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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,816 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
Reporting 2002 Nissan Altima accident/fire; and requesting assistance on how to get reimbursed for auto repairs. The consumer was involved in an accident in which he re ended another vehicle. The vehicle sustained severe front end damage and the vehicle caught on fire. The vehicle was totaled due to fire and water damage. The other vehicle drove away from the accident with little to no damage.
While driving, the vehicle stalled. The driver tried to restart, but was unable to do so. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that the problem can not be duplicated. Please fill in additional information.
Bought car used in March 2003 with 28451 miles from decormier Nissan in manchester, ct 06040. Since I have had car there have been numerous problems. No starting, car would stop running while driving, ignition coils have been replaced, cam position sensor replaced (twice), 5 recalls, brakes redone due to excessive corrision, after brakes redone needed to replace both front warped rotors, radiator replaced after bottom seam blew out. Latest problem is what I feel is excessive consumption of engine oil. Car originally did not use oil between oil changes (3000 miles). Car is currently using just over 1 quart per 3000 miles. Brought car to dealer with 52,281 miles to perform oil consumption test. Brought car back with 53,924 miles. In 1,643 miles car consumed 0.6 quart of oil. Dealer said this is acceptable. Have since contacted Nissan of America (1-800-nissan1) to start case #4630040. I am also concerned about recall for pre-catalyst (done on 9/23/03) because there is a possibility certain engine operating conditions may cause damage to the pre-catalyst. Material from a damaged pre-catalyst could enter the engine and result in increased oil consumption. I asked the dealer about the pre-catalyst and there were not aware of this. Pre-catalyst recall is on the Nissan of America web site then why is the dealer not aware of this?
Multiple engine failures. Even with a new engine, the vehicle experienced the same problems. The service manager replaced plugs, and gave consumer a loaner vehicle. Also, a new computer was installed and still problem existed.
Well, I filed a complaint on March 12, 2003 regarding my engine on my 2002 Nissan Altima. Well, I've noted since 2002-2004, my car has had major problems with the engine. Well, here it is 2004, I'm having the same problem with the car stalling and the air bag had a default. It was towed about three weeks ago and once again, I was told there was a recall on the censor for the computer and the starter went out as well. I've had it and I'm about to seek a lawyer. Also, everytime my car doesn't start, it's always because of a recall. Each time I ask why wasn't I notified that there was recalls, the dealer service dept. Manager claims Nissan doesn't send out letters. Well, I'm not sure what to believe. Now I'm riding around in a 4 door Nissan Sentra that is loaned to me by the dealer. I want to know, does Nissan send out recall letters or is it up to the individual dealers? I'm just fed up with Nissan and I'm going to give their main office a call about this. Please help me to understand this. Thanks.
Engine stalled at highway speed nearly causing a major accident. Car restarted and smae thing happened. I had car towed to dealer and they replaced a sensor as part of a reclaa (R3022).
My 2002 Nissan Altima has complete loss of power while driving on three separate occasions, twice I lost control of car and miraculously avoided a crash. I have been told that the problem was repaired the second time having it towed to the dealership. I no longer feel safe placing my children in this car. This car is a death trap, I'm surprised the government (lemon law) requires a total of 5 times same occurrence, report after the third time, then the dealership has another shot of repair #4, only then, they will consider replacement or buy back, after 5th time of engine failure. This to me is russian roulette, the worse part is, I'm paying for it (car pymt.)who is it that actually chose the criteriia for the lemon laws" and whose favor are they in ? the consumer and their families at risk, or the multi-billion dollar a year car manufacturers" I want a safe car!!!! and I want to be treated like the lives of my children matter and we're not just another number. Would Mr. Ghosn (Nissan CEO), drive his children in a car that has total power loss while driving, resulting in loss of control"? do I paint big lemons on the side of my car, what does it take to get someone's attention, a death??" feel free to contact me kimflink@yahoo.com
I purchased a 2002 Nissan Altima in November of 2001. Twice within a short period of time, I was stranded when my vehicle would not start after turning it off. Both times the service department where I bought the vehicle told me that some minor adjustments fixed the problem. The third time my vehicle failed was this week, and it put my baby daughter and I in a life-threatening situation. As we traveled down I-10 at the rate of 70 mph my car stalled. I lost all power including power steering and brakes and ability to accelerate. This was a very dangerous situation. Come to find out, Nissan knows of a faulty sensor that exists in some of their later model vehicles, and is waiting until December to launch a recall campaign. I find this to be highly unacceptable because in the meantime drivers of these vehicles are at great risk.
Was driving 40-mph the vehicle stalled. Driver had managed to get vehicle out of traffic and towed to the dealer. Dealership had replaced the cam shaft sensor twice. Driver don't feel safe any more to driving this vehicle.
Consumer was never notified about recall 03V084000 for debris/fire in the engine although the VIN number was included. Vehicle was serviced several times for this problem by the dealership, and nothing was ever said about recall.
The consumer stated the vehicle stalled without warning while driving on the highway. The dealer diagnosed the failure of the camshaft position sensor and replaced it.. the vehicle failed to start twice and had to be towed, the first occurrence, the vehicle stalled while in driving.
While at a stop light, my car died. It was a hot day, the ac was on. I turned it off, it started after hesitating to turn over. Same exact situation except I was coasting down a hill the next day and it died, hot/ac was on. That time, the service engine light came on. I took it to the dealer the next day. I just got it back today and on the way home (again, hot day, ac on), it died again. The service ticket that I have says: Job 1-parts ordered manifold exhaust, cover-exhaust M, bearing-seal E, gasket-exhaust and replace converter and heat shield. Job 2- part was spring kit, install new coil register. I did notice during this time that my oil was rather on the low side and I added 2 qts. I have not since checked the oil nor was it time to change the oil. The dealer told me to bring it back tomorrow morning.
The vehicle intermittently stalled while driving, which resulted in loss of control of the vehicle. The dealer replaced the ignition coils, but the problem recurred.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
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