2003 Nissan Altima Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 126about this part
- Share
- 14%of 883 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 109,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 126 complaints about the body and structure of the 2003 Nissan Altima, 14% of the 883 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 109,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My exhaust system is to low that it hits every bump even when driving slow ,when they lifted the car underneath the car there's a yellow mark from all the speed bumps .also the door handles from the drivers n passenger snap off when I try to enter my vehicle .the shocks don't know if this is why the car is so low .”
NHTSA complaint #11320916, filed 2020-04, 162,900 miles“Unusual rusting of underbody passenger side. Have become aware this is known issue on 2002 to 2007 altimas. 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10703834, filed 2015-04, 112,280 miles“Floorboards on drivers and passengers side is completely rusted thru. It is my 82 year old mothers car, which she bought new. The car has always been garage kept and taken care of meticulously by me and is in mint condition. No rust what so ever on the car (except the floorboards) and has only 50,000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #10916523, filed 2016-10, 50,000 miles“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!!!!!!!!!!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10704217, filed 2015-04, 100,000 miles“I have the notorious floorboard rust problem. A recall needs to be made. I have a foot size hole on the driver side floor board. It is rusted out all the way to the interior carpet. This is a huge problem Nissan needs to pay to fix. Not the consumers. This is obviously a defect on how the car was made.”
NHTSA complaint #10594933, filed 2014-05, 90,726 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11031705Apr 13, 2026CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label”…
- 11031704Apr 13, 2026CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label”…
- 10246452Nov 1, 2023Expiration Notification - Maxima/Altima Floor Pan ***** Dealer Announcement ***** On October 28, 2022, in connection with the court-approved settlement of class action litigation…
- 10246436Nov 1, 2023VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2002-2006 ALTIMA AND 2004-2008 MAXIMA; FLOOR PAN Voluntary Service Campaign ID # PC926 is no longer active. ï· Repair orders opened after this…
- 10232658Feb 27, 2023REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10232656Feb 27, 2023WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10226127Oct 28, 2022Maxima/Altima Floor Pan Voluntary Service Campaign ***** Dealer Announcement ***** Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign (VSC) on 36,858 specific model year 2002-2006…
- 10226126Oct 27, 2022VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2002-2006 ALTIMA AND 2004-2008 MAXIMA FLOOR PAN PC926 will expire on November 1, 2023.
- 10226065Oct 27, 2022VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2002-2006 ALTIMA AND 2004-2008 MAXIMA FLOOR PAN PC926 will expire on November 1, 2023.
- 10019885Mar 17, 2006Rear side member replacement.
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 14% |
| 2024 | 5 | 12% |
| 2022 | 2 | 6% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 7 | 4% |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 18 | 5% |
| 2016 | 29 | 5% |
| 2015 | 63 | 7% |
| 2014 | 52 | 5% |
| 2013 | 134 | 6% |
| 2012 | 33 | 8% |
| 2011 | 27 | 11% |
| 2010 | 30 | 8% |
| 2009 | 90 | 6% |
| 2008 | 312 | 30% |
| 2007 | 27 | 6% |
| 2006 | 221 | 27% |
| 2005 | 351 | 32% |
| 2004 | 42 | 15% |
| 2003 | 126 | 14% |
| 2002 | 128 | 12% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% |
| 2000 | 5 | 3% |
| 1999 | 4 | 5% |
| 1998 | 6 | 5% |
| 1997 | 8 | 7% |
| 1996 | 4 | 4% |
| 1995 | 4 | 2% |
| 1994 | 2 | 2% |
| 1993 | 7 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2003 Nissan Altima
450 complaintsEngine
117 complaintsElectrical system
89 complaintsFuel system
50 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
34 complaintsVehicle speed control
33 complaintsAir bags
28 complaintsOther or unknown
25 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsSteering
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Nissan Altima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology