Nissan Altima 2002 - Engine - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Nissan Altima 2002

Recalls
Technical Service Bulletins
Defect investigations
Consumer Complaints

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Manufacturing date	Type	# of units affected	Date Owner notified Mfg	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
03V455000	NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.	from 06/01/2001 to 06/30/2002	V (Vehicle)	630000	12/22/2003	MFR	NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.	11/17/2003	11/19/2003
Defect Summary	On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor may have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.
Consequence Summary	This could cause the service engine soon warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation, which could result in a crash.
Corrective Summary	Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01v357, are also included in this new campaign. the replacement sensors used in that campaign are also affected. owner notification began on december 22, 2003. owners should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Notes	Nissan recall no. r3022/infiniti recall no. r3021.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration
07V527000	NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.	from 06/14/2001 to 08/01/2002	V (Vehicle)	653910	12/31/2007	ODI	NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.	11/14/2007	11/15/2007
Defect Summary	On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l engine, the crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.
Consequence Summary	If the interruption in the signal from the crankshaft position sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ecm) logic does not have time to diagnose the condition, the engine may stop running without warning while the vehicle is driven at a low speed increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Summary	Dealers will reprogram the ecm free of charge. certain my 2006 altimas which have been previously remedied under recall campaign 06v223 (nissan r0606) are not included in this recall since the reprogramming for 06v223 also included this reprogramming. the recall began on december 31, 2007. owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Notes	This is an expansion of a previous campaign (06v223).customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
03V084000	NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.	from 08/01/2001 to 06/23/2003	V (Vehicle)	338000	07/28/2003	ODI	NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.	03/11/2003	03/18/2003
Defect Summary	On certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate.
Consequence Summary	Either of these two conditions could result in a fire.
Corrective Summary	Dealers will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. in addition to the corrective action, in order to reduce the risk of fire in the event of poor or improper maintenance that could result in oil spillage, heat shield(s) will be installed on the pre-catalyst and exhaust tube. owner notification began on july 28, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261. nissan recall nos. r3007, r3014, r3015, r3016, r3017. also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. if substrate particles enter the combustion chamber, they could score the cylinder walls, resulting in increased oil consumption. if the engine oil level is not checked on a periodic basis and drops below the low level, and the driver continues to operate the vehicle ignoring noticeable engine noise, engine damage may occur which could result in a fire. the pre-catalyst will be tested to ensure it is working properly and replaced if necessary. if damage is found inside the pre-catalyst, it will be necessary to replace the engine.
Notes	Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Replacement Bulletin	Item no.	Summary	Added
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
04016	02/03/2004		10006150	Alternator noise after engine shut off.*mr	04/22/2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
NTB02050	04/23/2002		635081	Subject regarding vq engine water pump o-ring. *tt	10/17/2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
NTB02047B	09/09/2003	NTB02047A	10003920	Poor heater performance. *tt	11/06/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
06009	03/31/2006	06009A	10019613	Mil on with dtc u1000 or u1010 stored in engine control unit. *tt	04/05/2006
06029	03/30/2006		10019626	Engine oil cooler gasket available. *tt	04/05/2006
06009	02/08/2006		10019300	Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code u1000 or u1010 stored in engine control unit. *ak	02/28/2006
04055	05/05/2004		10007685	Essential tool - j-47010 tamper resistant torx plus 25ipr bit. *tt	07/08/2004
04015	02/03/2004		10006193	Unable to maintain idle or low/rough idle at start.*mr	04/26/2004
04004A	05/26/2004	04004B	10005677	After a cold soak, the engine cranks but does not start. *tt	03/11/2004
03106	11/12/2003		10004604	Qr25 engine - drive belt auto-tensioner service caution. *tt	12/24/2003
02082A	10/08/2003	02082	10004566	Low power/poor running and/or malfunction indicator lamp on with front o2 sensor/transmission gear diagnostic trouble code stored. *tt	12/19/2003
03060	03/15/2005	03060A	10003344	Rattle noise when started cold. tt updated eh	10/16/2003
03023	03/15/2003		10001338	Lack of power. *tt	04/30/2003
03022	03/15/2003		10001333	Hesitation on acceleration with manual transmission. *tt	04/30/2003
99063C	05/17/2005	99063D	10000401	Engine will not start. nissan vehicle immobilizer system / nissan anti-theft system (nvis/nats) description key registration. tt update. tt	02/26/2003
02037A	11/06/2002	02037	10000399	Buzz noise from engine compartment area at 2500-2700 rpm, moderate load. *tt	02/26/2003
02113	10/29/2002		10000205	Hard / no start / fluctuating / rough idle at temperatures below freezing. *tt	02/19/2003
NTB02082	08/12/2002		633671	Low power/poor running and/or malfunction indicator lamp on with front o2 sensor/transmission gear dtc stored. *jg	09/23/2002
NTB02067	06/18/2002		633694	Subject regarding qr25de (4cyl) engine head gasket handling precautions. *jg	09/23/2002
NTB01074	10/26/2001		626813	Subject regarding malfunction indicator lamp on and diagnostic trouble code p0340 (camshaft position sensor code) stored. *jg	12/18/2001
NTB01074	10/26/2001		625899	Subject regarding camshaft position sensor code. *jg	12/11/2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
NTB02083	07/30/2002	NTB01080	633675	Subject regarding engine not cranking in park but will crank in neutral. *jg	09/23/2002
NTB02037	03/28/2002		631338	Subject regarding buzz noise at 2500 - 2700 rpm, moderate load. *jg	05/22/2002
NTB02037	03/28/2002		630815	Vehicles may experience a buzz noise at 2500-2700 rpm.*jb	04/24/2002
NTB01080	11/20/2001		627391	Subject regarding engine not cranking in park but will crank in neutral. *jg	02/07/2002

Investigations

NHTSA ID	Manufacturer	Date open	Date close	Subject	Recall campaign
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
PE02078	NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.	10/18/2002	03/25/2003	ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES	03V084000
	The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation on october 18, 2002 based on three reports indicating that the engine compartment in model year (my) 2002 nissan altima vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine caught on fire without any warning to the driver while the vehicle was driven at highway speeds.one non-burn related injury was reported as a result of the complainant exiting the vehicle in haste after it had caught on fire.nissan discovered that one of the hanger pins which holds exhaust pipe in place may catch debris from the road.if the debris were to come in contact with the main catalyst, a fire could result.this condition is also present in my 2003 nissan altima vehicles built thru february 18, 2003.nissan also stated in its defect information report that on my 2002 altimas and sentras (equipped with the 2.5-liter engine) that certain operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat, which would cause catalyst substrate particles to flow into the engine.these particles can score the cylinder walls which results in increase oil consumption.if the engine oil level is low, engine noise and damage can occur which could result in a fire.the recall includes 268,000 my 2002-2003 altimas and 2002 sentras equipped with the 2.5-liter engine.to correct the condition nissan will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pin on the altimas.nissan is developing a corrective action to address the pre-catalyst.in addition to the corrective action, nissan will install heat shields on the pre-catalyst and the surrounding exhaust tubing.nissan will begin owner notification in may of 2003.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
PE02078	NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.	10/18/2002	03/25/2003	ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES	03V084000
	The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation on october 18, 2002 based on three reports indicating that the engine compartment in model year (my) 2002 nissan altima vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine caught on fire without any warning to the driver while the vehicle was driven at highway speeds.one non-burn related injury was reported as a result of the complainant exiting the vehicle in haste after it had caught on fire.nissan discovered that one of the hanger pins which holds exhaust pipe in place may catch debris from the road.if the debris were to come in contact with the main catalyst, a fire could result.this condition is also present in my 2003 nissan altima vehicles built thru february 18, 2003.nissan also stated in its defect information report that on my 2002 altimas and sentras (equipped with the 2.5-liter engine) that certain operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat, which would cause catalyst substrate particles to flow into the engine.these particles can score the cylinder walls which results in increase oil consumption.if the engine oil level is low, engine noise and damage can occur which could result in a fire.the recall includes 268,000 my 2002-2003 altimas and 2002 sentras equipped with the 2.5-liter engine.to correct the condition nissan will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pin on the altimas.nissan is developing a corrective action to address the pre-catalyst.in addition to the corrective action, nissan will install heat shields on the pre-catalyst and the surrounding exhaust tubing.nissan will begin owner notification in may of 2003.

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
ENGINE
11/18/2011	100351
	The check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle would also stall while driving at various speeds and would often hesitate to start while parked. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic stated that the crank shaft and the cam shaft position sensors would have to be replaced. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling) that could have been related to the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the vin was not included in the recall. also my car is loosing coolant and dont know where the cooling is going, took it to nissan they dont have a clue either. also i sometime smell gas when the car start up after a long stall crank.
01/11/2013	110000
	After one of my regularly scheduled oil changes i noticed that my oil light flickered. checked the dip and noticed i was extremely low in oil. it had been about 400miles since the last oil change. a quart every 100 miles. no smoke from the exhaust, no leak when parked so i bring it to a mechanic. notified me that its possibly my catalytic converter which will cost $2k since this model has 2 or it could be the engine running a total of $3k to $6k for the engine and install plus the $2k for the converters making the grand total of $5k to $8k. did some research and it is looking like these cars are notorious for the converters and ultimately the demise to the engine. any suggestions would be helpful. college and broke.
01/07/2013	136000	1
	Car was purchased almost two years ago, used. it drove well and any maintenance showed the car in great shape until recently. the engine started making a rattling noise. i took it to a mechanic to find that the car was extremely low on oil, which had never been an issue and oil changes done on schedule. the car now goes through about one quart of oil per two weeks. i was told the car would need a new engine. no warning lights appeared while driving to indicate that there was an issue with the engine or the low oil. *tr
01/07/2013	136000
	Car was purchased almost two years ago, used. it drove well and any maintenance showed the car in great shape until recently. the engine started making a rattling noise. i took it to a mechanic to find that the car was extremely low on oil, which had never been an issue and oil changes done on schedule. the car now goes through about one quart of oil per two weeks. i was told the car would need a new engine. no warning lights appeared while driving to indicate that there was an issue with the engine or the low oil.
08/23/2012	175000
	Car was being driven at approximately 35 mph when it stopped running. diagnosis: the cam position sensors were bad and needed replacement (replaced 2 sensors). the check engine light remains illuminated after replacing the sensor with parts obtained from the dealer. there is a recall on vehicle which was never fulfilled, however, nissan claims it does not affect my vehicle.
01/22/2012	100000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while parked, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle would also stall while driving at various speeds and would often hesitate to start while parked. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic stated that the crank shaft and the cam shaft position sensors would have to be replaced. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling) that could have been related to the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
01/22/2012	100000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while parked, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle would also stall while driving at various speeds and would often hesitate to start while parked. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic stated that the crank shaft and the cam shaft position sensors would have to be replaced. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling) that could have been related to the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. kmj
01/22/2012	100000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while parked the engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact stated the vehicle stalled while driving at different speeds and would hesitate to start while parked. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic stated the crank and cam shaft position sensors would have to be replaced. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling) that could have been related to the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vin was not included in the recall.the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. da
11/14/2012	85316
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the vehicle exhibited a strange noise as smoke began to bellow from the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis. the dealer informed him that bits and pieces of the catalytic converter were becoming caught in the engine. he was informed of a recall for the failure under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) but was also informed that his vin was not included in the recall campaign. the manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 85,316.
11/14/2012	85316
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the vehicle exhibited a strange noise as smoke began to bellow from the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis. the dealer informed him that bits and pieces of the catalytic converter were becoming caught in the engine. he was informed of a recall for the failure under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) but was also informed that his vin was not included in the recall campaign. the manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 85,316. kmj
11/14/2012	85316
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated while driving 45 mph the driver heard a strange noise like the vehicle was not getting enough air. smoke began to bellow out of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis. the dealer informed him that bits and pieces of the catalytic converter were getting caught in the engine. he was informed of the recall for nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) but was also informed that the vin was not included in the recall. the manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was 85,316. dt
12/29/2012	170000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while traveling 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. the vehicle was able to be moved to the shoulder where it was towed to the contact's residence. the vehicle was inspected by a private mechanic but he was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted about the issue. the failure and current mileages were 170,000. the vin was not available. kmj
12/29/2012	170000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while traveling 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. the vehicle was able to be moved to the shoulder. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the vehicle was inspected by a private mechanic who could not diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted about the issue. the failure and current mileages were 170,000. the vin was not available. mh
05/12/2012	137553	1
	The car has an unusual oil consumption related to catalytic converter problems seems like. it is too many owners of this car having the same issue and base on their information there is not accountability from nissan. this issue must be investigated by the authorities and enforce the quality material from nissan for these car parts (catalytic and engine). this could be a hazard issue for possible fire or undesired gases on lungs and/or environment. nissan must accept their wrong doing and responsibility for this poor quality materials and technology sell by them in our country. we must be protect from this cheap companies products without any work ethical. if you check www.carcomplaints.com you can find over 200 complaints about nissan abusing people for the same matter. you also can see how in canada there is an organization who protected the consumer and was able to get a fully refund of the customer money. thank you so much. and let justice reins. *tr
05/12/2012	137553
	The car has an unusual oil consumption related to catalitic converter problems seems like. it is too many owners of this car having the same issue and base on their information there is not accountability from nissan. this issue must be investigated by the authorities and enforce the quality material from nissan for these car parts (catalitic and engine). this could be a hazzard issue for possible fire or undesired gases on lungs and/or enviroment. nissan must accept their wrong doing and responsability for this poor quality materials and technology sell by them in our country. we must be protect from this cheap companies products without any work ethical. if you check www.carcomplaints.com you can find over 200 complaints about nissan abusing people for the same matter. you also can see how in canada there is an organization who protected the consumer and was able to get a fully refund of the customer money. thank you so much. and let justice reings.
08/12/2009	110000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that he received notification of nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000(engine and engine cooling: exhaustsystem: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe ) and took the vehicle to the dealer for recall service. several years later, the engine failed without warning. the contact stated that because of an oil consumption issue with the vehicle, excessive smoke would blow out of the exhaust pipe. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection where they advised that the head gasket was blown. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the engine did not need replacing and that they had honored their end of the recall campaign agreement. the failure mileage was 110,000. kmj
04/18/2012	110000	1
	Soon after buying the vehicle the vehicle began to shake severely when started or when coming to a complete stop. bringing it to the place where i bought the vehicle the changed the spark plugs and the shaking stopped for a while then weeks later it began again and only got worse. now it shuts off when running or won't turn on at all. *tr
04/18/2012	110000
	Soon after buying the vehicle the vehicle began to shake severely when started or when coming to a complete stop. bringing it to the place where i bought the vehicle the changed the spark plugs and the shaking stopped for a while then weeks later it began again and only got worse. now it shuts off when running or won't turn on at all.
10/22/2012	150000	1
	Catalytic converter went out and destroyed engine. now car uses 1 qt oil every 100 miles. nissan claims engine is old and there is nothing that they can do. too many cars have this type of problem for it to just be old engines and now the out of warranty people are paying for it. *tr
10/22/2012	150000
	Catalytic converter went out and destroyed engine. now car uses 1 qt oil every 100 miles. nissan claims engine is old and there is nothing that they can do. too many cars have this type of problem for it to just be old engines and now the out of warranty people are paying for it.
03/06/2012
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact approached a stop signal when the vehicle suddenly began to shake with a hesitation. the contact maneuvered to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle. he noticed coolant leaking into the oil and the engine oil level had become extremely low. in addition, black and gray smoke emitted from the exhaust. the vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop twice. the technician advised the contact that the catalytic converter and the engine cylinder seal were defective. there was a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) however, the contact's vin was ineligible for repairs under the recall. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the failure mileage was unavailable.
03/06/2012
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact approached a stop signal when the vehicle suddenly began to shake with a hesitation. the contact maneuvered to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle. he noticed coolant leaking into the oil and the engine oil level had become extremely low. in addition, black and gray smoke emitted from the exhaust. the vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop twice. the technician advised the contact that the catalytic converter and the engine cylinder seal were defective. there was a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) however, the contact's vin was ineligible for repairs under the recall. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the failure mileage was unavailable. kmj
09/15/2012	189000
	The contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. an independent mechanic was performing a diagnostic test on the vehicle to determine what cause the check engine light to illuminate; he stated that the exhaust and the catalytic converter were defective. the vehicle was also consuming oil excessively. the mechanic informed the contact the vehicle needed a new catalytic converter system, 3rd such repair. oxygen sensors, a new ecm reflash and a new engine the 1st catalyst had apparently cause parts to be sucked into the engine which subsequently led to the failure of additional converters and engine oil consumption . the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that he would have to pay to have the vehicle repaired. the vehicle is having a remanuafactured engine, catalyst and sensors replaced at a cost of nearly $3000. *tr
03/06/2012
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact approached a stop signal when the vehicle suddenly began to shake with a hesitation. the contact maneuvered to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle. he noticed coolant leaking into the oil and the engine oil level had become extremely low. in addition, black and gray smoke emitted from the exhaust. the vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop twice. the technician advised the contact that the catalytic converter and the engine cylinder seal were defective. there was a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) however, the contact's vin was ineligible for repairs under the recall. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the failure mileage was unavailable. kmj
09/15/2012	189000
	The contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. an independent mechanic was performing a diagnostic test on the vehicle to determine what cause the check engine light to illuminate; he stated that the exhaust and the catalytic converter were defective. the vehicle was also consuming oil excessively. the mechanic informed the contact the vehicle needed a new catalytic converter system, 3rd such repair. oxygen sensors, a new ecm reflash and a new engine the 1st catalyst had apparently cause parts to be sucked into the engine which subsequently led to the failure of additional converters and engine oil consumption . the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that he would have to pay to have the vehicle repaired. the vehicle is having a remanuafactured engine, catalyst and sensors replaced at a cost of nearly $3000. *tr
03/06/2012
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact approached a stop signal then suddenly the vehicle began to shake with a hesitation. the contact maneuvered to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle. he noticed coolant leaked into the oil and the engine oil level was extremely low. in addition, black and gray smoke emitted from the exhaust. the vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop two times. the technician stated the catalytic converter and engine cylinder seal were defective. there was a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vin was ineligible under the recall. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the failure mileage was unavailable. js
09/15/2012	189000
	The contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. an independent mechanic was performing a diagnostic test on the vehicle to determine what cause the check engine light to illuminate; he stated that the exhaust and the catalytic converter were defective. the vehicle was also consuming oil excessively. the mechanic informed the contact the vehicle needed a new catalytic converter system, 3rd such repair. oxygen sensors, a new ecm reflash and a new engine the 1st catalyst had apparently cause parts to be sucked into the engine which subsequently led to the failure of additional converters and engine oil consumption . the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that he would have to pay to have the vehicle repaired. the vehicle is having a remanuafactured engine, catalyst and sensors replaced at a cost of nearly $3000. *tr
09/15/2012	189000
	The contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. an independent mechanic was performing a diagnostic test on the vehicle to determine what cause the check engine light to illuminate; he stated that the exhaust and the catalytic converter were defective. the vehicle was also consuming oil excessively. the mechanic informed the contact the vehicle needed a new catalytic converter system, 3rd such repair. oxygen sensors, a new ecm reflash and a new engine the 1st catalyst had apparently cause parts to be sucked into the engine which subsequently led to the failure of additional converters and engine oil consumption . the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that he would have to pay to have the vehicle repaired. the vehicle is having a remanuafactured engine, catylist and sensors replaced at a cost of nearly $3000
08/21/2012	180000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where the contact was informed of a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repairs however, the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that her vehicle had an outstanding recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v251000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly) however none for the crank shaft position sensor. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 180,000.
08/21/2012	180000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where the contact was informed of a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repairs however, the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that her vehicle had an outstanding recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v251000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly) however none for the crank shaft position sensor. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 180,000. kmj
08/21/2012	180000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated while driving 55 mph the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and was informed of the recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for the recall but was informed that the vehicle was not part of the recall. the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that her vehicle had an outstanding recall on it concerning the fuel pump under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v251000 however none for the crank shaft position sensor. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 180,000. dt
07/22/2012	65662	1
	I am the original owner of my 2002 nissan altima and i bought the car in the fall of 2001. i religiously change the oil on time and have properly maintained the car. the car has extremely low mileage for its age. i have received all of the nissan recalls. since december 2001, i have had the problem of the engine stalling without warning and also, at times, losing all power in the car, an extremely dangerous condition and that almost caused me to have two accidents. after four recalls for the same problem of the engine stalling without warning, this year the car is again stalling without warning and i am told by my mechanic that i need to replace the crank sensor, which was replaced in 2004 by one of nissan recalls. i am told a crank sensor should last of the length of car's life. i am also told that those who received the 2009 version of the sensor have had no subsequent problems only those who had the older sensors are apparently at grave risk. i was in the car trying to cross an intersection with my 5 year old son in the back of car when my engine stalled without warning and when the engine dies i am without power. this was the first time since the last recall that the car stalled on me. this makes the stalling problem even more deadly. people think the problem was fixed by the earlier multiple recalls and are instead driving cars that are time bombs. nissan needs to address this problem immediately. *tr
07/22/2012	65662
	I am the original owner of my 2002 nissan altima and i bought the car in the fall of 2001. i religiously change the oil on time and have properly maintained the car. the car has extremely low mileage for its age. i have received all of the nissan recalls. since december 2001, i have had the problem of the engine stalling without warning and also, at times, losing all power in the car, an extremely dangerous condition and that almost caused me to have two accidents. after four recalls for the same problem of the engine stalling without warning, this year the car is again stalling without warning and i am told by my mechanic that i need to replace the crank sensor, which was replaced in 2004 by one of nissan recalls. i am told a crank sensor should last of the length of car's life. i am also told that those who received the 2009 version of the sensor have had no subsequent problems only those who had the older sensors are apparently at grave risk. i was in the car trying to cross an insection with my 5 year old son in the back of car when my engine stalled without warning and when the engine dies i am without power. this was the first time since the last recall that the car stalled on me. this makes the stalling problem even more deadly. people think the problem was fixed by the eariler multiple recalls and are instead driving cars that are time bombs. nissan needs to address this problem immediately.
07/31/2012	92000	1
	My car has been burning oil at a very fast rate, the check engine light has turned on, and my gas has lowered. my check oil light has never turned on, not even once in the 2 years that i have owned it. *tr
07/31/2012	92000
	My car has been burning oil at a very fast rate, the check engine light has turned on, and my gas has lowered. my check oil light has never turned on, not even once in the 2 years that i have owned it.
12/23/2011	110963	1
	Engine was consuming oil at an accelerated rate (1+ qt per 2,000+ miles). dealership conducted an oil consumption test beginning december 2011. it appears that when the catalytic converter goes out, it sucks in pieces of the converter substrate during the negative cycle. the small pieces of the converter then score the cylinder walls. after several months of the dealership monitoring the oil consumption, i was told that i would need a new engine. i took the car in to an independent mechanic for a second opinion. the cylinder compression test indicated the first cylinder was at about 82 psi and the other three cylinders ranged from 111 to 118 psi. back at the nissan dealership, the mechanic stated that the first cylinder is the one that is initially damaged by the pre-catalyst overheating. nissan consumer affairs has told me they would not provide financial assistance in getting a new engine because i did not get a warranty when i bought the car used, and also because the mechanic who replaced the catalytic converter at 90,000 miles was not the nissan dealership (nissan case # 8897586). the car is suffering the effects identified on nhtsa campaign id 03v084000. there is the possibility the engine could catch on fire as identified in the campaign. i have meticulously recorded all of the repairs and oil changes to the car, only to have nissan tell me that they will not provide me with any assistance with this issue. it appears to be a design flaw with the pre-catalyst overheating and subsequently casing grave damage to the engine. thank you. *tr
06/06/2012	66000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a routine oil change and she was informed that there was no oil in the engine. the contact also stated that the vehicle was taken in for the same procedure just a few months prior. the dealer diagnosed that the oil was never exchanged and the engine needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not under warranty. there were also no recalls covering the failure. the failure and current mielages were 66,000. sm.
12/23/2011	110963
	Engine was consuming oil at an accelerated rate (1+ qt per 2,000+ miles). dealership conducted an oil consuption test beginning december 2011. it appears that when the catalytic converter goes out, it sucks in pieces of the converter substrate during the negative cycle. the small pieces of the converter then score the cylinder walls. after several months of the dealership monitoring the oil consumption, i was told that i would need a new engine. i took the car in to an independent mechanic for a second opinion. the cylinder compression test indicated the first cylinder was at about 82 psi and the other three cylinders ranged from 111 to 118 psi. back at the nissan dealership, the mechanic stated that the first cylinder is the one that is initially damaged by the pre-catalyst overheating. nissan consumer affaris has told me they would not provide financial assistance in getting a new engine because i did not get a warranty when i bought the car used, and also because the mechanic who replaced the catalyic converter at 90,000 miles was not the nissan dealership (nissan case # 8897586). the car is suffering the effects identified on nhtsa campaign id 03v084000. there is the possibility the engine could catch on fire as identified in the campaign. i have meticuously recorded all of the repairs and oil changes to the car, only to have nissan tell me that they will not provide me with any assistance with this issue. it appears to be a design flaw with the pre-catalyst overheating and subsequently casing grave damage to the engine. thank you.
06/06/2012	66000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a routine oil change and she was informed that there was no oil in the engine. the contact also stated that the vehicle was taken in for the same procedure just a few months prior. the dealer diagnosed that the oil was never exchanged and the engine needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not under warranty. there were also no recalls covering the failure. the failure and current mielages were 66,000. sm.
12/23/2011	110963
	Engine was consuming oil at an accelerated rate (1+ qt per 2,000+ miles). dealership conducted an oil consuption test beginning december 2011. it appears that when the catalytic converter goes out, it sucks in pieces of the converter substrate during the negative cycle. the small pieces of the converter then score the cylinder walls. after several months of the dealership monitoring the oil consumption, i was told that i would need a new engine. i took the car in to an independent mechanic for a second opinion. the cylinder compression test indicated the first cylinder was at about 82 psi and the other three cylinders ranged from 111 to 118 psi. back at the nissan dealership, the mechanic stated that the first cylinder is the one that is initially damaged by the pre-catalyst overheating. nissan consumer affaris has told me they would not provide financial assistance in getting a new engine because i did not get a warranty when i bought the car used, and also because the mechanic who replaced the catalyic converter at 90,000 miles was not the nissan dealership (nissan case # 8897586). the car is suffering the effects identified on nhtsa campaign id 03v084000. there is the possibility the engine could catch on fire as identified in the campaign. i have meticuously recorded all of the repairs and oil changes to the car, only to have nissan tell me that they will not provide me with any assistance with this issue. it appears to be a design flaw with the pre-catalyst overheating and subsequently casing grave damage to the engine. thank you.
06/06/2012	66000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a routine oil change and she was informed that there was no oil in the engine. the contact also stated that the vehicle was taken in for the same procedure just a few months prior. the dealer diagnosed that the oil was never exchanged and the engine needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not under warranty. there were also no recalls covering the failure. the failure and current mielages were 66,000. sm.
06/06/2012	66000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated she had took the vehicle for a normal oil change. when she returned to the dealer a couple months later and the dealer stated that there wasn't no oil in the engine and that the oil was never exchanged. the dealer diagnose the vehicle and stated that the engine had to be replace. the vehicle was not repaired.the manufacturer was contacted and they state that the vehicle was not under warranty and that there was not no recalls. the failure and the current mileage was 66,000.jp
07/05/2012	160000	1
	My car burns a quart of oil a month at least, were is it going its to much to be evap from loose rings and my gaskets are good and i cant just keep changing catalytic converter 1 a month also my clutch doesn't seem to hold pressure it stays pretty sloppy and sometimes starts grabbing real low. *tr
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
03/29/2012	100000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the catalytic converter was consuming oil rapidly and every two weeks, he would have to add oil to the engine. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who advised the contact that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the mechanic was unable to replace the component. the dealer was notified of the failure who advised the contact that there were no recalls for the failure. the manufacturer was also contacted who confirmed that there were no recalls for the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 100,000. kmj
03/29/2012	100000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the cataylic converter was consuming oil, and ever two weeks he has to put oil in the engine. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic shop who stated the catalytic converter needed to be replaced but he could not replace it. the dealer was notified who stated there are no recalls for this failure he would have to pay to repair the catalytic converter. the manufacturer was notified who stated there are no recalls for his vehicle. they offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 100,000. mw
04/04/2003	43000
	While driving at 65 mph, vehicle stalls without warning, vehicle is unable to re-start right away leaving driver in eminent danger of been rear ended by on coming traffic. no codes or lights turn on dashboard signaling a malfunction of vehicle. after letting the vehicle cool off for about five to ten minutes it re-starts again. vehicle was taken to dealer who was unable to diagnose failure because no lights are coming up on the dashboard and when hooked to a scanner no failure codes were produced. manufacturer was made aware of failure but offered no assistance because vehicle was repaired under the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000( component: engine and engine cooling ) . this recall calls for cam, crank and variable timing sensors to be replaced, however only the crank sensor was replaced. failure mileage was 43000 when vehicle was first taken in for recall but it is currently failing again at 160,000 miles with above symptoms and manufacturer won't offer assistance. they have advice to take it to a dealer again and they will be able to keep replacing parts until problem is found. due to lack of codes their technicians will have to guess what the problem is. all this at my own expense of diagnosis, parts and labor. in september of 2011 a dealer performed a re-program of the main computer as part of another recall from manufacturer concerning vehicles stalling. this re-program of the main computer did not fix anything and right after i took vehicle out of the dealer it started stalling again. this vehicle keeps stalling at high speeds (65mp), there are no codes given out and manufacturer offers no assistance. afraid i am going to get seriously injured as the problem continues but can't figure out whats wrong with the car.
03/12/2012	148295
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the service engine soon warning light was illuminated on and the contact experienced a reduction in engine power. the dealer was notified of the failure and the contact inquired of nhtsa campaign id numbers: 03v084000 ( engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) and 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). the dealer advised that the vehicle was not included in either recall campaign. the dealer diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 148,295 and the current mileage was 148,300.
03/12/2012	148295
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the service engine soon warning light was illuminated on and the contact experienced a reduction in engine power. the dealer was notified of the failure and the contact inquired of nhtsa campaign id numbers: 03v084000 ( engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) and 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). the dealer advised that the vehicle was not included in either recall campaign. the dealer diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 148,295 and the current mileage was 148,300. kmj
02/12/2008	43000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance because the vehicle was already repaired under the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (component: engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 43,000 and the current mileage was 173,000. sm.
03/12/2012	148295
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the service engine soon warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel of the vehicle, which was a direct result of the reduced engine power. the dealer was notified, but the nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 ( engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) and the nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling) recalls did not associate the vin. the dealer diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 148,295 and the current mileage was 148,300. nw
02/12/2008	43000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance because the vehicle was already repaired under the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (component: engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 43,000 and the current mileage was 173,000. sm.
02/12/2008	43000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph the vehicle stalled without any warnings. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the problem who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was repaired under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (component: engine and engine cooling) once before. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 43,000 and current mileage was 173,000. pm
02/27/2012	102000
	I believe that this engine defect caused the pre-catalyst to overheat and damaged the catalyst substrate. these particles entered the combustion chamber and probably scoured the cylinder walls prior to recall 03v-084 implementation. this resulted in increased oil consumption throughout the lifetime of the vehicle which in turn adversely affected the heater system not working properly, coolant reserves disappearing, engine started to heat-up, and ultimately engine seized-up. prior to this i had to be adding engine oil and coolant every two to three weeks since engine would start to make noise and start to heat-up, but there was no leaks or engine light did not turn on. previously, mechanics did not see any problems when taking it for oil changes and service. it is now at the dealership and they state that it will cost me $2100 to $5500 to fix this. i told nissan service personnel that i found the same thing happening to many nissan 2002 owners on the internet. i found several websites with hundreds of complaints just by goggling 2002 nissan altima oil consumption. even nissan service personnel told me that this is not normal since these vehicles should last over the 200 thousand miles, especially since we are the original owners and have always done routine oil changes and service. please help me and the many owners of these nissan altimas who have trusted nissan in building long lasting dependable vehicles.
02/12/2008	43000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph the vehicle stalled without any warnings. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the problem who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was repaired under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (component: engine and engine cooling) once before. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 43,000 and current mileage was 173,000. pm
02/27/2012	102000
	I believe that this engine defect caused the pre-catalyst to overheat and damaged the catalyst substrate. these particles entered the combustion chamber and probably scoured the cylinder walls prior to recall 03v-084 implementation. this resulted in increased oil consumption throughout the lifetime of the vehicle which in turn adversely affected the heater system not working properly, coolant reserves disappearing, engine started to heat-up, and ultimately engine seized-up. prior to this i had to be adding engine oil and coolant every two to three weeks since engine would start to make noise and start to heat-up, but there was no leaks or engine light did not turn on. previously, mechanics did not see any problems when taking it for oil changes and service. it is now at the dealership and they state that it will cost me $2100 to $5500 to fix this. i told nissan service personnel that i found the same thing happening to many nissan 2002 owners on the internet. i found several websites with hundreds of complaints just by goggling 2002 nissan altima oil consumption. even nissan service personnel told me that this is not normal since these vehicles should last over the 200 thousand miles, especially since we are the original owners and have always done routine oil changes and service. please help me and the many owners of these nissan altimas who have trusted nissan in building long lasting dependable vehicles.
12/01/2008
	The cooling system has failed twice, each time i had to replace the head gasket. now it is doing this again. noticed there were 3 recalls about this.two before i purchased and one after, but i do not recall getting a notice about the recall. much money has been spent, now dealer is telling me i need a new engine. how do i find out if any recall was performed? do not trust this dealer.
07/10/2009	101000
	Our first problem came when the altima had several holes blown into the engine when the catalytic converter failed to hold up because of a defective design in the engine. i did take the car in for the recall, but what they did did not fix the issue, and my mechanic told me i was fortunate that the entire car did not set on fire or that it didn't happen when i was on a highway. i fought hard and spoke to person after person and finally found the president of customer relations number(4 weeks into calling), they told me that because i had kept such great records of our service history that they would replace my engine. now i have a new defect in this car. the metal floor pan has a defect and there has been no recall! there are actually huge holes in the floor of my car that could prove deadly and make my car not road worthy. they are asking $2,000 to $3,000 to fix this!!! fraud. i am so livid. this car has been one nightmare after another. i want to feel as if my family is safe in the car i am driving. who worries that the floor might fall out from underneath them when they are driving??? or heaven forbid, something hit the bottom and come right into the car! i'm so angry about this car. please tell me that i am not helpless.
12/01/2008
	The cooling system has failed twice, each time i had to replace the head gasket. now it is doing this again. noticed there were 3 recalls about this.two before i purchased and one after, but i do not recall getting a notice about the recall. much money has been spent, now dealer is telling me i need a new engine. how do i find out if any recall was performed? do not trust this dealer.
07/10/2009	101000
	Our first problem came when the altima had several holes blown into the engine when the catalytic converter failed to hold up because of a defective design in the engine. i did take the car in for the recall, but what they did did not fix the issue, and my mechanic told me i was fortunate that the entire car did not set on fire or that it didn't happen when i was on a highway. i fought hard and spoke to person after person and finally found the president of customer relations number(4 weeks into calling), they told me that because i had kept such great records of our service history that they would replace my engine. now i have a new defect in this car. the metal floor pan has a defect and there has been no recall! there are actually huge holes in the floor of my car that could prove deadly and make my car not road worthy. they are asking $2,000 to $3,000 to fix this!!! fraud. i am so livid. this car has been one nightmare after another. i want to feel as if my family is safe in the car i am driving. who worries that the floor might fall out from underneath them when they are driving??? or heaven forbid, something hit the bottom and come right into the car! i'm so angry about this car. please tell me that i am not helpless.
12/01/2008
	The cooling system has failed twice, each time i had to replace the head gasket. now it is doing this again. noticed there were 3 recalls about this.two before i purchased and one after, but i do not recall getting a notice about the recall. much money has been spent, now dealer is telling me i need a new engine. how do i find out if any recall was performed? do not trust this dealer.
07/10/2009	101000
	Our first problem came when the altima had several holes blown into the engine when the catalytic converter failed to hold up because of a defective design in the engine. i did take the car in for the recall, but what they did did not fix the issue, and my mechanic told me i was fortunate that the entire car did not set on fire or that it didn't happen when i was on a highway. i fought hard and spoke to person after person and finally found the president of customer relations number(4 weeks into calling), they told me that because i had kept such great records of our service history that they would replace my engine. now i have a new defect in this car. the metal floor pan has a defect and there has been no recall! there are actually huge holes in the floor of my car that could prove deadly and make my car not road worthy. they are asking $2,000 to $3,000 to fix this!!! fraud. i am so livid. this car has been one nightmare after another. i want to feel as if my family is safe in the car i am driving. who worries that the floor might fall out from underneath them when they are driving??? or heaven forbid, something hit the bottom and come right into the car! i'm so angry about this car. please tell me that i am not helpless.
12/01/2008
	The cooling system has failed twice, each time i had to replace the head gasket. now it is doing this again. noticed there were 3 recalls about this.two before i purchased and one after, but i do not recall getting a notice about the recall. much money has been spent, now dealer is telling me i need a new engine. how do i find out if any recall was performed? do not trust this dealer.
07/10/2009	101000
	Our first problem came when the altima had several holes blown into the engine when the catalytic converter failed to hold up because of a defective design in the engine. i did take the car in for the recall, but what they did did not fix the issue, and my mechanic told me i was fortunate that the entire car did not set on fire or that it didn't happen when i was on a highway. i fought hard and spoke to person after person and finally found the president of customer relations number(4 weeks into calling), they told me that because i had kept such great records of our service history that they would replace my engine. now i have a new defect in this car. the metal floor pan has a defect and there has been no recall! there are actually huge holes in the floor of my car that could prove deadly and make my car not road worthy. they are asking $2,000 to $3,000 to fix this!!! fraud. i am so livid. this car has been one nightmare after another. i want to feel as if my family is safe in the car i am driving. who worries that the floor might fall out from underneath them when they are driving??? or heaven forbid, something hit the bottom and come right into the car! i'm so angry about this car. please tell me that i am not helpless.
01/22/2012	16000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated while driving 45 mph the vehicle stalled. the contact pulled into a parking lot and shut the vehicle off. the contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle begin to stall again. the contact towed the vehicle home. the contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or a local mechanic. the failure mileage was 160,000. jo
12/15/2011
	Will not start,replaced crank an cam sencor nothing they are recalls on these cars for lots of problems i purchesed this car thinking it was a good car for my wife two days later it leaves her an my daughter stuck on the freeway.i have done resets nothing works is there something yall can help me with im out of pocket cause this car.can i take it to nissan dealer an they fix it for a recall.
11/11/2011
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle was abnormally consuming four quarts of engine oil in under a month. the contact referenced nhtsa recall campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) and stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where he was advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall. the dealer replaced the catalytic converter at the contact
09/01/2010
	Nissan altima 2002 keeps having problem with the crankshaft and camshaft sensors and once you replace them a couple months later you'll have the same problem. this problem causes your car to stop randomly in the middle of traffic which could cause you to get into a car accident or worse death. nissan knows that this is a common issue but they choose to ignore the problem. i have spoken with many dealers and auto repair technicians and they all agree this is a common problem with nissan altima. this is sad and i really wish this issue is resolved for the saftey of everyone driving. i was driving in my car with my niece when my car just stopped in the middle of traffic scared me to death!!! because we could have been really hurt and the simple fact that i replaced this part 3 months before this occured is really terrible. i have replaced both sensor and i'm still having an isssue. this is something that nissan needs to correct before someone really gets hurts. the 2002 nissan altima is a horrible car its just manufactured all wrong and is constantly giving me issues.
11/11/2011
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle was abnormally consuming four quarts of engine oil in under a month. the contact referenced nhtsa recall campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) and stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where he was advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall. the dealer replaced the catalytic converter at the contact
09/01/2010
	Nissan altima 2002 keeps having problem with the crankshaft and camshaft sensors and once you replace them a couple months later you'll have the same problem. this problem causes your car to stop randomly in the middle of traffic which could cause you to get into a car accident or worse death. nissan knows that this is a common issue but they choose to ignore the problem. i have spoken with many dealers and auto repair technicians and they all agree this is a common problem with nissan altima. this is sad and i really wish this issue is resolved for the saftey of everyone driving. i was driving in my car with my niece when my car just stopped in the middle of traffic scared me to death!!! because we could have been really hurt and the simple fact that i replaced this part 3 months before this occured is really terrible. i have replaced both sensor and i'm still having an isssue. this is something that nissan needs to correct before someone really gets hurts. the 2002 nissan altima is a horrible car its just manufactured all wrong and is constantly giving me issues.
11/04/2011	80000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle would not restart and was towed to an independent mechanic. the contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine and there were no signs of an engine leak. the mechanic was unable to determine where the oil was escaping to. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were 80,000. kmj
11/13/2011	118000
	2002 nissan altima was serviced @ recall campaign in 2003. the dealership states the remedy was completed. however my car, overtime, shows the symptoms of a damaged catalyst substrate from the catalytic converter. these symptoms are exactly what is described in the original recall notice: ntb03-070d. additionally my automobile has soot from burning oil in the tailpipe and has always run hot even though the dashboard temperature gauge, always stayed in the middle between hot and cold. i have taken my vehicle in for service and other recall notices, nothing was ever spoken of about this issue. strange that an ase technician wouldn't see these symptoms, & report a potential problem. only after my engine overheated and failed did i find the details of this problem; while researching my repair options online. the inspection process of the catalytic converter in my case seems to have not been properly preformed. i contacted the dealership to ask for the detailed service records for my altima for that campaign. the service rep. stated the repair was performed. i asked the service rep. to produce the inspection documentation for my vehicle's cat. system. he could not produce that documentation. i next called nissan of na to file a notice. i stated my altima may not have had the proper remedy to address the recall, and that damage was evident. i was informed that i would have to take my vehicle into a nissan dealership for an inspection of the cat. system at my own expense. after the results of the inspection are noted, if it is warranted my case will be escalated to nissan for review. i would like to follow up with further details if possible. if i cannot amend this complaint, i will document the resulting findings in another complaint and reference this number for correlation.
11/04/2011	80000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle would not restart and was towed to an independent mechanic. the contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine and there were no signs of an engine leak. the mechanic was unable to determine where the oil was escaping to. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were 80,000. sm.
11/13/2011	118000
	2002 nissan altima was serviced @ recall campaign in 2003. the dealership states the remedy was completed. however my car, overtime, shows the symptoms of a damaged catalyst substrate from the catalytic converter. these symptoms are exactly what is described in the original recall notice: ntb03-070d. additionally my automobile has soot from burning oil in the tailpipe and has always run hot even though the dashboard temperature gauge, always stayed in the middle between hot and cold. i have taken my vehicle in for service and other recall notices, nothing was ever spoken of about this issue. strange that an ase technician wouldn't see these symptoms, & report a potential problem. only after my engine overheated and failed did i find the details of this problem; while researching my repair options online. the inspection process of the catalytic converter in my case seems to have not been properly preformed. i contacted the dealership to ask for the detailed service records for my altima for that campaign. the service rep. stated the repair was performed. i asked the service rep. to produce the inspection documentation for my vehicle's cat. system. he could not produce that documentation. i next called nissan of na to file a notice. i stated my altima may not have had the proper remedy to address the recall, and that damage was evident. i was informed that i would have to take my vehicle into a nissan dealership for an inspection of the cat. system at my own expense. after the results of the inspection are noted, if it is warranted my case will be escalated to nissan for review. i would like to follow up with further details if possible. if i cannot amend this complaint, i will document the resulting findings in another complaint and reference this number for correlation.
11/04/2011	80000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle would not restart and was towed to an independent mechanic. the contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine and there were no signs of an engine leak. the mechanic was unable to determine where the oil was escaping to. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were 80,000. sm.
11/13/2011	118000
	2002 nissan altima was serviced @ recall campaign in 2003. the dealership states the remedy was completed. however my car, overtime, shows the symptoms of a damaged catalyst substrate from the catalytic converter. these symptoms are exactly what is described in the original recall notice: ntb03-070d. additionally my automobile has soot from burning oil in the tailpipe and has always run hot even though the dashboard temperature gauge, always stayed in the middle between hot and cold. i have taken my vehicle in for service and other recall notices, nothing was ever spoken of about this issue. strange that an ase technician wouldn't see these symptoms, & report a potential problem. only after my engine overheated and failed did i find the details of this problem; while researching my repair options online. the inspection process of the catalytic converter in my case seems to have not been properly preformed. i contacted the dealership to ask for the detailed service records for my altima for that campaign. the service rep. stated the repair was performed. i asked the service rep. to produce the inspection documentation for my vehicle's cat. system. he could not produce that documentation. i next called nissan of na to file a notice. i stated my altima may not have had the proper remedy to address the recall, and that damage was evident. i was informed that i would have to take my vehicle into a nissan dealership for an inspection of the cat. system at my own expense. after the results of the inspection are noted, if it is warranted my case will be escalated to nissan for review. i would like to follow up with further details if possible. if i cannot amend this complaint, i will document the resulting findings in another complaint and reference this number for correlation.
11/19/2009
	After googling the make, year and problem of oil consuption and engine and catalytic converter problems with this model year, it is overwhelming what you find. this is a huge problem with thousands of troubled consumers who have gone to nissan for an obvious defect in product to no avail. my car has the exact same problem and was told by my local nissan dealer that the faulty catalytic converters made that year are not covered and was told that nissan knew of the problem but will do nothing about it because of what it would cost them. please help us.....
11/05/2011
	I was driving on the freeway and my engine caught fire which resulted in my car being totaled.
11/19/2009
	After googling the make, year and problem of oil consuption and engine and catalytic converter problems with this model year, it is overwhelming what you find. this is a huge problem with thousands of troubled consumers who have gone to nissan for an obvious defect in product to no avail. my car has the exact same problem and was told by my local nissan dealer that the faulty catalytic converters made that year are not covered and was told that nissan knew of the problem but will do nothing about it because of what it would cost them. please help us.....
11/05/2011
	I was driving on the freeway and my engine caught fire which resulted in my car being totaled.
10/28/2011	72000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact was driving 60 mph when the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was restarted after thirty minutes and was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that a new engine was needed. the manufacturer was contacted and they confirmed that the vin did not qualify for repairs under nhtsa campaign id number: 07v527000(engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileages were 72,000.
10/28/2011	72000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact was driving 60 mph when the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was restarted after thirty minutes and was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that a new engine was needed. the manufacturer was contacted and they confirmed that the vin did not qualify for repairs under nhtsa campaign id number: 07v527000(engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileages were 72,000. kmj
10/28/2011	72000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact was driving 60mph when the check engine light illuminated and the engine started to stall. the vehicle restarted after thirty minutes. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. and the dealer confirmed a new engine was needed. the manufacturer was contacted and they confirmed the vin did not qualify for recall under nhtsa campaign id number:07v527000(engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 72,000 . rds
10/20/2011	109000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while sitting at a traffic stop. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who diagnosed that oil was leaking into the catalytic converter and as a result, became clogged causing the engine to blow. the mechanic stated that the engine, catalytic converter and the exhaust system needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin was not available and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 109,000.
10/20/2011	109000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while sitting at a traffic stop. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who diagnosed that oil was leaking into the catalytic converter and as a result, became clogged causing the engine to blow. the mechanic stated that the engine, catalytic converter and the exhaust system needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin was not available and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 109,000. kmj
10/20/2011	109000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while waiting on a red light to change the vehicle stalled without any warnings. the vehicle was towed to a local shop who diagnosed that oil was leaking into the catalytic converter as a result it became clog up which cause the engine to blow. the mechanic stated that the engine, catalytic, and exhaust system needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin was not available. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 109,000. pm
05/20/2010	80000
	I had purchased my 2002 nissan altima from a private party and had noticed it was burning an usual amount of oil when i took it on its first long distance drive a week after i had purchased it. when i took it back to the party i had purchased the vehicle from they told me they would help research the issue but could not refund my money. we found this particle model had problems with the catalytic converter and if not repaired in time could and would damage the engine. we then found that my car had been fixed at the the 50,000 mile range at the dealership from whom the previous party had purchased the car. i contacted nissan corporate and they told me i need to pay to get an oil consumption test done to ensure that is was indeed burning oil. after i paid a hundred dollars to have this done they told me there was nothing they would do ( at this time the vehicle still had under 90,000 miles). since then i have have replaces another catalytic converter, valve cover, and numerous gallons of oil. my last visit to the shop i was told i'm now burn antifreeze and i needed a new engine.
02/03/2011	103000
	I got a service engine light on and took it to a mechanic, he said it was my engine, and catalyct converter(burning oil and debris going into the engine) and i needed to rebuild it. he rebuilt it and after about 7,000 the same problem happened burning oil consumption. not sure what to do because he said that nissan should have a fix for this and he isnt fixing the problem either. it's sitting in my driveway without a fix.
11/04/2010	101000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the pre-catalyst converter overheated and shattered into pieces, causing the engine to fail. the engine would also exhibit a loud, abnormal noise when driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the catalytic converter ruined the engine which needed to be replaced. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) but the contact's vehicle was not included in the recall. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 101,000.
01/14/2009	90000
	I purchased this car from a dealer used (2nd owner) in 2005 with approx 37,000 miles. ran fine. during the first year it was noticed it burned alot of oil, however had no oil leak. also began having heating issues (which persist)in the way that it will only give off heat if car is moving at 2rpms or higher. check engine light was on probably within first 6 months and has only not been on since then when a mechanic resets it--and that lasts short period(like week). this car died while driving on the interstate for no apparent reason winter of 2009. it was found to need new engine. replacement with used engine approx $4,000.00. this engine promptly died in less than a month and yet again needed to be replaced. a 2005 motor was then put in my car, but guess what?? same problem with oil mysteriously vanishing and no leaking on ground and no leak to be found. spring of 2010 all recall work done, including sensor 03v084000 which could cause a fire. now find out catalytic converter is bad. also through web-browsing that this can cause check engine light to be on all the time, is related to the recalled sensor, as well as the need for engine replacement. the cold air issue appears unrelated to this and is caused by air in the heating/cooling system, however this too is very common nissan altima problem. it seems to me that nissan is putting bandaid on bigger issue by recalling only sensor and not addressing the fact that this is causing bigger, much costlier problems for the consumer. i have been able to find 100's of people on the internet who are complaining about the same exact thing. i also personally know 3 other 02 nissan altima owners who share this issue. i have easily put $8,000 into this car for problems related to the engine only.this is seems to be a widespread problem and should be addressed in a serious manner. thank you.
09/15/2011	96000
	Purchased vehicle from a dealer in rittman, ohio, on september 10, 2011. consumer reports rate this model as very reliable for the years manufactured. less than one week later, 9-15-11, the oil light came on. took to a quick change oil place on the morning of 9-16-11, and the worker commented that it only had 1 quart of oil in the engine. drove for 2 days and was checking the engine compartment and notice there was again no oil in the engine. on 9-19-11, took car to a local garage and they diagnosed that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced because the catalytic converter near the engine had broken into pieces and been sucked into the engine. nissan dealership in mansfield, ohio confirmed this diagnosis on 9-20-2011. alerted nissan north america about this problem because of a vehicle recall executed by the nhtsa in 2003. (campaign id 03v084000) while the recall affected 338,000 vehicles, nissan said my vehicle was not included? nissan said that they would be unwilling to assist me with the cost of the engine replacement for that reason and that the mileage was too great. how can a car that exhibits the exact problem that the recall describes no matter what the mileage not be included in a safety recall? the nhtsa website lists 982 complaints regarding 2002 nissan altimas, many for engine failure caused by a faulty catalytic converter design. cannot understand why the nhtsa has not opened another investigation to remedy this issue? the original complaint concerned three vehicles. this research should show that a greater problem still exists concerning the safety of these vehicles. i ask that the nhtsa please correct this problem for myself and the thousands of other motorists affected by this borderline criminal act. have spent almost as much money to bring the vehicle into compliance ($4600) as the purchase price.
08/17/2011	123000
	Floor pans on both driver and passenger sides are rusted through engine dies randomly
02/03/2011	103000
	I got a service engine light on and took it to a mechanic, he said it was my engine, and catalyct converter(burning oil and debris going into the engine) and i needed to rebuild it. he rebuilt it and after about 7,000 the same problem happened burning oil consumption. not sure what to do because he said that nissan should have a fix for this and he isnt fixing the problem either. it's sitting in my driveway without a fix.
11/04/2010	101000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the pre-catalyst converter overheated and shattered into pieces, causing the engine to fail. the engine would also exhibit a loud, abnormal noise when driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the catalytic converter ruined the engine which needed to be replaced. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) but the contact's vehicle was not included in the recall. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 101,000. kmj
01/14/2009	90000
	I purchased this car from a dealer used (2nd owner) in 2005 with approx 37,000 miles. ran fine. during the first year it was noticed it burned alot of oil, however had no oil leak. also began having heating issues (which persist)in the way that it will only give off heat if car is moving at 2rpms or higher. check engine light was on probably within first 6 months and has only not been on since then when a mechanic resets it--and that lasts short period(like week). this car died while driving on the interstate for no apparent reason winter of 2009. it was found to need new engine. replacement with used engine approx $4,000.00. this engine promptly died in less than a month and yet again needed to be replaced. a 2005 motor was then put in my car, but guess what?? same problem with oil mysteriously vanishing and no leaking on ground and no leak to be found. spring of 2010 all recall work done, including sensor 03v084000 which could cause a fire. now find out catalytic converter is bad. also through web-browsing that this can cause check engine light to be on all the time, is related to the recalled sensor, as well as the need for engine replacement. the cold air issue appears unrelated to this and is caused by air in the heating/cooling system, however this too is very common nissan altima problem. it seems to me that nissan is putting bandaid on bigger issue by recalling only sensor and not addressing the fact that this is causing bigger, much costlier problems for the consumer. i have been able to find 100's of people on the internet who are complaining about the same exact thing. i also personally know 3 other 02 nissan altima owners who share this issue. i have easily put $8,000 into this car for problems related to the engine only.this is seems to be a widespread problem and should be addressed in a serious manner. thank you.
09/15/2011	96000
	Purchased vehicle from a dealer in rittman, ohio, on september 10, 2011. consumer reports rate this model as very reliable for the years manufactured. less than one week later, 9-15-11, the oil light came on. took to a quick change oil place on the morning of 9-16-11, and the worker commented that it only had 1 quart of oil in the engine. drove for 2 days and was checking the engine compartment and notice there was again no oil in the engine. on 9-19-11, took car to a local garage and they diagnosed that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced because the catalytic converter near the engine had broken into pieces and been sucked into the engine. nissan dealership in mansfield, ohio confirmed this diagnosis on 9-20-2011. alerted nissan north america about this problem because of a vehicle recall executed by the nhtsa in 2003. (campaign id 03v084000) while the recall affected 338,000 vehicles, nissan said my vehicle was not included? nissan said that they would be unwilling to assist me with the cost of the engine replacement for that reason and that the mileage was too great. how can a car that exhibits the exact problem that the recall describes no matter what the mileage not be included in a safety recall? the nhtsa website lists 982 complaints regarding 2002 nissan altimas, many for engine failure caused by a faulty catalytic converter design. cannot understand why the nhtsa has not opened another investigation to remedy this issue? the original complaint concerned three vehicles. this research should show that a greater problem still exists concerning the safety of these vehicles. i ask that the nhtsa please correct this problem for myself and the thousands of other motorists affected by this borderline criminal act. have spent almost as much money to bring the vehicle into compliance ($4600) as the purchase price.
08/17/2011	123000
	Floor pans on both driver and passenger sides are rusted through engine dies randomly
02/03/2011	103000
	I got a service engine light on and took it to a mechanic, he said it was my engine, and catalyct converter(burning oil and debris going into the engine) and i needed to rebuild it. he rebuilt it and after about 7,000 the same problem happened burning oil consumption. not sure what to do because he said that nissan should have a fix for this and he isnt fixing the problem either. it's sitting in my driveway without a fix.
11/04/2010	101000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the pre-catalyst converter overheated and shattered into pieces, causing the engine to fail. the engine would also exhibit a loud, abnormal noise when driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the catalytic converter ruined the engine which needed to be replaced. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) but the contact's vehicle was not included in the recall. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 101,000. kmj
01/14/2009	90000
	I purchased this car from a dealer used (2nd owner) in 2005 with approx 37,000 miles. ran fine. during the first year it was noticed it burned alot of oil, however had no oil leak. also began having heating issues (which persist)in the way that it will only give off heat if car is moving at 2rpms or higher. check engine light was on probably within first 6 months and has only not been on since then when a mechanic resets it--and that lasts short period(like week). this car died while driving on the interstate for no apparent reason winter of 2009. it was found to need new engine. replacement with used engine approx $4,000.00. this engine promptly died in less than a month and yet again needed to be replaced. a 2005 motor was then put in my car, but guess what?? same problem with oil mysteriously vanishing and no leaking on ground and no leak to be found. spring of 2010 all recall work done, including sensor 03v084000 which could cause a fire. now find out catalytic converter is bad. also through web-browsing that this can cause check engine light to be on all the time, is related to the recalled sensor, as well as the need for engine replacement. the cold air issue appears unrelated to this and is caused by air in the heating/cooling system, however this too is very common nissan altima problem. it seems to me that nissan is putting bandaid on bigger issue by recalling only sensor and not addressing the fact that this is causing bigger, much costlier problems for the consumer. i have been able to find 100's of people on the internet who are complaining about the same exact thing. i also personally know 3 other 02 nissan altima owners who share this issue. i have easily put $8,000 into this car for problems related to the engine only.this is seems to be a widespread problem and should be addressed in a serious manner. thank you.
09/15/2011	96000
	Purchased vehicle from a dealer in rittman, ohio, on september 10, 2011. consumer reports rate this model as very reliable for the years manufactured. less than one week later, 9-15-11, the oil light came on. took to a quick change oil place on the morning of 9-16-11, and the worker commented that it only had 1 quart of oil in the engine. drove for 2 days and was checking the engine compartment and notice there was again no oil in the engine. on 9-19-11, took car to a local garage and they diagnosed that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced because the catalytic converter near the engine had broken into pieces and been sucked into the engine. nissan dealership in mansfield, ohio confirmed this diagnosis on 9-20-2011. alerted nissan north america about this problem because of a vehicle recall executed by the nhtsa in 2003. (campaign id 03v084000) while the recall affected 338,000 vehicles, nissan said my vehicle was not included? nissan said that they would be unwilling to assist me with the cost of the engine replacement for that reason and that the mileage was too great. how can a car that exhibits the exact problem that the recall describes no matter what the mileage not be included in a safety recall? the nhtsa website lists 982 complaints regarding 2002 nissan altimas, many for engine failure caused by a faulty catalytic converter design. cannot understand why the nhtsa has not opened another investigation to remedy this issue? the original complaint concerned three vehicles. this research should show that a greater problem still exists concerning the safety of these vehicles. i ask that the nhtsa please correct this problem for myself and the thousands of other motorists affected by this borderline criminal act. have spent almost as much money to bring the vehicle into compliance ($4600) as the purchase price.
08/17/2011	123000
	Floor pans on both driver and passenger sides are rusted through engine dies randomly
02/03/2011	103000
	I got a service engine light on and took it to a mechanic, he said it was my engine, and catalyct converter(burning oil and debris going into the engine) and i needed to rebuild it. he rebuilt it and after about 7,000 the same problem happened burning oil consumption. not sure what to do because he said that nissan should have a fix for this and he isnt fixing the problem either. it's sitting in my driveway without a fix.
11/04/2010	101000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the pre-catalyst converter overheat and break into pieces causing the engine to fail. the engine also has increased oil consumption and make noise when driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the catalytic converter ruined the engine which needed to be replaced. there was a recall but the vin was not included. the recall nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000. component: engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. the manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 101,000. mw
01/14/2009	90000
	I purchased this car from a dealer used (2nd owner) in 2005 with approx 37,000 miles. ran fine. during the first year it was noticed it burned alot of oil, however had no oil leak. also began having heating issues (which persist)in the way that it will only give off heat if car is moving at 2rpms or higher. check engine light was on probably within first 6 months and has only not been on since then when a mechanic resets it--and that lasts short period(like week). this car died while driving on the interstate for no apparent reason winter of 2009. it was found to need new engine. replacement with used engine approx $4,000.00. this engine promptly died in less than a month and yet again needed to be replaced. a 2005 motor was then put in my car, but guess what?? same problem with oil mysteriously vanishing and no leaking on ground and no leak to be found. spring of 2010 all recall work done, including sensor 03v084000 which could cause a fire. now find out catalytic converter is bad. also through web-browsing that this can cause check engine light to be on all the time, is related to the recalled sensor, as well as the need for engine replacement. the cold air issue appears unrelated to this and is caused by air in the heating/cooling system, however this too is very common nissan altima problem. it seems to me that nissan is putting bandaid on bigger issue by recalling only sensor and not addressing the fact that this is causing bigger, much costlier problems for the consumer. i have been able to find 100's of people on the internet who are complaining about the same exact thing. i also personally know 3 other 02 nissan altima owners who share this issue. i have easily put $8,000 into this car for problems related to the engine only.this is seems to be a widespread problem and should be addressed in a serious manner. thank you.
09/15/2011	96000
	Purchased vehicle from a dealer in rittman, ohio, on september 10, 2011. consumer reports rate this model as very reliable for the years manufactured. less than one week later, 9-15-11, the oil light came on. took to a quick change oil place on the morning of 9-16-11, and the worker commented that it only had 1 quart of oil in the engine. drove for 2 days and was checking the engine compartment and notice there was again no oil in the engine. on 9-19-11, took car to a local garage and they diagnosed that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced because the catalytic converter near the engine had broken into pieces and been sucked into the engine. nissan dealership in mansfield, ohio confirmed this diagnosis on 9-20-2011. alerted nissan north america about this problem because of a vehicle recall executed by the nhtsa in 2003. (campaign id 03v084000) while the recall affected 338,000 vehicles, nissan said my vehicle was not included? nissan said that they would be unwilling to assist me with the cost of the engine replacement for that reason and that the mileage was too great. how can a car that exhibits the exact problem that the recall describes no matter what the mileage not be included in a safety recall? the nhtsa website lists 982 complaints regarding 2002 nissan altimas, many for engine failure caused by a faulty catalytic converter design. cannot understand why the nhtsa has not opened another investigation to remedy this issue? the original complaint concerned three vehicles. this research should show that a greater problem still exists concerning the safety of these vehicles. i ask that the nhtsa please correct this problem for myself and the thousands of other motorists affected by this borderline criminal act. have spent almost as much money to bring the vehicle into compliance ($4600) as the purchase price.
08/17/2011	123000
	Floor pans on both driver and passenger sides are rusted through engine dies randomly
09/11/2009	80000
	Car uses excessive amounts of engine oil and low oil light never comes on to warn driver, can only determine that it is low by engine knocking noise.average oil consumption about 1 - 2 quarts every 300 miles also heater does not work when car is idleling only works when driving.check engine light constantly comes on code states cat converter bad.continous problem has been going on since car had about out 90,000 miles.car also turns off after running and will crank but does not start after multiple tries.
08/17/2011	123000
	Floor pans on both driver and passenger sides are rusted through engine dies randomly
09/11/2009	80000
	Car uses excessive amounts of engine oil and low oil light never comes on to warn driver, can only determine that it is low by engine knocking noise.average oil consumption about 1 - 2 quarts every 300 miles also heater does not work when car is idleling only works when driving.check engine light constantly comes on code states cat converter bad.continous problem has been going on since car had about out 90,000 miles.car also turns off after running and will crank but does not start after multiple tries.
08/17/2011	123000
	Floor pans on both driver and passenger sides are rusted through engine dies randomly
09/11/2009	80000
	Car uses excessive amounts of engine oil and low oil light never comes on to warn driver, can only determine that it is low by engine knocking noise.average oil consumption about 1 - 2 quarts every 300 miles also heater does not work when car is idleling only works when driving.check engine light constantly comes on code states cat converter bad.continous problem has been going on since car had about out 90,000 miles.car also turns off after running and will crank but does not start after multiple tries.
09/01/2011	93000
	My vin should be included in the below recall as my mechanic diagnosed and recommended i bring to nissan to fix. but per there recall my car vin is not included even though be as campaign # 03v084000. please see campiagn notice below to reference. what can i do to make nissan do the right thing and fix under recall. recall number: 03v084000 summary: on certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. consequence: this condition could result in a fire. remedy: dealers will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. in addition to the corrective action, in order to reduce the risk of fire in the event of poor or improper maintenance that could result in oil spillage, heat shield(s) will be installed on the pre-catalyst and exhaust tube. owner notification is expected to begin during may 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261. notes: also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. if substrate particles enter the combustion chamber, they could score the cylinder walls, resulting in increased oil consumption. if the engine oil level is not checked on a periodic basis and drops below the low level, and the driver continues to operate the vehicle ignoring noticeable engine noise, engine damage may occur which could result in a fire. nissan is still developing a remedy for the pre-catalyst problem. customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the service engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa recall campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told the vehicle was not included in the recall. the failure mileage was 99,450. the vin was not available.
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the service engine warning light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was also under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told that the vehicle was not included. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 99,450.
