2003 Nissan Altima S from North America - Comments

Below is an article that was on the Consumer Complaints website.

Please log a complaint about your 2003 Nissan Altimas with Crank Shaft Sensor problems. This is causing the car to shut off and it's a known defect in the 2002 2005 and 2006 Altimas. I don't know why I have to pay to get a known defect fixed just because it's a different year.

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/php/a_report.php

Nissan Recall Expanded to 654,000 Sentras and Altimas.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2007/sentra_altima.html

I too am suffering with SES light on issues, with codes from my local shop equating to Crankshaft Position Sensor and Speed/velocity sensor.

I did call NNA and filed a report with them, but of course after talking to agent #1, then agent#2, I received a call for the Regional Mgr for Strike #3! -- my VIN wasn't covered, blah blah.

Local dealership did my ECM reprogramming, but never did diagnose my engine for potential problems beforehand. Two days after they did ECM reprogram, my SES light comes on. I paid 40$ locally instead of bringing my car into the dealership. Now they want to charge me to run diagnostics, then of course rape me with labor charges.

When you see that the sensor recalls impact many NISSAN MODELS 02-03, but the only 03 model not included is our Altima - it's a bit hard to believe. I am an Engineer, and I noticed that the actual part number for the CSPS is the same for the 02 as the 03 ALTIMA -- making it even more strange how the 03 is not included.

Please report any sensor code issues you have to NNA and other Bureaus to hopefully get our 03 Altimas included in this voluntary sensor recall.

I have a 2002 Altima 2.5s that I gave to my daughter (I have an 08 2.5s). Up until now (130K miles) the 02 has ran fine except for normal wear and tear items.

The recalls were done including the cam sensor. Lo and behold I was shocked when my daughter called me from college that the Altima had suddenly died. I'm waiting for the diagnosis. It sounds like the cam again. This will be interesting - I had it towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. If it's the cam thing again, and I obviously have to pay, I will probably try and get Nissan to reimburse. I really haven't had any issues with the vehicle. It's better than the Jetta I own.

I bought a 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 SE. I have had this car for about 2 years. It had very low miles.

About three months after I bought it, the check engine light appeared. My husband checked the diagnostic for me and it was the cam sensor. We had the same problem, car would die out, kick in to gear and bog out a lot while driving. We had to have this problem fixed twice; the dealer told us that "when a sensor goes out it's because there is oil in it, but there is no way of preventing that because oil has to run through there" so it is a win, lose situation and it didn't make sense.

After we fixed it the second time, the check engine light went off and about 2 weeks later came back on. It is now off, but after my husband rinsed the engine at a car wash, the light hasn't came back on again, but now I have rattling noise coming from my car and we don't know what it is.

The Altima is a very nice car, and I have dealt with many problems, but I wish I would have never traded in my Accord for this car.

All cars have problems, but it gets old after a while when you keep dealing with the same problem over and over again, as well as new problems arriving. Me and my husband take very good care of this car, but keep having the same problem.

I have the same problem. I have a 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5S. My SES light kept coming on and my car would die at traffic lights. At high speeds my car would jerk like it was going to die but then it would go back into full gear. Very scary when you're driving on the highway.

Then Sunday, I was on my way home from the grocery and my car died WHILE I WAS DRIVING. Luckily I was only going about 10 mph and there were no cars coming when my car died. I started it back up only to have it die again. I took it to my mechanic. He found that the problem was the crankshaft sensor and he replaced it. However, after he told us that on the phone yesterday, my husband typed in "03 nissan altima crankshaft sensor" on Google and what came up was the link below. Sounds like replacing the sensor won't do any good if you don't get the dealer to reprogram your ECM to ignore the input for the sensors. Read the link and it will make more sense. My husband called Nissan today and they say they will reimburse us for the work my mechanic just did since this was a "Voluntary Recall". Good luck to all of you.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_the_crankshaft_position_sensor_on_2003_Nissan_Altima

I purchased a 2002 Altima... I have had NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I brought it in for a oil leak (HAD JUST PAID THE CAR OFF THAT SAME MONTH) and it ended up needing a whole new engine.. I have gone to the dealership sooooo many times and spent too much on this car. Right now it's sitting on the side of the house. Just decided to stop working the other morning.. I did get a safety recall notice in the mail. I may take it to have them fix that problem, or just get rid of it and get new car...

I own a 2004 Nissan Altima with 49,000 miles. I am the original owner of the vehicle and I too deal with the "Service Engine Soon" light coming on all the time. Today my vehicle would not start several times. Finally after 5 tries it started hard and smelled awful. When I have taken my vehicle in to Nissan dealership, they never find anything wrong with the car. Sometimes they try to tell me it is something else that needs to be replaced. I don't trust them and now take my car to a local mechanic. After reading everyones's comments, I think I will have him replace the cam positioning sensor and maybe try some Mobile fuel injector and carburetor treatment in my next fuel fill up. The comments I have read do not make me feel comfortable anymore about my Nissan Altima.

2003 3.5 Altima - 125K highway miles.

All Recent Issues in September:

-Engine light On and Off, very recently started blinking

-Car turns over and starts, but dies quickly if I don't hold the gas for 5-10 seconds.

-When it does start, it idles very low then seems to stabilize after a few seconds. There is a hard shake and it sounds like a diesel engine now!

