Component Record

Nissan Altima 2003 Engine Problems

591 distinct owners reported a engine problem on the 2003 Nissan Altima - 67% of all complaints for this model year.

Recall Coverage591 complaints

591 complaints; 3 recall campaigns cover this system.

Campaigns Covering This System

03V084000Reported March 11, 2003 - 338,000 vehicles potentially affected

Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on March 11, 2003. The campaign covers an estimated 338,000 vehicles across all affected models.

03V455000Reported November 17, 2003 - 630,000 vehicles potentially affected

Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on November 17, 2003. The campaign covers an estimated 630,000 vehicles across all affected models.

06V242000Reported July 7, 2006 - 294,166 vehicles potentially affected

Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on July 7, 2006. The campaign covers an estimated 294,166 vehicles across all affected models.

Other Systems on This Model Year

Vehicle Structure128 Electrical System90 Fuel and Propulsion System51 Power Train34 Vehicle Speed Control33 Air Bags29

How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.