The driver and passenger floor panels are totally rusted out with significant holes extending into the vehicle. My research indicates the root cause of this problem is a design defect. Rusting began around the drainage holes because they were not properly sealed by the manufacturer. I am the original owner of this vehicle and it has been kept in pristine condition. Nissan is fully aware of this problem as there are thousands of complaints online. They should be held accountable to remedy this situation as it is a safety hazard.

- Morgantown , WV, USA

Had my car inspected, was told in will need floor pans, extreme rust.no rust any where else on car. Confirmed by Nissan dealer.contacted Nissan North America, with no results.this is a design defect that many Altima's have.can anything be done? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Phila, PA, USA

I took my car to get fixed last week and my mechanic told me the bad news. Both the passenger side and drivers side undercarriage is completed rotted out. He said Nissan Altima are known for this and he has actually fixed 5 of the same year (2003) for the same problem over the last 3 years. This is a known issue with Nissan and there are a million complaints all over the internet regarding this same exact issues for 2003 Altima. Why are there no recalls" it is happening all over the us so it is not the roadways and salt to blame. No Honda or Toyota are having this issue at 83K miles. So I called an autobody place and asked them to quote me the job. Without even telling them what kind of car I have, he said let me guess, you have a 2003 Altima. What the heck? Nissan knows of this issue just by seeing all the people filing complaints for rusted out floors. My car is down to the carpet and will not pass inspection. I get a car wash all the time and it only has 83K miles, it's older, but I never drive it! why doesn't anyone file a class action lawsuit" this is nuts!

- North Chelmsford, MA, USA

Noticed the floor board on the passenger and driver side are completely rotted through. Date noticed was 4/13/2014. This issue was first noticed at least a year ago but the floor panel was not yet completely rotted away. It was just a simple case of surface rust. It was treated with rustoleum black primer to try and slow the rust down. This is a well know issue and it needs to be addressed by Nissan and not just thrown away.

- Wareham, MA, USA

Same floor rot/rust as reported by thousands of others with the same issue. Contact Nissan and they send you to dealer to verify problem. Once it's verified they say it's too far out of warranty to offer any assistance. Some people get assistance after filing multiple complaints but most of us get the denial and runaround.

- Ludowici, GA, USA

Floor board on the drivers side is rotting which left a sizable hole. This problem is getting worse and allows debris from street to enter vehicle.

- Massapequa, NY, USA

A few years ago approx. 2009 or so I noticed a whole in my passenger side floor board while getting an oil change. It seemed like it came out of no where. It is a very large rusted out whole under the passengers side where your feet would be. I have no other rust on or under the vehicle but in one spot!!! my mechanic looked into it and said that when Nissan made these vehicles they positioned a tube that carries liquid to in the car versus out of the car. I then called and went to Nissan and spoke with them. There a man told me that it is a big issue with 2003-2005 Altima but Nissan would not recall it so it would cost $1600 for a new floor board. While searching the internet I find that this is a huge issue! and quite the safety concern. There is a whole in hundreds of vehicles if not thousands and Nissan will not take responsibility. I would love for someone to do something about this before someone falls through a moving vehicle. Most people do not look under their car on a monthly or bi monthly basis and it's very dangerous. My hope is that if everyone who owns this vehicle finds out about this they will take necessary precautions to make sure that their passengers are safe. And also shame on Nissan for not caring enough of their customers to not want to admit their mistakes!!

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

The floor structure under the driver and passenger side are rusted out. This issue is well known for models 2002 - 2006 Altima. Nissan and dealerships refuse to do anything about. I initially complained when vehicle had 52,000 miles on it and they refused to do anything than now at 120,000 it totally rusted out and won't pass inspection. Please complain.

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being inspected by the dealer, it was found that the driver and passenger's side front floor boards were corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 159,000....updated 12/03/13 updated 12/05/2013

- Manassas, VA, USA

Purchased this car from a dealer in 2011. Three weeks ago while putting new brakes, rims and tires noticed the whole under carriage on the driver side is rusted out and falling a part in chunks. Took it to a body shop to get a repair estimate, it will be $2,700 to fix it. The dealer I purchased the vehicle is not much help and the Nissan seems to be aware of the issue but not willing to help or have a recall. I live in Maryland where a state mandated inspection is required before I can sell or trade in this car. The car will not pass inspection without this issue resolved.

