Nissan Altima Complaints
15,602 consumer complaints on file.
- #10281107August 19, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PURCHASED NEW 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA ON JULY 31ST 2009, CAR DIED ON AUGUST 13TH 2009. DEALER STATED FUSIBLE LINK FAILURE, TO DATE (AUG 19 09) NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER PER STATUS ON THE VEHICLE. IS THERE A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AS IT RELATES TO THIS VEHICLE ??. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR UPDATED 08/27/09 *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED ENGINE FROM THE MANUFACTURING. UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280804August 18, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHIN THREE MINUTES. AN AUTO ZONE TECHNICIAN'S DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER SENSOR IN HER VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO RELATED RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280839August 18, 2009ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND SUDDENLY MY CAR STOPPED WORKING. THEN I GET IT CHECKED FROM THE MECHANICS AND ITS SAYS THAT CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280847August 18, 2009ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHO PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER THAT IT IS THE CAM SENSOR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280869August 18, 2009STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FLOOR PAN IS RUSTED OUT. 03 NISSAN ALTIMA I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I FEEL SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD A BODY SHIP GIVE THEM AN ESTIMATE OF $2800 AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP. I KNOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT IT IS THERE DEFECT IN DESIGN. I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO SOME ONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280542August 16, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 2.5 CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE THAT WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $5000. MY CAR HAD CLOSE TO 90,000 MILES. BUT IN TRACKING DOWN MY REPAIR HISTORY, THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE OCCURRED BETWEEN 70,000 - 90,000 MILES. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (YOUNKER NISSAN IN RENTON WASHINGTON) SEVERAL TIMES DURING A YEAR TO MAINTAIN SO THAT I DON'T RUN INTO ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT APPARENTLY DIDN'T HELP. THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A PROBLEM THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED INTO THE PROBLEM AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN CORP BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TAKING MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO MAINTAIN BUT ONLY TO BE TOLD LATER I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. CORP NISSAN DID NOT WANT TO HELP OUT AND NEITHER DID THE DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND WAS FOUND SO MAY PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL I'VE BEEN NOT BEEN TREATED FAIR BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF MY CAR (THROUGH MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP (YOUNKER NISSAN IN RENTON WASHINGTON)) AND ONLY TO BE TOLD LATER I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280500August 15, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULDN'T START, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, LEAKING COOLANT, NOW NISSAN SAYS I NEED A NEW MOTOR. ALUMINUM WAS USED MAKING THESE CARS AND NISSAN NEW THEY COULDN'T WITH STAND THE HEAT. MY SON NEEDS HELP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280503August 15, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CAR SHUTOFF WHEN DRIVING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280422August 14, 2009AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NISSAN RECALL ON FRONTAL DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. SHORTAGE THAT WOULD PREVENT AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. CONTACT NISSAN MY VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280399August 13, 2009TIRES, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
I BOUGHT MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM CHAMPION NISSAN,KATY,TEXAS. I PAID $2000 FOR FOUR BOSS WHEELS AND TIRES. AT 15,000 MILES, I HAD TWO TIRES FALL APART AND HAVE BELTS TO SEPARATE MAKING THE CAR UN-DRIVABLE. NOW I HAVE A THIRD TIRE WHICH SEEMS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO DO THE SAME;HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD TO STOP DRIVING THE CAR FOR SAFETY REASONS. I CONTACTED CHAMPION NISSAN(281-644-1100 ) AND SPOKE WITH TWO MANAGERS,RAFAEL AND PHIL;, AND HAVE BEEN PUT OFF FOR TEN DAYS NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK TO THE VENDOR WHICH SOLD THEM THE BOSS WHEELS W/ TIRES. THEY HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE BUSINESS IS NOW "OUT OF BUSINESS" AND THEY SEEM TO BE IN MEETINGS ALL THE TIME. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME CONVINCE THEM THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH THE NO GOOD TIRES FROM THEM, THEY OUGHT TO PUT DECENT TIRES ON MY CAR SO I CAN DRIVE IT? THE WARRANTY BOOK THEY GAVE ME DESCRIBES GOODYEAR, BF GOODRICH AND DUNLOP TIRES....NOTHING IS MENTIONED ABOUT NANKANG TIRES. HELP! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280207August 12, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AND THEN IT WENT OFF. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WE HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND THE CODE INDICATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL, BATTERY, OR CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. SAME DAY WE GOT IT DIAGNOSED WE WENT TO START THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WE CALLED AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED. WHILE WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK WE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED. WE STARTED DRIVING CAR TO GET IT TO BE REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND MY DAUGHTER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND EVERYTHING. SHE PULLED INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY. WE CALLED AND HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS AND IT INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SALEM, NH AND SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN IN SERVICE AND EXPLAINED ABOUT THE RECALL. HE ASKED FOR THE VIN NUMBER AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS. I DISPUTED IT WITH HIM AND HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROX $100 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE AND APPROX $125.00 PER HOUR TO REPLACE PLUS PARTS. I THEN CALL NISSAN CONSUMER SERVICE AND THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I AGAIN DISPUTED AGAIN THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I THEN HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (THE RECALLED PART). WE PICKED UP THE CAR DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER RELATIONS AGAIN ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY STATED THERE IS STILL NO RECALL FOR THE SENSOR ON MY VIN. SHE SAID THAT SHE COULD HELP US BY REFUNDING THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE ASKED WHERE I HAD IT REPAIRED AND I TOLD HER AT A LOCAL REPAIR CENTER. SHE SAID I CANT HELP YOU BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET IT REPAIRED AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY SHOULD OF TOLD ME THIS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279907August 10, 2009STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 156,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279855August 9, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 NISSAN ALTIMA - ENGINE DEFECT. THE ENGINE NEARLY CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE THE OIL WAS BURNING SO MUCH THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AFTER A FEW MILES! FIRST THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATING/COOLING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE. HAD EACH PROBLEM ADDRESSED AT MECHANIC BUT PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED BECAUSE THE SOURCE WAS IN THE ENGINE ITSELF - A NISSAN DEFECT. NOW I "NEED A NEW ENGINE" BECAUSE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN 2 OTHER 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND IT IS DANGEROUS IF YOU DO NOT CATCH IT AND REPLACE THE ENGINE, DUE TO SUCH FAST OIL LOSS AND AN OVERHEATED ENGINE! SCARY! THE CAR ONLY HAS 100K MILES!! THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE NOW AND I AM SEEING HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME NATURE ONLINE WITH SOME FIRES ALREADY STARTED. YIKES! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279861August 9, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTERNAL OIL LEAK IN 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279862August 9, 2009STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOOSE, COMES OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT BOLTED INTO THE COLUMN AND THEREFORE THE TILT DOESN'T STAY LOCKED AND GRINDS. THIS IS A DAILY PROBLEM THAT RESULTS IN EITHER THE STEERING GETTING STIFF OR THE STEERING WHEEL COMING OUT FOR THE COLUMN. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279705August 7, 2009AIR BAGS