-Shaking always now, but when in Drive it shakes harder then when in N. Shakes violently at non-consistent mpg ranges

-DEADLY: CAR SHUT OFF 2 TIMES NOW AT 40MPG +, FEEL LUCKY TO LIVE! KEEP KEY ON SO YOU DON"T LOCK STEERING AND PUT IN NEUTRAL. SO SCARY HAVE NOT TALKED WITH NISSAN YET.

I have 2003 Nissan Altima. I have problems with the crankshaft sensor, which I changed but nothing happened. Now I don't know what to do.

I am also the owner of one of these lovely vehicles that shuts down and doesn't crank! I have had my 03 Altima for 2 years and 3 days after I bought it my SES light came on and started having the jerking problems, with the exhaust problems, the catalytic converter smells, the not cranking. Believe it or not, I've just had oil changes and it still runs. I've learned how to just sit there to wait for it to crank. If you can't crank it after 3-4 times, wait an hour. I know time is very hard to come by but it works. I have been dealing with it for two years. Also, don't park on an incline leave it level or pointing with the engine down in a parking lot and it will crank right up. Something with the way the gas is pumping. I'm not very knowledgeable about cars and the lingo, but it works for me! It's a headache, but how many cars don't have problems? I've had the diagnostic tests and all that good stuff, but the only thing I've learned is patience and cuss words. So, until it dies completely I'll be driving it. Like a few folks have said, car notes and fixing car parts are very hard to do especially when the economy is so bad right now! So good luck and I hope everyone's car cranks!

I own a 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5S. Ever since I bought the car I have had problems with it. The ECM was recalled so I took it to the dealership and had it reprogrammed... 3 TIMES!!! Now it is acting up AGAIN... and what do you know, that Crank Shaft Positioning Sensor is bad and was also apart of the recall with the ECM.

I called Corp Nissan and they tell me that my exhaust system was just recalled, but I'm SOL on the sensor. It is going to cost me a couple hundred dollars for the repair, plus once the new sensor is put in, the ECM will need to be reprogrammed once again, so that I won't have to continue replacing that sensor over and over again.

Had I known of all these problems with the car before I got it, I would never have bought it.

It has shut off while driving down the interstate; it shut off on me while turning left thru an intersection. one day I'm bound to get hurt or killed if this continues, and unfortunately I just don't have the money to keep pouring into this car that is continuing to be extremely unreliable.

I don't even know where to begin. I have a 2003 Altima 2.5 SL. About a month ago, I got stranded twice because the car would not start. It would crank but not start. After I let it sit about an hour and came back it would start. No SES light on at this point.

Dealership thought it was battery as battery failed test. Original battery so figured why not. $200.

ABout 3 days later, same thing happens. Take it to dealership -- SES light on this time. Error code says it's bad cam sensor. Sensor is replaced for $300.

That weekend I am driving on turnpike doing 70 and the SES light is now blinking and car feels like it's about to shut off. Luckily I make it off the exit. Take car in next day. There is now a misfire on cylinder 1. Dealership thinks it's a bad ignition coil. They move the coil to cylinder 3. They tell me if the SES light comes on again and there's a misfire in cylinder 3, they will know it's a bad ignition coil.

Drive the car for about 3 days... last night SES light comes on. Take it into dealership... every light I have to stop at car is literally SHAKING. SES light is now on again as I pull in. They just called... broken ignition coil...$300.

Um yeah, this is the LAST time I take the car in. I will not deal with this crap anymore. This is LUDICROUS.

I have a 2002 Altima 3.5 that I bought used in 2003 with about 20K miles on it. It replaced our 1991 Stanza. The Stanza had 200K miles and ran like a charm. The Altima has always been serviced by Nissan (including oil changes) and now at 74K miles I have a check engine light. It is P0021 and is "Intake Valve Timing (IVT) control circuit failure-bank 2.

Under possible causes is shows:

IVT control solenoid open or shorted.

Cam/crank sensors out of phase.

Dirt buildup at control valve.

I contacted my local Nissan dealer and was told it would cost $89. to diagnose the problem even though I had two other mechanics diagnose the code for free. I was also told it was the 02 Sensors, not the cam/crank sensors.

Has anyone experienced this problem, and if so what did you do?

Thanks.

I have a 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL. Tonight I was at a stop light, the car was in drive, had my foot on the brake, and it died. Later the Service Engine Soon light came on, so in a parking lot I let the vehicle run in Drive and kept my foot on the brake, it died again. However, if I put the car in park it will run forever. I am assuming that maybe my problem is also a sensor of some sort. I haven't taken it in to have it checked out yet.

I have a 2003 Altima SL. It just hit 90,950 miles. I paid it off approximately 2 weeks ago. The morning - the very morning after my last car payment, the heat went out. I have had constant problems with the car idling low and approaching a stall whenever I am in traffic or stopped at a light. Yesterday, my service engine light came on. Went straight to the dealer, I am now told it needs a new engine for $4,000. The coolant leaked and fused the gasket heads to the engine. To remove them will destroy the engine. I am junking this car and donating it to charity. I am furious. I have done everything right. Had all of my servicing done when I was supposed to (by the dealer), had all of my oil changes done when I was supposed to. I will never purchase a Nissan ever again.