Nissan Altima Complaints

15,602 consumer complaints on file.

#10282604September 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CAR: 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION 3.5L V6. PROBLEM: CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR DURING NORMAL USE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I HAD THE FIRST INCIDENT INVESTIGATED BY THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO RESULTS. I HAVE REPORTED THAT INCIDENT TO NHTSA SEPARATELY. I HAD BEEN USING MY CAR FOR A 1500 MILE FAMILY TRIP. I WAS NEARLY HALFWAY THROUGH MY 12 HOUR ONE DAY RETURN TRIP. I GOT HUNG UP IN STOPPED TRAFFIC IN NY FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR FIFTEEN MINUTES. WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A REST STOP AND HAD DINNER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I RETURNED TO THE CAR, SPENT ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES IN TRAFFIC AND WAS MOVING ALONG AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AGAIN. THE CAR WAS LOADED WITH 2 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN AND ABOUT 125 POUNDS OF VACATION STUFF. UPON APPROACHING A TOLL BOOTH ON THE NY "EXPRESSWAY" I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH TO BEGIN DOWNSHIFTING AND DECELERATING FROM ROUGHLY 60 MPH. THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE I WAS NOT CAUGHT COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND BEGAN PUMPING THE CLUTCH AS THE CAR COASTED IN TOWARDS THE TOLL BOOTH. I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE CLUTCH BECAUSE IT DID HAVE SOME SMALL DEGREE OF RETURN, BUT IT DID NOT REACH THE HEIGHT OF THE TYPICAL PICKUP POINT WHICH I ESTIMATE TO BE 6-8 INCHES OFF THE FLOORBOARD. PUMPING THE PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. I PLACED MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL AND LIFTED IT ALL THE WAY UP. PRESSING AGAIN HAD THE SAME RESULT. VERY LITTLE FRICTION. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TOLL WAS DEAD STOPPED TRAFFIC. THERE WAS ENOUGH FRICTION IN THE PEDAL TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH PLATES AND TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS. THE TRAFFIC SPEED INCREASED AND AFTER A FEW HUNDRED YARDS THE CLUTCH RECUPERATED ON ITS OWN. I ALWAYS DOUBLE DECLUTCH AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE CLUTCH PLATES IN MY CARS. SEE THIS LINK FOR MANY SIMILAR CONSUMER STORIES:HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2005-2006-NISSAN-ALTIMA-SE-R-DISCUSSION/229124-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-CLUTCH-PROBLEM.HTM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282605September 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH PEDAL WILL FALL TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONSIDERING THAT I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND HAD CARS BEHIND ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282514September 1, 2009
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND DAILY. SO FAR NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS, HEARD THERE WAS THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THE 2008. THIS WAS ON A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282523September 1, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FOLLOW UP TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 10198578. THE ENTIRE CVT TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED WHILE THE CAR HAD ONLY 4500 MILES ON IT. AT AROUND 60,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (8/31/09) SO I TOOK IT TO DO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECEIVED TRANSMISSION CODES. NISSAN HEADQUARTERS GOT INVOLVED AND DETERMINED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TRANSMISSION ON A CAR THAT IS A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT. NISSAN HAS SAID THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAVE HAD FEW PROBLEMS, AND INSTEAD OF REPAIRING THEM, THEY ARE JUST GETTING REPLACED. NO FURTHER EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282590September 1, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5.THE CAR SHUT DOWN AS I WAS ON I-85 N WITHOUT WARNING. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO START. THE SERVICE ENGINE CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD IT'S THE CAM SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED NISSAN THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THIS ISSUE STARTED 9-1-09 AND HAS STALLED TWICE ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282603September 1, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CAR: 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SE-R W/ 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND 3.5L V6. