Nissan/debris and catalyst substrate/fire
Defect Summary
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 Consequence
Either of these two conditions could result in a fire.
Corrective Action
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.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Nissan North America, Inc. or involving Engine And Engine Cooling.
FAQ: Recall 03V084000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 03V084000?
NHTSA recall 03V084000 was issued by Nissan North America, Inc. on March 11, 2003. It addresses: Nissan/debris and catalyst substrate/fire. The recall affects approximately 338,000 vehicles, with the defect involving the Engine And Engine Cooling component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Nissan North America, Inc. dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 03V084000 or the manufacturer campaign number R3007/14/15/16/17. Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.