09/01/2011	93000
	My vin should be included in the below recall as my mechanic diagnosed and recommended i bring to nissan to fix. but per there recall my car vin is not included even though be as campaign # 03v084000. please see campiagn notice below to reference. what can i do to make nissan do the right thing and fix under recall. recall number: 03v084000 summary: on certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. consequence: this condition could result in a fire. remedy: dealers will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. in addition to the corrective action, in order to reduce the risk of fire in the event of poor or improper maintenance that could result in oil spillage, heat shield(s) will be installed on the pre-catalyst and exhaust tube. owner notification is expected to begin during may 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261. notes: also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. if substrate particles enter the combustion chamber, they could score the cylinder walls, resulting in increased oil consumption. if the engine oil level is not checked on a periodic basis and drops below the low level, and the driver continues to operate the vehicle ignoring noticeable engine noise, engine damage may occur which could result in a fire. nissan is still developing a remedy for the pre-catalyst problem. customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the service engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa recall campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told the vehicle was not included in the recall. the failure mileage was 99,450. the vin was not available. kmj
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the service engine warning light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was also under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told that the vehicle was not included. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 99,450. kmj
09/01/2011	93000
	My vin should be included in the below recall as my mechanic diagnosed and recommended i bring to nissan to fix. but per there recall my car vin is not included even though be as campaign # 03v084000. please see campiagn notice below to reference. what can i do to make nissan do the right thing and fix under recall. recall number: 03v084000 summary: on certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. consequence: this condition could result in a fire. remedy: dealers will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. in addition to the corrective action, in order to reduce the risk of fire in the event of poor or improper maintenance that could result in oil spillage, heat shield(s) will be installed on the pre-catalyst and exhaust tube. owner notification is expected to begin during may 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261. notes: also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. if substrate particles enter the combustion chamber, they could score the cylinder walls, resulting in increased oil consumption. if the engine oil level is not checked on a periodic basis and drops below the low level, and the driver continues to operate the vehicle ignoring noticeable engine noise, engine damage may occur which could result in a fire. nissan is still developing a remedy for the pre-catalyst problem. customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the service engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa recall campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told the vehicle was not included in the recall. the failure mileage was 99,450. the vin was not available. kmj
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the service engine warning light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was also under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told that the vehicle was not included. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 99,450. kmj
06/15/2011	78883
	We had stopped at the signal and once the signal turned green we tried to move, but the car did not move at all, seemed like the engine was completely dead. we thought of getting out of the car and thus we put on the warning flasher switch and tried to put into park by depressing the break pedal and shifted the selector lever from d (drive) to p (park). during this process the car went out of control and crashed on to the busy traffic (the traffic was on by then on the other side). this major accident involved a total of 5 cars and 3 cars were towed and totaled including ours and injuring one of the passengers. our 1 year son was also involved in this accident, but luckily he was not injured, thanks to the stable car seat. my father escaped with minor injuries. above all, the car was fully serviced from nissan dealer (costing around $900) day before the crash occurred.
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the service engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa recall campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told the vehicle was not included in the recall. the failure mileage was 99,450. the vin was not available. kmj
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the service engine warning light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was also under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told that the vehicle was not included. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 99,450. kmj
06/15/2011	78883
	We had stopped at the signal and once the signal turned green we tried to move, but the car did not move at all, seemed like the engine was completely dead. we thought of getting out of the car and thus we put on the warning flasher switch and tried to put into park by depressing the break pedal and shifted the selector lever from d (drive) to p (park). during this process the car went out of control and crashed on to the busy traffic (the traffic was on by then on the other side). this major accident involved a total of 5 cars and 3 cars were towed and totaled including ours and injuring one of the passengers. our 1 year son was also involved in this accident, but luckily he was not injured, thanks to the stable car seat. my father escaped with minor injuries. above all, the car was fully serviced from nissan dealer (costing around $900) day before the crash occurred.
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the service engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa recall campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told the vehicle was not included. the current mileage 99,450.rl
09/20/2011	99450
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the service engine warning light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and that it was also under recall. the contact spoke with the manufacturer regarding nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/ header/ muffler/ tail pipe) and was told that the vehicle was not included. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 99,450. kmj
06/15/2011	78883
	We had stopped at the signal and once the signal turned green we tried to move, but the car did not move at all, seemed like the engine was completely dead. we thought of getting out of the car and thus we put on the warning flasher switch and tried to put into park by depressing the break pedal and shifted the selector lever from d (drive) to p (park). during this process the car went out of control and crashed on to the busy traffic (the traffic was on by then on the other side). this major accident involved a total of 5 cars and 3 cars were towed and totaled including ours and injuring one of the passengers. our 1 year son was also involved in this accident, but luckily he was not injured, thanks to the stable car seat. my father escaped with minor injuries. above all, the car was fully serviced from nissan dealer (costing around $900) day before the crash occurred.
08/30/2011	120000
	Blown head gasket determined by mechanic after proper maintenance used on the car for past 9 years. causes loss of coolant, and thus car can overheat and engine will eventually fail. car also hesitates when starting and idling. can cause an accident if car stalls while driving through intersection and thus is a safety issue.
06/01/2006	60000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle consumes oil at a high rate due to a defective catalytic converter. as a result, the contact would have to constantly add oil to the engine. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
08/30/2011	120000
	Blown head gasket determined by mechanic after proper maintenance used on the car for past 9 years. causes loss of coolant, and thus car can overheat and engine will eventually fail. car also hesitates when starting and idling. can cause an accident if car stalls while driving through intersection and thus is a safety issue.
06/01/2006	60000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle consumes oil at a high rate due to a defective catalytic converter. as a result, the contact would have to constantly add oil to the engine. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
08/30/2011	120000
	Blown head gasket determined by mechanic after proper maintenance used on the car for past 9 years. causes loss of coolant, and thus car can overheat and engine will eventually fail. car also hesitates when starting and idling. can cause an accident if car stalls while driving through intersection and thus is a safety issue.
06/01/2006	60000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle consumes oil at a high rate due to a defective catalytic converter. as a result, the contact would have to constantly add oil to the engine. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000. kmj
08/30/2011	120000
	Blown head gasket determined by mechanic after proper maintenance used on the car for past 9 years. causes loss of coolant, and thus car can overheat and engine will eventually fail. car also hesitates when starting and idling. can cause an accident if car stalls while driving through intersection and thus is a safety issue.
06/01/2006	60000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle consumes oil at a high rate due to a defective catalytic converter. as a result, the contact would have to constantly add oil to the engine. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000. sm.
08/30/2011	120000
	Blown head gasket determined by mechanic after proper maintenance used on the car for past 9 years. causes loss of coolant, and thus car can overheat and engine will eventually fail. car also hesitates when starting and idling. can cause an accident if car stalls while driving through intersection and thus is a safety issue.
07/07/2011	120000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated while driving at approximate 45mph the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to the contact home. the manufacturer took a report 721-1351 and advised the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 06v242000 component: engine and engine cooling therefore they would not assist with the repaired. the vehicle has not been repaired. the current and the failure mileage was 120,000. li
11/01/2010	120000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing recurring engine failures in which the check engine light would illuminate on the instrument panel, the catalytic converter failed, and oil was being consumed excessively. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop on several occasions where numerous repairs were performed on the vehicle. various repairs were performed on the vehicle, including the replacement of the catalytic converter. the failures continued. the contact was advised to have the engine rebuilt. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 120,000. sm.
06/11/2011	93535
	This complaint is a continuation of your investigation pe02078. nissan only addressed a part of the problem by recalling cat converters. however, this did not solve the problem as the engines were damaged causing excessive oil consumption. the problem is all connected but they didn't replaced the engines which has since been upgraded. here's a link to the number of complaints even after the recalled parts were replaced (keeping in mind that not everyone makes a report). http://www.carcomplaints.com/nissan/altima/2002/engine/excessive_oil_consumption.shtml nissan knew that this problem was connected but they only addressed a part of it. as you review the complaints, you will see that their recall did not solve the problem. some had this excessive oil consumption problem as early as 20-40k miles. i think nissan should replace the engines, along with a new converter and manifold. if the whole thing is not replaced the problem will continue to repeat itself as one part will cause the other to fail. a new engine for this car is roughly $2900 + taxes, manifold $500 installed, not sure of the cost for the converter. i am not bashing the company, i have owned a nissan for 16yrs with no problems other than normal wear and tear. replacing the engine is something they know they should have done but only choose to address a part of the problem. i plead that you investigate this as there are many people upset and angry because they did not get a full and proper resolution from the company. again this problem is directly related to the previous issue. the debris from the cat gets sucked up into the engine and damages the cylinder wall causing excessive oil consumption and eventual engine failure. i had to refill (not add) my car with oil every 200 miles driven.
06/03/2011	173683
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 15 mph the vehicle suddenly stalled. the failure occurred twice. the contact stated the failure also occurred while it was idle. the check engine, battery and oil lights illuminated on the instrument panel when the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. nhtsa recall campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling) was related to the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 173,683.
06/03/2011	173683
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 15 mph the vehicle suddenly stalled. the failure occurred two different times. the contact stated the failure also occurred while idling. the check engine light, battery light and oil light illuminated on the instrument panel when the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling) that may be related to the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 173,683. ds
05/22/2011	127000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving 25 mph. he was able to immediately restart yet the failure recurred three times. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling) and inquired with the dealer to determine if the vehicle was included in the recall. the dealer advised that the vehicle would first need a diagnostic test at the contacts expense. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called the manufacturer for assistance who only referred him back to the dealer. the current mileage was 128,138 and the failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
05/22/2011	127000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled while he was driving 25 mph. he was able to immediately restart. the failure occurred three times. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that in order to repair the vehicle according to recall 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling), they would have to charge a fee to inspect it. the vehicle had not been repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who referred him to the dealer. the current mileage was 128,138. the failure mileage was approximately 127,000-bk
09/10/2010	93000
	I have a 2002 nissan altima, bought new, after 93,000 miles it burns excessive amounts of oil, and coolant. i've taken my car to nissan dealerships for regular maintenance, recalls, etc. i've taken my car to several mechanics to find out why my car is doing this and a resolution has not been determined. never have i been informed by nissan of the issue at hand though it's a known issue. i have read and researched on the nhtsa website as well as other online mechanical forums and have seen multiple results of customers with the same complaint. the resolution for the majority of complaints was to replace the engine due to a catalytic converter recall/failure resulting in damage to the engine, continuously add oil as needed, sell/trade the car. i would like to know if there is a formal investigation that is ongoing or has been resolved. if resolved, what solution(s) have been determined to hold nissan responsible for lack of informing consumers, not doing more to prevent further engine failure. will nissan provide a replacement engine, catalytic converter, and such as needed.
04/27/2011	126761
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure but advised that she should contact the dealer because there was a recall related to the failure. the dealer stated that nhtsa recall campaign id number: 07v527000, engine and engine cooling had already been repaired. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 126,761.
04/27/2011	126761
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle check engine light was on. the vehicle was taken to a local shop who was unable to diagnosed the failure but advised that she should contact the dealer because there was a recall related to the failure. the dealer was contacted who stated that recall nhtsa campaign id number: 07v527000 (component: engine and engine cooling) had already been repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted.the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 126,761. pm
04/01/2010	79000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the check engine light illuminated while attempting to start the vehicle, but the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test listing the failure within the catalytic converter manifold. the manufacturer would not assist with the repair; because the vehicle warranty expired and it was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000; engine and engine cooling exhaust system manifold header muffler tail pipe. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current miles were 79,000.
04/01/2010	79000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the engine light illuminated while attempting to start the vehicle, but the engine will not star. the vehicle was towed to the dealer whom performed a diagnosed the failure was located at the catalytic converter manifold. the manufacturer would not assist with the repair; because the vehicle warranty expired and the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 componetn engine and engine cooling exhaust system manifold header muffler tail pipe. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current miles were 79,000. li
04/01/2011	95000
	Vehicle experiencing some hesitation at speeds of over 40mp but was intermitent. eventually it would stall frequently at low speeds. regular mechanic could not diagnose the problem - no engine light. i looked up recalls and found two recalls for my make , year and model. one related to ecm sensor - which caused the stalling. recall indicates that sensor would be reprogrammed. i took it to nissan dealer - they reprogrammed it and sent me off on my way. same day the car was running worse than before - rpm racing and could not get the car over 40 - then it would run ok and then start up again. the stalling continued. i took the car back to the dealer and was told the reprogramming would not fix the problem and would actually cause the car to run worse. i was never told this when i walked out the first time. the car is not safe to drive and the dealer is telling me to look at it they need to charge me $120 plus what ever it cost to fix.
01/15/2011	110000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while the contact was driving approximately 65 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. the warning light remained illuminated until the vehicle was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and they detected a faulty engine warning indicator. the vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to occur. the vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic where the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor were replaced. there was a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the manufacturer was notified and informed that the vehicle was not eligible because the vehicle exceeded the warranty. the failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
03/10/2011	133000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while having the vehicle serviced by an authorized dealer for the check engine light the contact was told that the engine needed to be replaced due to catalytic converter failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact also stated that there were no other signs or any failures other than the check engine light. the failure and current mileage was 133,000.
01/15/2011	110000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while the contact was driving approximately 65 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. the warning light remained illuminated until the vehicle was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and they detected a faulty engine warning indicator. the vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to occur. the vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic where the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor were replaced. there was a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the manufacturer was notified and informed that the vehicle was not eligible because the vehicle exceeded the warranty. the failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
03/10/2011	133000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while having the vehicle serviced by an authorized dealer for the check engine light the contact was told that the engine needed to be replaced due to catalytic converter failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact also stated that there were no other signs or any failures other than the check engine light. the failure and current mileage was 133,000.
01/15/2011	110000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while the contact was driving approximately 65 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. the warning light remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and they detected a faulty engine warning indicator. the vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to occur. the vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic where the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor were replaced. there was a recall associated with the nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the manufacturer was notified and informed that the vehicle was not eligible because the vehicle exceeded the warranty. the failure mileage was approximately 110,000. js
03/10/2011	133000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while having the vehicle serviced by an authorized dealer for the check engine light the contact was told that the engine needed to be replaced due to catalytic converter failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact also stated that there were no other signs or any failures other than the check engine light. the failure and current mileage was 133,000.
01/15/2011	110000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while the contact was driving approximately 65 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. the warning light remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and they detected a faulty engine warning indicator. the vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to occur. the vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic where the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor were replaced. there was a recall associated with the nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the manufacturer was notified and informed that the vehicle was not eligible because the vehicle exceeded the warranty. the failure mileage was approximately 110,000. js
03/10/2011	133000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while having the vehicle serviced by an authorized dealer for the check engine light the contact was told that the engine needed to be replaced due to catalytic converter failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact also stated that there were no other signs or any failures other than the check engine light. the failure and current mileage was 133,000.
09/20/2010	72000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that when first starting the vehicle, it would drive rough and would sputter abnormally. in addition, the vehicle would stall sporadically without warning. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer several times where they replaced the head gasket, radiator and the timing belt cover but none of the repairs corrected the failure. the contact finally took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was told that the failure was caused by the crankshaft position sensor. the mechanic advised the contact of nhtsa campaign id number: 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling) but was advised by the manufacturer that the vin was not included in the recall. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 72,000 and the current mileage was 76,000.
09/20/2010	72000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the vehicle seems to sputter and runs rough when it is first started. the contact also stated the vehicle stalls from time to time without warning. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer several times and they replaced the head gasket, radiator and the timing belt cover, but none of these repairs repaired the failure. the contact finally took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was told the failure was caused by the crankshaft position sensor and that it was under recall. the contact spoke to the manufacturer in regards to nhtsa campaign id number: 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling), but was told their vehicle was not included in the recall. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 72,000 and the current mileage was 76,000.rl
06/15/2010	90000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima 3.5. while driving approximately 40 mph, the contact applied pressure to the accelerator pedal but the vehicle became resistant to acceleration. the contact stated he was able to drive the vehicle but the vehicle continued to decelerate independently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the catalytic converter would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and stated there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) but the contacts vin was not included. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
06/15/2010	90000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima 3.5. while driving approximately 40 mph the contact applied pressure to the accelerator pedal but the vehicle became difficult to accelerate. the contact stated he was able to drive the vehicle but the vehicle continued to experience declaration. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and stated there was a recall nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) but the vin was not included. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000. ds
06/13/2010	124000
	2002 nissan altima has know had to have motor mounts replaced for a second time since purchase of vehicle. motor mounts seem to be defective.
