2003 Nissan Altima SE 3.5

Summary:

It has its up and downs, but it's a good car

Faults:

While driving, my car quits. As I try to turn it back on, sometimes it doesn't come on, and sometimes when it does turn back on, when I change gears from park to drive, my car just sits there. There are no lights on in my dash to inform me of any malfunctions. Some days I can go and turn my car on and it drives as if nothing's wrong with it.

General Comments:

I love this car. I've only had one problem with it recently when it quit on me at a red light, but luckily I was right down the street from the dealership, and got it fixed, which it was the oxygen sensor, and that cost me $634. But overall, I love it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd September, 2010

2003 Nissan Altima 2.5L

Faults:

Up until yesterday, Sunday, May 2, 2010, I've not had really any issues. However, went to run an errand and the car started fine when I first left my house, and when I went to run my quick errand and got back in my car, it took about 5 times before the car would turn over and start.

From that point, I drove it to Jiffy Lube to get my oil changed, and when it came time for them to move my car out of the bay, they couldn't get it to start. Since they were getting ready to close for the evening, I had to leave my car there inside the Jiffy Lube.

Got a rental car this morning and drove back to Jiffy Lube, and they told me the mechanics at the gas station next door did good work. When they went to see if my car would even start, it did catch that time. The mechanics across the street were able to drive it over to their shop.

Just got a call from the lead mechanic, and he said he checked everything over and that the car appeared to be fine. However, he said that he did some research and found that there is a recall for the same year of car as mine (2003), and that it has to do with the crankshaft positioning sensor. I called Nissan just a few minutes ago, and they probably can't get to my car until tomorrow, but in the meantime I'm renting a car. I asked if they reimburse for car rentals, even though my car is outside the warranty period, and he said they don't. I asked him why they don't make exceptions when more than likely my car problem is due to the same thing that everyone else is having problems with, and he said that bottom line, there is no rental reimbursement.

So, will have to drive my car (hopefully it will start) and pick it up from the mechanic, and drive it to Nissan and pay for another day's rental. Plus I'll have to pay for a taxi from Nissan to where my rental is, which is a bummer. They said they could give me a ride if I were within a 5-mile radius, but I'm about 10 miles from the dealership. To me, they should make the extra effort to drive me, since I'm sure that my car problems are due to the problem that's already under warranty.

I think that if this is going to be an on-going problem, we should all think about a class-action lawsuit.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 3rd May, 2010

2003 Nissan Altima

Faults:

I haven't really had any problems with this car. I bought it when my son was only 3 months old, and he is almost 8 now! The car has run great, no major problems. I have even wrecked the car and had the whole passenger side crushed, but thank god for insurance, it got fixed, and still no problems.

Recently though, I have to push the gas when I am starting the car or else it dies. Not a big deal, I guess it's just age.

Also, my back passenger door this winter is giving me problems. On freezing mornings it won't close. I got it fixed the first time it did it, myself. But this morning it was 10 degrees out and I was in a rush to get my kids to school on time, and of course the door wouldn't shut. It's still open, and I don't know what to do. It's so frustrating.

Overall, I like Altimas. This is my 4th. I have had this one the longest, the first was a 1998 and I totaled it at the age of 16, then got a 1999 SE and it was great, but it was leased and I should have kept it; it was in such good condition, the dealer told me it sold the same day I brought it back! I also at the time had another 1999, but again it was leased also, and I turned it in for the one I have now, the 2003.

I love these cars, never had a major problem at all!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th February, 2010