2003 Nissan Altima window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving 65-75 MPH, the sunroof detached from the vehicle. There were no reported injuries. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 177,000.

NHTSA complaint #11450747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

WE LIVE IN PA. WE TOOK OUR 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN FOR INSPECTION AND WERE TOLD THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANELS WERE RUSTED THOUGH TO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, AND OUR WINTERS HAVE BEEN MILD. NOTHING EVER HAS BEEN SPILLED IN THE CAR AND THE CARPET HAVE NEVER BEEN WET. HAD 4 LOCAL BODY SHOPS GIVE ESTIMATES (FROM $900 TO $1500), ALL THAT SAID THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A 10 YEAR OLD CAR AND THE REST OF THE CAR LOOKS GOOD. SPOKE WITH NISSAN CUSTOMER AFFAIRS WHO HAD US TAKE IT TO A NISSAN AFFILIATED BODY SHOP. ONE OF THE BODY SHOPS RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DRAINAGE OF THE SUNROOF OR WINDSHIELD, FORCING WATER BETWEEN THE FLOOR PAN AND ROCKER BOTTOM. MENTIONED THAT A PLUG ISN'T SEALED OR INSTALLED CORRECTLY. I CALLED NISSAN AND THE CASE WAS SENT TO A REGIONAL CUSTOMER AFFAIR REPRESENTATIVE. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF 2-3 CALLS PER DAY LEAVING MESSAGES WITH MY CONTACT NUMBER, I FINALLY HEARD BACK TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT "THE DECISION IS FINAL AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE ANY HELP IN FIXING THE PROBLEM" OR STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT/DEFECT/DESIGN FLAW. *TR UPDATED 04/09/15.

NHTSA complaint #10510244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

1. THE FLOOR UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER HAS ROTTED OUT MAKING THIS CAR VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. THE OTHER ONES I LIST BECAUSE I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LIFE OF THIS CAR AND BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF MULTIPLE STORIES OF THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. 2. THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. 3. GAS CAP WILL NOT CLOSE/OPEN PROPERLY 4. TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT CLOSE. 5. MOON/SUN ROOF IS OFF ITS HINGE AND WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. 5. PLASTIC PART OF THE KEY BROKE NOT ALLOWING IT TO ATTACH TO A KEY CHAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10466041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

STARTED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS WON'T GO UP ALL THE WAY AND IF THEY DO THEN THEY ROLL DOWN ALL BY THEMSELVES. THEY GO UP AND DOWN AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND NITE. THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS ITSELF WHETHER THE KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. YOU ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE TWO SETS OF KEYS BECAUSE IF THE WINDOW IS DOWN AND YOU REACH IN TO UNLOCK IT THE ALARM GOES OFF AS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE CAR. DOOR THAT GOES OVER THE GAS CAP BENT DURING REGULAR USE AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. NISSAN SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS ITEM AND JUST TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND PAY TO GET IT FIXED. SAW SEVERAL OTHER ALTIMAS OF THE SAME VINTAGE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10353465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 NISSAN. THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT A RECALL ISSUE WITH THE 2003 ALTIMA, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE CAR WILL SPORADICALLY NOT START. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES EARLY ON, THE PLUGS WERE ALSO REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS MISFIRING, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES, THE AC AND THE HEATER DID NOT WORK (AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THEM), WATER SLOSHING SOUNDS, AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ROOTER. AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED STOPPING SPORADICALLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD FIXED IT. ON MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY, (3 MONTHS LATER) THE CAR STALLED ON US ON THE ROAD AND SHE MISSED HER OWN 3RD BIRTHDAY PARTY. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY (LESS THAN 3 YEARS FROM THE TIME IT WAS REPLACED). 2 WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I WAS ON THE ROAD WITH MY 11 MONTH OLD INFANT, MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED!!! THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS JUST INCHES AWAY FROM REAR-ENDING ME WITH MY INFANT IN THE BACK SEAT FACING BACK. I CALLED NISSAN HEADQUARTER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN AND MYSELF IN THE CAR. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WE DRIVE ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAY IN THE COUNTRY (CA ? 405). MY CHILDREN'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER EACH TIME I DRIVE THEM IN THIS CAR. I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT CAR FROM NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THAT. THIS VEHICLE IS MY MAIN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR. I FEAR BEING KILLED WITH MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR; THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHY HAS NISSAN REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM BEING KILLED IN THEIR POORLY BUILT-MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE?

NHTSA complaint #10214004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL ON THE ENGINE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE AND NISSAN HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM**NAR**CC THE DEALER STATED THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS INOPERABLE, THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10194352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A WET HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10167699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

FAULTY DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS. WHEN THE CAR IS LOCKED, APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER, THE HEADLIGHTS BLINK ONCE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AUTOMATICALLY ROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10166282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

NISSAN ALTIMA 2003, WITH SEVERAL FAILURES, LEAKING GASKET, ETC. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED, THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED, THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK, THE RADIATOR CAP AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AND THE WHEELS RUSTED.

NHTSA complaint #10113626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10097884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING A BURNING SMELL/ODOR CAME THROUGH THE VENTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10057562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, INCLUDING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND THE HEAT, BACK WINDOW SHATTERED.

NHTSA complaint #10055710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHEN USING THE HEATER THE VENTS BLEW HOT AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE VENTS BLEW OUT COLD AIR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES TRYING TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER FINALLY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE WAS NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10053310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

CONSUMER STATED WINDSHIELD HAD SOME DISTORTION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THEY WERE LIKE HEAT WAVES IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE SALESMEN NOTICED IT ON THE SECOND DAY ALONG WITH OTHER NEW ALTIMA'S ON THE LOT. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL THE SECOND DAY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BUT NOTHING WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10031255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.