2003 Nissan Altima: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Aug 23, 2013 · Body, Lights · 73,000 miles · PA · crash

I had to replace the steering at 84000 miles because the steering had a knocking sound everytime you turn it left or right,or when you go over a bump,,,,it was very slack and eventually it felt as though it would fall out at anytime.....was advised at the dealership that it needed to be replaced no explanation could have been given . This was done yesterday 08/22/2013. Now there is a very huge rust hole on the passenger side under the car ...this car is 10yrs old with 84000 miles and I take very good care of my car..I bought it in 2006 with about 25000 miles. The hole is about twelve inches by six inches. The lighting is so poor most times at night I always have to use myhigh beam ....worst car I ever had...there were so many other problems I have had with it . This car spent many weeks at the dealership. ..

Filed Jan 9, 2012 · Engine · 99,608 miles · CA

We have a 2003 nissan altima, we had problems with the catalyic converter, we changed it, in aug 2011, we learned about the problem on-line. What we did not read about is how the converter goes bad and throws parts of it into the engine and has the engine burn oil and eventually throw a rod. We took the car into the dealership for an oil change in nov 2011, traveled 500 miles and the engine goes out we told the service advisor there was a knocking noise in the engine, he said this could be due to low oil, if the noise continues after oil change we will diagnose the noise. Well, the noise stopped, after the engine gave out, the dealership is telling us that we are at fault cause we did not get the diagnosis done on the vehicle. I asked them is the test would determine that a rod was going to blow, he said no, then why pay for the test. I have been reading on line and see there are several people who have had the same problem with the vehicle, and nissan corp will not do anything about this, people are talking about filing a class action law suit, but there is no record of anyone filing one. I recently talked to a friend, who's daughter has the same vehicle, they just went thru the same problem with the blown engine, we got estimates to replace the engine, $3500-$5500 for another engine and labor, this is crazy, I called several used or rebuilt engine places and this engine is hard to come by, guess lots of people are blowing the engines for the same reason, yet nissan corp can not file a recall or help out with the costs, especially where they knew about the bad catalyic converter and blowing debris back into the engine. That is a shame, nissan is known for good strong dependable vehicles, and for them not wanting to help the consumers is going to hurt them in the long run. I honestly can say I would never purchase another nissan again.

Filed Jun 27, 2011 · Engine · 100,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, a loud ticking noise began to come from the engine. The contact looked under the engine and noticed that the oil reservoir was empty, but there were no signs of leakage. Oil was added to the vehicle, but the failure continued. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the catalytic converter was faulty. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer for further investigation. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Mar 31, 2011 · Engine · 91,050 miles · RI

The car would intermittently stall and sometimes would lurch when driving. We replaced spark plugs and a coils, but periodically the check engine light would still come on. I was driving around town and was stopped at a stop light. As I took off from the light, the car stalled and suddenly stopped. I tried to restart the vehicle, the engine revved and smoke filled the interior of the vehicle and a strong burning oil/gas smell. I then had to have the car towed as it would not turn over. The person behind me nearly ran into me since the car stopped so suddenly. The mechanic replaced the crank position sensor and the pre catalyst and catalytic converters. It was discovered at that time that the vehicle had used about 2.5 qts of oil and no oil light came on. Today, I drove the car for the 2nd time since the repair and it is losing power and lurching while on the highway. There is a ticking noise in the engine, and the car shudders like it is going to stall. It is being brought back to the mechanic today. The engine light started flashing and then turned solid. Clouds of smoke began coming out of the exhaust. I'm afraid that the car will turn off while I'm driving on the highway and cause a crash. This problem has been ongoing for 2 years (begin around 65,000 miles) and occurs at various speeds from stopped to 65mph.

Filed Mar 10, 2010 · Engine · 67,000 miles · CA

My 2003 nissan altima started making a knocking sound on the engine and runs rough. I tried using fuel system cleaner but it did not work. I also tried oil treatments and changing the oil but non worked. I took to a nissan certified mechanic and told me intake valve screws were loose and creating a knocking sound that the butterfly is half open causing the car to idle roughly. The mechanic also said the this happens alot with this cars, altimas and sentra and that there is a recall for 2004 and 2005 models but not 2003 even if it has the same engine. He also informed me that if I don't get it fixed the it will break my engine and could cause an accident. On the same car I also had to pay for a crank sensor the failed on me. Nissan said the same thing, recall on the 2004 and 2005 but not 2003. It caused my car to stall and run roughly. Took it to nissan and they said nothings wrong and take it back to them when the check engine light turns on. After a month it did turn on. Luckily have warranty but they still charge me. Please help, I'm not looking for someone to replace my car just to have nissan fix what they messed up on.

Filed Oct 28, 2009 · Suspension · 76,119 miles · FL

I bought a nissan 2003 altima 2.5s from drive time on 10-09-2009 , and as soon as I began to drive the cars I started to feel and hear a vibration and loud knocking sound coming from the front left tire. I took the car to a mechanic and was told that the problem is the front strut mount kit that is rattling and make loud bang which make the front left tier shack violently as if it was going to come off the car. This happens every time I drive on even roads or bumpy roads. The remedy is to replace the strut mount kit completely the cost with labor is $360.00. I just bought this car from drive time and they refuse to fix the part. They say that it's not a safety issue, but I as the drive feel it is, when the tire feel like it's about to come of the car. As of yet there has not been any accidents, but I feel that if not corrected this may lead to a crash and or a fatality.