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL BOTTOMS OUT TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER AND OVER IN THE NISSAN FORUM. UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY A FEW PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED TO NHTSA. I USED MY CAR ON A SUNDAY MORNING FOR A SHORT RUN TO THE GROCERY STORE (APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES ROUND TRIP). I LEFT THE CAR IN THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT ON MY BLACKTOP DRIVEWAY ALL DAY (ABOUT 85 DEGREE F). IN THE LATE AFTERNOON I STARTED MY CAR TO PUT IT IN THE GARAGE. BEFORE I TURNED THE IGNITION I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO PICKUP POINT. THE PEDAL WAS EASILY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE TYPICAL RESISTANCE IN THE PEDAL THROW WAS NONEXISTENT. THE CAR WAS ALREADY IN GEAR AND WHEN I LET THE CLUTCH OUT THERE WAS BARELY ENOUGH RESISTANCE TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH PLATES AND PULL THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE. THE PICKUP POINT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF INCHES OFF THE FLOORBOARD, WHEREAS THE USUAL PICKUP POINT IS ANYWHERE FROM 6-8 INCHES. I LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON MONDAY. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR ON TUESDAY TO BRING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS NO ISSUE AT ALL. I PAID MY $46.50 TO GET THIS ON RECORD WITH THE DEALER. THEY OF COURSE COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ERROR (AS WITH NEARLY EVERY OTHER PERSON THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM) AND SAW NO CLEAR DEFECTS UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE THE COMPLETE PAPERWORK FROM THE DEALERSHIP IF THE NHTSA ODI INVESTIGATOR WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT ME FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. FOR A HISTORY OF THE MANY INCIDENTS PLEASE SEE THIS PAGE: HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2005-2006-NISSAN-ALTIMA-SE-R-DISCUSSION/229124-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-CLUTCH-PROBLEM.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282486August 31, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
AS I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL, I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. INSTANTLY I NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOOT UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I PARKED MY CAR AND JUST FIGURED THAT IT HAD OVERHEATED. I ADDED MORE WATER TO THE RADIATOR AND KEPT DRIVING. 2 MINUTES LATER IT WAS ALL THE WAY HOT AGAIN. I HAD MY CAR TOWED HOME AT WHICH POINT I INSPECTED THE RADIATOR AND DISCOVERED A 4 INCH HORIZONTAL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC HEAD OF THE RADIATOR DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE HOSE MOUNT. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT PLASTIC COULD CRACK LIKE THIS. I HAVE SEEN CRACKS IN PLASTIC ALONG SEAMS, BUT THERE WAS NO SEAM HERE. I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CRACK COULD HAPPEN THIS WAY. THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF A DEFECT BECAUSE THIS WAS UNBELIEVABLE. I WENT ON TO PURCHASE A NEW RADIATOR PLUS HOSES AND ANTIFREEZE FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORE FOR A TOTAL OF $250, PLUS I WILL NOW HAVE TO TAKE 3 HOURS OUT OF MY DAY TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. I DO ALL MY OWN WORK ON THE CAR AND TAKE GREAT CARE OF IT. I FIX ANY SMALL PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY TO PREVENT LARGER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THIS ONE, FROM HAPPENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282429August 31, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DESIGN FLAW WITH ENGINE CAUSES EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE BURNING OIL THEN MAKES THE CONVERTER START TO FALL APART AND BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. THIS MADE THE ENGINE STALL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS FLAW THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET. CONTACTED NISSAN I THEY SAID TO BAD. DEALER STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT I SELL THE CAR SINCE IT WOULD ONLY GET WORSE DUE TO THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282326August 30, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I PURCHASED A 02 ALTIMA 2.5 (AUTOMATIC) ON THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2009. ON FRIDAY, JULY 17, I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING A TERRIBLE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. UPON ARRIVAL, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OIL TANK WAS BONE DRY. AFTER ADDING 3 QUARTS OF OIL, THE