02/09/2010	85000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph when he noticed the check engine light illuminate on the instrumental panel, then suddenly it stalled. the vehicle was restarted within a few minutes. the vehicle was not inspected by an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was due to the converter. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
02/09/2010	85000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph when he noticed th echeck engine light illuminate on the instrumental panel, then it suddenly stalled. the vehicle was able to restart after waiting a while. the vehicle has not been inspected by a independent mechanic and informe the contact that the failure was due to the converter. the vehicle was repaired for the converter. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 85,000. tb
06/01/2010	115000
	We have a 2002 nissan altima that has about 132xxx miles on it and it is burning oil at about 5 quarts in a week. we have changed the oil regularly prior to this problem starting, which was about 6 months ago. we took it to the dealership and were told we had a catalitic system failure and it was going to cost $900 to fix, then we were told that the engine would have to be replaced costing upwords of $4000. i have looked into this problem and found a ton of other people have had this problem just outside of the warranty
11/16/2009	68000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 45 mph he began to see smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where he was informed the pistons and catalyst needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified and he was informed his vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000, engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. he also noted the vehicle would burn through oil quicker than normal. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 68,000. the vin was unavailable. sm.
08/15/2010	60000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima with 60,000 miles. while driving 25 mph the vehicle stalled. the vehicle had been previously repaired under recall 06v223000 engine and cooling for this failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair under the updated version of the recall but his vehicle was not included. the dealer refused to repair the vehicle under the updated recall. the vehicle has not been repaired at this time. bl
06/09/2010	140000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the head gasket has blown on the vehicle. the check engine light has been on and the vehicle would shake. the contact was a mechanic and stated that the head gasket blew on the vehicle because the catalytic converter failed. the third cylinder blew and caused the engine to fail. the dealer stated that this was a known issue and it was related to recall campaign 03v084000, which deals with engine and engine cooling. the contact replaced the engine in the vehicle. the failure mileage was 140000 and the current mileage was 148000.
02/02/2010	95000
	I made a complaint by phone regarding my 2002 nissan altima and have yet to hear back or get a copy as promised of my complaint. due to the many complaints, concerns and problems related to this year ,make and model ,you would think nissan would be a little bit more concerned and wanting to remedy the problems that exist to avoid legal action for ignoring a potently dangerous problem that could be deadly . all though i have not been hurt physically ,mentally i am beside myself thinking if you cant get nissan to step up to the plate then who can???? i had a engine replaced by nissan dealership and it did not last 20,000 miles before the catalitic converter fell apart and got sucked up in the engine.. nissan is aware of the recalls for this year/make/model???? its time to do something as you have pages and pages of complaints regarding this exact thing and it is obvious nissan will do nothing because they get away with it time and time again..they are worse than toyota, at least toyota amits there is a problem...please let me know what and when you intend on doing something to get nissan to do whats right?/?
08/17/2010	118000
	The car initally used a lot of oil and anti-freeze. basically we needed to put a quart of oil and anti-freeze in the car every 100 - 200 miles. we had the head gasket replaced and this helped with the antifreeze and the oil but after a while it started to use a lot of oil again. it got to the point where it was going through a quart of oil every 100 miles or less. my son went out to run some errands and whiile driving smoke started coming from the engine and it just quit. upon looking at the engine, he noticed that there was large puddle of oil under the car. fortunately traffic was light and no one hit me.
02/02/2010	95000
	I made a complaint by phone regarding my 2002 nissan altima and have yet to hear back or get a copy as promised of my complaint. due to the many complaints, concerns and problems related to this year ,make and model ,you would think nissan would be a little bit more concerned and wanting to remedy the problems that exist to avoid legal action for ignoring a potently dangerous problem that could be deadly . all though i have not been hurt physically ,mentally i am beside myself thinking if you cant get nissan to step up to the plate then who can???? i had a engine replaced by nissan dealership and it did not last 20,000 miles before the catalitic converter fell apart and got sucked up in the engine.. nissan is aware of the recalls for this year/make/model???? its time to do something as you have pages and pages of complaints regarding this exact thing and it is obvious nissan will do nothing because they get away with it time and time again..they are worse than toyota, at least toyota amits there is a problem...please let me know what and when you intend on doing something to get nissan to do whats right?/?
08/17/2010	118000
	The car initally used a lot of oil and anti-freeze. basically we needed to put a quart of oil and anti-freeze in the car every 100 - 200 miles. we had the head gasket replaced and this helped with the antifreeze and the oil but after a while it started to use a lot of oil again. it got to the point where it was going through a quart of oil every 100 miles or less. my son went out to run some errands and whiile driving smoke started coming from the engine and it just quit. upon looking at the engine, he noticed that there was large puddle of oil under the car. fortunately traffic was light and no one hit me.
02/02/2010	95000
	I made a complaint by phone regarding my 2002 nissan altima and have yet to hear back or get a copy as promised of my complaint. due to the many complaints, concerns and problems related to this year ,make and model ,you would think nissan would be a little bit more concerned and wanting to remedy the problems that exist to avoid legal action for ignoring a potently dangerous problem that could be deadly . all though i have not been hurt physically ,mentally i am beside myself thinking if you cant get nissan to step up to the plate then who can???? i had a engine replaced by nissan dealership and it did not last 20,000 miles before the catalitic converter fell apart and got sucked up in the engine.. nissan is aware of the recalls for this year/make/model???? its time to do something as you have pages and pages of complaints regarding this exact thing and it is obvious nissan will do nothing because they get away with it time and time again..they are worse than toyota, at least toyota amits there is a problem...please let me know what and when you intend on doing something to get nissan to do whats right?/?
08/17/2010	118000
	The car initally used a lot of oil and anti-freeze. basically we needed to put a quart of oil and anti-freeze in the car every 100 - 200 miles. we had the head gasket replaced and this helped with the antifreeze and the oil but after a while it started to use a lot of oil again. it got to the point where it was going through a quart of oil every 100 miles or less. my son went out to run some errands and whiile driving smoke started coming from the engine and it just quit. upon looking at the engine, he noticed that there was large puddle of oil under the car. fortunately traffic was light and no one hit me.
02/02/2010	95000
	I made a complaint by phone regarding my 2002 nissan altima and have yet to hear back or get a copy as promised of my complaint. due to the many complaints, concerns and problems related to this year ,make and model ,you would think nissan would be a little bit more concerned and wanting to remedy the problems that exist to avoid legal action for ignoring a potently dangerous problem that could be deadly . all though i have not been hurt physically ,mentally i am beside myself thinking if you cant get nissan to step up to the plate then who can???? i had a engine replaced by nissan dealership and it did not last 20,000 miles before the catalitic converter fell apart and got sucked up in the engine.. nissan is aware of the recalls for this year/make/model???? its time to do something as you have pages and pages of complaints regarding this exact thing and it is obvious nissan will do nothing because they get away with it time and time again..they are worse than toyota, at least toyota amits there is a problem...please let me know what and when you intend on doing something to get nissan to do whats right?/?
08/17/2010	118000
	The car initally used a lot of oil and anti-freeze. basically we needed to put a quart of oil and anti-freeze in the car every 100 - 200 miles. we had the head gasket replaced and this helped with the antifreeze and the oil but after a while it started to use a lot of oil again. it got to the point where it was going through a quart of oil every 100 miles or less. my son went out to run some errands and whiile driving smoke started coming from the engine and it just quit. upon looking at the engine, he noticed that there was large puddle of oil under the car. fortunately traffic was light and no one hit me.
05/20/2010	128996
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. he stated that while driving at 65 mph the engine stall causing the vehicle to lose power , he had to drive the vehicle onto the side of the road. the vehicle was towed to the dealership, where he was advised that the catalitic connvertor was defective and needed to be replaced, however, after more testing they discovered that the engine needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and informed him o the recall number r300071, however , he was advised that the vehicle failure was not entirely covered by the recall. the failure and current mileages 128,996
10/01/2008	144000
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that approximately one year ago the vehicle began to burn oil. sometimes there is black smoke, sometimes there isn't. the vehicle consumes approximately one quart of oil per week. the dealer advised they did not know why the failure existed. the owner has found numerous complaint about the same issue. the failure mileage was 140,000. the current mileage is 141,000. rd
10/21/2007	85000
	My engine blew up. i called my nearest nissan dealer who forwarded me to nissan corp, who sent me to nissan north america and after telling them my story 3 times, they advised me there was nothing they could do since it as not yet a recall. i looked online and many had the same issue and were trying to get this to be a recall. i had just moved to that area, i had no job, no money and was attending school. my car sat infront of my house for 6 months while i paid $430 a month on my note. when i finally had the money to fix it, i explained to them i had just gotten a new engine and only needed them to restart the computer. they advised me there was a recall on it, i asked for what and they could not explain. they then said they could not restart my computer or do the recall because it had a code that needed to get fixed. i said fine, and paid for them to fix it and the recall. later that day my engine light came back on and they had me go back in a week later and advised me a new code came on. i asked why they didnt tell me about it when i was their and they said they didnt see it till now. i did more research and found out that the codes they found were part of the recall, and that was the reason my engine blew up. but they would not fix or pay for it. i have been back and forth on this and fianlly i found a number to call regarding nissan recalls. the person i spoke with advised me that it was nissans responsability to have fixed the issue at no cost since it was a recall and it was all conected. (had that recall or problem been fixed my engine would have never blown up! recall or no recall, this was obviously a manufacturing issue! they never even contacted me about that recall! i found out about it when i took my car in!) she filed a claim for me and said someone would call me. it has been a week and no call from nissan north america yet. i call them everyday and everyday they say someone will call me. at least toyota is taking care of their customers!
04/15/2007	35000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle over heated continuously and she smelled fuel. she also stated that it was difficult to start the vehicle after it had been parked; she had to pump the accelerator pedal several times in order for the vehicle to start. on one occasion, the contact noticed a burning smell from the engine once the engine was warm. the dealer advised the contact that there was a recall for the catalytic converter for her model but her vin was not included. the failure mileage was approximately 35,000. the current mileage was approximately 100,000.
03/16/2010	76890
	While driving my car the day before, engine suddenly stopped on a five lane hwy in center lane during heavy traffic at speed limit of 70mph. my son and i were stranded helpless in the midst of cars heading right towards us. an hour later geico sent a tow to take us to the nissan dealership where i purchased my car. the stall was due to a recall on the engine sensor issued in 2006. dealer had denied recall multiple times prior but had finally recognized it. left the car overnight to have ecn reprogrammed and was told that it needed diagnostic for $192.14. i stated i wanted to take it elsewhere and was called the next morning to come pick up my car. got there car was running, asked if there had ever been any other problems with this model and told no. got 1/2 of mile and loud noise and loss of power. engine completely died while driving and lost steering and brakes while in traffic. to avoid going into next lane oncoming traffic, i swerved other way into telephone poll. engine completely dead since then and has been proclaimed as totaled due to locked engine. engine qr25de was taken off sales floor in 2006 and i received no information at all. dealer told me he never heard of any problems with my car. on receipt from dealer it states car is unsafe to drive but dealer never gave me receipt to sign and never even eluded to car doing same thing it had done less than 24 hours prior. said he put oil in car and it started up and was ready for me to pick up. i had just had oil change and had no oil leaks whatsoever. my son is traumatized and can't sleep nights from first incident and i have no vehicle and can't get to doctor for my back, leg, and knee injury i suffered in the crash. nissan says 6 weeks until they send an inspector to see car and i'm paying for each day it sits on the lot of mechanic. still have not even dispatched orders and it is now 9 days later. my life and my son's were knowingly put in danger twice due to corp & dealer negligence.
06/01/2009	85000	1
	I have a 2002 nissan sentra se-r with the 2.5 liter (qr25de) engine i purchased new. this is the same engine that the problematic 2002 nissan altima has. my car has had numerous serious recalls, originating within the first year and a half i purchased it. two years ago, my ses light went on. my car was still under warranty at this point as i'd purchased nissan's gold plus warranty coverage. i was told it was a loose gas cap, they'd checked and performed all outstanding recalls, and all was fine. 8 months later, the ses light went on again.the car began to also exhibit signs of increased oil consumption. i had it checked, was told it was a cracked oil pan by an independent mechanic. finally, i took it to nissan. i was told i needed a new catalytic converter, the exact part that has been mentioned in several recalls on my vehicle, and since the car was out of warranty they would not pay for it. estimate was $1200, which i got in writing, for the catalytic converter. i asked for records of what they had done to inspect and repair the recall previously. they had no record of it. i called nissan north america, who told me the dealer kept the records, and to ask them.. finally, an independent mechanic replaced the part. the ses light went on two weeks later. the independant mechanic said the pre-catalytic converter was damaged/falling apart, also listed in my recall explicitly. the dealer had misdiagnosed the car. called dealer, wrote letter, bbb complaint, nissan complaint, no response. had pre-cat replaced for $600. ses light came on again. eventually, my car stalled and wouldn't start. i had it towed to a repair facility who informed me my engine was blown, replaced for $4k. a screw had been found in the third cylinder. this is also listed in some of the 'bulletins' nissan distributed to their dealers. i've tried a demand letter, no response. obviously, no one inspected my car for recalls, or repaired the faulty parts. *tr
03/01/2010	126100	2	02/26/2010
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated two days after he brought the vehicle it would not start. the contact stated he is having the same problems as in the recall 03v455000. the driver states he contacted his nissan dealer and they told him to bring in the vehicle and they would check it and if it were the same problem they would fix it free of charge. the contact stated that now they are telling him his vehicle vin is not included in the recall. the failure and current mileages was 126,100. updated 04/16/10. *lj the consumer stated the crankshaft position sensor was faulty. the consumer stated the crank shaft position sensor was replaced at his expense on march 10,2010 and the next day the vehicle would not start again. updated 05/17/10
01/25/2010		1
	On 1/25/10, my 2002 altima with only 27,000 miles on it, kept stalling or not starting during 3 shopping stops. i thought it was my battery and was near clark auto where my battery is under warranty... *tr
03/01/2010	143000	1
	2002 altima nissan-problem with oil consumption. there is 196 pages of complaints regarding oil consumptions on 2002 altima nissan where this is causing the engine to fail. the car dies after driving, which can cause wrecks and even deaths. nissan is aware of the problem and will not help with any of the cost to repair the vehicles. i am a single mother with 2 children and at this point don't have the funds to repair this vehicle. please refer to www.carcomplaints.com/nissan/altima/2002/.../excessive_oil_consumption. *tr
02/23/2010	56000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving on the highway at 65 mph. the driver stated that his vehicle started to lunge forward and then cut off completely. the driver pulled off of the highway. the driver stated that the vehicle restarted after 10 minutes but the service engine light came on remained illuminated. the driver stated that he took the vehicle to the dealer but nothing was done. occasionally his vehicle does not start immediately and he has to restart it within 30 minutes. the failure mileage was 56,000 and the current mileage was 56,140.
02/01/2010	65000	1
	The heater/ ac had many problems, almost yearly-needed to be blown out & anti freeze added. head gasket was replaced at 60,000 & cylinder had to be replaced, timing chain tension repair. now engine & timing belt need to be replaced @$4800.00 65,000 miles-doesn't seem right! tr updated 03/05/10. jb
01/04/2010	100450
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the vehicle burns motor oil excessively. the contact is concerned that the engine could seize while driving. the failure has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the failure mileage was 100,450.
03/10/2009		1
	Nissan 2002 2.5 sl has to be checked once a week because the engine loses oil. when the oil is checked it is completely dry. oil has to be put in the car once a week. the engine knocks and comes close to shutting down. *tr
01/13/2010		1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact was driving approximately 55 mph on normal road conditions. the service engine warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and suddenly, the engine stalled. the vehicle coasted to the side of the road. the vehicle restarted and resumed normal operation. the warning indicator remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling. however, the vin was excluded from the recall defect. the crank position sensor and camshaft position sensor were replaced for the malfunctions. the failure mileage was unavailable. cn updated 02/17/10*jb
12/10/2002	21	2
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the air conditioning system will not circulate heat. also after service the oil and antifreeze levels depletes prematurely. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and she was advised that the catalytic converter and the engine coil needed to be replaced. a representative from the dealer and manufacturer stated that the repairs cost $1600.00. no repairs were made. the failure mileage was 21. the mileage was 105,000. the consumer stated the vehicle would stall while driving at any speed. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and upon inspection, the consumer was informed a sensor was soaked in oil. there was no oil leaking from the vehicle, but they were not able to tell the consumer where the oil was coming from. soon after, there was a recall for the same problem. the wheel bearing and alternator had to be replaced. the engine light has been on for over 2 1/2 years, the vehicle has no heat and anti-freeze was evaporating, but there were no leaks. the consumer stated she could smell coolant coming through the vents. updated 02/01/10*jb
11/10/2009	78500
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 55 mph he heard a loud knocking sound inside of the engine compartment. he then noticed an abnormal absorption of oil from the engine. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. the technician recommended replacement of the engine and catalytic converter. the vehicle was partially repaired according to recall campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). no additional repairs were made. the failure mileage was 78,500. the current mileage was 79,200.