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

In early August 2013, I noticed a rusted piece of metal hanging from the under carriage of my 2003 Nissan Altima. During a recent oil change, I asked the mechanic to look and see where the piece of metal was coming from. I was told that the car's floor panel on the passenger's side had completely rusted through leaving a gaping hole the size of a football in front of where the passenger seat is located. After doing some research on the internet, I discovered that this is a wide spread problem covering 3 model years, 2003 thru 2006 and has affected thousands of Altima. My 2003 Altima was a "certified used car" that was purchased at arlington Nissan, arlington heights, il in 2006. It's current mileage is 126,000. There is not one spot of rust on any other part of the car. It has been garage kept since I purchased it. I called arlington Nissan on 9-11-13, to ask if there had been some sort of recall on the vehicle about this specific problem. I was told that although they were aware of the problem, no recall had been initiated by Nissan corporate. They told me to contact Nissan's Consumer Affairs division who then instructed me to provide them with a diagnostic report complete with estimated repair costs from arlington Nissan. Nissan's Consumer Affairs division would then turn the claim over to the regional office that oversees arlington Nissan. That office would get back to me with a decision on repairing the defect. There was no promise of them fixing the problem at no cost or reimbursing me the costs of having an independent body shop do the repair. Now it is the waiting game. The NHTSA should mandate a national recall on this obvious defect as it poses a definite safety issue for anyone driving a 2003-2006 Nissan Altima.

- Bartlett, IL, USA

2003 Nissan Altima (127,000 miles) - passenger and driver side floor boards are completed rusted. Nissan is not helping with this known defect. How many complaints before NHTSA gets involved? over 70 reports on the this site and hundreds more if you perform a simple internet search.

- Upper Darby, PA, USA

I had to replace the steering at 84000 miles because the steering had a knocking sound everytime you turn it left or right, or when you go over a bump, ,,,it was very slack and eventually it felt as though it would fall out at anytime.....was advised at the dealership that it needed to be replaced no explanation could have been given. This was done yesterday 08/22/2013. Now there is a very huge rust hole on the passenger side under the car...this car is 10yrs old with 84000 miles and I take very good care of my car..I bought it in 2006 with about 25000 miles. The hole is about twelve inches by six inches. The lighting is so poor most times at night I always have to use myhigh beam....worst car I ever had...there were so many other problems I have had with it. This car spent many weeks at the dealership...

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the floor boards were completely corroded on both the driver and passenger side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the technician was unable to determine how to remedy the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 140,000.

- Lagonquin, IL, USA

TL- the contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that when inside the vehicle she saw an object dangle from the floor. She went to retrieve the object and discovered a hole on the front passenger side floor board. The vehicle has not been repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer has not been notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000. The VIN was unavailable.-

- Elyria, OH, USA

I purchased my 2003 Nissan Altima from the dealer 16 months ago and just learned that my front driver and passenger side floor is rusted completely out. I was walking up to the car and noticed something hanging underneath bent down to look under the car and soon realized it was rust. The floor was rusted out on both sides driver and passenger. I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs and try refused to fx it. I have 4 more years to pay for a car that I will soon not be able to drive. After checking online I have learned this a common problem with this year car and Nissan should be liable.

- Kendall Park, NJ, USA

No crash or injury - the floor has rusted out all the way through. Nissan refuses to acknowledge the issue and there are tons of forums and complaints regarding this issue.

- Coatesville, PA, USA

Floor boards completely rusted through. No rust anywhere else on vehicle.

- Plymouth, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that something was protruding from the under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the frame was rusted and bore a hole on the passenger's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 120,000.

- Minnetonka, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was noticed that the driver front floorboard was completely rusted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was confirmed that the floorboard was perforated due to rust. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 98,000.

- Syosset, NY, USA