NOISE WAS GONE. THROUGHOUT THAT DAY WHEN DRIVING I SMELT SOMETHING LIKE EXHAUST OR BURNING OIL OR SOMETHING. I JUST THOUGHT OIL WAS SPILLED ON THE ENGINE AND IT WAS SIMPLY BURNING OFF. I PUT APPROX 30 MILES ON THE CAR THAT DAY. ON SATURDAY, JULY 18, I PUT APPROX 20 MILES ON THE CAR (SAME SMELL). ON SUNDAY, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY MUFFLER WHEN I WOULD HIT THE GAS. IT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I WAS AT A STEADY PACE BUT IF I PUT GAS IN IT, THE SMOKE WOULD COME OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND HAD HIM CHECK THE OIL. TO MY SURPRISE, THERE WAS NOT A LICK OF OIL LEFT IN THE TANK... WHERE DID IT GO????????? THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LEAKS UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND NO SPOT ON MY DRIVEWAY. WE WENT AND PURCHASED 3 MORE QUARTS OF OIL AND ADDED IT TO THE CAR. WHEN WE CHECKED THE DIP STICK, THE OIL WAS PITCH BLACK. THE CAR WAS ALSO BLOWING BLACK SMOKE. I AM A SINGLE 27 YEAR OLD MOM, WORKING AND GOING TO SCHOOL. A NISSAN IS WHAT EVERYONE TOLD ME TO GET.. WHY??? I HAVE JUST FORKED OUT EVERY DIME I HAD (7800.00) IN SAVINGS TO PURCHASE THIS CAR SO WHAT WAS I TO DO NOW? ON MONDAY, JULY 20, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHICH THEN TOLD ME THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHICH VERIFIED THE SAME THING. AFTER 2 WEEKS A 05 MODEL ENGINE WAS PUT IN THE CAR AND I PICKED IT UP ON AUGUST 7. SHORTLY AFTER BEING ON THE ROAD, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS MAKING A LOUD SQUEAKY SOUND. AFTER TAKING IT BACK ON AUGUST 18, THEY SAID IT NOW NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THEY REPLACED A BELT. ON AUGUST 23, THE CAR STARTED GOING DEAD WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING; ONCE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE! IT ALSO ACTS AS IF IT DOESN'T WANT TO CRANK NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281766August 25, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45MPH ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281508August 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, SHE NOTICED THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A CONSEQUENCE HER RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH WERE INCREASED. APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 5 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF RECALL# 07V527000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN WHICH A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HER VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 11/10/09 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE CAMSAHFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/16/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281554August 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. SINCE I'VE HAD IT, IT USES OIL AND HAS A BAD CATALYTIC PROBLEM DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS 2.5S IS UNDER A RECALL. THE ECM WAS REPLACED ON THE CAR TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL PERSISTS. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH ITS NEVER BEEN FIXED......THE RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS 03V084000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281563August 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I BEGAN TO BURN ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES THAT I DROVE AT THE BEGINNING OF 2009. THERE WAS ALSO A STRANGE GROWLING NOISE WHEN STARTING MY CAR. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE OIL USAGE ALSO BEGAN TO INCREASE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WERE SOME ENGINE ISSUES THAT WAS BEYOND THEIR CAPABILITIES. THEY RECOMMENDED TAKING IT TO A NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF ON 8/15 AND WITHIN LESS THEN 2 HOURS THEY SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT I NOT ONLY NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT I ALSO NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY DESIGN THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO OVER HEAT. ONCE IT OVERHEATED IT WOULD BREAK DOWN AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO EGR VALVE ON THE CAT THE PARTICLES OF THE CONVERTER WOULD GET SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE WHICH ENDED UP SCORING THE CYLINDER WALLS. THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE RECALL CAMPAIGN # 03V084000 WAS "PERFORMED" AT 13,208 MILES NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER EVEN THOUGH IT IS DIRECLTY RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE PART THAT NISSAN IS ALREADY AWARE OF. THE SERVICE ADVISOR QUOTED ME 4586.OO PLUS TAX FOR MY OUT OF POCKET COST AND THE PARTS AND LABOR WOULD ONLY BE COVERED FOR 12 MONHS OR 12,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE THAT COMES WITH THE CAR WHEN IT IS NEW IS COVERED FOR 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. I AM CURRENTLY FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AND CONSLUTING A LAWYER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281468August 23, 2009
