Nissan Altima Complaints
15,602 consumer complaints on file.
- #10406232June 13, 2011SUSPENSION:REAR
07 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN FACTORY REAR SWAY BAR SNAPPED UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406751June 13, 2011UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS COMPLAINT IS A CONTINUATION OF YOUR INVESTIGATION PE02078. NISSAN ONLY ADDRESSED A PART OF THE PROBLEM BY RECALLING CAT CONVERTERS. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AS THE ENGINES WERE DAMAGED CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE PROBLEM IS ALL CONNECTED BUT THEY DIDN'T REPLACED THE ENGINES WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN UPGRADED. HERE'S A LINK TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS EVEN AFTER THE RECALLED PARTS WERE REPLACED (KEEPING IN MIND THAT NOT EVERYONE MAKES A REPORT). HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/2002/ENGINE/EXCESSIVE_OIL_CONSUMPTION.SHTML NISSAN KNEW THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS CONNECTED BUT THEY ONLY ADDRESSED A PART OF IT. AS YOU REVIEW THE COMPLAINTS, YOU WILL SEE THAT THEIR RECALL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SOME HAD THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM AS EARLY AS 20-40K MILES. I THINK NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINES, ALONG WITH A NEW CONVERTER AND MANIFOLD. IF THE WHOLE THING IS NOT REPLACED THE PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE TO REPEAT ITSELF AS ONE PART WILL CAUSE THE OTHER TO FAIL. A NEW ENGINE FOR THIS CAR IS ROUGHLY $2900 + TAXES, MANIFOLD $500 INSTALLED, NOT SURE OF THE COST FOR THE CONVERTER. I AM NOT BASHING THE COMPANY, I HAVE OWNED A NISSAN FOR 16YRS WITH NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. REPLACING THE ENGINE IS SOMETHING THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE BUT ONLY CHOOSE TO ADDRESS A PART OF THE PROBLEM. I PLEAD THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THIS AS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE UPSET AND ANGRY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GET A FULL AND PROPER RESOLUTION FROM THE COMPANY. AGAIN THIS PROBLEM IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS ISSUE. THE DEBRIS FROM THE CAT GETS SUCKED UP INTO THE ENGINE AND DAMAGES THE CYLINDER WALL CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND EVENTUAL ENGINE FAILURE. I HAD TO REFILL (NOT ADD) MY CAR WITH OIL EVERY 200 MILES DRIVEN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405990June 11, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I JUST HAD TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON THE #4 CYLINDER FOR THE 2ND TIME ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE FIRST TIME WAS FEB 23, 2005 AT JUST UNDER 57,000 MILES. NOW, THE MILEAGE IS 123,225. LUCKILY, MY FIANCE WORKS AT A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY GAVE ME A BREAK ON THE LABOR RATE! AT A REDUCED LABOR RATE, THE REPAIR WAS $287.00, ALL LABOR EXCEPT $7.13. MY CAR STARTED TO IDLE ROUGH WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS, ALMOST LIKE IT WANTED TO DIE. SINCE IT HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, I KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THIS TIME!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405988June 11, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT THE #4 CYLINDER REPLACED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 56,955 MILES ON IT IN FEB 2005. THE PART WAS LESS THAN $10.00 BUT THE REPAIR WAS OVER $734.14 DUE TO LABOR. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE EXACT SAME PART A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 123,000 MILES ON IT. BOTH TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD START IDLING EXTREMELY ROUGH WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. WHEN YOU START TO ACCELERATE, AT TIMES, THE CAR WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405899June 10, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME UNTIL IT OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. CURRENTLY THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE11020 (HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405692June 9, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNLESS IT WAS TURNED OFF FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS. A YEAR AGO THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 06V242000 ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) RECALL AND THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IDENTICAL FAILURE HAD RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405711June 9, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO PERFORM AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 06/14/11*JB UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 3/15/12 *CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405557June 8, 2011TIRES
