RoadVitals

2003 Nissan Altima Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats 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.
9
Latest Mar 30, 2016
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.
1%
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 seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 9 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 interior

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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 & structureInterior & seats
Filed Nov 28, 2012

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT I HAD A RUSTY DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD. HE SAID THAT HE WAS ABLE TO STICK HIS HAND THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF MY FLOORBOARD AND TOUCH MY DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS HAD ME VERY CONCERNED DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH AT LEAST 2 OTHER NISSAN ALTIMAS. BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT NISSAN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO COMPENSATE. IT COST ME $550 TO FIX DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE RUST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10486326
Incident
Nov 15, 2012
Mileage
106,000 mi
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Sep 2, 2010

STARTED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS WON'T GO UP ALL THE WAY AND IF THEY DO THEN THEY ROLL DOWN ALL BY THEMSELVES. THEY GO UP AND DOWN AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND NITE. THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS ITSELF WHETHER THE KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. YOU ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE TWO SETS OF KEYS BECAUSE IF THE WINDOW IS DOWN AND YOU REACH IN TO UNLOCK IT THE ALARM GOES OFF AS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE CAR. DOOR THAT GOES OVER THE GAS CAP BENT DURING REGULAR USE AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. NISSAN SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS ITEM AND JUST TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND PAY TO GET IT FIXED. SAW SEVERAL OTHER ALTIMAS OF THE SAME VINTAGE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353465
Incident
Mar 10, 2008
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Mar 5, 2010

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5L V6 SE - THE DOOR LOCKS KEEP LOCKING REPEATEDLY. WILL DO THIS WHILE I AM IN AND OUT OF THE CAR REGARDLESS OF KEY FOB USE. MY HAZARD LIGHTS FLASH EACH TIME. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER A WEEK AND HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY AND DURATION. IT IS NOW CONSTANT - GOING ON EVERY 3-5 SECONDS. I HAD TROUBLE GETTING MY DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE DOOR KEPT LOCKING ON ME. I WORRY ABOUT THE ABILITY TO GET OUT QUICKLY IF NEEDED. IT BRINGS ATTENTION TO MY CAR THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON MANY LEVELS. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10317156
Incident
Feb 28, 2010
Mileage
108,000 mi
AirbagsEngineInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Oct 28, 2009
Crash reported

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 I HAD THIS DONE I HAD A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0420, P0240, AND HAD 3 P0335...AFTER I HAD THE "RECALL DONE"...A WEEK LATER MY CAR "BLEW A HEAD GASKET" AND I HAD A CODE P0300...I IMMEDIATELY GOT IT FIXED FOR LIKE $1300...AFTER THAT...2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH CAME OUT AS P0335, P0240, & P0420...I'VE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS...I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A REGIONAL SPECIALIST WHICH CAN'T REALLY HELP ME AT ALL...NISSAN DEALER LIKE TO TAKE MONEY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TELLS ME THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE...MY CAR STILL SHUTS OFF AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T EVEN START...WHEN THE CAR START UP IT MAKES A LOUD ENGINE NOISE...SO RIGHT NOW MY CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANY SPEED RATE NOW JUST LOW SPEEDS, I DON'T HAVE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR, ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE A ROCK IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND MY CAR'S SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290059
Incident
Sep 15, 2009
Mileage
74,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 19, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE FAILURE MOVED THE CONTACT'S BODY TO ONE SIDE OF THE SEAT. HE NOTICED THAT THE METAL FATIGUE IN THE BACK BOLT, WHICH HELD THE SEAT TO THE BOTTOM, WAS SNAPPED INTO TWO PARTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT PLANS TO HAVE THE FAILURE CORRECTED AT A WELDING SHOP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,394 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08

NHTSA ID
10231611
Incident
Jun 19, 2008
Mileage
122,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 18, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS ON HER VEHICLE ARE GETTING JAMMED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MUST PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND QUICKLY ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE NISSAN DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE HER $400 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE HER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE POWERTRAIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 50,000. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. UPDATED 08/07/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10196678
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 29, 2007

DRIVER'S DOOR INSIDE LATCH RELEASE BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING INABILITY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO EXIT TH EVEHICLE KEY HAD TO INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, WINDOW LOWERED AND DOOR LATCH RELEASED WITH OUTSIDE HANDLE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN EMERGENCY SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10194949
Incident
Jun 24, 2007
Mileage
21,900 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED TO BEND TOWARD THE BACK RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. AS TIME WENT BY THE SEAT BEGAN TO BEND MORE AND MORE. CURRENTLY, NOT ONLY IS THE SEAT TWISTED BUT, THERE IS A METAL BAR PROTRUDING FROM THE SEAT INTO THE CONSUMER'S BACK.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081366
Incident
Feb 26, 2004
Mileage
34,000 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 .