRASH COMING HOME. SEEMS TOTALLY UNREASONABLE THAT NISSAN WOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM - THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - FOR, AMONG MANY OTHERS, 2002-2003 ALTIMAS AND YET THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THESE CARS THAT NISSAN WON'T FIX. I WAS LAID OFF AND CERTAINLY CANNOT AFFORD A $300 FIX FOR A $40 PART SO WE WILL HAVE TO DRIVE THIS DEATH CAR UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT FIXED. AND PRAY EVERY TIME I GET IN IT THAT WE DON'T END CRASHING THE CAR, HURTING MYSELF, MY YOUNG TWINS, MY OLDER DAUGHTER OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A SEVERELY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE ALL CARS - NOT JUST A SELECT FEW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463031
Incident
Jun 19, 2012
Mileage
154,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 11, 2011

RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING MY SES LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER AND HAD THEM READ THE CODES WHICH WERE 0725 ENGINE SPEED SENSOR AND 0335 CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. UPON LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY NISSAN OWNERS, PARTICULARLY THE ALTIMA MODELS. NISSAN HAS ISSUED A RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, AND NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART (THE PART HAS BEEN MODIFIED FROM PLASTIC TO METAL BECAUSE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT, RIDICULOUS!) THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, WHICH HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON TWO OCCASIONS (LUCKILY NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OF ON THE HIGHWAY! BUT IT HAS HAPPENED IN MORE SERIOUS SITUATIONS TO OTHERS). *KB

NHTSA ID
10429451
Incident
Oct 11, 2011
Mileage
55,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 12, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVING 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA ON TWO-LANE COUNTRY ROAD, WEATHER CLEAR, NO TRAFFIC. CAR SPED UP, DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, CAR SPED FASTER, DRIVER REPEATEDLY & FIRMLY APPLIED BRAKES. CAR OVERCORRECTED TO THE LEFT, CROSSED ROADWAY, CROSSED ONE DRY DITCH AND MADE IMPACT WITH INSIDE WALL OF AN IRRIGATION DITCH FULL OF WATER. DRIVER RECEIVED INITIAL CARE AT THE SCENE AND WAS TAKEN TO EMERGENCY ROOM VIA AMBULANCE. DRIVER SUSTAINED BROKEN BACK, HEAD AND EYE TRAUMA, BROKEN RIB, DISLOCATED SHOULDER JOINT, MULTIPLE CUTS REQUIRING STITCHES, GLASS EMBEDDED INTO SKIN. DRIVER SPENT SEVERAL DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WAS DISCHARGED UNDER CONTINUOUS FAMILY CARE. CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10342643
Incident
Jun 6, 2010
Mileage
74,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 15, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TAP THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATED FASTER. THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A DITCH AND FINALLY LANDED IN A CANAL. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES INCLUDING OPEN WOUNDS, FRACTURED RIBS, TWO CRACKED DISKS, HEAD INJURY AND INCIDENTS OF LOOSING CONSCIOUSNESS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED EVOQ 07/20/10.*JB THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN HE FOUND AN ELECTRIC CROSSOVER CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS AND MAY HAVE BEEN COMPUTER RELATED. UPDATED 11/23/10. *JB UPDATED 12/07/10. *JB UPDATED 12/21/10*LJ UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPDATED 01/10/11. *JB UPDATED 01/12/11. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A CLEAR DAY AND TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT. HE HAD JUST LEFT HIS HOME AND WAS LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM HIS HOME, DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH, WHEN HIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE TAPPED THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES; EACH TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FASTER. THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A DITCH AND FINALLY LANDED IN A WATER-FILLED IRRIGATION CANAL. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 01/13/11 *JB

NHTSA ID
10336473
Incident
Jun 6, 2010
Mileage
74,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 14, 2010

IDLE ON CAR STARTED TO BE ERRATIC. WOULD GO UP TO 1800 RPMS DOWN TO 700 RPM..TOOK CAR FOR REPAIR WAS TO THE THROTTLE BAD ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACED. THE CAR WAS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WE WERE CONCERNED THAT IN THE SNOW THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH FORWARD ACCELERATION. DRY CONDITIONS AS WELL ...CAR ONLY HAD 64,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10319512
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Mileage
64,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 11, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS AFTER SITTING IDLE, THE VEHICLE BECAME RESPONSIVE TO THE DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER BUT THEY TOO, COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,364 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10318827
Incident
Oct 9, 2009
Mileage
94,364 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 14, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OUTLINED IN RECALL #06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE REPAIR A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT REPLACED. AS A CONSEQUENCE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10287431
Incident
Sep 27, 2009
Mileage
75,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 2, 2009
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 2 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIR, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER HIS INSURANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 33,094.

