Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2003 Nissan Altima Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling — runs 4.7× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
883Complaints
10Recalls
41Crashes
13Fires
25Injured
2Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling (29% of complaints) — is covered by 3 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints here are 4.7× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 256 · 29% | Recalled | Recall 03V455000 · Recall 06V242000 · Recall 03V084000 |
| Engine | 117 · 13.3% | Recalled | Recall 03V455000 · Recall 06V242000 · Recall 03V084000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 106 · 12% | Recalled | Recall 03V455000 · Recall 06V242000 · Recall 03V084000 |
| Structure:body | 94 · 10.6% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 75 · 8.5% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System | 40 · 4.5% | Recalled | Recall 03V455000 · Recall 06V242000 · Recall 03V084000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 883 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 10 campaigns
Engine And Engine Cooling
NHTSA campaign 03V455000 · 2003 · reported 11/17/2003
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling
NHTSA campaign 06V242000 · 2006 · reported 07/07/2006
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 06E023000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E064000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 07E054000 · 2007 · reported 07/25/2007
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 07E063000 · 2007 · reported 08/21/2007
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
NHTSA campaign 03V251000 · 2003 · reported 07/14/2003
THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 07E074000 · 2007 · reported 09/14/2007
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe
NHTSA campaign 03V084000 · 2003 · reported 03/11/2003
EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP…”NHTSA complaint 10167171 — filed 08/31/2006 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
“SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING AND CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. I PUT IT BACK INTO GEAR…”NHTSA complaint 10167004 — filed 08/29/2006 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
“: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE FAILURE THERE WAS A COUPLE MINUTE DELAY BEFORE THE…”NHTSA complaint 10166834 — filed 08/29/2006 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Altima?
Engine and engine cooling issues are the most-reported category, cited in 256 of 883 NHTSA complaints (29%), followed by engine (117), engine and engine cooling:engine (106), structure:body (94). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2003 Nissan Altima have?
883 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 41 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, and 25 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.
Does the 2003 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes — 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2003 Nissan Altima's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
