Nissan Altima Complaints (2002)

1,047 consumer complaints on file.

#10114106March 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, EQUIPMENT
THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE DAY ONE, IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIP FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER, IT STARTED WITH THE CAR RUNNING HARD, DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I HAVE BROKE THE CAR IN AND NOW THIS IS HOW THEY RUN, TOOK IT BACK AGAIN 3 TO 4 MORE TIMES WITH SAME PROBLEM,TOLD THEM CAR IDLES HIGH, SHIFTS BAD, RUNS BAD, THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG, I DO ALOT OF HIGHWAY MILES AND AS SOON AS I WAS OVER THE MILES AND OUT OF THE WARRENTY THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE GONE ONLY 800 TO GET FIXED, I WAS THEN HIT BY A CAR HEAD ON AND REALLY HURT I SUFFERED MAJOR BACK PROBLEMS , COME TO FIND OUT I PROBABY COULD HAVE PREVENTED SOME OF THE DAMAGE TO MY SELF IF I HAD A SAVER CAR, MY AIR BAGS DIDN;T DEPLOY. I HAVE HAD EVERY RECALL TO THIS CAR , THE SERVICE MEN AT THE DEALSERSHIPS ARE THE RUDEST MEN I HAVE EVER DELT WITH. I WAS RIGHT THE WHOLE TIME !!!!! I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WITH THE LIGHTS COST AROUND 800 TO FOX KEPT CHANGING THE LIGHTS NOT TO MENTIONS THE TICKETS I RECIEVED FROM THE COPS , I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT, THEY ARE LIKE THIS IS A 02 THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, IF THEY ONLY KNEW!!! I AM REALLY TIRED OF THIS CAR , NOW I WAS JUST TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS ANOTHER PROBLEM, IT OVER HEATS THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE THE THEROSTAT BUT THEY DON'T KNOW. HOW MUCH MONEY WILL THAT COST ME??? I AM ONE ANGRY PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO THIS CAR!!!!!!!*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10112493March 4, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PASSENGER LOW/BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT-TOOK IT TO RACEWAY NISSAN-WAS TOLD THE GROUND WIRE CLIP THAT HOLDS THE BULB MELTED,CREATED THE BULB TO BURN OUT-WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WOUD COST $296.00. I HAD SOMEONE ELSE FIX THE PROBLEM FOR JUST $40.00!-IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HOUSING UNIT THAT CAUSES THE LIGHT TO BURN OUT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL - NISSAN REFUSES TO AKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I LIVE IN A VERY DARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND I REALLY NEED BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO WORK FOR SAFETY ISSUES. NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FACTORY DEFECT HEADLAMP HOUSING UNIT - THAT IS THE 'REASON' WHY NISSAN CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLAMP HOUSING UNIT FOR IN 2003. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR NISSAN TO PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THESE COMPLAINTS? I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM NISSAN EVER AGAIN!!, I SHOULD HAVE STAYED WITH HONDA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113235March 1, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DRIVER WAS INFORMED BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT, AND THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ,AND REPLACED. THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THEN, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112320February 28, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO THE BULB TO REPLACE IT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE BACKSIDE HOUSING HAD MELTED AND I NEEDED A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE LIGHT/BULB REFLECTS OFF OF THE BACK OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SHINES OUT. APPARENTLY, THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHT/BULB HAD GOTTEN SO HOT IT MELTED THE BACKSIDE HOUSING (WHERE IT IS GROUNDED). THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THIS WILL HAPPEN TO MY OTHER HEADLIGHT, WHETHER IT WILL HAPPEN TO MY NEW HEADLIGHT, OR IF IT WILL HAPPEN TO BOTH LIGHTS. IN MY MIND, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO, I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO (ACCORDING TO TWO DEALERS). I AM CONCERNED THAT THE BULB COULD GET SO HOT AS TO MELT SOMETHING ELSE IN THE CAR. I DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT HOW CARS ARE ASSEMBLED AND ABOUT CAR ENGINES, BUT WHAT IF THE HEAT FROM THE BULB COULD MELT FURTHER INTO THE CAR, OR EVEN START A FIRE? THE CHANCE OF MORE DAMAGE TO A CAR OCCURRING FROM A HOT LIGHT BULB SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. IT SEEMS THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE LIGHT OR OF THE MATERIALS USED. I THINK THE 2002 AND 2003 ALTIMAS HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND NISSAN CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS IN LATER MODELS. I NO LONGER LEAVE MY AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON FOR FEAR OF THE BULB GETTING TOO HOT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND, IF THERE IS A FLAW, GET NISSAN TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112030February 23, 2005
