Nissan Altima Complaints

15,602 consumer complaints on file.

#10226571May 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 NISSAN ALTIMA BEGAN OVERHEATING, LOSING COOLANT RAPIDLY AND GAUGES INDICATED RAPID TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS. UPON TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER, VISUAL DIAGNOSTIC SUGGESTED A REPLACEMENT OF VALVE COVER GASKET. GASKET WAS REPLACED FOR APPROXIMATELY $300. OVERHEATING RESUMED AFTER REPAIRS IN ADDITION TO OVERHEATING, VEHICLE BEGAN PRODUCING WHITE SMOKE AS WELL AS MISFIRING UPON START-UP. COMPUTERIZED DIAGNOSTIC WAS THEN COMPLETED. DIAGNOSIS WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. REPAIR COST WAS QUOTED AT $2100 PLUS TAXES. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET WASN'T ISOLATED TO ME ALONE AND THAT THERE ARE MANY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS THAT BLOW THE HEAD GASKET AROUND 70,000 TO 90,000 MILES. MANY CUSTOMERS APPEAR TO HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT NISSAN BUT COMPANY WILL NOT OWN UP TO APPARENT DEFECT WITH THE MODEL. IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO BLOW A VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET AND IT IS UNFAIR FOR A MODEL TO HAVE SUCH A MAJOR DEFECT AND THE CONSUMERS HAVE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY AND COST OF REPAIRING THE PROBLEM - A MAJOR ENGINE OVERHAUL. TO PRESENT, NO INJURIES OR CRASHES HAVE RESULTED, HOWEVER, DEALER HAS WARNED THAT WITHOUT REPAIR, ENGINE PARTS MAY CONTINUE TO WARP AND MAY RESULT IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226296April 30, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA LOOK LIKE THEY ARE BURNED ON THE INSIDE AND FOGGY LOOKING. AT NIGHT THEY ARE VERY DIM, ALMOST AS THOUGH I WAS DRIVING IN A CONSTANT THICK FOG. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS FOGGY LOOKING CIRCLES ALL OVER INSIDE THE GLASS AND MAKES VISIBILITY HARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226342April 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE SHUT OFF GOING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS 18 WHEELER ON 3 LANE INTERSTATE 35. HAD HEADLIGHT REPLACED 4 DAYS BEFORE INCIDENT AND WAS ADVISED ABOUT A RECALL, CHOOSE TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE AT THAT TIME ALSO. SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED THAT THE RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MALFUNCTION, SAID THEY HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE CAR STARTED AND NOTED SOMETHING ABOUT THE RPM'S, SAID THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND IT HASN'T STALLED. SAID THEY KNOW IT HAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE IT. TODAY IS 04-30-08, THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 04-19-08. SERVICE ADVISOR STOPPED CALLING ON 04-24-07. HAVE COMPLAINED TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO FINALLY RETURNED MY CALL TODAY STATING THAT THEY TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES TOTAL AND THEY CLAIM THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, THAT THEY TEST DROVE IT 90 MILES AND CLEARED SOMETHING FROM THE AIR INTAKE. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER TOLD ME THIS STORY AND STOPPED CALLING ME ON 04-24-07. WHEN I ASKED THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS LADY IF SHE WOULD LOAD UP HER KIDS IN THE CAR AND GO DOWN THE INTERSTATE DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC? SHE HESITATED AND SAID YES SHE WOULD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226249April 29, 2008
AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THERE WAS ALSO NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,339.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226023April 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE WENT DEAD IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS PROPERLY IN CITY TRAFFIC AS WELL AS INTERSTATE DRIVING. CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALER, DEALER SCANNED SYSTEM AND FOUND CRANK CAM SENSOR BAD, REPLACED SENSORS AT A COST OF $401.94 WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM WAS RECALL, STATED OUR MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. CONTACTED NISSAN AMERICA, STATED RECALL WAS FOR 2002 MODELS AND IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. REFUSED TO INCLUDE AND REIMBURSE US FOR CHARGES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226068April 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 L ENGINE EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION, BURNING OIL NO LEAKS. BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST PIPE WANTS TO STALL AND SHAKES MOST OF THE TIME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225871April 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT WILL SHUT OFF, BUT IT REMAINS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE MAY BE RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE FOUR OPEN RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE AND ADVISED HER TO GO TO A DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE REPAIR WAS MADE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO HER LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REMOVED. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD SHATTERED INTO PIECES AS EXPLAINED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225926April 28, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT EVERY 6 MONTHS OR SO. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS, BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE TSB IN QUESTION IS: SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER : 05057. WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN A DEALER REFUSES TO PERFORM SERVICE ON AN ISSUE THAT THE NHTSA HAS CLEARLY RECOGNIZED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225771April 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CAR - 2001 ALTIMA - HAD A ROUGH IDLE AT ALL STOPS. IT FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FELT A 60,000 MILE TUNE-UP AT A COST OF $600.00 WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HE EVEN CHECKED NISSAN RECALLS TO AID WITH THE DIAGNOSIS. NONE WERE FOUND THAT APPLIED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AFTER THE TUNE-UP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN WHERE IT TOOK THE MECHANIC LESS THAN ONE MINUTE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HE REPORTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL AND YEAR OF THE CAR. THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT A TOTAL COST OF $825.32. A SUBSEQUENT SEARCH OF THE INTERNET FOUND THAT THIS WAS INDEED A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225676April 25, 2008
SEATS
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH SEAT RAILS IN MY 07 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN I HAVE TO STOP SUDDEN, HARD THE SEAT SHIFTS FORWARD AND BACK. THEY HAVE REPLACED 2 TIMES ALREADY, BUT NEED TO BE DONE AGAIN. NISSAN TOLD ME THEY NEW THEY HAD AN ISSUE AFTER 2ND REPAIR, THAT IS WHY THEY TOOK OVER MONTH TOM FIX., NOW THEY WANT TO FIX WITH SAME BROKEN PARTS, EVEN THOUGH ORIGINALLY CORPORATE TECH TOLD THE DEALER NOT TO REPLACE UNTIL THEY HAD A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM, THEY WERE OVER RIDDEN BY THE AREA REP HERE. THEY CAN NOT GUARANTY ME IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS THEY CAN NOT TELL ME THE SEAT IS GOING TO STOP IF I HAD TO BREAK FOR AN ACCIDENT. PUT A BUY BACK AND NISSAN BASICALLY HAS TOLD ME TO EAT THE CAR ND THAT THEY WASN'T TO KEEP FIXING IT. THE SEAT SHIFTING IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND LOOKING AT THE NISSAN ALTIMA FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. HAD THE CAR IN AT 1550, AND 3000 MILES TO REPAIR THIS PART, THEN AGAIN IN MARCH 08. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226211April 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2006 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A ENGINE RECALL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WORK. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE HAS BEEN WORK DONE TO FIX THE ENGINE AND WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE RECALL. *KB THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225558April 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
THERE IS NO INTERLOCK ON IGNITION TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY IF SHIFTER IS NOT PLACED IN PARK POSITION. CAR WAS PARKED AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED. CAR ROLLED OUT OF PARKING LOT DOWN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO TREE THEN PROCEEDED ACROSS STREET INTO A LOWER PARKING LOT HITTING GUARD RAIL BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS LACK OF A SAFETY FEATURE WAS UNKNOWN TO OWNERS AND CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT SAFETY RISK TO THE PUBLIC. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225576April 24, 2008
STEERING
NISSAN PART #480808J000 CALLED THE COUPLING SHAFT & COLUMN LOCKED UP ON ME, CAUSING MY STEERING TO GO OUT IN MY VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AS IT WAS, TRIED TO DO A U-TURN, STEERING WENT AND ALL MOST HIT A BUILDING. I WAS TOLD THIS PART WAS ON BACK ORDER NATION WIDE AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHEN THE PART WOULD BE IN. I DO HAVE THE NEW PART, KEPT THE OLD PART AND IF YOU TRY TO MOVE THE BOTTOM SHAFT PORTION, THAT SHOULD MOVE FREELY, YOU HAVE TO WRENCH ON IT TO MOVE THE PART, IT IS RUSTED. IF YOU ARE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IT MIGHT GO AT 21,000 OR 50,000 MILES, I HAVE 51,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND IT WENT, THE SHOP HAD A VEHICLE THAT MATCHED MINE EXCEPT FOR MILEAGE 21,000 AND THE PART WENT OUT 6 WEEKS BEFORE MINE DID AND THAT OWNER WAS STILL WAITING ON THE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225649April 24, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