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH MY GIRLFRIEND IN THE SEAT. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT START UP, OR AT ANY OTHER REGULAR EVENT (I.E. - BRAKING, ETC.). I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE CHECKED AND THERE ARE NO STORED CODES. THEY DIRECTED ME TO NISSAN CORPORATE, WHO TURNED AROUND AND CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I WILL CHECK WITH THE DEALER AGAIN, BUT I DOUBT THEY DROVE WITH ANYONE IN THE SEAT, AND THIS COULD HAPPEN AFTER A FEW MILES OR NOT FOR MANY MILES. I AM EXTREMELY SCARED AND FRUSTRATED. THIS LIGHT TELLS ME THE AIR BAG IS SHUT OFF, AND I CANNOT GET ANYONE'S ATTENTION. I AM SUPPOSED TO WAIT UNTIL A CRASH AND THE BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY? THE DEALER TOLD ME TO RETURN WHEN THE LIGHT GOES ON WHICH IS NOT PRACTICAL. I CANNOT DRIVE CIRCLES AROUND THE DEALER UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF, HOPE IT STAYS ON, AND THEN HOPE THEY CAN QUICKLY BREAK A TECHNICIAN FREE TO CHECK CODES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. I AM AN ENGINEER BY TRADE AND UNDERSTAND THE WORKINGS OF MANY SENSORS, TRANSDUCERS, ETC. THIS DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. IF THE PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT STATICALLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE MOVES DOES NOT CAUSE THE LIGHT TO GO ON, IT SHOULD NOT THEN GO ON *SHUTTING AIR BAG OFF) RANDOMLY. RANDOMLY COULD BE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I REALLY NO LONGER WANT THIS VEHICLE UNLESS SOMEONE CAN SHOW CARING AND UNDERSTANDING TO THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279535August 6, 2009POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AFTER 14,000 MILES OF USE THE CLUTCH FAILED TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING UP HILL AND SHIFTING LOST ALL DRIVE GEARS AND FORWARD POWER. STRANDED IN TRAFFIC UNABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED OUT WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH DISC. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279552August 6, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY NEW NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL HAD A DEAD BATTERY 4 TIMES WITHIN 20 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO NISSAN FACTORY SERVICE THREE TIMES (ONE TIME THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED) - BUT THE PROBLEM NEVER RESOLVED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON THE INTERNET AND IS NOT THE BATTERY ITSELF, BUT RELATED TO FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND "SMART KEY" ELECTRONICS. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279609August 6, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS I HAVE SEEN. I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES. ON A RECENT TRIP I NOTICED DIFFICULTY CRANKING AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I WAS 5 HOURS FROM MY HOME WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. IT WAS A WEEKEND, SO NO NISSAN DEALER WAS OPEN OR EVEN IN THE VICINITY OF MY LOCATION. AFTER CROSSING ALL FINGERS AND NURSING THE CAR HOME, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY NORMAL DEALER ON MONDAY MORNING. I WAS TOLD THE "TECH FOUND A CODE FOR A FAILED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR". THE SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED MY VIN FOR ANY BULLETINS OR RECALLS AND FOUND NONE. I WAS CHARGED $230 TO REPLACE THE FAILED PART. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON THE FAILURE FREQUENCY RATE OF THIS SENSOR. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS AND VOICEMAILS I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CHARGES. I ASKED IF THE FAILURE RATE OF THE SENSOR WAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN THEIR DECISION - THE ANSWER WAS NO. I ASKED WHAT THE FAILURE RATE WAS FOR THE SENSOR - MY REP, THE REGIONAL SPECIALIST, DID NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THERE IS A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT RATE OF FAILURE FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ALONG WITH SEVERAL REDESIGNS OF THE OEM PART. NISSAN DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I AM DISAPPOINTED AS, UP UNTIL NOW, I HAD BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE VEHICLE AND WITH NISSAN OVERALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279475August 5, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA, ON THE MORNING OF JULY 27, 2009 I HAD DRIVEN ONLY A FEW MILES WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THAT TIME THE CAR BEGAN SEVERELY HESITATING AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING, SHUT DOWN, AFTER WHICH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO AVOID A CRASH. I TRIED TO CRANK THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD ONLY TURN OVER, HOWEVER AFTER A FEW TRIES IT DID START. I THEN DROVE APPROX. TWO MILES TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY USED A CODE READER ON THE OBD. THE CODE READER INDICATED CODE P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I DROVE BACK HOME AND CHECKED THE DEFECTS /RECALLS ON SAFERCAR.GOV WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE WITH VARIOUS NISSAN VEHICLES INCLUDING THE ALTIMA. I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY OF THE RECALLS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. SO FAR, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR REPAIRED SINCE THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD EVEN FOR REPAIR DUE TO THE UNRELIABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE OPERATION OF THIS CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0