ON INSTALLATION I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SHIMMING, SHAKING AND INTENSE VIBRATIONS ON MY VEHICLE. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE CONDITIONS OF THE HIGHWAY, HOWEVER, THE FOLLOWING DAY DRIVING ON A DIFFERENT HIGHWAY THE SHIMMING, SHAKING AND INTENSE VIBRATIONS CONTINUED AND EVEN INTENSIFIED. I CALLED THE RETAILER, AND EXPLAINED THE EXPERIENCE AND THEY SUGGESTED HAVING THE TIRES REBALANCED, I DID AND THE BEHAVIOR CONTINUED. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HAD MY FRONT END ALIGNED AND THE DROVE THE CAR AROUND, AND THE SAME RESULTS CONTINUED. I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 69 MPH AND THE CAR LITERALLY "DANCED" ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND I MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. IT ALSO BEGAN RAINING AND THE TRACTION OF THE TIRES WAS NON-EXISTENT. THESE TIRES STEER ON THEIR ON AND PULL VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405636June 8, 2011SUSPENSION:REAR
2007 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH BROKEN REAR SWAY BAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS THROUGH THE DEALER OR NISSAN CORPORATE TO RESOLVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405420June 7, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY SUDDENLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED HER VEHICLE SERVICE PERSONAL CAME OUT AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405441June 7, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A HIGH WAY. SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED ACCELERATING MORE AND MORE. THEN I NOTICED I DID NOT HAVE SPEED CONTROL OF MY CAR. I TRIED TO STOP, THE CAR BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND . I BRAKED AS HARD AS I COULD WITHOUT SUCCESS. I AVOIDED TO CRASH OTHER VEHICLES GOING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT AND VICEVERSA. I GUESS I AVOID TO CRASH THREE OR FOUR VEHICLES, INCLUDING A BIG TRAILER. IN OTHER WORDS, IT HAPPENS TO ME LIKE THE LAST TOYOTA RECALL FOR GAS PEDAL ISSUES. I FELT LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. FINALLY, MY CAR OUT OF CONTROL CRASHED OTHER CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405429June 7, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 WITH APPROX. 155K MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH APPROX. 20K MILES IN 2006. AT AROUND 60K I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING A LITTLE MORE OIL THAN NORMAL. I HAD IT SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS GETTING OLDER AND IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I CONTINUED TO DO THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND AT ABOUT 130K MILES IT STARTED TO USE EVEN MORE OIL. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS GETTING OLDER AND THIS WAS NORMAL AGAIN. FAST FORWARD TO THIS YEAR. AT ABOUT 145K MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I TAKE IT IN AND I AM TOLD IT IS A P0420, WHICH MEANS THAT THE CATALYST SYSTEM IS BELOW THRESHOLD, BUT NOT TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON IN 02 - 03 NISSAN ALTIMAS. I STARTED HEARING RATTLING NOISES IN THE ENGINE AND OIL CONSUMPTION WENT THROUGH THE ROOF. I JUST HAD MY OIL CHANGED LAST WEEK AND HAD TO PUT 3 QUARTS IN IT THIS MORNING AFTER ONLY 400 MILES. ENGINE COMPRESSION IS ALSO GONE. SO I START DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FIND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT NISSAN IS WELL AWARE THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DISINTEGRATES IN THIS MODEL YEAR CAR, DESTROYING THE ENGINE AND LEADING TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. THEY ARE ALSO AWARE THAT IT HAPPENS OVERTIME AND I BELIEVE USE THIS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE IN AVOIDING WARRANTY REPAIRS. IT SEEMS THAT THEY HIDE BEHIND THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND REFUSE TO TAKE ACTION SINCE THIS PROBLEM ISN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE AND BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. IT DEVELOPS IN MOST CARS SLOWLY OVER TIME. I AM ALSO VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT EVERY MECHANIC I WENT TO TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL. THEN I GET ONLINE AND DO A GOOGLE SEARCH LEADING ME TO HUNDREDS OF MESSAGE BOARDS WITH PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND BEING BLOWN OFF BY NISSAN. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CARS. I AM NOW GOING TO HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR BECAUSE I AM REFUSING TO PAY $4,000 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FOR A KNOW DEFECT. APPARENTLY THIS DEFECT HAS ALSO CAUSED FIRES IN CARS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405331June 6, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE IT WAS IDLE. THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY AND OIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,683.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10404497June 5, 2011POWER TRAIN
