CarComplaints.com Notes: Here's a disturbing trend for the 2002 Nissan Altima: the engine starts burning oil like crazy, the catalytic converter goes bad, the head gasket blows and eventually the entire engine needs replacement. Sound familiar? Like a script from a horror film, these Altimas seem doomed to fail around 95k miles.
The 2002 Altima is full of problems. I purchased the car after I found this out. This problem is concerned with the AC and Heater. Not only did we just buy the car, of course just out of warranty and just over 50,000 miles, and then be told be the dealer "it just needs a recharge on the AC to get the air cold again", but we also recharged it twice before a mechanic told us we had an internal seal leak on the compressor and they are not something anyone works on, only replaceable. The cost over $350.00.
So if you have AC problems look to have a "sniff" test done by a capable mechanic to see if the compressor is the culprit.
Twice per summer since I've owned the car, Nissan has said nothing is wrong. They just need to add freon. Freon helps, but does not solve the problem. Nothing like a hot, sticky car in the middle of the Southern heat. Talked to others who have the same problem.
- elaine,
Columbia, SC, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The 2002 Altima is full of problems. I purchased the car after I found this out. This problem is concerned with the AC and Heater. Not only did we just buy the car, of course just out of warranty and just over 50,000 miles, and then be told be the dealer "it just needs a recharge on the AC to get the air cold again", but we also recharged it twice before a mechanic told us we had an internal seal leak on the compressor and they are not something anyone works on, only replaceable. The cost over $350.00.
So if you have AC problems look to have a "sniff" test done by a capable mechanic to see if the compressor is the culprit.
- kbar, Boise, ID, US