2003 Nissan Altima: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Aug 7, 2014 · Engine · 130,000 miles · AL · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 nissan altima. While driving 60 MPH, the front end of the vehicle caught fire. The fire department extinguished the flames, but the vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Oct 25, 2012 · Engine · 68,835 miles · NJ

I bought nissan altima 2003 on august 20 2012. I drove it around 800 miles and did oil change at lube express they changed oil at 67290 miles, after driving for around 200 miles car was making weird noise from engine. I got help of a local mechanic, he confirmed that there was no engine oil in the car !!! He put full 5 quart engine oil. I again got it inspected at lube express, they also confirmed there was no leakage. The third refill does not last for long. After 3 days again 5 quart engine oil was disappeared from engine. I again got it inspected at nissan dealership on 10/09/2012 they also confirmed that there was no oil leaks and they did burning oil consumption test, again there was no engine oil in the car. They had suggested me to change entire engine!!!. I can not drive car at all. The engine may caught fire !!! I surfed lot of websites and found that in nissan altima 2003, lots of people have experienced the problem and it had occurred after 60,000 miles I.e. After warranty expires and same happened with me as well. I complained at nissan but they replied that they can not do anything since warranty expires. Problem in altima occurs after original warranty expires!!!! Nissan is selling cars which can cause serious accidents and I want to stop this. Problem in engine occurs after warranty expires. Please help since this may case loss of life and serious accidents. Nissan can not escape from its social responsibility since they are selling junk cars to americans. I can provide lot of website and blogs to prove that nissan sold 2003-altima with faulty engines. They must recall altima 2.5l - 2003 and they must find amicable solution for this problem. I know that I am at a big loss but my effort will help to save lot of lives who are driving nissan cars on highways with huge risk. I trust in god and law of the united states of america. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 14, 2012 · Engine · NJ

2003 nissan altima. Consumer writes in regards to a reimbursement for engine expense *tgw the consumer stated the catalytic converter failed, which caused damage to the engine. There was excessive smoke coming from the exhaust. According the invoice, there was possible ring wear, and possible damage to the pistons.

Filed Jun 21, 2011 · Engine · 123,358 miles · CT · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. The contact heard a loud noise coming from the engine and noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. She then discovered that there was no oil in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that there was no oil leak however, the vehicle was burning oil rapidly. The dealer advised the contact that her vehicle was not included in any recalls. The manufacturer was not notified and the vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were 123,358.

Filed Sep 9, 2010 · Engine · 134,874 miles · NC

2003 nissan smoking, burning oil, sputtering. Diagnosed (by $95.00 diagnostic I was required by nissan to get a nissan dealership) as catalytic converter has gone bad due to overheating, this has caused it to fall apart and go into the motor. Now needs new catalytic converter and motor. There was a recall on 2003 altimas for this very problem, a problem that could cause a car to catch on fire. According to nissan my VIN was not included in the recall therefore I never received any notice of it but now I have the very issues that the recall was to prevent but they refuse to cover the repair costs. This makes me question if they mistakenly left out some 2003 models that should have been included in the recall, and I have been riding around all this time with the chance my car could catch on fire, this is scary. There are tons of complaints online about this very issue and no one seems to be able to get nissan to respond, I feel like they need to go back and revisit that recall and maybe add more cars to it before someone gets seriously hurt. I filed a claim with nissan yesterday, in less than 24 hours they called back to say there was nothing they would do for me. Not sure how much they looked into this because I called it in around 3pm yesterday and they called me back before 10am this morning. This issues needs to be addressed or someone is going to get hurt due to their car catching on fire.

