2003 Nissan Altima Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2003 Nissan Altima has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Floor pan rust perforation.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2003 Nissan Altima.

Reported to NHTSA

Floor pan rust perforation

STRUCTURE

48 NHTSA complaints · 2013-08 → 2021-08

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11066156
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10863016
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10743303

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel pump recall coverage denial

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2013-11 → 2022-06

“FUEL PUMP (OPEN RECALL) NISSAN DEALER IN BOWLING GREEN KY SAYS "THIS RECALL FOR YOUR CAR IS NOT IN OUR SYSTEM..." EVERY TIME DURING COLD TEMPERATURES I HAVE PROBLEMS...TWICE HAPPENED ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE I WHERE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY !”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10927140
“03V-251 RECALL DATE: JULY 14, 2003 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: P3142 RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE , I REQUESTED TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP TO JIM JOHNSON NISSAN IN BOWLING GREEN KY THEY REFUSED !”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10925696
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine will not start. If I get the engine to start the car may act as if it wants to cut off in traffic”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11471287

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Camshaft and crankshaft position sensor stalling

ENGINE

32 NHTSA complaints · 2013-07 → 2022-03

“MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD CAMSHAFT SENSOR...THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IT WORKS FOR A WHILE THEN THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, THEN AGAIN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER AND AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10536985
“IN NOV 2013 THE CAR WOULD STALL (ENGINE DIES) WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WOULD NOT START SOMETIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE THE OEM WAS REPROGRAMMED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE CAM POSITION SENSOR HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10611213
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CRANK POSITION SENSOR, AND THE TIMING KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10643395

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Excessive oil consumption from catalytic converter failure

ENGINE

19 NHTSA complaints · 2013-08 → 2020-11

“EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION STARTING AT 94,000 MILES. NO LEAKS OR EXHAUST SMOKE. HAVE READ CATALYTIC CONVERTORS WERE POORLY DESIGNED RESULTING IN LOW OIL LEVEL AND ENGINE DAMAGE. CAR STILL RUNS WELL BUT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND RELIABILITY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11130494
“CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE DOWN AND PARTICALS CAUSED INTERNAL WEAR TO THE MOTOR. THAT CAUSES THE MOTOR TO BURN OIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10763859
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ACCELERATING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. THE OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10761284

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

14 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2017-11

“MY HUSBAND WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK WHEN ANOTHER CAR HIT HIM HEAD ON. BOTH AIR BAGS CAME OUT. HIS RIGHT HAND HAD A DEEP CUT ON IT. IT REQUIRED STITCHES. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG CUT HIS HAND OR THE CANISTER PUT THE CUT ON HIS HAND”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10649508
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE SPED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10911353
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10701072

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

413 crashes 1990–2024

How the 413 occupant deaths break down

300

driver deaths

112

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

413

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2002 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

41

complaints mentioning a crash

13

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2003 Nissan Altima reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.