2003 Nissan Altima Engine And Engine Cooling Problems
NHTSA component category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How engine and engine cooling ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 883 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Nissan Altima overview page.
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
“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
“: 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
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2003 Nissan Altima have engine and engine cooling problems?
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most-reported problem area on the 2003 Nissan Altima: 256 of 883 complaints on file (29%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2003 Nissan Altima have in total?
883 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 41 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 25 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's engine and engine cooling category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