Filed Aug 19, 2010 · Engine · 100,000 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle was rapidly consuming oil and overheating. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) yet the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where the mechanic installed a pre-catalyst and oxygen sensor but did not remedy the failure. In addition, there was excessive black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe after a routine oil change and smoke coming from under the hood. The dealer advised having a diagnostic performed at the contact's expense. The contact declined. The manufacturer advised having the vehicle diagnosed before they would determine if they would assist with repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 the current mileage was 142,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2010 · Engine · 125,000 miles · IA · fire

I had a similar, yet extreme experience. I took my car in to get the oil changed at a local chevy dealership (it was cheap.) when I went to pick up my car, the technician told me that he pulled less than a 8 oz. Of oil from the engine. He said he couldn't find any leaks, but to keep an eye on the oil everyday. I left the dealership and decided to take the car for a drive to "reoil" the engine. The engine had been running a bit funny: not starting right away, trouble shifting for about 48 hours. I got about five miles at ~55 MPH, and while accelerating from a left turn, heard something fall out of the engine. After that, white smoke started pouring out the exhaust. I knew the engine blew. The steering and brakes went out, and I got it to the side of the road (somehow.) the black smoke started pouring in from the vents. I don't remember stopping or getting out, but I remember turning around and seeing flames out the driver's side of the engine. The fire department arrived and put the fire out, but the car was totaled by my insurance company. The engine and interior, especially the driver's side, were destroyed. The backseat was smoke damaged. The trunk and three tires were relatively unharmed.

Filed Aug 22, 2009 · Engine · 79,868 miles · CA

I bought a 2003 nissan altima in jan, 2008. It had 53,000 mi. At 78,000 mi the service engine soon light came on. I took it to my mechanic it was diagnosed that there was a blown head gasket. I had him replace the gasket. At about 79,000 mi. There was a burning smell coming from under the car. I thought it was on fire so I pulled over but there was no fire. When I went to accelerate there was no power. The ses light was on so I took it to the dealer in ontario, ca it was the catalytic converter(it was clogged) they replaced it free because of the federal emission warranty. Then they told me that I was burning oil and that the probable cause was the converter, but told me that they would not replace the engine because someone else had worked on it. They said that if I had brought the car to them they would have replaced it. There was no notice about engine replacement when the gasket goes bad (which they said was also caused by the converter getting clogged up) some one needs to force nissan of north america to recall the 2003 altima and fix the engine and converter design. There could be a catastrophic engine failure that could cause an accident at high speeds.

Filed Apr 14, 2009 · Engine · 100,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle burns oil. The vehicle had just undergone an oil change and all of the oil has suddenly left out of the engine. She took the vehicle to a mechanic, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. She is concerned that the vehicle could ignite into flames due to the burning oil. The current mileage was 129,000 and failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Feb 22, 2008 · Seats · 52,940 miles · VA · fire · 1 injury

I was driving down the road going approximately 60 MPH, when my passengers and I start smelling something burning. We looked around the car didn't see any thing, but the smell got stronger and my seat was getting hot. Then all of a sudden the car started to get smoky and flames started coming up from the floor and the back of my seat. I hurried up and pulled over and put it out with a sheet. Burnt my hand in the process. I do have power seats and heated seats not sure if that caused it.

Filed May 26, 2006 · Engine, Fuel system · 88,000 miles · GA · fire

One year into the ownership of the vehicle, while driving, the car would simple shut off. If you were moving at the time it would eventually come back on to the running position. If you happened to be at a stop sign or a light and the "stutter" would happen it would completely shut off then you would have to try and start the car again. It would turn over but sometimes it would take several tries to start the car again. This car was purchased in 2003 as a new car. Because of these instances of the car shutting off there have been two different accidents. Thank the lord none with any personal injuries. These occasions of the car shutting off became more and more prevalent, happening everyday almost all the time towards the end of the life of the car. The car is now not drivable because it literally caught on fire while driving it. It was towed home and there it sits. We are still paying on the vehicle and have to have full coverage on it.

Filed May 13, 2006 · Acceleration, Electrical · 47,000 miles · OH

1. Car stalled and once I held the gas pedal down and was able to hold the key over and crank the engine a huge puff of black smoke came out of the car and it seemed to run fine, although the service engine light came on. It eventually went away after a week or so. 2) a week or so later I started the car, it turned over fine but had no power, it simply would not go. It did not even realize I was pushing on the accelerator. 3) I removed the key from the ignition in frustration and then tried again. The second time the car worked fine. It revved when I put my foot on the gas pedal and then took off just fine. 4) this began to be a more common occurrence and if I took the key out or waited a few minutes it would straighten up. 5) not now! The car won't move forward. And now it is even starting to stall out and flood. 6) now the battery even seems to be running down. This has all taken place in the matter of about the past 5 weeks and now it won't move forward or run at all.