2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vs 2003 Nissan Altima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 2003 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 158 | 883 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 469 | 101 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 41 |
| Fire reports | 18 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–22 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 75,500 mi | 85,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 25 | 450 |
| Engine | 32 | 117 |
| Electrical System | 49 | 89 |
| Structure | 2 | 126 |
| Power Train | 11 | 34 |
| Air Bags | 11 | 28 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 33 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 13 | 235 |
| Vibration / shaking | 10 | 14 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 129 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 107 |
| Oil consumption | 0 | 40 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 36 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 28 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 21 |
2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2003 Nissan Altima
Compare all Chevrolet Monte Carlo vs Nissan Altima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.