Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 450 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

41 crash reports13 fire reports22 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

450 reports

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85,070 miles · Jul 27, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I'LL COME TO A STOP, AND IT WILL DIE. I'LL GET THE VEHICLE STARTED, TRY TO GO AND IT WILL STALL. I BLOCKED TRAFFIC MOMENTARILY, AND MADE SOME OTHER DRIVERS FAIRLY IRRITATED. THE CAR IS GOING INTO THE SHOP NEXT WEEK TO HOPEFULLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10163607

115,000 miles · Jul 25, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

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2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S IS PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN SURROUNDING THE CATALYTIC PIN. MY ALTIMA STOPPED FUNCTIONING ON LAST YEAR AFTER TWO WEEKS OF STOPPING, STALLING, SMOKING, ENGINE KNOCKING, ETC. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED (SUPPOSEDLY) AT THE EXPENSE OF NISSAN. THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO OCCURRED TWO WEEKS AGO THIS YEAR AND THE CAR AGAIN WAS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THIS TIME, THEY'RE REFUSING TO MAKE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THEY'RE CLAIMING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE THIS TIME IS NOT RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC PIN. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE, ALTHOUGH THE OIL WAS CHANGED JUST 500 MILES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE LOCKING. AFTER READING OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS, I'VE LEARNED THAT THESE ALTIMA'S REQUIRE OIL ON A WEEKLY BASIS OR THIS IS THE RESULT. WHAT KIND OF CAR REQUIRES OIL WEEKLY? AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHERE IT WILL STAY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I CAN AFFORD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE AND PAY THE LENDER AT THE SAME TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10163439

86,000 miles · Jul 23, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

COMPLAINT #10163230. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10163233

86,000 miles · Jul 23, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SEPTEMBER 2004. ON 7/12 I EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE OF RECALL #06V242000. MY VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING W/O WARNING AT A STOP AT 2:00A.M. THE NISSAN DEALER INDICATED THE COMPUTER FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I TOOK THE CAR HOME ONLY FOR IT TO ONCE AGAIN STOP AS I DEPARTED MY JOB AT 2:00 A.M. I AGAIN TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO KEPT MY CAR FOR THREE DAYS. ONE OF WHICH I WAS CALLED AND ASKED IF MY CAR COULD BE DRIVEN MORE THAN 60 MILES AWAY (THE DEALER HAD TO PICKUP AN ITEM IN ANOTHER STATE) IN ORDER TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY THE TECHNICIAN AGAIN INDICATED HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. UPON HEARING THIS I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS (7/19) OF MY SITUATION AND WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND TELL THEM OF RECALL #06V242000. AFTER HAVING DONE THIS, THE NISSAN DEALER INDICATED THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THE RECALL, BUT WOULD CONTACT CONSUMER AFFAIRS AS I REQUESTED. AFTER SPEAKING WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS THE DEALER THEN INDICATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER RECALL #06V242000 WAS IN FACT MY ISSUE AS THE ECM INDICATED NO SUCH THING. FINALLY, I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WHO INDICATED THAT NISSAN HAD NOT YET TOLD THE DEALERSHIPS HOW TO HANDLE THE ISSUE OF RECALL #06V24200, AND THEREFORE THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO IS REPROGRAM THE ECM WITH THE SAME PROGRAM IT CURRENTLY HAS. WITH THAT PORTER NISSAN RELEASED MY VEHICLE BACK TO ME INDICATING I MUST WAIT UNTIL AUGUST 21, 2006 (4 WEEKS) BEFORE I COULD EXPECT CORRECTION TO THE PROBLEM. SINCE HAVING THE CAR IN AGAIN IN MY POSSESSION, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM TWO OF THE THREE DAYS. THIS ISSUE IS FURTHER EXACERBATED AS I HAVE A FAMILY OF FOUR THAT DEPENDS ON THE USE OF THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS MY JOB REQUIREMENT IF A RELIABLE VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE MY JOB IS APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES FROM MY HOME AND I AM REQUIRED TO STAY THERE UNTIL APPROX. 2:00 A.M. THE HANDLING OF THIS RECALL IS UNACCEPTABLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10163230

74,561 miles · Jul 19, 2006

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT BEGAN TO APPEAR IN MID TO LATE JUNE. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND THEY HAVE RAN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THEIR SCANNERS AND CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE RESISTER ON THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER THE CAR CONTINUES TO SHIFT HARD. NISSAN HAS A BULLETIN ABOUT PROBLEMS ON THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED AS A RECALL. MY CAR HAS REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND HAS STOPPED ON ME ONCE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED THOROUGHLY AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS STILL ON. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162911