12/01/2009		2	07/01/2002
	Recall number 03y-455 for 2002 nissan altima. nj the consumer stated over the past 24 months the service engine light illuminated intermittently. the vehicle also exhibited poor acceleration and power and it also ran a little rough. but, after driving a couple of miles the light went out, but a few days later the light illuminated again. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer on several occasions and they performed an engine diagnostic. they were unable to pinpoint the problem as to why the light would illuminate and then go out. the consumer went back to the dealer and they recommended replacing catalytic converter which was apart of the recall. jb
10/15/2009	119500	1
	Simple engine heat appears to disintegrate the pre-catalytic converter part on a 2002 nissan altima 2.5l engine. the engine sucks in the broken parts, which then damage the engine, requiring that the engine be replaced. *tr
08/27/2009	75100	1
	My car was serviced for a recall issue in 3/09 by the manufacturer. in august of 09, my car began to hesitate when starting, there was loss of power and hesitation during operation, soon afterwards the check engine light came on and finally the car failed to start. i brought it in to a local service center and they diagnosed that the crank position sensor and the camshaft sensors needed to be replaced. i was advised to bring the car into the dealer for additional servicing when i called nissan consumer affairs. i opened a claim for reimbursement for the cost of the parts that were replaced that were supposed to be part of the recall work, but nissan is saying that the parts that i had installed had nothing to do with the recall campaign. *tr
07/31/2009	86225	1
	2002 nissan altima wouldn't start, blown head gasket, leaking coolant, now nissan says i need a new motor. aluminum was used making these cars and nissan new they couldn't with stand the heat. my son needs help. *tr
07/30/2009		1
	Internal oil leak in 2002 nissan altima. *tr
06/21/2009	100000	1
	2002 nissan altima - engine defect. the engine nearly caught on fire because the oil was burning so much that there was no oil in the engine after a few miles! first there was a problem with the heating/cooling, check engine light came on, white smoke from the engine. had each problem addressed at mechanic but problem was never fixed because the source was in the engine itself - a nissan defect. now i need a new engine because the source of the problem is the head gasket. my mechanic has seen 2 other 2002 nissan altimas with the same problem. it was a defect in the original engine and it is dangerous if you do not catch it and replace the engine, due to such fast oil loss and an overheated engine! scary! the car only has 100k miles!! the car is not drivable now and i am seeing hundreds of other complaints of the exact same nature online with some fires already started. yikes! *tr
06/14/2009	84681
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 50 mph, the engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and remained lit until the engine was turned off. when pressure was applied to the brake pedal, the vehicle began to shake and vibrate excessively. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and it was discovered that there was a misfire in the engine cylinder. the technician reinstalled new spark plugs. the contact was advised to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer if the problem continued. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on a separate occasion for identical failures. the dealer recommended that the engine be replaced. they also detected missing screws from the engine. the technician stated that the vehicle should not be driven due to the safety hazard. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 84,681 and current mileage was 84,964.
04/24/2009	111000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the vehicle was purchased new in 2001. the contact took the vehicle to jiffy lube for an oil change and the oil light illuminated on the instrument panel one week later. she checked the dipstick and noticed that there was no oil in the vehicle. she took the vehicle back to jiffy lube and oil was added; however, the oil light illuminated again. she took the vehicle to a firestone shop and they found no oil in the engine. the dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the engine needed to be replaced because oil was entering into the exhaust system and the piston ring. the dealer further stated that the vehicle was out of warranty; therefore, the contact would have to pay for the repair. a report was filed with the manufacturer and they stated that her vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling). the manufacturer stated that they would call her back. the vehicle has not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were 111,000.
03/01/2008	91500
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving various speeds, the vehicle becomes difficult to accelerate. occasionally, the vehicle stalls and becomes difficult to start. a local mechanic stated that the crankshaft was faulty and a recall was pending from 2004 for this year, make, and model vehicle. the manufacturer stated that the crankshaft was repaired under recall in 2004; therefore, the dealer did not have to repair the vehicle again. the contact feels that the manufacturer should pay for the repairs since this is a safety issue. he is concerned that a crash could occur. the current mileage was 92,000 and failure mileage was 91,500.
04/17/2009	160000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while checking the oil in the vehicle, the contact noticed an oil leak. he replaced the oil with at least two quarts of oil per week. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and the technician stated that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling). the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a local dealer for further assistance. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that oil was leaking around the rings. the vehicle was repaired for the ecm failure. after retrieving the vehicle from the dealer, the vehicle failed. a technician stated that particles from the catalytic converter damaged the cylinder walls in the engine. the vehicle has not been repaired again. the contact called the manufacturer and was informed that because the vehicle was not included in the recall for the failure that he experienced, no compensation would be provided. the failure mileage was 160,000 and current mileage was 180,000.
02/05/2008	120000	1
	At approx 100k miles, my altima was consuming alot of oil, running poor, eventually the engine failed, had engine repaired, began same oil burning problem again, had cat converter hallowed out, engine failed again. *tr
09/30/2008	96158
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving at an unknown speed, the check engine indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact checked the oil and noticed that it was low. he placed 11/2 quarts of oil into the vehicle and had a local repair shop change the filter at the cost of $42.68. the contact inspected the vehicle again and noticed that it was losing a quart of oil per week. each week, he would add a quart to refill the oil. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop to have the oil changed at the cost of $28.96; however, the vehicle continued to lose oil. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing and error code po420 was produced, which determined that the pre-catalytic converter and crank case pressure were failing. the repair would cost $4,500. the vehicle was previously repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) by the previous owner. the contact called the manufacturer and was informed that if he could not produce maintenance records stating that the vehicle underwent regular maintenance, they would be unable to determine if the failure was caused by a lack of maintenance. the contact would not receive any compensation. the dealer stated that even with regular maintenance, the pre-catalytic converter would still fail. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 96,158 and current mileage was 103,400.
03/15/2009		1
	I bought my 2002 2.5 nissan 72k four days ago. a day after i bought it, the service engine light came on. there is excessive oil consumption. i put oil in, and a few miles later i need to add more. i haven't changed anything yet, simply because i can't afford it. nissan needs to take responsibility. i will tell everyone i know to never buy a nissan. i am never buying a nissan again. i've read numerous posts by people who have the same exact problems. *tr
06/01/2008		1
	Catalytic converter went out. heater core went out, therefore no heat in the car. *tr
01/10/2009		1
	This isn't fair. 2002 nissan altima. 5900 miles. man this car is junk, nissan should reimburse people about that, work car ever. and i notice everyone have the same problem. the car stall, camshft problem.. something need to be done. its not safe when u driving and car die on you. *tr
12/17/2008	121000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the contact noticed that the engine would consume abnormal amounts of oil. she has a 2.5 liter engine in her vehicle. the dealer stated that her vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id numbers 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling) and 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling); therefore, she would have to replace the engine at the cost of $5,000. currently, the vehicle has not been repaired. she called the manufacturer and is waiting for a response. the failure mileage was 121,000 and current mileage was 126,000.
07/20/2006	85000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle would stall and hesitate to start. she replaced the alternator and battery, but the failure continued. on a separate occasion, the head gasket blew and was replaced by an independent mechanic. however, the vehicle continued to stall and hesitate. the contact found hundreds of complaints for the same year, make, and model vehicle and was concerned that it was unsafe to drive. the manufacturer referred her to nhtsa. the failure and current mileages were less than 85,000.
12/30/2008	95000	1
	I own a 2002 nissan altima , i have to put a quart of oil in this car every 50 miles, from wha t i have found on the internet this is a very common problem , that nissan knows about and refuses to admit to the public this is a defect in the motor, that the recall will cost the company to much in repairs. we are a family on a fixed income and can't afford the $6000.00 for repairs on this car. nissan asks so much for these cars they should stand behind their products and repair this defect!!!! *tr
11/25/2008		1
	On tuesday 11/25/08 i was driving my 2002 nissan altima to work and the car turned off in mid drive on a major highway. i did some research and found out about a recall (#03v455000) on this website. it matched exactly what happened to my vehicle. i took the car to the dealership and told them of the recall. they told me that the same parts needed to be replaced (crank position sensors, and camshaft position sensors) but my car was not a part of the recall and therefore i had to pay out of pocket for the repair. my vehicle matches the recall on your website 100% ie: 2002 nissan altima...on certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor may have improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process...this could cause the service engine soon warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation, which would result in crash...dealers will replace the crank position sensors, camshaft position sensors, and in some cases the variable timing control sensors. again, the dealership has neglected to recognize this as a valid recall. i want to be reimbursed for the repair costs. *tr
11/10/2008	119000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 50 mph, the vehicle shut off and struck a guardrail. there were no injuries. the vehicle was able to be restarted; however, it stalled again approximately four times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and is currently being repaired. the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the failure and current mileages were 119,000.
10/28/2008	60000	1
	2002 altima began stalling during low speeds triggering check engine light and accompanied by reduced engine power. diagnostics indicated problem with crank shaft position sensor which was clearly listed under recall. nissan would not acknowledge recall stating that i needed to have to ecm reprogrammed which would not fix stalling problem but would make the ecm more sensitive to the problem with the csp sensor. nissan would not perform the ecm reprogram with the check engine light on. nissan wanted to run a $90 diagnostics test first. i took car to a private mechanic the have crankshaft position sensor replaced with updated factory model. the sensor that was removed was clearly the older flawed model which was under recall. *tr
07/18/2008	81000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 30 mph, the vehicle would not stop when the brake pedal was depressed. the vehicle eventually came to a slow stop and the steering wheel stiffened. the contact turned off the vehicle, but it failed to restart. the failure was diagnosed as the catalytic converter, which needed to be replaced as well as the engine. the failure and current mileages were 81,000.
01/03/2008	78000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the dealer stated that the contact's vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe), although the failures were identical. in addition, the contact smells burning oil. the failure mileage was 78,000 and current mileage was 88,000.
09/09/2007		1
	Oil is consumed at a rate of approx. 1 quart every 200 miles, mechanic has informed me there are no noticable leaks. around the 80,000 mile mark oil began to run low but the problem has been increasing. *tr
09/03/2008	104000	1
	I went through inspections in delaware and the car failed for catalytic converter. engine makes a very loud rattling noise when the oil is too low. i think the car dealer went out of business. is there anything that can be done? *tr
03/06/2008	130000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 65 mph, the engine stopped running without warning. the contact made several attempts before the engine finally restarted. the engine was running roughly and the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that the failure was related to the catalytic converter. the vehicle has not been repaired. recently, the engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and remained lit until the engine was turned off. the failure was similar to the one mentioned in nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the vin was excluded from the recall. the failure mileage was 130,000 and current mileage was 131,000.
09/25/2008		1
	My 2002 nissan altima has very high oil consumption. seems that im not alone according to the dealer service people. is costing me a lot in replacing engine and catalytic converter. *tr
07/04/2008	135000	1
	I have a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s. my car has 140k miles and i have an impeccable service record and have all of my receipts from every oil change and service i have ever done--almost exclusively at nissan dealers. a couple of months ago i noticed that my car began burning oil very quickly. it was not leaking oil at all, i just started going through a quart of oil every week. the engine also began to run rough sometimes. so i brought it in to my local nissan dealer to be fixed. i paid $1200 and they said they fixed the problem (replaced the catalytic converter, etc). however, the car still used a ridiculous amount of oil (but does not leak oil) and runs rough. it now also runs at a high temperature (maxed out on the thermostat) and i get no hot air out of my vents. so i brought it back in to the same nissan dealer to have them look at it. this time, they tell me that the engine needs to be replaced. i decided to look online for others who have had this problem. i have literally found hundreds (if not thousands) of other people with 2002 nissan alitma 2.5 engines who have had the exact same problems. it seems that there is a defect in the design of the 2002 nissan altima 2.5s that causes the catalytic converter to fail and then tear apart the engine. this is a design flaw in the 2002 nissan altima 2.5 and has happened to most of the people who have bought this car. nissan should be responsible for this design flaw in their car and replace the defective engines for all people who bought the 2002 nissan altima 2.5s. it is clearly a design flaw with their car and they should be responsible for fixing this problem. there are thousands of people with this same problem and you need to act now before more consumers are taken by nissan on this problem! *tr
12/06/2007	98000	1
	Engine light. see service bulleton 06009. nhtsa# 100119613. cannot diagnose problem. dealer replaced battery, then wanted to replace ipdm. had car checked by aaa certified shop. cannot diagnose problem even though now i am having issues with how car runs. am afraid car will stall on high way. several mechanics stated that they believe the dealer is guessing on the diagnosis. no codes except u1000 and u1001 are being stored in computer. i have spent several hundred dollars trying to diagnose problem. this affect all 2002-2006 nissan. cars should be recalled before a serious accident occurs. *tr
09/02/2008	99359
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling) and took the vehicle to the dealer for repair. a technician stated that because his electronic control module already failed, the contact would have to replace the ecm at the cost of $500. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 99,359.
08/31/2007	85000	1
	I loved the car until recently when i started having problems with the heater. months ago, i noticed that my heater was not working properly. i took it to be looked at and the mechanic told me that there may be bubbles in the coolant line. they bled the line, refilled it and it was fine for awhile. i have no heat again. they checked and could find no external leaks. this has been a problem for the past year, and every few months i need my coolant replaced and bled. i've gone to numerous mechanics and nobody can find the leak. i've searched many sites and forums and this seems to be a recurring problem for my type of car. the engine is overheating because the coolant is leaking, the car idles rough and is driving w/ higher rpms than it used. *tr
08/24/2008	85000	1
	I loved the car until recently when i started having problems with the heater. months ago, i noticed that my heater was not working properly. i took it to be looked at and the mechanic told me that there may be bubbles in the coolant line. they bled the line, refilled it and it was fine for awhile. i have no heat again. they checked and could find no external leaks. this has been a problem for the past year, and every few months i need my coolant replaced and bled. i've gone to numerous mechanics and nobody can find the leak. i've searched many sites and forums and this seems to be a recurring problem for my type of car. the engine is overheating because the coolant is leaking, the car idles rough and is driving w/ higher rpms than it used. *tr
08/04/2008	87000	1
	I own a 2002 nissan altima 2.5l. i had my car looked at in early 2008 because my heater was not working. the mechanic said the coolant was low but could find no problem so he topped it off and told me to keep an eye on it. in the summer of 2008 i noticed it was going through coolant again. it would also shudder when first started and a foul black smoke would come out of the tailpipe. my mechanic looked at it and said the head gasket was out. so he is replacing the head gasket. he just ordered the parts and his supplier said they were sending out about one a month, which is a lot. they also have a different number, so it looks like they had to change the design of the head gasket. initial costs put it around $1500. i did internet research and found that this is very common with this car starting around 87,000 miles. the internet also mentioned problem with the pre-cat and oxygen sensors. i feel that a car only 6 years old should not be experiencing these problems. i loved the car until i started having serious engine problems with it. *tr
01/01/2004	15000	1
	2002 nissan altima 3.5l oil consumption! i have owned the car since 18 miles, i have done oil changes every 3k. i lose almost a quart every 1k miles. i have seen many issues with the vq and still no recall. please help! *tr
08/08/2008	96764
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 65 mph, the service engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer for a diagnostic and they stated that the catalytic converter failed. the vehicle has not been repaired or driven. the failure was identical to the one mentioned in the recall; however, her vin was not included. the recall number was unknown. the failure and current mileages were 96,764.
