2003 Nissan Altima Visibility & Wipers Problems

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.

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. *JB

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. *TR

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

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. *AK

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. *AK

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. *AK

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 *JB

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