Nissan Altima Complaints (2002)

1,047 consumer complaints on file.

#10465402July 12, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE SAME PROCEDURE JUST A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL WAS NEVER EXCHANGED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WERE ALSO NO RECALLS COVERING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MIELAGES WERE 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464309July 5, 2012
ENGINE
MY CAR BURNS A QUART OF OIL A MONTH AT LEAST, WERE IS IT GOING ITS TO MUCH TO BE EVAP FROM LOOSE RINGS AND MY GASKETS ARE GOOD AND I CANT JUST KEEP CHANGING CATALYTIC CONVERTER 1 A MONTH ALSO MY CLUTCH DOESN'T SEEM TO HOLD PRESSURE IT STAYS PRETTY SLOPPY AND SOMETIMES STARTS GRABBING REAL LOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462476June 20, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, SEATS
HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES WITH FLOOR PANS, FLOOR BOARDS HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE SEAT TRACK MOUNTING POINTS ARE LOOSE. YEARS TO INCLUDE 2001 TO 2004 THIS IS VERY CONCERNING CONSIDERING SOME OF THESE CARS HAVE LESS THEN 100000 MILES ON THEM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458934May 18, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD RUSTED OUT, PRODUCING A BASKETBALL SIZED HOLE. THE EDGES OF THE HOLE ARE APPEAR THIN AND CONTINUE TO RUST. DEALER SENT PICTURES FOLLOWING AN INSPECTION TO NISSAN, BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. CLAIMS OUT OF WARRANTY (5 YR, 100KMILES). INCIDENTALLY, WE ALSO OWN A 2003 PATHFINDER WHICH HAD A RUST RECALL FOR FRONT WHEEL STRUTS WHICH TOOK A WEEK TO FIX, AND WE NOW HAVE BOTH BACK QUARTER PANELS RUSTING THROUGH, AND NISSAN ALSO REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458964May 18, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME BOTH FRONT SIDE FLOOR PANELS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WHO DRIVE NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I SPOKE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP COVER THE COST TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. AFTER READING NUMEROUS BOARDS OF INFORMATION I WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT THE NHTSA. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT ON THE CAR AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE ARE TOO MANY CASES OF RUSTED OUT FLOOR BOARDS AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM HOPING YOU CAN HELP ME WORK WITH NISSAN IN COVERING THE COSTS OF THE REPAIRS WHICH CAN BE EXPENSIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458714May 16, 2012
ENGINE
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 3/23/12. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ON 3/26/12. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING SOUND ON 4/20/12 AND A MECHANIC RECOMMENDED AN OIL CHANGE BECAUSE THE OIL WAS BLACK AND LOW. HE DID THE OIL CHANGE. THE NOISE WENT AWAY AFTER THE OIL CHANGE. THEN ON 5/6/12 THE RATTLING NOISE CAME BACK. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. I ADDED 3 QUARTS. THEN ON 5/16/12, I CHECKED OIL AGAIN AND HAD TO ADD 1 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL. THERE ARE NO LEAKS UNDER THE CAR OR INSIDE THE HOOD. THE CAR IS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES PER WEEK AND SOMETIMES LESS. . AND THE "CHECK OIL" LIGHT NEVER COMES ON TO INDICATE THAT IT IS LOW. I NOW HAVE TO CHECK THE OIL EVERY OTHER DAY BECAUSE I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL USE IT ALL. I HAVE TO KEEP QUARTS OF OIL IN THE TRUNK, IN CASE IT RUNS LOW AGAIN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457137May 2, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA.WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH. DURING THE CRASH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10456717April 27, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING OIL RAPIDLY AND EVERY TWO WEEKS, HE WOULD HAVE TO ADD OIL TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE COMPONENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE DEALER DIDN'T KNOW THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM AT A COST OF $2000. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS NOT A GUARANTEED FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456029April 22, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
RUSTED OUT FLOOR PAN ON BOTTOM OF CAR UNDERNEATH DRIVERS FEET AREA AND FRONT PASSENGER FEET AREA. TWO SEPARATE LARGE HOLES IN FLOOR. . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455018April 12, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO RE-START RIGHT AWAY LEAVING DRIVER IN EMINENT DANGER OF BEEN REAR ENDED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. NO CODES OR LIGHTS TURN ON DASHBOARD SIGNALING A MALFUNCTION OF VEHICLE. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE COOL OFF FOR ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES IT RE-STARTS AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE FAILURE BECAUSE NO LIGHTS ARE COMING UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND WHEN HOOKED TO A SCANNER NO FAILURE CODES WERE PRODUCED. MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS "REPAIRED" UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000( COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ) . THIS RECALL CALLS FOR CAM, CRANK AND VARIABLE TIMING SENSORS TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER ONLY THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43000 WHEN VEHICLE WAS FIRST TAKEN IN FOR RECALL BUT IT IS CURRENTLY FAILING AGAIN AT 160,000 MILES WITH ABOVE SYMPTOMS AND MANUFACTURER WON'T OFFER ASSISTANCE. THEY HAVE ADVICE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AGAIN AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP REPLACING PARTS UNTIL PROBLEM IS "FOUND". DUE TO LACK OF CODES THEIR TECHNICIANS WILL HAVE TO "GUESS" WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ALL THIS AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF DIAGNOSIS, PARTS AND LABOR. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011 A DEALER PERFORMED A RE-PROGRAM OF THE MAIN COMPUTER AS PART OF ANOTHER RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER CONCERNING VEHICLES STALLING. THIS RE-PROGRAM OF THE MAIN COMPUTER DID NOT FIX ANYTHING AND RIGHT AFTER I TOOK VEHICLE OUT OF THE DEALER IT STARTED STALLING AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING AT HIGH SPEEDS (65MP), THERE ARE NO CODES GIVEN OUT AND MANUFACTURER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE. AFRAID I AM GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED AS THE PROBLEM CONTINUES BUT CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454500April 9, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE CHANGING THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY ALTIMA, I NOTICED AN EIGHT INCH CHUNK OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORPAN RUSTING AWAY STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE CARPETING. I ALSO SAW THE FLOORPAN BEGINNING TO ROT AWAY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL. I WAS SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT A CAR ONLY 10 YEARS OLD WOULD HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY A NISSAN. NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS REPAIRED WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454272April 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE NISSAN ALTIMA HAS SEVERE RUSTING PROBLEMS WHICH WILL RESULT IN DETERIORATION OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR. I PURCHASED MY ALTIMA BRAND NEW IN 2002. 10 YEARS LATER, MY MECHANIC SAYS THERE ARE HOLES IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD WHICH WILL COST BETWEEN $2000 AND $3000. NISSAN WILL DO NOTHING TO AID THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452232March 19, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT INQUIRED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 03V084000 ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) AND 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,295 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,300. UPDATED 05/03/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451770March 15, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451286March 12, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BELIEVE THAT THIS ENGINE DEFECT CAUSED THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGED THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. THESE PARTICLES ENTERED THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND PROBABLY SCOURED THE CYLINDER WALLS PRIOR TO RECALL 03V-084 IMPLEMENTATION. THIS RESULTED IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION THROUGHOUT THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IN TURN ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE HEATER SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY, COOLANT RESERVES DISAPPEARING, ENGINE STARTED TO HEAT-UP, AND ULTIMATELY ENGINE SEIZED-UP. PRIOR TO THIS I HAD TO BE ADDING ENGINE OIL AND COOLANT EVERY TWO TO THREE WEEKS SINCE ENGINE WOULD START TO MAKE NOISE AND START TO HEAT-UP, BUT THERE WAS NO LEAKS OR ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON. PREVIOUSLY, MECHANICS DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS WHEN TAKING IT FOR OIL CHANGES AND SERVICE. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATE THAT IT WILL COST ME $2100 TO $5500 TO FIX THIS. I TOLD NISSAN SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT I FOUND THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO MANY NISSAN 2002 OWNERS ON THE INTERNET. I FOUND SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS JUST BY GOGGLING "2002 NISSAN ALTIMA OIL CONSUMPTION". EVEN NISSAN SERVICE PERSONNEL TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL SINCE THESE VEHICLES SHOULD LAST OVER THE 200 THOUSAND MILES, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE ALWAYS DONE ROUTINE OIL CHANGES AND SERVICE. PLEASE HELP ME AND THE MANY OWNERS OF THESE NISSAN ALTIMAS WHO HAVE TRUSTED NISSAN IN BUILDING LONG LASTING DEPENDABLE VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450457March 6, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS FAILED TWICE, EACH TIME I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. NOW IT IS DOING THIS AGAIN. NOTICED THERE WERE 3 RECALLS ABOUT THIS. TWO BEFORE I PURCHASED AND ONE AFTER, BUT I DO NOT RECALL GETTING A NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL. MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, NOW DEALER IS TELLING ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF ANY RECALL WAS PERFORMED? DO NOT TRUST THIS DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450230March 4, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUR FIRST PROBLEM CAME WHEN THE ALTIMA HAD SEVERAL HOLES BLOWN INTO THE ENGINE WHEN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED TO HOLD UP BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE ENGINE. I DID TAKE THE CAR IN FOR THE RECALL, BUT WHAT THEY DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE, AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE ENTIRE CAR DID NOT SET ON FIRE OR THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I WAS ON A HIGHWAY. I FOUGHT HARD AND SPOKE TO PERSON AFTER PERSON AND FINALLY FOUND THE PRESIDENT OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS NUMBER(4 WEEKS INTO CALLING), THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE I HAD KEPT SUCH GREAT RECORDS OF OUR SERVICE HISTORY THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE MY ENGINE. NOW I HAVE A NEW DEFECT IN THIS CAR. THE METAL FLOOR PAN HAS A DEFECT AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL! THERE ARE ACTUALLY HUGE HOLES IN THE FLOOR OF MY CAR THAT COULD PROVE DEADLY AND MAKE MY CAR NOT ROAD WORTHY. THEY ARE ASKING $2,000 TO $3,000 TO FIX THIS!!! FRAUD. I AM SO LIVID. THIS CAR HAS BEEN ONE NIGHTMARE AFTER ANOTHER. I WANT TO FEEL AS IF MY FAMILY IS SAFE IN THE CAR I AM DRIVING. WHO WORRIES THAT THE FLOOR MIGHT FALL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THEM WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING??? OR HEAVEN FORBID, SOMETHING HIT THE BOTTOM AND COME RIGHT INTO THE CAR! I'M SO ANGRY ABOUT THIS CAR. PLEASE TELL ME THAT I AM NOT HELPLESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449625February 28, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HI, I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT SHOWS UP A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH ISSUE ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CONSUMES A LOT OF OIL. I AM VERY MUCH CONCERNED ON THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. REQUESTING NISSAN TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS THIS IS A VERY MUCH KNOWN ISSUE WITH RECALLS. THANKS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447841February 13, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HEAD GASKET LEAK, CONSISTENT DETAILS WITH ALL THE OTHER NOTED HEAD GASKET FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447268February 9, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PRE-CATALYST HAD BROKEN DOWN AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTE: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,889. UPDATED 04/25/12*LJ NISSAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. UPDATED 04/30/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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