Nissan Altima Complaints
15,602 consumer complaints on file.
- #10261518March 11, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. IN 2006, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS NOT HEATING PROPERLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLEANED THE AIR POCKETS. PREVIOUSLY IN 2003, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). IN 2007, AT 77,000 MILES, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED SO SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE HEAD GASKET ALSO FAILED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUESTED THAT THEY PAY FOR THE CATALYTIC REPAIR BECAUSE THE FAILURES OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY CONSIDER PAYING FOR THE HEAD GASKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10261472March 10, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L. THIS CAR IS AFFECTED BY RECALL # NTB03-070C, POTENTIAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN MODIFIED SEVERAL TIMES. THE "FLASH" PROGRAMMING ALONE HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY NISSAN SIX TIMES. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE IN 2004, UNDER CAMPAIGN ID R3007. THIS WAS THE FIRST VERSION OF THE RECALL AND PROGRAMMING RELEASED BY NISSAN. THE RECALL "CORRECTS" A PROBLEM OF TOO MUCH RAW FUEL BEING DUMPED INTO THE PRECATALYST ON DECELERATION. THIS EXTRA FUEL IN THE CATALYST CAUSES DETERIORATION OF THE PRECATALYST CAUSING IT TO FAIL, CLOG UP, AND RELEASE CATALYST SUBSTRATE INTO THE MOTOR (IT GETS SUCKED BACK INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER ON DECELERATION) ONCE THE CATALYST PARTICLES ARE SUCKED INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THE CYLINDER WALLS ARE SCORED, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT OIL CONSUMPTION. YOU CAN VERIFY ALL OF THIS BY REVIEWING THE RECALL. MY CAR HAS BEEN IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED. I AM ASE MASTER L1 CERTIFIED. THE CAR HAS SUFFERED THIS EXACT LOSS. THE PRECATALYST HAS FAILED AND IS PLUGGED UP, THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE WAS SUCKED INTO THE MOTOR SCORING THE CYLINDER WALLS, AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED BURNING OIL. I TOOK MY CAR TO NISSAN OF MCKINNEY, TX FOR CONFIRMATION AND RECALL WORK. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE BY TROPHY NISSAN IN 2004. I SPOKE TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA. THEY INFORMED ME THAT SINCE THE RECALL WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED, MY CAR WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO BE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME FAILURE FOR WHICH NISSAN ISSUED THE RECALL. I TOLD NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THAT OBVIOUSLY IF THE FIRST VERSION OF SOFTWARE THAT THEY ISSUED UNDER CAMPAIGN ID R 3007 WAS SUFFICIENT, THEN THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED THE "FLASH" SIX TIMES. THEY DID NOT AGREE WITH ME. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THE FIX THAT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA IS PERFORMING REGARDING THIS RECALL IS NOT SUFFICIENT. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A HEARING WITH THE NHTSA TO PROVE MY CASE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10261362March 9, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RPMS JUMPING UP AND DOWN AT IDLE. MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 4 AND I NEEDED A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. (HE KNEW THIS BECAUSE HE SPRAYED CARB CLEANER BY CYLINDER 4)A $500 JOB. CAR MAYBE 8 YEARS OLD BUT IT ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT. NO REASON GASKET SHOULD BURN OUT ON ONE SIDE LIKE THAT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10261080March 8, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A NISSAN ALTIMA 02 ON SEPT 08. AFTER THREE DAYS I FOUND OUT THE OIL WAS LOW TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW ENGINE. ONE DAY MY WIFE CAME AND PICK ME UP AT WORK AND THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND THEY STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WITH IT AND I AM SUSPECTING BECAUSE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ONE TIME THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. NISSAN WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH IT AS A MATTER OF FACT MY MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT ALL NISSAN ALTIMA WITH THAT TYPE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10261093March 8, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT. HEATER CORE WENT OUT, THEREFORE NO HEAT IN THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10261110March 8, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR IS SUCKING UP OIL MAKES NOISE AND ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10261113March 8, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RECENTLY TRAVELING TO NC AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND WON'T START. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ENGAGED CONSTANTLY AND THE CAR BURNS OIL WITH NO ENGINE LEAKS. I PURCHASED BRAND NEW MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED VERY HARD WHEN PURCHASED AND CLUTCH WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR AFTER 1 MONTH. TOOK CAR TO NISSAN DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE PRESSURE PLATE WAS BAD AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IN AUG. 2006 AT 115K MILES ($850). THEO2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE RECALL, HAD IT REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL, AND IT'S STILL CRAP! TO BOOT, THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY BROKE WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, AND NISSAN RECALLED. THEIR 'FIX' BROKE TOO. I WAS TOLD THAT I'LL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEIR 'RESOLUTION' FIXED BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THAT TIME, BETWEEN 6/08 AND 11/08, I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR, OIL COOLER, ALL MOTOR MOUNTS, FAN BELTS, DRIVER'S AXLE, POWER STEERING BOX, VALVE COVER GASKET ($7K WORTH OF WORK). CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 145K MILES AND I BELIEVE THE CAR IS JUST A LEMON. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN NISSAN, BUT NOW DECLARE IT WILL BE MY LAST ONE. I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER $5K TO PUT IN TO CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, SENSORS OR AN ENGINE. DON'T THINK SO. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260976March 6, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR HESITATES TO START,SEARCHED INTERNET TO FIND SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAS SAME MULTIPLE COMPLAINT. SOMETHING CALLED CRANK SENSOR IF SO MANY VEHICLES HAVE PROBLEM I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED... I ONLY HAVE 40000 MILES ON MY CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260874March 5, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR TURNED OFF WHILE ENTERING ON RAMP OF HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ACCORDING TO A RECALL NOTICE OF DEC 2007, THE ECM MUST BE UPDATED. