2003 Nissan Altima Fuel System Problems

Your 2003 Altima's engine won't start, and when it does start, it may shut off while you're driving in traffic. This creates a safety risk because another vehicle could hit you if your engine dies on the road. Nissan has confirmed there's an open recall campaign for your vehicle's fuel pump screen, but your dealership is refusing to inspect or service the car.

Your 2003 Altima has developed rust on the front driver's side floor pan, and the floorboard in that area feels soft when touched. You may notice a fuel smell while driving at various speeds. This combination of rust, soft flooring, and fuel odor suggests a potential fuel system leak or corrosion issue that needs inspection. A mechanic will need to examine the fuel lines, connections, and floor pan to identify and seal any leaks.

VIN: [XXX] YEAR: 2003 MAKE: NISSAN MODEL: ALTIMA 2.5 S NUMBER OF OPEN RECALLS: 1 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 03V-251 RECALL DATE: JULY 14, 2003 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: P3142 TODAY ,DECEMBER 09, 2016 @ 8:30 AM , I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH[XXX] DEALER REGARDING CASE #[XXX] . AT 1:54PM THEY DID CALL TO PICK UP MY CAR. AFTER OVER 5 HOURS,THEY CHANGED FILTER -FUEL TANK ONLY ,BUT NOT FUEL PUMP ! CUSTOMER COPY # [XXX] (INVOICE #[XXX]) SHOW THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED PART #17275-8J025 ,WHICH IS FILTER -FUEL TANK(NOT FUEL PUMP WHICH IS OPEN RECALL (JUST TO REMIND YOU,THIS PART COST ONLY ABOUT $10,00 ,( AFTER REPLACEMENT A NEW FUEL PUMP ,IT SHOULD BE REPLACED ANYWAY)! PART# 170408J005 - FUEL PUMP ALTIMA; 2.5L (COST ABOUT $456,00 )WHICH IS OPEN RECALL, IS NOT DONE ! THEY REPLACED FILTER-FUEL TANK ONLY!(BECAUSE OF LOW COST , JUST TO CLOSE THIS CASE...)! AGAIN,ATTACHED DOCUMENT (REFRESHED DEC.9 ,2016), SHOWS THAT OPEN RECALL IS: FUEL PUMP ! THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE, REPLACING A FUEL FILTER ,DOES NOT MEAN SOLVING PROBLEM/ PROBLEM IS FUEL PUMP(WHICH STILL AS OPEN RECALL, I HAVE RECEIVED MANY PHONE CALLS FROM MANUFACTURER TO TELL ME THAT PROBLEM IS SOLVED (REPLACING A FUEL FILTER! AND FUEL PUMP IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE REPLACED ! ,THIS CASE IS NOT CLOSED FOR ME ,IS NOT REPLACED A NEW FUEL PUMP(HAS BEEN REPLACED FUEL FILTER ONLY,BECAUSE OF LOW COST/ ABOUT $10,00 ONLY! FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER-TANK ARE 2 DIFFERENT THINGS!!! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DURING WINTER !!! ,THIS CASE IS NOT CLOSED FOR ME ,IS NOT REPLACED A NEW FUEL PUMP(HAS BEEN REPLACED FUEL FILTER -TANK ONLY,BECAUSE OF LOW COST/ ABOUT $10,00 ONLY! ,JUST TO CLOSE THIS RECALL AND THIS CASE!!!!!!!!! FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER TANK ARE 2 DIFFERENT THINGS!!! I DO NOT ACCEPT A PHONE CALLS,EMAILS ONLY ! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM NISSAN (615-725-7000) REGARDING MY COMPLAIN (OPEN RECALL)...AND THE PERSON SAYS THAT NISSAN CAN'T PERFORM FOR FREE THAT ISSUE SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN KENTUCKY! THAT'S MEAN ,BECAUSE OF SAFETY REASON I WILL BE UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR TO OTHER STATES ! AND THE ONLY OPTION I HAVE IS TO FORWARD THIS CASE TO THE COURT AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY LAW !

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 ! I'M SCARY DRIVING NISSAN DURING WINTER! I NEED NISSAN IN BOWLING GREEN KY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY CAR AND SOLVE THIS ISSUE. ALSO EXHAUST SYSTEM ,CAUSE NOISE ! SMELL SMOKE INSIDE THE CAR !