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110753February 18, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
LOST OF HEAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,HEAT BOX,TERMOSTAT'S, FLUSHED COOLING SYSTEM & STILL I LOSE HEAT. THEY HAVE CONTACTED THE ENGINEERS IN CALIF. AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WRONG EITHER. ONE SHOULD BE HERE IN DETROIT BY MARCH 22,2005 TO TRY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR IS BURNING OIL, WHIN IN A WEEK I HAVE TO REPLACE OIL IN THE CAR BECAUSE ALL THE OIL IS GONE AND IT'S NOT LEAKING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110570February 15, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUTS OF MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. EVERYTIME I DRIVE OVER A WASHBOARD OR SPEEDING BUMP, THE STRUTS MAKE A POPPING SOUND AS IF A HAMMER IS HITTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ANY SORT OF IRREGULARITIES FROM THE ROAD CAUSES SUCH NOISES. IF YOU TAKE TIME TO GO TO 3RD GENERATION ALTIMA FORUMS, YOU WILL REALIZE TONS OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH MY SAME SITUATION. PLEASE, IF ANYONE FROM NISSAN IS READING THIS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE ALTIMA HAS IT'S FAULTS, FIX THEM!!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110206February 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER BREAKING UP INTO PIECES AND THIS PIECES GOING INTO THE ENGINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110081February 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BULB WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BULB WAS REPLACED. THE BULB REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE AT A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP TO AVOID DRIVING IN THE DARK WITHOUT A HEADLIGHT. HE CHARGED ME $70 TO REPLACE EACH LIGHT VERSUS $145 THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO CHARGE FOR EACH LIGHT. ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER THE LAST REPLACEMENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT FIXTURES WERE DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, SOMETHING WAS MELTING THE BASE OF THE LIGHT BULB CAUSING THEM ONLY TO LAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE GOING OUT AGAIN. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES (OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL) HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE COVERED THE EXPENSES UNDER 60,000 MILES, WHICH I THINK WAS IRRELEVANT IF THIS WAS HAPPENING ON OTHER VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I TRAVEL A LOT, AND I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A UNFAMILIAR AREA AT NIGHT WITH NO HEADLIGHTS!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108505February 3, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I BROUGHT MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA TO WOODBURY NISSAN TO HAVE THE DRIVERS-SIDE HEADLIGHT REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY AROUND THE HEADLIGHT BECAUSE IT MELTED. THE TOTAL COST IS $305. I WILL HAVE MY CAR 3 YEARS AT THE END OF THIS MONTH BUT I AM OVER MY MILEAGE. MY CAR HAS 43,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY JOSH HILL AT WOODBURY NISSAN THAT IT NOW COMES WITH A METAL PART TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109595February 2, 2005
STRUCTURE
