VehicleVerdict

2003 Nissan Altima fuel system problems

The 2003 Nissan Altima has 51 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 5% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

51

Fuel System complaints

5%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

Related recalls

03V251000Fuel SystemJuly 14, 2003 · 377,000 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP.

Consequence

THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SCREEN AT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP TO PREVENT ICE CRYSTALS FROM BLOCKING THE OPENING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-333-0829.

What owners report

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 1, 2006 · fire

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2003 Nissan Altima have?

NHTSA has 51 complaints about the 2003 Nissan Altima fuel system — 5% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Nissan Altima fuel system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the fuel system: 03V251000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.