CarComplaints.com Notes: Here's a disturbing trend for the 2002 Nissan Altima: the engine starts burning oil like crazy, the catalytic converter goes bad, the head gasket blows and eventually the entire engine needs replacement. Sound familiar? Like a script from a horror film, these Altimas seem doomed to fail around 95k miles.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,372 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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. This is a safety concern because my feet are about to poke through the floorboard allowing exhaust into my car. I have a call into the attorneys for the class action lawsuit and will not be buying another Nissan because of their lack of concern for this known issue.
I am the original owner of a 2003 Altima. Recently I was notified while getting my tires rotated that I have a large hole rusting thru the bottom of my car in the front passenger floor. The affected area is roughly 18" long X 10" wide. This is a huge safety concern as no one ever looks under the car to check for rust. Luckily no injury occurred but it's just an accident waiting to happen. How many injuries or worse yet deaths will need to occur before a recall is issued. Clearly there is a problem yet Nissan is neglecting to act upon it.
Our altman failed inspection due to a 9 inch hole in the passenger side floor. This appears to be a widespread issue with this model. There are enough complaints regarding this issue so that it to be a recall.
On March 17, 2015 my mechanic discovered front floorboards rusted through from inside vehicle. I can put my fist through one of the holes. The rusted floorboards are a safety issue. This is a design issue well-known to Nissan and previously reported to NHTSA by other Nissan Altima owners. Cost to repair is over $3,000. My Nissan Altima is low mileage and has been well-maintained. It has been garaged and is otherwise in great condition. I cannot in all good conscience donate this vehicle to charity and certainly will get a greatly reduced trade-in value from any buy foolish enough to buy this Nissan. I reported the problem to Nissan, but received no reply. I plan to join a class-action suit against Nissan and also ask the NHTSA to issue a recall that forces Nissan to remedy to problem or compensate me for my loss of value.
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the front driver and passenger side floorboards prematurely rusted to the point of deterioration. The contact mentioned that there were holes near both sides of the floorboards. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 185,000.
- Hanover, MD, USA
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The 2003 Nissan Altima that we purchased, used, 6 months ago has significant rusting/floor rot on the driver and passenger side. The holes are getting bigger and wind rushes through when driving. Considering the broad range of Altima affected, I can't believe there has not been a recall yet. This is definitely a safety issue for driver and passenger.
Body panels completely rusted through below drivers and passengers floor mats with only the floor mats and carpet preventing your foot from contacting pavement. This could become life threatening if your foot were to become stuck in the hole and not able to engage the brake pedal. This is a common safety issue after finding many similar complaints.
The 2003 Altima 3.5 SE sedan has significant floor pan rust on the drivers and passengers sides with sections completely rusted through. This is consistent with hundreds of other reports I have seen on the obvious design flaw with the Altima. The rest of the underside of the vehicle shows minimal surface rust. Assume that this will be a recall item soon as this is unacceptable. Aside from the floor pan issue, the vehicle has performed well and has been durable. Mileage is approx. 150K.
My floor boards have been rusting for some time now. I kept feeling the carpet on my drivers side getting soft, it didn't feel like I had a whole lot of stability. I looked under the car and I saw a big hole which had formed from rust. I could see the carpet from the bottom of my car which now gets wet when it's raining. I am afraid the carpet is going to wear out and I will have no protection to the outside elements.
My 2003 Nissan Altima, which I've owned since brand new, is developing a rot hole on the passenger side chassis. A visit to a local Nissan dealer last month confirmed this but did not offer to cover it under a goodwill warranty. I did not contact Nissan thinking it was a one-time issue. However, based on an nbc news report from 4/6/2015, I've learned this is a growing issue. Please work with Nissan in obtaining a safety recall.
My passenger floor board is completely rusted out. This is where my younger daughter sits. We had no idea that it had been that way for the last year until we could hear the highway coming up through the floor. I am a single mom and had to go to a neighbors who pulled up the carpet to find no floor underneath. This is extremely dangerous and Nissan needs to take responsibility!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rust through the underbelly of the driver's and passenger's side, can feel the carpeting above. Worried about resale and safety. I see this defect is a very widespread concern and needs to be addressed.
I took my car for inspection and found out that there was a hole in the bottom of my floor board. I had to have this repaired in order to pass inspection. My car is garage kept and I only have 67,000 miles on my car as of today's date. My mechanic told me to purchase a new car within the next year. This car is in excellent condition except for this problem. I thought I would be able to get a decent amount for a trade but who would want this car. Until today I thought I just got a bad car but watching the "today" I know this is wide spread. Can I get reimbursed for my costs?
Floor on drivers side is rusted and crumbling off-getting thinner-approx foot and half in length. Passenger side is about foot long crack. I noticed this myself about a year ago. Of all the oil changes I have had on the car no mechanic has ever mentioned the corrosion on my 2003 Nissan Altima.
The floor of the driver and passenger side were rusted and had to be replaced. That was over 2 years ago. I recently noticed that the drivers side floor, near the gas pedal is also starting to dip and may be rusted. After watching a news report I decided to file a complaint since there are many other people who have been effected by this problem and I now believe it to be an issue relate to the design of the car.
Unusual rusting of underbody passenger side. Have become aware this is known issue on 2002 to 2007 Altima. Mechanic identified this to me several months ago but I thought it was isolated incident until recently. Clearly safety problem if it rusts all the through the floor board. I have never had a car do this including ones older and with more miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Elkhorn, WI, USA