COMING HOME FROM GRADUATE SCHOOL EARLY EVENING, DOG CAME OUT OF NO WHERE RAN INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR, THE AIR BAG WENT OFF, FRACTURED MY ELBOW- HAD TO HAVE A SPECIALIST DO SURGERY ON THE ELBOW. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10225450April 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, IDLING IN TRAFFIC, DRIVING DOWNHILL, PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYDAY. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK HARD. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN MARCH OF 2008, BUT THE STALLING RECURRED THREE WEEKS LATER. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,685 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225493April 23, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND VICE VERSA, THERE IS A HARD JERK. IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO DROP. THE FAILURE OCCURS ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER WHEN THE CONTACT BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE DEALER FIRST SUGGESTED THAT A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS NEEDED, BUT LATER STATED THAT A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONE WAS FAILING. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225520April 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AFTER THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS, BUT NO FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 109,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 05/13/08. *LJUPDATED 05/13/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225539April 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE FOR NISSAN ALTIMA RELATED TO POWER VALVE/BUTTERFLY VALVE INTAKE MANIFOLD DESIGN. THIRD GENERATION ALTIMA'S QR25DE 4-CYLINDER AND VQ35DE 6-CYLINDER ENGINES HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BEEN AFFECTED BY A RECALL RELATED TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE POWER VALVES, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BUTTERFLY VALVE. THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN P5202 - DOES NOT MENTION ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR PRODUCTION YEARS W SAME DESIGN. THIS HAS LEFT SOME OWNERS AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM WITH NO RECOURSE/REMEDY FOR WHAT IN SOME CASES HAS AMOUNTED TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE POWER VALVE IS A SERIES OF FOUR PLATES IN THE QR25DE 4-CYLINDER AND 6 PLATES IN THE VQ35DE 6-CYLINDER ENGINES, ONE PER CYLINDER. THE PLATES OPEN AND CLOSE SIMULTANEOUSLY TO ALLOW MORE AIR INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER FOR INCREASED POWER. EACH PLATE IS HELD IN PLACE BY TWO SCREWS. THE SCREWS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO COME LOOSE AS WELL AS THE PLATES AND ARE THEN INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE VIA THE INTAKE PORTS. PROBLEM IS INITIALLY EXHIBITED BY SES(SERVICE ENGINE SOON) LIGHT COMING ON AND/OR BLINKING. UPON OBD METER READING, CODE WILL BE P0304, OR SIMILAR WHICH IS RANDOM CYLINDER MISFIRE OR CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE. ELECTRODE ON SPARK PLUG HAS BEEN BENT CLOSED AS A RESULT OF THE POWER VALVE RETAINING SCREW VIBRATING LOOSE AND BEING INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE. THE SCREW THEN BOUNCES AROUND IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, HITTING THE SPARK PLUG AND BENDING THE ELECTRODE SHUT, PREVENTING SPARK IN THAT CYLINDER. ADDITIONALLY, THE SCREW(S) AND PART OF THE BROKEN PLATES, IN SOME CASES HAVE MADE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ENGINE AND INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THUS CAUSING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATE AS WELL AS BECOME INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE. FOR SOME REASON, NISSAN NORTH AMERICA HAS DECIDED TO NOT REMEDY ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS ADMITTED FLAW OBVIOUSLY, THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AT THE WRONG PLACE AND THE WRONG TIME, RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY HARM AND/OR FATALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225334April 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA (2.5L) STARTED OUT WITH O2 SENSORS NEEDING REPLACED, THE OVERHEATING, NO COOLANT, LOOSING OIL, REPLACED CRANK SENSOR, HAD ALL RECALLS DONE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM). NOW I AM LEFT WITH HAVING TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM OUT OF MOST 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 2.5 ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET SEARCHES I HAVE COMPLETED. I FEEL NISSAN NEEDED TO RECALL THE WHOLE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225351April 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO STALL WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE. SHE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO REMAIN ON. THE SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND ENGINE SPEED SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO, AN OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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