NHTSA ID
10263977
Incident
Mar 20, 2009
Mileage
33,094 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 16, 2009

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION AND A RAILROAD CROSSING MY CAR SUDDENLY SEEMED TO HAVE LOST ALL POWER. MY CAR REMAINED ON. THINKING IT WAS JUST THE ROAD CONDITIONS. LATER SAME NIGHT ALSO IN A BUSY INTERSECTION ONCE AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME COMPLETELY JUST SHUT DOWN. NO POWER COASTED QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE OFF ROAD. TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR BUT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. WAITED A COUPLE MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN AND MY CAR STRUGGLED TO TURN ON BUT DID TURN ON. MY CAR BEING A PREOWNED CERTIFIED CAR THAT I HAVE PURCHASED FROM LANCASTER HONDA DEALERSHIP I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL NOTICES FOR MY CAR AND I AM A VERY UPSET CONSUMER. BROUGHT MY CAR TO BE SERVICED FROM THE DEALER AND THEY WANT $294.00 TO REPLACE MY CAM SENSOR AND CRANK SENSOR. I REFUSED THE WORK TO MY CAR AND WHILE SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND RECALLS FOR THE ECM AND I AM SHOCKED TO SEE MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WITH MY SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY FELT AS IF CAR LOST POWER. I NOTICED ALSO ALOT OF HEAT COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF MY CAR VENTS AND THE TEMP. GAUGE ON THE DASHBOARD DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING ACCURATELY. I TURNED THE VENT FULL BLAST TO BE ON SAFE SIDE. AFTER CALLING NISSAN CONSUMER COMPLAINTS THEY ADVISED MY TO BRING MY CAR NOW TO NISSAN DEALER NEXT CITY OVER AND THEY WILL REPLACE/REPROGRAM MY ECM FREE OF CHARGE BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE ALSO CHARGING ME $95.00 DIAGNOSIS CHARGE AND WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THEM REPLACING THE TWO SENSORS AS WELL FREE OF CHARGE THEY SAID IF AFTER RUNNING THE DIAG. AND IF IT BE THAT THE SENSORS WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT THEN IT WILL ALSO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262086
Incident
Mar 11, 2009
Mileage
81,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 4, 2007

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. IDLE FLUCTUATION FROM 1000 TO 2000 RPM. ALSO, AUTOMOBILE SURGES FROM 1500 TO 2000 WHILE DRIVING. WHILE IN AUTOMATIC MODE 1 IT WILL BUCK FORWARD. THE AUTO IN MY OPINION ISN'T SAFE I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATES HIGH IDLE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10210815
Incident
Nov 22, 2007
Mileage
86,500 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 9, 2007

ON SEVERAL INSTANCES THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. EVENTUALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED ME OF RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPROGRAM THE ECM. ALSO, THEY FOUND ERROR CODES P0725 AND P0335. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO REPLACE MY CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR (AT MY COST -- THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL). AFTER THE DEALER COMPLETED THE RECALL WORK, THE CAR STILL STALLED THAT VERY DAY ON THE WAY HOME. TOOK THE CAR TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CLEARED BY MECHANIC AND HAS NOT LIT UP AGAIN, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING AGAIN. THIS SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SYMPTOMS WHICH LED TO THE RECALL OF THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA'S. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN DECEMBER 2002, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2002 RECALL. THE 2003 RECALL ONLY CONSISTED OF REPROGRAMMING THE ECM -- WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS THE VEHICLE STILL CUTS OUT AT RANDOM TIMES IN MOVING TRAFFIC. PLEASE INVESTIGATE -- THIS IS SIMILAR TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS UNDER 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA'S THAT I FOUND READING THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE -- PLEASE CONNECT THE DOTS AND MAKE NISSAN OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10192821
Incident
Jun 6, 2007
Mileage
55,800 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 22, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA S CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR HAS FAILED. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ONE WEEK AGO AND SMOKE ASCENDED FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN, THEY DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION OTHER THAN POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING ANY SOLUTIONS TO THE FAILURES AND DID NOT STATE WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID
10191468
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
69,000 mi

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