NHTSA Recall 03V084000: Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (engine and engine cooling)
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. reported this safety recall to NHTSA on , covering an estimated 338,000 vehicles. It affects 2 models including the Nissan Altima.
| NHTSA campaign | 03V084000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer campaign | R3007/14/15/16/17 |
| Component | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING › EXHAUST SYSTEM › MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE |
| Report received | March 11, 2003 |
| Owner notification | July 28, 2003 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation |
Defect
On certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. Also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate.
Safety risk
Either of these two conditions could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. In addition to the corrective action, in order to reduce the risk of fire in the event of poor or improper maintenance that could result in oil spillage, heat shield(s) will be installed on the pre-catalyst and exhaust tube. Owner notification began on july 28, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261. Nissan recall nos. R3007, r3014, r3015, r3016, r3017. Also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. If substrate particles enter the combustion chamber, they could score the cylinder walls, resulting in increased oil consumption. If the engine oil level is not checked on a periodic basis and drops below the low level, and the driver continues to operate the vehicle ignoring noticeable engine noise, engine damage may occur which could result in a fire. The pre-catalyst will be tested to ensure it is working properly and replaced if necessary. If damage is found inside the pre-catalyst, it will be necessary to replace the engine.
Notes
Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Vehicles covered by recall 03V084000
Being listed here means the campaign covers the model year, not that every car was built with the defect or is still unrepaired. Enter your VIN above to check your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free at authorised dealers. Source: NHTSA, October 2026.