2003 Nissan Altima Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Nissan Altima. Part of Generation 3 — 2002–2006.

20022004
Complaints
1,099
Crashes
61
Fires
16
Injuries
34
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0

Worst 2003 Nissan Altima Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1256 complaints

Engine & Cooling

Avg mileage:83,055 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:1
#2117 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:118,038 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#3106 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Avg mileage:72,245 mi
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Nissan Altima.

Engine & Cooling
256
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
83,055
Engine Problems
117
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
118,038
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
106
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
72,245
Body Structure
94
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
119,756
Electrical Faults
75
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
80,526
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
40
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
104,847
Unintended Acceleration
28
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
77,548
Structural Problems
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
165,223
Airbags
21
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,782
Gasoline Fuel System
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
86,608
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
91,368
Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,621
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
99,216
Automatic Transmission
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
49,978
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,373
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,060
Headlight/Taillight Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
95,694
Steering Defects
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
116,215
Suspension Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
147,068
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,081
Transmission / Drivetrain
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
122,098
Other Equipment
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
100,118
Seat Belt Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
103,750
Air Bags:Frontal
6
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
9,880
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,286
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,840
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,400
Fuel System, Other
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,000
Seat-Related Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
185,200

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Nissan Altima Years

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2003 Nissan Altima — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2003 Nissan Altima reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2003 Nissan Altima has 1,099 NHTSA complaints, 61 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine & Cooling with 256 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2003 Nissan Altima?
Top reported problems: Engine & Cooling (256 complaints, avg 83,055 mi); Engine Problems (117 complaints, avg 118,038 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (106 complaints, avg 72,245 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Nissan Altima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 94,240 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2003 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Nissan Altima include 61 crash-related reports, 16 fire reports, 34 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2003 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2003 Nissan Altima as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2003 Nissan Altima?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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