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE RECALL UPDATE THEY MUST FIRST RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR $98. I WAS THEN TOLD THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION CENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS WOULD COST ANOTHER $200. SINCE I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE AND THE ECM CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION CENSOR TO OVERHEAT HOW IS IT THAT I MUST PAY FOR THIS. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD NO WAY TO KNOW IF IT EVEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO GO BY THEIR WORD AND IN ORDER TO HAVE THE COMPUTER IN MY VEHICLE UPDATED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE, I WAS FIRST TOLD THAT THE VIN ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. WHEN I INSISTED THAT HOW IS IT MY CAR WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL THEY THEN CHANGED THEIR POSITION TO A LETTER WAS SENT OUT TO MY IN JUNE OF 2008. I WOULD NOT IGNORE SUCH AN IMPORTANT RECALL NOTICE. I NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER AND IF NOT FOR STALLING WHILE DRIVING I STILL WOULD NOT KNOW. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260865March 5, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR TURNED OFF WHILE ENTERING ON RAMP OF HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260695March 4, 2009POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT COULD NOT SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, PARK, OR NEUTRAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SILVER SWITCH NEAR THE GEAR SHIFTER THAT COULD BE USED TO MANUALLY CHANGE GEARS. LATER, THE VEHICLE BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE WHEN THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFTER SWITCH WAS USED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 18,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260716March 4, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- HESITATION AT SLOW SPEED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - HESITATION ONCE EVERY 50KM - CAR STALLED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC DURING A LEFT TURN - CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260525March 3, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2006 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURE AT THE TIME, BUT THE CONTACT STILL TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THREE YEARS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PERMANENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THIS ISSUE YEARS AGO, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVES IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,138. UPDATED 4/16/09 *CN UPDATED 04/20/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260452March 2, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A DELAY IN STARTING, SOMETIMES WOULD NOT START AT ALL. ALSO, THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OR STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DID INTERNET RESEARCH. FOUND OTHER OWNERS OF NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. BROUGHT THE CAR TO NISSAN DEALER WAS TOLD THEY HAD ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR GOING BAD. HAD IT REPLACED, THE CAR WORKS FINE NOW. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, YOU LOOSE ALL POWER! POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260481March 2, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE ALMOST TURNED OFF ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE HESITATION ATLEAST ONCE EVERY 50KM. CORRECTED WITH REPLACEMENT OF CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (SENSOR WAS REDESIGNED) AND NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260506March 2, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXCESSIVE OIL IN CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260514March 2, 2009TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
NO PARTICULAR EVENTS; LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. NOT SURE OF OCCURRENCE INTERVAL BUT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT THE LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY AND OCCASIONALLY STARTS TO BLINK RESULTING IN DRIVER CONCERN OVER NOTHING. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY "NO PROBLEM WITH SENSORS BUT RECOMMEND SETTING AIR PRESSURE TO 38 PSI TO GET LIGHT TO STAY OFF" WHICH IS 6PSI ABOVE AIR PRESSURE DECAL ON DOOR FRAME THAT RECOMMENDS 32 PSI. THEY SAY THIS PRESSURE (38 PSI) WILL NOT IMPACT TIRE WEAR WHICH I DISAGREE WITH COMPLETELY AS WELL AS IF YOU HAVE A 10% PRESSURE BUILD UP FROM NORMAL DRIVING IT WOULD EXCEED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER MAXIMUM TIRE PRESSURE OF 41PSI. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260384March 1, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT 90K MILES, THE ENGINE IS LOUDER AND VIBRATES DURING ACCELERATION AND WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. THERE IS MOTOR OIL CONSTANTLY LEAKING FROM THE MANIFOLD GASKET. ALL SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND OIL CHANGED, BUT THIS DIDN'T HELP. IT IS MOST LIKELY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET OR SOME OTHER GASKET UNDER THE MANIFOLD COVER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260386March 1, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 50MPH APPROACHING A CURVE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. DRIVER NOTICED TRAFFIC SLOWING AND REACTED BY SHIFTING CAR TO NEUTRAL AND SLOWLY APPLYING PARKING BRAKE. DOING SUCH CAUSED CAR TO FISHTAIL AND SLIDE (AS ROADS WERE WET) AND CAUSED A COLLISION. DRIVER HAS COMPLAINED SINCE 2007 TO DEALERSHIP REGARDING BRAKES AND TOLD EACH TIME (4 COMPLAINTS) THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH BRAKES. BRAKES WERE "REPLACED" 6 MONTHS AGO BY DEALERSHIP (CUSTOMER PAID) HOWEVER BRAKE ISSUES STILL REMAINED. SUCH NEGLIGENCE HAS RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THOUSANDS IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260184February 27, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
THIS ISN'T FAIR. 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. 5900 MILES. MAN THIS CAR IS JUNK, NISSAN SHOULD REIMBURSE PEOPLE ABOUT THAT, WORK CAR EVER. AND I NOTICE EVERYONE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR STALL, CAMSHFT PROBLEM.. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE. ITS NOT SAFE WHEN U DRIVING AND CAR DIE ON YOU. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0