1. FOR THE PAST YEAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSES TO THE FLOOR DURING PERIODS OF INCREASED USE. STARTED OUT HAPPENING ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK. CLUTCH WOULD STILL ENGAGE UNTIL FRIDAY JUNE 3RD, 2011. CLUTCH FAILED TO ENGAGE IN TRAFFIC. 2. FAILURE STARTS DURING INCREASED USE, HEAVY TRAFFIC, & DURING HOT DAYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS USED. INCIDENT STARTED OCCURRING ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO AND HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY, HAPPENING NOW AT LEAST 5 TIMES A WEEK. SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN 3 TIMES A DAY. WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED I WAS IN TRAFFIC & UNABLE TO SHIFT ANY GEARS. 3. MANAGED TO DRIVE CAR TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE CLUTCH HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. HAVING IT REPLACED NOW. CAR IS ONLY AT 60,000 MILES. NISSAN FORUMS HAVE MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10404517June 5, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DANGEROUS PERFORMANCE ON 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER DRIVING OVER 2 HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I HAD TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE FOLLOWING THE STOP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND THEN IT MOVED GRADUALLY AND THEN QUICKLY PICKED UP SPEED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE TRIP AFTER EXTENDED DRIVING TIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10404533June 5, 2011SUSPENSION:REAR
I OWN A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. I NOTICED A PIECE OF METAL HANGING FROM UNDER THE CAR CLOSE TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER LAST TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND THEY SAID THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN UNDER ANY ABUSE. I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EVER DRIVEN THIS CAR. BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN SWAY BAR IT CAUSE THE BALL LINKAGE JOINTS TO WEAR AND THE SHOCKS TO LEAK. IT COST ME $ 794.13 TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AND REPAIRED. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH NISSAN BECAUSE THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PRODUCT DEFECT AND A SAFETY DEVICE THAT HAS FAILED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I FEEL THAT THE CAR MAY HAVE REACTED POORLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL THE ASSISTANCE IN GETTING A RECALL, BULLETIN OR SPECIAL POLICY TO REIMBURSE THIS COST TO ME. JUNE 5TH, 2011. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10404305June 3, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR STARTED MISSING AND STUTTERING THEN SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR A COUPLE DAYS, NEARLY CAUSING 3 ACCIDENTS IN THIS SPAN. ON THE THIRD DAY IT STARTED LOSING POWER AND SHUT OFF CONSTANTLY WHEN AT RED LIGHTS. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SCANNED THE ENGINE CODES. WE REPLACES THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND THE CAR RAN SMOOTHLY AGAIN. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE ECM REPROGRAM RECALL DONE TO THE CAR AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON AND VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10404978June 2, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEB 2011 WITH AROUND 118000 FROM A BUY HERE PAY HERE AND TWO MONTHS LATER THE MOTOR WENT OUT ON IT. WE DROVE IT TO CHURCH AND TURNED IT OFF AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO TURN ON AGAIN MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THEY HAD WATER IN IT. I HAVE READ THAT THIS CAR HAVE BAD MOTOR PROBLEMS, OUR MECHANIC CHECKED IT AND SAID WE NEED A NEW MOTOR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10404207June 2, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE ALSO BURNED OIL WEEKLY CAUSING THE CONTACT TO ADD OIL EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $105. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10403762May 31, 2011SUSPENSION:REAR
2007 NISSAN ALTIMA, BROKEN SWAY BAR, THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED, BUT THE SWAY BAR HAS BEEN BROKEN. I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THIS SWAY BAR ASAP. THIS WAS NOTICED 5/30/11. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0