42,300 miles · Jul 17, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L 4 DOOR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON STATING "SERVICE ENGINE SOON". BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO GET TO THE DEALER MY CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY DURING LOW SPEED RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CRANK…

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NHTSA ODI #10162703

108,000 miles · Jul 6, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING A RETURN TRIP OF ABOUT 100 MILES DISTANCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY I REPORTED TO NISSAN IN GREENSBORO, NC. THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED ALLOWING PARTICLES FROM THE CONVERTER TO ENTER THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. DIAGNOSIS, ENGINE/CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD 108000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR INSPECTION OF SAID CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR A NISSAN RECALL THAT WAS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. NISSAN KNEW THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, BUT ALLOWED IT TO STAY ON THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE 3500 WORTH OF DAMAGE ONE YEAR LATER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161660

35,000 miles · Jul 3, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I BOUGHT A USED 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA LAST SUMMER, AND IT'S GIVEN ME NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH TOWN (25 MPH) AND THE STEERING RANDOMLY LOCKED UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND RESTARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEM. IT DID THIS TO ME AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A COMPUTERIZED DIAGNOSTIC ON IT. THE TEST SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE, AND I FOUND OUT THAT NISSAN RECALLED 2002 ALTIMA CRANK POS SENSORS: HTTP://WWW.LEMONAUTO.COM/COMPLAINTS/NISSAN/ALTIMA.HTM THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED FOR THE 2002 ALTIMA CRANK POS SENSORS IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH MY 2003 ALTIMA. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. I FOUND ANOTHER COMPLAIN ON THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/NISSAN_ALTIMA.HTML I THINK THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO LOOK VERY CLOSELY INTO THIS, AS IT IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161296

65,000 miles · Jul 3, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAR DIED ALMOST HAD WRECKS,CAR SHUT DOWN. THOUGHT MAYBE BAD GAS. HUSBAND ON THE CROSSTOWN CAR DIED,IT IS AT THE DEALERS NOW. THE SERVICE PERSONAL AT THE DEALER SHIP SAID A LOT OF THE ALTIMA'S WERE HAVING THAT TROUBLE AND HE WOULD SEE IF THE MIGHT BE A RECALL. HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING YET. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161283

60,000 miles · Jul 2, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S. FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING PERIODICALLY. THE STALL OCCURS ANYTIME AT ANY SPEED. WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS I LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALL POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS, WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. JUST YESTERDAY THE CAR STALLED 5 TIMES AND FINALLY THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE CODE INDICATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS FAULTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161224

Official recalls

06V242000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jul 7, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE CAN BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

03V455000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 17, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

03V251000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jul 14, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SCREEN AT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP TO PREVENT ICE CRYSTALS FROM BLOCKING THE OPENING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-333-0829.

03V084000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Mar 11, 2003

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN. IN ADDITION TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE IN THE EVENT OF POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN OIL SPILLAGE, HEAT SHIELD(S) WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE PRE-CATALYST AND EXHAUST TUBE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. NISSAN RECALL NOS. R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, R3017. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF SUBSTRATE PARTICLES ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THEY COULD SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS, RESULTING IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. IF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL IS NOT CHECKED ON A PERIODIC BASIS AND DROPS BELOW THE LOW LEVEL, AND THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IGNORING NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THE PRE-CATALYST WILL BE TESTED TO ENSURE IT IS WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND INSIDE THE PRE-CATALYST, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ06001 · Engine Stall - Crank Position Sensor

Opened Feb 22, 2006 · Closed Jul 18, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

ON JUNE 28, 2006 NISSAN SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) A PART 573 REPORT ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 NISSAN SENTRA AND NISSAN ALTIMA SEDANS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES WOULD BE RECALLED TO REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM). THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V242. THE SUBJECT POPULATIONS OF THE RECALL ARE 14,587 NISSAN SENTRA VEHICLES AND 186,279 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN DETERMINED THAT THE OPERATION OF THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR IN ALTIMA AND SENTRA SEDANS EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS DUE TO THE UNIQUE LOCATION OF THE SENSOR. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS MAY CAUSE A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.IF THE INTERRUPTION IS BRIEF ENOUGH, SUCH THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED. AS A REMEDY, NISSAN WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM TO PREVENT THE STALLING INCIDENTS DUE TO SIGNAL INTERRUPTIONS FROM THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR.ADDITIONALLY, AS PART OF THE RECALL QUERY, NISSAN WAS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR MY 2004 ALTIMA FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES.NISSAN HAS INDICATED TO ODI THAT THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO THE MY 2003 AS COMPARATIVELY, THE MY 2004 COMPLAINT RATE IS SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE COMPLAINT RATE OF THE MY 2004 ALTIMA. ACCORDINGLY THE RECALL QUERY IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling

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