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.

2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,000 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.

2003 Nissan Altima accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2003 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #2

Mar 102008

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Started approximately 2 years ago. Driver and passenger windows won't go up all the way and if they do then they roll down all by themselves. They go up and down at all times of the day and nite. The car automatically locks itself whether the keys are in the ignition or not. You always need to have two sets of keys because if the window is down and you reach in to unlock it the alarm goes off as if you are trying to break into the car. Door that goes over the gas cap bent during regular use and would not close. Nissan said there were no recalls on this item and just to take it to a dealer and pay to get it fixed. Saw several other Altima of the same vintage with the same problem.

- Milford, KS, USA

problem #1

Feb 282010

Altima 6-cyl

  • 108,000 miles
2003 Nissan Altima 3.5L V6 SE - the door locks keep locking repeatedly. Will do this while I am in and out of the car regardless of key fob use. My hazard lights flash each time. This has been ongoing for over a week and has increased in frequency and duration. It is now constant - going on every 3-5 seconds. I had trouble getting my daughter out of the car because the door kept locking on me. I worry about the ability to get out quickly if needed. It brings attention to my car throughout the night. I believe this is a safety issue on many levels. It has not been fixed yet. I have been told it may be the door lock actuators.

- Firestone, CO, USA

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