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WHEN MY CAR STALLED, I TRIED TO START MY CAR SEVERAL TIME BEFORE IT WOULD TURN BACK ON. THE PROBLEM IS THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR! THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR ALTIMAS SINCE 2002. AND ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. ONLY NOW INSTEAD OF PAYING FOR THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR TO BE REPLACED (AS THEY DID IN 2002) THEY WILL ONLY REPROGRAM THE ECM. I HAD TO HAVE 2 MALFUNCTION CAMSHAFT SENSORS REPLACED.THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION HAD PRODUCED AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT/ CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. WHICH TELLS ME THERE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT DON'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. WHAT WILL IT TAKE A FATALITY! THIS IS APPEARING IN ALL DIFFERENT YEARS OF THIS MODEL OF CAR. PLEASE SEE WEBSITE BELOW WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS! *TR HTTP://WWW.ACTIVETUNING.COM/BLOG2/2006/02/28/NISSAN-ALTIMA-CRANK-SENSOR-RECALL-BEING-REVIEWED/ . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281373August 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA IN JAN, 2008. IT HAD 53,000 MI. AT 78,000 MI THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I HAD HIM REPLACE THE GASKET. AT ABOUT 79,000 MI. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS ON FIRE SO I PULLED OVER BUT THERE WAS NO FIRE. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO POWER. THE SES LIGHT WAS ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN ONTARIO, CA IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER(IT WAS CLOGGED) THEY REPLACED IT FREE BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS BURNING OIL AND THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE CONVERTER, BUT TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE HAD WORKED ON IT. THEY SAID THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT. THERE WAS NO NOTICE ABOUT ENGINE REPLACEMENT WHEN THE GASKET GOES BAD (WHICH THEY SAID WAS ALSO CAUSED BY THE CONVERTER GETTING CLOGGED UP) SOME ONE NEEDS TO FORCE NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA TO RECALL THE 2003 ALTIMA AND FIX THE ENGINE AND CONVERTER DESIGN. THERE COULD BE A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281386August 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA THE ENGINE STALLED. UPON EXITING THE CAR WE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING IT, WE SAW THE AIR FILTER HOUSING GLOWING AND THE SMOKE COMING FROM IT. THE POLICE PULLED THE AIR FILTER OUT WHICH STOPPED THE SMOKING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER WHO WOUND UP REPLACING THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY, COVER, AIR FLOW SENSOR, ETC FOR $888.19. THE ONLY EXPLANATION THEY COULD GIVE ME FOR THE CAUSE WAS A CIGARETTE BUTT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR GOT SUCKED UNTO THE AIR INTAKE. THERE WERE NO OTHER COMPONENTS INVOLVED THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM - PE07026. I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO HELP US. THE DEALER BROUGHT IN A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE WHO WOULD NOT HONOR OUR REQUEST. I ALSO HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH NISSAN BUT WAS TOLD THIS WASN'T COVERED. SINCE THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE IS AN EXACT MATCH TO THE REASON FOR THIS RECALL I BELIEVE THE RECALL WAS NOT AS COMPREHENSIVE AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. IF THIS CAN HAPPEN TO US WHILE JUST DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN TO TRY TO GET THIS COVERED BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281423August 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2006 NISSAN ALTIMA; ENGINE STYLE IS THE 2.5L APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR; ALL DEALING WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR; I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS; AND NOW AM STUCK WITH FOOTING THE BILL OF A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEN THE LABOR AND PARTS FEE. NISSAN THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT HELPING ME AT ALL AND MAKING ME PAY FOR THIS; NOT ONLY THAT; BUT THEY ARE COMPLETELY IGNORING THE ISSUE AT HAND AND NOT TAKING CARE OF ME; ALTHOUGH I HAVE PURCHASED 2 VEHICLES FROM THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FIRST I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL THAT HAPPENED IN 2006 AND SECOND THAT I NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MISTAKE THAT THEY CLEARLY MADE WHILE OTHERS DID NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281316August 21, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STRUCTURE:BODY