Filed Jan 22, 2009 · Engine · 61,174 miles · CT

I brought my 2003 nissan altima into countyline nissan in middlebury, ct; the dealership I purchased the car from. It was 5-02-08 and I had 58,294 miles on it, I told them I heard a knocking sound in the engine in second and third gear, I also told them it sounded as if the engine bogged down while I was driving up hills. I explained to them that my warranty was going be up at 60,000 miles and wanted them to fix the problem before the warranty was up. I also told them that while they had my car to do an oil change. When I went to pick up my car later that day they told me they were unable to duplicate my concern, meaning that they could not hear the noticeably obvious sound the engine had been making. I assured them that I definitely heard a noise and that my car was acting weird , they assured me there was nothing wrong, they gave me my oil change and sent me on my way. On 9-21-08 at approx. 61,174 the faint knocking I heard suddenly turned into a loud banging in my engine. I stopped my car and not knowing what else to do checked my oil. There was not a drop in it, after I had just had my oil changed not even three thousand miles earlier, I knew it had to be the dealerships fault. I brought my car to the dealership on 9-22-08 and told them of the problem, they said they would look at it and call me back. A few hours later I received a call from the manager, he told me I needed a new engine and it would costs $4,500. I told him I would not be paying that because it was there fault and they needed to do something to fix it. He said the only thing he could do was replace the engine for $4,500. I then had my car towed to my house, I looked into my options and needed a car asap so I had another shop replace the engine for a little cheaper. I called nissan corp. And told them of the situation they said they couldn't help me. I have found numerous complaints of similar situations and I have also found a recall on the same engine in canada.

Filed Nov 29, 2006 · Engine · 54,000 miles · TN

Had the ECM reprogram done a few weeks ago. Couple of weeks later, check engine light came on, dealer reset the ECM again. Past week, check engine light came on again. Dealer now says the crank position sensor is bad. We had the "stalling engine without warning" issue in nov 2003. At that time and under severe pressure from me, the dealer replaced the crank and camshaft position...stalling problem solved. Here we are 3 years later back to the bad crank position sensor again and dealer is saying my VIN is not in the range of the sensor recall and I have to pay to have it replaced. In my opinion, nissan is trying to program the ECM to hide a known problem with the sensors and it's made it more pronounced. The dealer is trying to soften the blow a bit by knocking some off the charges, but I'm still having to cough up $184 for a well known, well documented and aging defect. Come on nissan, fix the problem....it's a dangerous one.

Filed Jul 25, 2006 · Engine · 115,000 miles · TX

2003 nissan altima 2.5 s is part of the recall campaign surrounding the catalytic pin. My altima stopped functioning on last year after two weeks of stopping, stalling, smoking, engine knocking, etc. The engine was replaced (supposedly) at the expense of nissan. The exact same scenario occurred two weeks ago this year and the car again was towed to our local nissan dealership. This time, they're refusing to make the repairs because the warranty has expired and they're claiming the problems with the engine this time is not related to the catalytic pin. Their diagnosis was "sludge" in the engine, although the oil was changed just 500 miles prior to the engine locking. After reading other people's complaints, I've learned that these altima's require oil on a weekly basis or this is the result. What kind of car requires oil weekly? As of right now, the car is still at the dealership, which is probably where it will stay because there is no way I can afford to buy a new engine and pay the lender at the same time.

Filed Nov 30, 2005 · Acceleration · 67,214 miles · CA

Dt: the contact stated vehicle stalled and operated at a reduced speed. There were no warning lights when this occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, and they replaced the throttle sensor twice. *ak updated 1/25/2006 - the vehicle lost all power and would not go over 5 MPH. The dealer replaced the throttle body and knock sensor.

Filed Jan 25, 2005 · Engine · 24,900 miles · NV

On 01/13/05, the engine of my '03 nissan altima se stalled. Thankfully, I was driving slowly on a residential street and was able to safely coast to the side of the road. I turned over the engine and it did not start. I waited a few moments and then tried again. The vehicle started but stalled again after I drove approx. 100 feet. The outside temperature was approx. 9 degrees fahrenheit but my vehicle's engine temperature gauge indicated the engine was warmed up. I waited in the car for approx. An hour in 9 degree temperature with my seven-year-old daughter until I was picked up by a family member. I had the vehicle towed to the nissan dealership where I purchased the vehicle. They were unable to determine the cause of the engine stalling. While my vehicle was in their possession, I had them conduct a 15,000k service (oil change, tire rotation, etc.). On 01/23/05, I heard an "engine knock" and discovered oil spots on my driveway from the car. I brought my car into the same dealership first thing the following morning. They inspected the vehicle and are telling me I need an entirely new engine. They are also claiming that it is not a manufacturers defect and therefore the engine replacement will not be covered under my warranty. At this point in the process, I believe the engine stalling was a safety procedure that indicated an engine problem. Furthermore, I believe the failure of the dealership to identify,and repair, the problem may be the cause of the engine damage they are reporting.

Filed Apr 4, 2004 · Engine · FL

Engine noise (knock, clack or clatter) at idle. Nissan america has published several bulletins/recalls/alerts regarding noise associated with the auto-tensioner, pre-catalyst and/or valves but the manufacturer and dealer now claim the "noise" is normal. Also, the car still has a rattle in dome light that the insulation kit (tape) failed to fix. Service manager stated rattle was not heard while driving the car for 10 miles but if the rattle could be duplicated at 40,000 miles he would repair. Of course, I heard the knock and rattle while driving home from the dealership. Unfortunately, the car only has 12,500 miles. The radiator was also replaced which is when I began noticing the knock. This is a sour deal! *veb.