REQUEST FOR RECALL OF 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA'S BASED ON SERVICE BULLETIN-CLASSIFICATION BT02-017, REFERENCE NTB02-042. *BF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD A SEVERE LEAK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DEFECT CAUSED EXTREME AMOUNTS OF WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109057January 27, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY SHORT OUT. DEALER REPLACED HEADLAMPS 8 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108074January 27, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE DRIVER SIDE HALOGEN HEADLIGHT WOULD WORK INTERMITTINGLY BEFORE FINALLY GOING OUT FOR GOOD. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BACK OF THE HALOGEN HEADLAMP WAS PLASTIC HAD THE HEADLAMP OVERHEATED WHICH MELTED THE PLASTIC BACK TO THE HEADLAMP CAUSING THE LAMP TO BLOW. I WAS TOLD THAT A NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED THEREFORE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE DEALER OR MY WARRANTY. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND A RECALL NOTICE SHOULD BE ISSUED. IT COST ME OVER $300 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HALOGEN HOUSING UNIT. THE PASSANGER SIDE HEADLAMP BLEW AND WAS REPLACED 6 MONTHS EARLIER. I WAS TOLD THE RE[LACEMENT HALOGEN HOUSING UNIT IS NOW METAL AND WILL NOT MELT. THIS IS NOW THE ELEVENTH COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE BEFORE A RECALL NOTICE IS ISSUED? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107962January 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NO COLLISION- WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MADE A LARGE NOISE AND SUDDENLY EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND WE HAD CAR TOWED. CAR NEEDS COMPLETE NEW ENGINE. TWO DIFFERENT AUTO SHOPS SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. CAR HAD ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. NISSAN WAS NOTIFIED AND CAME TO TAKE PICTURES OF CAR IN NOVEMBER 2004. HAS BEEN UNDER "LEGAL REVIEW" EVER SINCE AND COMPANY HAS BEEN LESS THAN COOPERATIVE WHEN WE'VE TRIED TO CONTACT THEM NUMEROUS TIMES, SO WE'VE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107887January 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
NISSAN'S RECALL DEALS SEVERELY WITH THE MOTOR. HEAT SENSORS WERE NOT INSTALLED ON THE MOTOR ALLOWING THE MOTOR TO REACH EXTREME TEMPERATURES, THUS BURNING OFF THE OXYGEN SENSOR INTO THE PRE-CATALYST CONVERTER CAUSING MY MOTOR TO LOSE 3 QTS. PLUS OF OIL PER DAY. NISSAN KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH I HAVE 117,000 MILES HAVE KEPT UP WITH OIL CHANGES, NISSAN WANTS ME TO PAY 50% OF THE COST TO FIX MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO NISSAN'S 800 NUMBER AND OVER 20 PLUS CALLS WENT UNANSWERED. I THEN DROPPED MY VEHICLE OFF AND LEFT IN ORDER TO GET SOMEONE TO RETURN MY CALL. NISSAN THREATENED ME WITH THE TOWING OF MY VEHICLE OFF THEIR PREMISES AND HAVE DONE SO. I AM NOW OUT OF A VEHICLE AND NISSAN WONT BUDGE OFF OF THEIR 50% SPLIT FOR A MOTOR. THIS WAS NISSAN'S FAULT IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE VEHICLE NOT MINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107656January 21, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHT FAILED ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON THE CAR, AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS OVER 35K MILES. THE CAR ONLY HAS 38K MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107612January 20, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD BY A TECH FROM BILL HOOD NISSAN THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHTS BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COSTS TO REPAIR IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HEADLIGHTS. I MADE A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106180January 12, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM FAILED WITHIN 20 MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND TWO MONTHS LATTER THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM FAILED. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS BY YOURSELF. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (UNDER WARANTY) AND REPLACED LIGHT BULBS AND NOW ONE OF THE HORNS DOESN'T WORK. REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS IS SO DIFFICULT THAT THE DEALER DAMAGED ONE OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBIES AND HAD TO REPLACE IT ALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107161January 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE HARD TO DEPRESS. THIS WOULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101298January 5, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATES, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO FEEL IT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK DEC 15 DEALER PICKED UP CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF VIBRATION CAR RETURN 12/17 CAN STILL NOT FOUND AND THERE WAS NO PAPER WORK GIVEN ON WHAT WAS DONE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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