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED...WASHED AND WAXED REGULARLY. I WAS CHANGING THE OIL ON 7/28/09 AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THE REMAINS OF SAID FLOOR. THERE IS A RUST HOLE APPROXIMATELY 2 FOOT LONG AND 6 INCHES WIDE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS 6 YEAR OLD CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS GENERATION ALTIMA AND NISSAN WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR SINCE THE PERFORATION WARRANTY IS OVER AS OF 10/08. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WORK AND NOBODY FROM THE DEALERSHIP EVER MENTIONED THE HOLE IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH AT THAT TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY. NISSAN FLAT OUT DENIES TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO A 6 YEAR OLD CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH A GIANT HOLE IN THE FLOOR THAT EXHAUST FUMES CAN ENTER BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP ME TO FORCE NISSAN TO ADMIT THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND GET IT FIXED AT THEIR COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281326August 21, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
DEFECTIVE SHEET METAL DESIGN IN FLOOR PAN OF NISSAN ALTIMAS, BODY STYLE BEGINNING WITH MODEL YEAR 2002. DESIGN FLAW CAUSED LARGE RUST HOLES IN FRONT OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT, SEEMINGLY BY TRAPPING MOISTURE. MY HOLES APPROX 12" EACH. I AM HEARING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS. PERFORATION WARRANTY WAS 5 YEARS, AND DUE TO MY DEALERSHIP NOT NOTICING THE PROBLEM WITHIN THAT PERIOD, NISSAN CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY. THESE HOLES MAY ALTER THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE BODY FRAME IN CASE OF SIDE IMPACT. ADDITIONALLY, WATER ENTERS THE CABIN AND REMAINS IN THE CARPET AND PAD. MY FLOOR PAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND AM PREPARING TO SCHEDULE THE WORK. NISSANS RECOMMENDED LOCAL BODY SHOP HAS ESTIMATED REPAIRS APPROX. $2300 US. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281022August 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE I HAD AN ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON AND I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE WAY MY CAR WAS BEHAVING. AFTER INSPECTING MY CAR, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT A CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED, WHICH CREATED POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FOR ALTIMAS 2002/2003 AND THAT MY CAR SHOULD QUALIFY FOR IT BASED ON ITS VIN NUMBER ( I HAVE A PRINTOUT FROM MY MECHANIC THAT INCLUDES ELIGIBILITY OF MY CAR BASED ON VIN#). HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURE I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR NO LONGER HAS WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON MY CAR AT THAT TIME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION. MY ON-LINE RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN CANADA AND USA AND ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN US HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND NISSAN WAS NOT HELPFUL. ALSO, I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS HARD TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM AT THE VERY BEGINNING AS ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAN BE ON FOR A LOT OF REASONS. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM, AS HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS' FAILURES IN ALTIMAS BECAUSE A LOT OF HIS CUSTOMERS WHO OWN ALTIMAS TOOK THEIR CARS TO HIM TO BE FIXED. I DID TAKE MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, BUT I COULDN'T AFFORD THEIR PRICES, SO I ENDED UP GOING BACK TO MY MECHANIC. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NISSAN MANUFACTURE ASKED ME IF I RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM THEM CONFIRMING MY ELIGIBILITY FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER RECALL, BUT I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF MY CAR, SO THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ME TO RECEIVE IT. PERHAPS I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH A DAMAGED CONVERTER AND HAD NO IDEA ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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