Nissan Manifold / Header / Muffler / Tail Pipe Recall 03V084000

The problem

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.

The risk

Either of these two conditions could result in a fire.

The fix

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.

Contacts

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

What to do

Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
Call a dealer. Any authorized Nissan dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 03V084000.
Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.

Vehicle	Complaints	Recalls	Grade
2002 Nissan Altima	1,062	12	F
2003 Nissan Altima	883	10	F
2002 Nissan Sentra	333	14	F

Vehicle

Complaints

Recalls

Grade

2002 Nissan Altima

1,062

2003 Nissan Altima

883

2002 Nissan Sentra

333

Questions

Is the 03V084000 recall repair free?

Yes. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix safety recalls free of charge. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.'s dealers do the work; the remedy is described above.

How do I know if my vehicle is part of recall 03V084000?

Not every vehicle of a listed model year is included. Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or call a dealer with your VIN.

When was recall 03V084000 announced?

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. reported it to NHTSA on March 11, 2003. Owners are usually notified by mail within about two months.

Engine and engine cooling: manifold / header / muffler / tail pipe Nissan recall