VIN: [XXX] YEAR: 2003 MAKE: NISSAN MODEL: ALTIMA 2.5 S NUMBER OF OPEN RECALLS: 1 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: OPENS NEW WINDOW TAKES AWAY FROM VIN LOOKUP SECTION>03V-251RECALL DATE: JULY 14, 2003 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: P3142 THIS RECALL DATA LAST REFRESHED: NOV 20, 2016 RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE THE MANUFACTURER(AND NISSAN DEALER IN BOWLING GREEN KY) HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THIS ISSUE! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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 ! DURING WINTER I HAVE PROBLEMS DRIVING MY VEHICLE...SCARY TO DRIVE IT...TWICE HAPPENED TO TURN OFF ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING..DRIVING FROM KY TO NC LAST CHRISTMAS. I WANT YOU TO CALL DEALER HERE IN BOWLING GREEN KY,TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY VEHICLE, TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A BRIEF MOMENT AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V251000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TR

MY GAS TANK HAS A FOUR TO FIVE INCH SPLIT ON THE SEAM OF THE GAS TANK. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE TANK I BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF ASKING NISSAN CORPORATE TO WARRANTY THE GAS TANK AS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE A LARGE SPLIT ON THE SEAM. THERE MAY BE OTHER TANKS LIKE THIS AND WILL CATCH FIRE, I CURRENTLY DRIVE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON MY FRONT SEAT BECAUSE I HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO WORK.

I DROVE MY CAR FROM MS TO GA. WHEN I REACHED MY HOTEL AND TURNED MY CAR OFF AND TRIED TO LEAVE AGAIN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE LIGHT CHECKED THE NEXT THE AND IT CAME BACK READING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. WHEN I MADE IT BACK TO MS I GOT THE PART REPLACED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. 8 MONTHS LATER MY CAR STARTED CUTTING OFF AT RED LIGHTS AND NOT STARTING AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS READING FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. ONCE I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I JUST HAD THAT FIXED HE FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. REPLACED MY BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER. CARS STILL SHUTS OFF AND WONT CRANK. WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR STALLS ON ME DAILY AND SHUTS OFF AT RED LIGHTS. *TR

THIS PROBLEM STARTED GRADUALLY IT WOULD JUST TURN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING.IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IT WAS SCARY. THANK GOD IT WOULD TURN BACK ON RIGHT AWAY. I DECIDED TO SEE IF DOING A OIL CHANGE SPARK PLUGS AND AIR FILTER WOULD HELP IT DIDN'T . ONE SATURDAY ON SEPTEMBER 21 OF THIS YEAR ON LUNCH BREAK I NEED TO COME HOME REALLY QUICK IT STOPPED BEFORE I MADE IT HOME IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AT ALL! I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TURN BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE THEY SAID MY BATTERY WAS BAD SO I BOUGHT A NEW ONE. IT CONTINUED TO STOP ON ME. IT WOULD RUN FOR A FEW DAYS WITHOUT STOPPING AT ALL UNTIL JUST A FEW DAYS AGO IT DIDN'T WANT TO START AT ALL THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. NOW THAT HAS BEEN CHECKED OFF THE LIST. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS THEN TURNED ON AND THE CODES THAT IS BEING READ OUT IS FOR A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER 22 OF 2003 R 3022 / INFINITI WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

CAR JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THEN IT WILL NOT START, PAID 500 DOLLARS TO GET FIXED AND THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE PARTS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN, I FEEL THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED FOR MORE CARS.THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

MY VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING ON A HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERE DEADLY CRASH. WHEN I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE CAR IS NOW FINE. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA'S FOR THE SENSOR. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. OBVIOUSLY THEIR SELECTION CRITERIA IS INCORRECT SINCE MY CAR WAS IMPACTED BY THIS RECALL. I ASKED NISSAN TO INCLUDE MY VIN AND PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR AND WAS TOLD NOT SINCE MY CAR WAS OVER 7 YEARS OLD AND HAD MORE THEN 100,000 MILES. I AM SURE THEIR ARE OTHER 2003 ALTIMAS WITH THIS ISSUE AND IT CAN BE FATAL. NISSAN NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS IN ALL 2003 ALTIMA'S. FURTHERMORE I WANT NISSAN TO REIMBURSE ME THE 200.00 DOLLARS I INCURRED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. *TR

