Nissan Altima Complaints (2002)

1,047 consumer complaints on file.

#10170820October 14, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING, SO A BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE SENSOR AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK IN A CRASH. AT THE TIME I WAS PURCHASING THE CAR THE SAME AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING DURING OUR TEST DRIVE OF THE CAR. THE DEALER CHECKED INTO THE FLASHING WARNING LIGHT AND RESET THE MODULE BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS STOPPED THE FLASHING WARNING LIGHT FROM FLASHING. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN. THE DEALER RESET THE MODULE A SECOND TIME. ON MY LAST VISIT FOR THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHING ON 9/29/2006 THE DEALER SAID THE MODULE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESET AND THAT IT HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,100.00 PARTS/LABOR. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 59,000 MILES ON IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS 79,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL R3001. I AM CONCERNED THE FLASHING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATED A PROBLEM EARLY ON, IT NEEDED TO BE RESET TWICE BEFORE IT FINALLY FAILED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171201October 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 ALTIMA SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND VEHICLE STALLED. *TS THE VEHICLE'S HAD BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIME BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER, JERKED AND WOULD STALL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CRACKED BLOCK WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170531October 11, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED AGAIN - AFTER BEING REPLACED AT 37,000 MILES AND 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP IN 2004. NOW AT 57,000 MILES I NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES COMPLETELY AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THE NISSAN 'GENUINE' PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE IF AFTER ONLY 20,000 THE BRAKES ARE SHOT TOTALLY AGAIN. WHY DOES NISSAN KEEP RIPPING OFF THE CONSUMERS THIS WAY AND WHY ISN'T SOMETHING DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167568October 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, SMOKE ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. NO FIRE WAS PRESENT, ONLY SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE OIL WAS DRY IN THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE INSPECTOR CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONSISTENT FROM A LACK OF HAVING THE OIL CHANGED. UPDATED 10/12/06. *JB *NM UPDATED 1/17/2006 - AT NO TIME DID THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATE TO INDICATE LOW OIL. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE OIL LIGHT HAD NEVER ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE RECEIVED REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A KNOW DEFECT IN THE 2.5 LITER ENGINES. *NM THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ENGINE SHE HAD TO REPLACE. UPDATED *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170381October 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE WAS USING OIL EVERY 1000-1500 MILES. TOOK CAR TO VANN YORK NISSAN. WAS TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAME APART, WAS SUCKED INTO ENGINE. HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THOUGHT IT WOULD COVER THE PROBLEM. NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA SAID THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THEREFORE DOES NOT COVER THE ENGINE. ASKED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. WAS TOLD I'D GET A CALL BACK WITHIN 24 HOURS. NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. CALLED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. NEVER WOULD LET ME SPEAK TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE TELEMARKETER. FINALLY RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL TO INFORM THEY WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. TOOK CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. I BOUGHT 2 NISSANS IN 2002- 1 ALTIMA; 1-QUEST. HAD OWNED A 1998 ALTIMA PREVIOUSLY. THOUGHT NISSAN WAS A GOOD BRAND. THOUGHT NISSAN WAS A GOOD COMPANY. THOUGHT WRONG! WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT AS LONG AS I LIVE. HAVE TOLD EVERY PERSON I KNOW. WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE UNTIL I GO TO MY GRAVE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170382October 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I BOUGHT A NISSAN ALTIMA SL NEW IN 2002. THE CAR HAS ONLY 34,500 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO ELKINS NISSAN TODAY BECAUSE OF A NOISE. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW EXHAUST TUBE ASSEMBLY AT THE COST OF 400.00. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS PART HAS ALREADY FAILED IN A CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169995October 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA STALLS REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE FAILURE INCLUDES THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR SAFELY. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE POWER VALVE SCREWS COMING LOOSE AND GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. THE SCREWS MUST BE REPLACED WITH LOCK TIGHT ONES AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED. NISSAN HAS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR 2004 AND 2005 MODELS. THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IS NTB05058. THE 2002 AND 2003 MODELS HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY NISSAN AS WELL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169884October 3, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL FILL PIPE CONNECT TO BODY HAS RUSTED ON NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 47K MILES (2002). I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS CURRENTLY IS CAUSING CAR TO FAIL EMISSIONS, HOWEVER I WOULD BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY RISK AS WELL. THIS CAR IS CURRENTLY EARLY PRODUCTION OF REDESIGED ALTIMA, COULD POTENTIALLY BE PART OF FIRST IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUE. IN TRYING TO ORDER THE PART DEALER HAS INDICATED THERE IS A BACKLOG FOR THE PART. WOULD INDICATE THEY ARE HAVING HIGH DEMAND IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169382September 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V455000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2004 CONCERNING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169325September 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V455000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169113September 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 NISSAN ALTIMA VENTS WERE BLOWING WARM AIR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO START. *KB AFTER THE DEALER STATED THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM, WHICH THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS TOO MUCH FREON IN THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168333September 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. I HAVE SEEN THAT THEY HAVE ISSUED RECALLS FOR NEWER MODELS BASED ON THE ENGINE CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME THING HAPPENING ON MY CAR FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN SORT OF BLOWN OFF AND TOLD I AM NOT CHANGING THE OIL OFTEN ENOUGH. I RECENTLY WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL FOR THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND WHILE THERE HAD A 90000 MILE SERVICE DONE. AFTER THAT SERVICE, THE ENGINE WAS GOING THROUGH OIL ROUGHLY EVERY 500 MILES OR SO. IT USED TO GO THROUGH IT EVERY 4000 MILES OR SO, WHICH SEEMS INCREDIBLY QUICK. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS NOT JUST ON THE NEWER MODELS BUT ON OLDER MODELS AS WELL. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD AND WOULD LIKE THE MATTER LOOKED INTO FURTHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168093September 12, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S DIFFICULT TO START, WILL FREQUENTLY STALL ONCE STARTED AS SOON AS ITS PUT INTO GEAR. (NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS DUE TO "BAD FUEL"-CHARGED $500 TO DRAIN TANK AND REFILL..PROBLEM STILL EXISTS..) BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE STALLED, STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD, UNABLE TO MANEUVER CAR, HIT TREE AND CRACKED SPOILER/DENT BUMPER. NOT SAFE TO TAKE ON HIGHWAY, AS YOU CANNOT "MERGE" INTO TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.. IF YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE, IT WILL BUCK AND STALL. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 8 MONTHS, EVEN AFTER DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY "FIXED THE PROBLEMS" . LIGHT KEEPS COMING BACK ON. VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING WARM AIR THROUGH A/C THIS SUMMER. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID "TOO MUCH FREON" AND CHARGED $300. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED THE NEXT DAY. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP.. CHARGED ANOTHER $100 TO DO "DIAGNOSTICS".. NO PROBLEMS EVER FIXED. LIGHT STILL ON. NISSAN NOT ADDRESSING IT. BASICALLY IGNORING THE LIGHT, EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS BEEN IN THERE FOR OVER $1000 WORTH OF "REPAIRS" IN 1 MONTH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167907September 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER I WENT TO START MY CAR AND WOULD NOT START. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS I LEFT THE CAR PARKED WHERE IT WAS. ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER I STARTED THE CAR FINE. A WEEK HAD PASSED WITH NO KNOW PROBLEMS WHEN SUDDENLY MY "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN BACKING UP FROM THE DRIVE WAY, AND AGAIN WHILE I WAS TURNING A CORNER. THE DEALER CLAIMS THE CHECK ENGINE CODE CAME UP AS "APP POSITIONING SENSOR" WHICH IS THE THROTTLE CHAMBER. I THOUGHT THIS WAS WARRANTED FOR UP TO 60,000 MILES? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167517September 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN 2003, NISSAN CONDUCTED A RECALL OF 2002 ALTIMA'S, REF #03V-084, IN WHICH THEY WERE TO CORRECT A FIRE HAZARD RESULTING FROM ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. ON 9/8/03, A NISSAN DEALER COMPLETED REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL. OVER THE LAST YEAR, MY VEHICLE HAD VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES UNDER THE HOOD AND BEGAN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. IN AUGUST 2006, THE 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT CAME ON AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR HAD FAILED AND WAS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER WHO PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE VEHICLE BURNED 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN 600 MILES AND ADVISED ME THE ENGINE WAS MOST LIKELY DAMAGED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY REFUSED TO COMPLETE ANY DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR REPLACED AGAIN AND THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF THE CONVERTOR INSTALLED AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL ARE CLEARLY DISINTEGRATED. I HAVE THE OLD PART AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. THE REPAIRS NISSAN COMPLETED IN ITS RECALL DID NOT RESOLVE THE DEFECT AND ARE A CONTINUING SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167269September 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR NEEDS AN OIL CHANGE EVERY MONTH BECAUSE IT BURNS SO MUCH OIL. NO HEAT IN THE WINTER BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTIONING RADIATOR. ALMOST HAD SEVERAL SERIOUS ACCIDENTS ON HIGHWAY FROM THE ENGINE STALLING, LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10167200August 31, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE INEXPLICABLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, FALLS TO THE FLOOR AND BECOMES INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY DURING 'STOP-AND-GO' TRAFFIC. THE PEDAL SIMPLY DOES NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS FOR MY MECHANIC, WHO GAVE THE CLUTCH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. ONCE IT FAILED ME AT 60 MPH!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166628August 27, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I BELONG TO HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM AND MANY OWNERS OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM 2002 TO CURRENT 2006 MODELS HAVE HAD PREMATURE MASTER/SLAVE CYLINDER FAILURES WHICH ARE A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU CAN NOT SHIFT YOUR CAR INTO OR OUT OF GEAR WHILE IN MOTION. MANY OF US FIND OURSELVES IN A PANIC MODE WHEN WE CAN NOT STOP OR GO BECAUSE OUR CLUTCH PEDAL HAS NO PRESSURE AND WE CAN NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. MY PERSONAL INCIDENT INVOLVES ME HAVING NO ABILITY TO SHIFT WHILE IN ANY DRIVING SITUATION, SUCH AS PARKING LOTS AND UP TO HIGHWAY DRIVING. I NEARLY GOT HIT WHILE DRIVING SOUTH THEN MAKING A LEFT TURN (WEST) WHEN I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND AND ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION (NORTH). I HAD TO REV MY CAR TO REDLINE JUST TO MAKE IT PAST THE INTERSECTION. IF YOU GO TO NISSANCLUB.COM YOU'LL FIND MAY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD FAILURES WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166395August 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE HAD MY 02 ALTIMA FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND HAVE ABOUT 85000 MILES ON IT. AROUND 15000 MILES AGO, THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER, BURN OIL, BURN SPARK PLUGS AND BURN O2 SENSORS. I HAVE SINCE SPENT $1000'S OF DOLLARS TRYING TO PREVENT/REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. NISSAN WON'T TALK TO ME AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE CROOKS WHO HAVE BEEN CHANGING RANDOM PARTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SOON MY ENGINE WILL BLOW JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHERS. BEING IN THE MILITARY, I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO KEEP THIS UP. THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS AND NISSAN IS DODGING A HUGE BULLET. I HAVE NOTIFIED EVERYONE I CAN THINK OF AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM DESPITE THE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! I HAVE TOLD EVERYONE I KNOW ABOUT THE CAR AND THE WAY NISSAN IS ADDRESSING THE SITUATION, NEITHER MYSELF OR ANYONE I KNOW WILL EVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166019August 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON. CONTINUOUSLY FAILS TO START. REDUCED ENGINE POWER. ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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