Nissan Altima Complaints (2002)

1,047 consumer complaints on file.

#10684209February 18, 2015
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE FIRST ISSUE I HAVE ARE THE OXYGEN SENOR ARE BAD NO SPEED WHEN GETTING PASS 35 FEEL LIKE YOUR DRIVING IN 25. THE MAJOR ISSUE AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WITH MY UNDER AGE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WHEN THE GEARS WAS IN DRIVE IT STOP AND WENT BACKWARDS THEN I PUT IT ALL THE WAY IN PARK AND IT STOP AND TOOK OFF AND SPEED WENT TO 60 THEN BACK DOWN TO IT NORMAL SPEED. JUST THE OTHER DAY ON 2/16/15 IT WAS PLACED IN DRIVE IT AUTOMATIC WENT INTO REVERSE INSTEAD OF DRIVE BUT THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682839February 11, 2015
ENGINE
FIRST THERE WAS A RANDOM MISFIRE WHEN I FIRST STARTED IT THAT MORNING. EVENTUALLY GOT IT TO START, ALLOWED IT TO RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. ONCE I PUT IT IN DRIVE IN AND MOVED A FEW MILES THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. GOT IT BACK HOME, CHANGED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE NEAR THE SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682546February 10, 2015
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECREASED IN SPEED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682122February 9, 2015
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 4/7/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BODY WAS RUSTING UNDER THE SEATS. UPDATED 04/14/15
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681747February 6, 2015
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DID CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPAIR FIXED CRANK POSITION SENSOR . I DRIVE TO THE STORE CAR SHUTS DOWN TO 5MPH I PULL OVER RESET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN IT WORKS FINE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679979January 30, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,573.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669171December 30, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,027.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662977December 8, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORBOARDS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOORBOARDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659700November 20, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ANTI FREEZE AND OIL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, EIGHT MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE CODES WHICH CAUSED THE PISTONS TO FREEZE AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652058November 3, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSUME OIL RAPIDLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652245November 3, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HARD STARTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10648503October 17, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE DEALER SUSPECTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS PROBABLY ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10645066October 16, 2014
ENGINE
THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT BUT A MANUFACTURER FAULT. THE ENGINE IS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL TO THE TUNE OF 1 QT PER 200 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10643137October 7, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE RADIATOR AND THE VEHICLE WAS USING ONE QUART OF OIL PER TANK OF FUEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HE COULD SMELL SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639988September 29, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- FAULTY INTAKE VALVE TIMING CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE - INTAKE VALVE TIMING CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE HARNESS IS OPEN OR SHORTED - INTAKE VALVE TIMING CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE CIRCUIT POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION - FAULTY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HARNESS IS OPEN OR SHORTED - CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION - FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (POS) SINCE THE INTAKE VALVE TIMING CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE USES OIL FLOW TO CONTROL TIMING, DIRTY OIL CAN CAUSE THE VALVE TO STUCK OPEN OR CLOSE. BEFORE REPLACING THE VALVE, CHANGE ENGINE OIL AND FILTER AND RESET ENGINE CODE. WHEN THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN ANGLE OF TARGET AND PHASE-CONTROL ANGLE DEGREE, THE VALVE WILL STOP WORKING AND THE ECM WILL TRIGGER THE P0021 CODE. POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS - ENGINE LIGHT ON (OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT)- LACK/LOSS OF POWER- ENGINE ROUGH IDLE P0021 NISSAN DESCRIPTION THIS MECHANISM HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLS CAM PHASES CONTINUOUSLY WITH THE FIXED OPERATING ANGLE OF THE INTAKE VALVE. THE ECM RECEIVES SIGNALS SUCH AS CRANKSHAFT POSITION, CAMSHAFT POSITION, ENGINE SPEED, AND ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE. THEN, THE ECM SENDS ON/OFF PULSE DUTY SIGNALS TO THE INTAKE VALVE TIMING CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE DEPENDING ON DRIVING STATUS. THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE SHUT/OPEN TIMING OF THE INTAKE VALVE TO INCREASE ENGINE TORQUE IN LOW/MID SPEED RANGE AND OUTPUT IN HIGH-SPEED RANGE. THE INTAKE VALVE TIMING CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE CHANGES THE OIL AMOUNT AND DIRECTION OF FLOW THROUGH INTAKE VALVE TIMING CONTROL UNIT OR STOPS OIL FLOW. THE LONGER PULSE WIDTH ADVANCES VALVE ANGLE. THE SHORTER PULSE WIDTH RETARDS VALVE ANGLE. WHEN ON AND OFF PULSE WIDTHS BECOME EQUAL, THE SOLENOID VALVE STOPS OIL PRESSURE FLOW TO FIX THE INTAKE VALVE ANGLE AT THE CONTROL POSITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637221September 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 I BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS 83000 MILES. LIKE OTHERS, MY FLOOR PANS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE RUSTED OUT. I FOUND THIS OUT ON 8/6/14. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT ALL THESE YRS. I WAS ALSO TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY FROM THE HARSH WINTER AND SALT ON THE ROAD. IF THIS WAS TRUE ALL THE CAR'S IN NJ THIS YEAR SHOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY A NISSAN REP. THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE, THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON IT, IT WAS TOO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT HAS A LOT OF SNOW AND SALT. I THINK NISSAN NEEDS TO READ THEIR COMPLAINTS ON THEIR WEB SITE AND STOP SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. MY ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THIS IS $2800. I AM ALSO SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN I STEP INTO THE CAR IT FEELS LIKE I AM GOING TO END UP ON THE GROUND. I WAS ALSO TOLD IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT IT COULD BE BAD BECAUSE NORMAL FLOOR PANS HELP PROTECT YOU. PLEASE HELP ALL NISSAN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637153September 18, 2014
ENGINE
IF YOU GOOGLE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA PROBLEMS YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING FROM ABOUT 60K TO 100K ABOUT A DESIGN FLAW OF HAVING THE PRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST VALVES. THE PRE-CAT WAS FOUND TO BE A PROBLEM OF BREAKING DOWN THE METALS INSIDE AND CAUSING THEM TO BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE AND RUINING THE PISTON RINGS AND ULTIMATELY BLOWING THE ENGINE. NISSAN HAD SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL BUT LOW AND BEHOLD I EXPERIENCE THE SAME SYMPTOMS. 2 QUARTS A WEEK OIL CONSUMPTION, SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE, NO HEAT UNTIL ABOUT 4K RPM. MANY CALLS AND COMPLAINTS WENT UPON DEAF EARS. WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR THEM TO SEE THAT THEY MISSED SOME ON THIS RECALL. MANY WITH THIS ENGINE LIKE SENTRA'S WITH THE 2.5 ENGINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAVE REPLACED THE PRE-CAT JUST TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN AND RUIN THE ENGINE AFTER REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631988September 9, 2014
ENGINE
THIS CAR ALMOST KILLED ME. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED, THERE ARE NO POWER, NO STEERING, NO BRAKE, AND WILL NOT START AGAIN THIS TIME. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN EATING OIL AND COOLANT LIKE CRAZY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630986September 5, 2014
TIRES, TIRES:BEAD
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP, TIRE LINE: SPORTS 7000, AND TIRE SIZE 215/60R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE SHIMMY AND SWAY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE TIRES WAS FEATHERING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE TIRES HAD A BUMP IN THE TIRED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS 221,947. BT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628041August 25, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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