1. THE FLOOR UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER HAS ROTTED OUT MAKING THIS CAR VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. THE OTHER ONES I LIST BECAUSE I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LIFE OF THIS CAR AND BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF MULTIPLE STORIES OF THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. 2. THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. 3. GAS CAP WILL NOT CLOSE/OPEN PROPERLY 4. TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT CLOSE. 5. MOON/SUN ROOF IS OFF ITS HINGE AND WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. 5. PLASTIC PART OF THE KEY BROKE NOT ALLOWING IT TO ATTACH TO A KEY CHAIN. *TR

DOOR FOR GAS CAP BROKEN - WON'T CLOSE. *TR

THE GAS CAP REMAINS OPEN AND I HAVE SEEN IT ON MANY OF THE SAME MODEL ALTIMA. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS? THE GAS CAP DOOR DOES NOT SHUT. *TR

I RECENTLY FILED ODI # 10152516 (MY 2003 ALTIMA 2.5 HAD STALLED AT A RED LIGHT AND CUT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY) AND WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE INFORMATION: I TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY "FOUND CODE P0335-CR POS SENSOR," SO THEY REPLACED CRANK POS SENSOR. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SO OTHER OWNERS WON'T NEED TO SUFFER THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *NM

CAR, A 2003 2.5 S ALTIMA, STALLED WHILE AT RED LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE AND CHECK OIL LIGHTS LIT UP. CAR RESTARTED AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS. THEN, LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES LATER, CAR SEVERELY JERKED WHILE DRIVING 60 MILES PER HOUR. CAR'S HEATER WAS ON AT TIME. FELT LIKE VAPOR LOCK, BUT IT WAS TOO COLD OUTSIDE FOR THAT (40 DEGREES). CAR DID NOT HAVE MUCH ACCELERATION. HAD TO PULL OF FREEWAY. *NM

CAR STALLS OR DOESN'T START. REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND RESET COMPUTER CHIP.*JB

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WE PURCHASED CAR NEW, AND HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS.[FUEL PUMP 40K,STARTING PROBLEMS, SENSORS, AND RIGHT NOW CAR IS BACK IN REPAIR SHOP]WHEN I CALLED WAIKEM NISSAN IN CANTON,OHIO ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, YET MY MANUAL SAID IT WAS. *NM

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. WIFE HIT A SMALL PIECE OF ROADWAY DEBRIS, THOUGHT TO BE A PIECE OF TIRE DEBRIS, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO CRACK AND LEAK FUEL FROM TANK. DAMAGE WAS NOT DISCOVERED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. RUPTURE POSED A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD IF THERE HAD BEEN AN IGNITION SOURCE. GIVEN THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY A SMALL PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS, THE TANK, MADE OF FIBERGLASS/COMPOSITE MATERIAL, DOES NOT SEEM AS SUITABLE AS A STEEL TANK IN A MAJOR COLLISION. DEALER (NORTH TEXAS NISSAN) WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY OR PASS COMPLAINT TO MANUFACTURER, SO I HAD TO PAY OVER $700 IN REPLACEMENT COSTS. DATE OF INCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE.

THE DEALER REFUSES TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE REGION SPECIFIED FOR REPAIRS. *NM RECALL# 03V251000. *SC

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SAFETY RECALL REGARDING FUEL PUMP.*MR THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER CORRECTING THE DEFECT IN SOUTHERN STATES. *NM

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA SAFETY RECALL REGARDING DEFECT IN FUEL PUMP. *MR RECALL#03V251000. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER CORRECTING THE DEFECT IN SOUTHERN STATES. *JB

CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIR, AND ASKED IF VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE BEFORE REPAIR DATE, DEALER SAID YES. 2 DAYS BEFORE REPAIR DATE, VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. *LA VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN A QUARTER OF GAS ON IT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS LATER FOUND OUT THAT ICE BUILD-UP ON THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE STALLING. PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND DEALER ASSURED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ANOTHER RECALL THAT NEEDED REPAIR ON VEHICLE'S PRE-CATALYST. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT REPAIR COULDN'T BE DONE IN A MONTH AND A HALF DUE TO PARTS RESTRICTION. *LA

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PRE-CATALYST. THE CONSUMER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER BUT, THE APPOINTMENT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. *LA *JB

GASOLINE SMELL AROUND VEHICLE DUE TO LEAK ON EXHAUST PIPES. *LA THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE LEAKING WAS DUE TO FAULTY FUEL TANK GAS VALVES. *SC *JB