07/25/2008	104	1
	I have a 2002 nissan altima with 105,000 miles. i have no oil leaks, smoke coming out when i drive but my car is consuming a quart or more a week. i have 2 small children and i have contacted nissan and they said they haven't heard anything. but on car complaints there are several. i am afraid my engine would blow when i am driving. *tr
06/25/2008	0	1
	I am an owner of a 2002 nissan altima 2.5l that has recently been told my car is not fit for the road and as the mechanic and sales person told me, is a ticking time bomb. the car was voluntarily recalled in 2003 by nissan and i took my car in to have the issue fixed. the issue is that the catalytic converters are too close to the transmission and they heat up and break down the catalyst causing it to spray pieces back into the engine causing it to be dangerous to drive. the representative at nissan tells me he is aware of the issue but my car is now outside of the 80,000 mile warranty and it doesn't matter( i just turned over 100,000). nissan refuses to address that i did take my car in for the recall and many times after when the sensors went off and the mechanics never mentioned this issue or offered to correct it with the replacement engine that nissan claims they would give the customers who experienced this problem. are there any other instances when my car's catalytic converter would break into pieces and spray throughout my engine? how long does it take for this to happen? i had a 90,000 mile bumper to bumper maintenance and they charged us around $400 and never mentioned any problem with the catalytic converter. please help! i haven't had a car to drive in three weeks and i don't know what my next move should be. stacy olexy, reading, pa. *tr
05/01/2008	120000	1
	In late 2007, i would have to start up my 2002 nissan altima a couple of times before it would crank up. on the way home one day, as i was getting on the interstate my car shut off at low speed. i reviewed my problem online and found a recall for the exact same problem. i took it in to the dealership thinking that this would be a free fix, nooottt! it just so happens that my vin was not on the recall. i paid about $300 to fix this problem. this year i have had nothing but problems. around may i had my engine light to come on. my belt would also start to rattle whenever the car would be stopped in drive with the a/c on. this would not occur when the car was in park or neutral, only in drive. the rattling would go away once the car was moving, but as soon as you stop, there it was again. if you turn the a/c off when you are stopped, the rattling would go away. i took the car to the dealership again. they diagnosed the problem as having to replace a blown head gasket and the front right engine mount. both were replaced at a cost to me for $1,300.00. the next day, my engine light comes on again. i took it to the dealership again and this time it was the cat converter with o2 sensor that needed to be replaced. this was fixed for $1,000.00. of course my belt rattling problem was not repaired yet. took the car back again and after spending 2 hours at nissan talking to the mechanic, he said that tensioner pulley needed to be replaced. after $200.00, the rattling problem is still there. i am out of ideas of what the problem could be with my car to stop the rattling noise, and i think the mechanic at nissan feels the same way. by the way, my sister has a 2003 nissan altima and her car is the doing the exact same rattling noise. this must be a problem with nissan and not with individual cars. please help hold nissan responsible for all the problems that their cars have!!!! *tr
06/23/2008		1
	My engine light will not shut off!!!! *tr
05/22/2002	83000	1
	2002 nissan altima. 1)rear pads + rotors worn at 35,000 miles: replaced at owners cost. now 83000 miles(may '08): dealer has told rotors and pad need replacement and possibly calipers need to be evaluated. at 75000 mile check everything was ok. (per the service record). in jan'08 i had specifically asked the breaks to be inspected. told ok. now suddenly the rotors are shot. other than a squeal sound for 2 days no other symptoms. concerned about how brakes go from fine to shot in 3 months. i think it is a big safety concern if the time it takes breaks to disintegrate is less than a 3 month period. 2) engine not starting after parked in the cold. happened twice once at 48000 miles. (lower bill. ) 2nd time at 78000 miles. (huge bill ~$1000). multiple parts replaced and serviced. highlighted as problem on various forums with this particular nissan model. evaluate possibility related to ecm timings etc. *tr
03/01/2006	90000	1
	Losing oil and coolant which led to complete engine failure in march 2006. replaced engine and 50k miles later losing coolant and misfire on cylinder 3. suspect head gasket problem. *tr
05/15/2008	114000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving at any speed, the vehicle would shut off and take 5-10 minutes to restart. the failure worsened over the course of a few days. the dealer stated that the crank shaft positioning sensor needed to be replaced. there are two nhtsa campaign id numbers (03v455000 and 07v527000), both for engine and engine cooling; however, the contact was informed that there were no recalls on her vehicle and she would have to pay for the repair. the current and failure mileages were 114,000.
04/14/2008	49555	2	05/27/2002
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). he called the dealer and had the vehicle repaired. several years later, while driving 25 mph, the vehicle failed without warning. he took the vehicle back to the dealer and a representative informed him that because the vehicle had previously been repaired under the recall, he would be responsible for the repair costs. the vehicle has been repaired. in addition, the representative at the dealer advised him that when the vehicle was repaired in 2004, the technician used the same exact part that they removed to repair the vehicle. the contact called the dealer, but they did not provide any assistance. the failure mileage was 49,555. updated 06/09/2008. lj the crank position sensor was replaced. updated 06/09/08. *jb
05/06/2008		1
	2002 nissan altima catalytic converter failures that are increasing according to reports widely publicized on the internet. there is a recall in canada for the problem, but not in us. in speaking with a representative from nissan consumer affairs, i have been advised that the reason for the recall being recognized in canada but not in the u.s. is due to the factory in which vehicles were produced. seems to me this reason is ridiculous if this problem is happening in the u.s. too! see info below: transport canada recall number 2003060. units affected: 30589. 2002-2003: on certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road which could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. correction: dealer will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. also, certain operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. if substrate particles enter the combustion chamber, they may score the cylinder walls, resulting in increased oil consumption. correction: dealer will reprogram the engine control unit to prevent the possibility of the pre-catalyst overheating. if the conversion efficiency of the pre-catalyst has deteriorated, then the catalyst will be replaced. the original pre-catalyst will then be inspected for evidence of damage to the catalyst substrate. if damage is present, the vehicle engine will be replaced. while i have been obsessive about ensuring my vehicle is serviced routinely, i have recently experienced engine failure which will result in having to replace my engine. i do not have the finances to just drop $2000 on a new engine! my case is currently in the hands of a regional specialist (file # 6149122), but i have not gotten the outcome of the review to date. i am respectfully requesting review of this problem. thank you. *tr
02/15/2008	50000	1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the service engine light began illuminating intermittently and then remained lit. when starting the vehicle and taking off, the vehicle made a strange noise and jerked as if something were slipping. once the vehicle gained speed, the noise stopped. the dealer stated that the following components needed to be replaced: the catalytic converter, two major sensors, and the heating and air conditioning systems. the vehicle was burning oil on the inside of the engine, which caused it to fail. the vehicle could have an oil change and then four days later, the oil would have burned out completely. nhtsa campaign id numbers 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/ header/muffler/tail pipe), 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling), and 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling were referenced. the current mileage was 116,000 and failure mileage was 50,000. updated 06/05/08 bf the driver side power mirror was replaced, the gear selector was sticking. the cylinder head, gasket radiator and thermostat were replaced. were replaced. updated 06/04/08
04/17/2008	94400
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling). nissan refused to perform the recall repair because the check engine light was illuminated. the vehicle does not always start, it is losing coolant, and the oil and check engine lights illuminate intermittently. the failure mileage was 94,400.
04/30/2008	80000	1
	2002 nissan altima began overheating, losing coolant rapidly and gauges indicated rapid temperature fluctuations. upon taking vehicle to dealer, visual diagnostic suggested a replacement of valve cover gasket. gasket was replaced for approximately $300. overheating resumed after repairs in addition to overheating, vehicle began producing white smoke as well as misfiring upon start-up. computerized diagnostic was then completed. diagnosis was a blown head gasket. repair cost was quoted at $2100 plus taxes. i did research online and investigation revealed that the blown head gasket wasn't isolated to me alone and that there are many 2002 nissan altimas that blow the head gasket around 70,000 to 90,000 miles. many customers appear to have tried to contact nissan but company will not own up to apparent defect with the model. it is quite difficult to blow a vehicle's head gasket and it is unfair for a model to have such a major defect and the consumers have to assume responsibility and cost of repairing the problem - a major engine overhaul. to present, no injuries or crashes have resulted, however, dealer has warned that without repair, engine parts may continue to warp and may result in complete engine failure. *tr
09/25/2007	130000	8000	02/16/2005
	Catastrophic engine failure for nissan altima related to power valve/butterfly valve intake manifold design. third generation altima's qr25de 4-cylinder and vq35de 6-cylinder engines have unfortunately been affected by a recall related to the intake manifold and the power valves, also known as the butterfly valve. the technical service bulletin p5202 - does not mention all affected vehicles for production years w same design. this has left some owners affected by the problem with no recourse/remedy for what in some cases has amounted to catastrophic engine failure. the power valve is a series of four plates in the qr25de 4-cylinder and 6 plates in the vq35de 6-cylinder engines, one per cylinder. the plates open and close simultaneously to allow more air into the combustion chamber for increased power. each plate is held in place by two screws. the screws have been known to come loose as well as the plates and are then ingested into the engine via the intake ports. problem is initially exhibited by ses(service engine soon) light coming on and/or blinking. upon obd meter reading, code will be p0304, or similar which is random cylinder misfire or cylinder 4 misfire. electrode on spark plug has been bent closed as a result of the power valve retaining screw vibrating loose and being ingested into the engine. the screw then bounces around in the combustion chamber, hitting the spark plug and bending the electrode shut, preventing spark in that cylinder. additionally, the screw(s) and part of the broken plates, in some cases have made their way through the engine and into the exhaust manifold and the catalytic converter, thus causing the catalytic converter to prematurely disintegrate as well as become ingested into the engine. for some reason, nissan north america has decided to not remedy all vehicles affected by this admitted flaw obviously, this could cause engine failure at the wrong place and the wrong time, resulting in serious bodily harm and/or fatality. *tr
04/11/2008	108000	1	09/26/2003
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle shut off after the electronic control module (ecm) was replaced under nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a diagnosis, but no failure was identified. the current mileage is 109,000 and failure mileage was 108,000. updated 05/13/08. ljupdated 05/13/08. *jb
01/08/2008	108000	131	07/05/2005
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle shuts off while stopped at a light, idling in traffic, driving downhill, pulling out of a parking space, or when the vehicle is first started. the failure occurs everyday. while driving between 65-70 mph, the vehicle will jerk hard. this failure has occurred on three occasions. the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling) in march of 2008, but the stalling recurred three weeks later. the dealer has not yet been notified. the current mileage was 111,685 and failure mileage was 108,000.
04/06/2008	180000	1	03/31/2002
	No heat, oil loss, coolant loss, check engine stating misfire, o2 sensors replaced, replaced spark plugs, currently car will not start. *tr
04/03/2008		0	05/18/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling). the contact is experiencing difficulty getting the recall remedied because she lives in a remote area with the nearest nissan dealer being 2.5 hours away. she is fearful of driving the vehicle due to the safety defect. she called the manufacturer to have them tow the vehicle, but they have not returned her messages. there had been no failure to date. the powertrain was unknown. the current mileage was 23,000.
10/01/2007		1	02/01/2003
	2002 nissan altima problems with the engine consuming oil. consumer states that her vin and production date is not in the service campaign for the problem. therefore the dealer told her they cannot fix her vehicle. kb the consumer she took the vehicle to a repair shop after she noticed the vehicle began to loose oil and the vehicle made a rough idling sound. the mechanic informed the consumer that the catalytic converter had gone bad, and being that it was attached to the engine, the engine would need to be replaced. the mechanic also stated that oil and other debris had extracted back into the engine block which caused the pistons to grind on broken converter pieces. jb
03/29/2008	134495	2
	Car engine stopped working on the road. *tr
02/16/2008	95000	1	06/12/2002
	I purchased a new 2002 nissan altima that falls within nhtsa recall # 03v-084 (campaign id# r3007, r3014, r3015, r3016 & r3017). the recall campaign (ntb03-070b) was done in 2003 with approximately 20,000 miles on the vehicle. however, sometime before 95,000 miles on the car, a failure of the pre-cat occurred with exactly the same symptoms as described in the recall campaign bulletin. material from inside the pre-catalyst entered the cylinders and resulted in high oil consumption and now nissan is recommending a new engine. this demonstrates that the recall campaign was not sufficient to solve the problem with the car or the dealer did not follow the recommended procedures. even with a new catalyst there is still a high likelihood of another failure and possible fire as noted in the recall campaign bulletin. *tr
02/09/2008	77900	8
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 60 mph, the vehicle completely shut down and lost all power steering. the contact had the vehicle repaired on february 6, 2008 for nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling). approximately three days after the recall repair was performed, she noticed the same symptoms with the engine, but of a milder degree. the vehicle appeared as if it would stall after the repair was made, but did not. the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle is currently at the dealer. the purchase date and powertrain were unknown. the current mileage was 78,000 and failure mileage was 77,900.
06/24/2004	64000	4	01/02/2002
	Well i have 2002 nissan altima 2.5 i have about 66,000 miles on the car and it has been having the same problem . it first started when they had recall oxygen sensor. i have had to replace the same sensor 3 times already at about cost of $350 each time . now my check engine light keeps coming on the replaced the catalytic converter and told me i had to change my engine coils and spark plugs for about $1000 dollars . after that was completed there was no change my check engine light still comes on engine idles rough always having to fill coolant . and have had to been towed several time to the dealer with no explanation as to what is wrong. *tr
12/16/2007	58000	1	02/18/2002
	Throughout the last 4 yrs, on several occasions when shifting the transmission it doesn't engage. i have pulled from a parking spot using reverse, and just when i am pulling into traffic and shift to drive the car doesn't respond. the engine doesn't react to the accelerator; the engine is running but the car is unresponsive. when it happens i have to push the car to the side of the road and turn it off. one time it took about 15 mins to be able to restart and restore all functions. on another occasion i ended up having to wait until the next day. the scary part is that the engine and transmission are completely unresponsive when you need it the most; getting into traffic. i have been blessed and very lucky that it has only happened when pulling out of a parking spot or my out of my driveway. what i am extremely afraid is if this were ever to happen when pulling out into a highway or busy street traffic. this is similar to the risk associated with recall nhtsa campaign #07v527000. please correct the problem before someone gets kill; we should never wait that long or let it go that far. *tr
09/22/2007		2	09/11/2007
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 35-60 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power without warning. the dealer and manufacturer stated that the vin was included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). the recall repair for the engine was performed in 2004; however, the failure recurred and stalled on several occasions. the current mileage was 99,000 and the failure mileage was unknown.
01/23/2008		0	09/01/2005
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. she stated that she received a recall notice for the engine and engine cooling (nhtsa campaign id #07v527000). the dealer stated that they would not repair the recall because the service engine light was illuminated. the contact felt that this was unacceptable. the current mileage was 71,000 and there had been no failure to date.
01/21/2008	10000	1	02/02/2002
	We own a 2002 nissan altima (purchased at autoway nissan, clearwater, fl in 2002) and have experienced the same mechanical failure as many who have posted to this and many other sites. with 100,300 miles on the vehicle we have just learned the catalytic converter has disintegrated and metal parts are now throughout the engine. as a result we are required to have a new engine installed or walk away from a 5 year old car that, other than this defect, is in excellent condition. upon speaking to autoway nissan we were informed since the car has exceeded the 8 years or 80,000 mile warranty on the catalytic converter nissan would not cover the cost of repairs. upon typing in 'nissan catalytic converter' in google key word search my husband and i found it is enlightening and concerning to read many accounts of the same mechanical failure. i'm sure there are many, many more accounts of the same mechanical failure that we've yet to uncover. what can we do as consumers to have our rights protected? it is apparent nissan has a defective part on at least 2002 / 2003 altima. any advise us on how to we as consumers can get nissan to take ownership of a failed device. *tr
01/10/2008		1	04/01/2006
	Recent recall for 2002 nissan altima dated 11/07/2007. i recently called nissan north america regarding a recall i saw while surfing the web. i called nissan twice, nov. 7, 2007 & jan. 10. 2008, and they gave me a file# and faxed me a letter stating these repairs are free of charge to you. yet when i tried to have it fixed at the nissan dealership they said i had to pay for a diagnostic or they would not fix it even under the recall. i have spent thousands of dollars already, regarding this problem with my 2002 nissan altima since 2007, i am disabled and on a fixed income, this car problem has put me in critical financial trouble. when i notified nissan north america, inc. of my problem trying to get it fixed they told me to try again, because they have no control over how much the dealerships charge. if i still had the problem getting it fixed they would deal with my problem then. does integrity mean anything to anyone anymore? this car is a death trap. this car has shut off during operation on the freeway at a speed of 70 mph. it is not true when its said it only stalls at low speed. i and my granddaughter are a witness to that. does anyone care about a human life? *tr
01/02/2008		2
	(1) catalytic converter failed and eventually caused engine to fail on the highway going 60 mph. car went off the road and almost hit oncoming traffic. (2) i replaced the engine and the same thing is happening to me again. nissan is refusing to replace the engine even though they know it is a safety hazard. (3) unfortunately they have done nothing to correct the problem, and i can produce 100's of people across the country who have suffered from the same problem and nissan is refusing to do anything. i don't understand how they can be allowed to get away with this??? *tr
11/06/2007	101000	10	07/03/2006
	Purchased vehicle july 3, 2006. august 8, 2006- service engine light reported multi cylinder misfire, spark plugs were replaced. feb 07- same code found and spark plugs and o2 sensors replaced. june 07- same code, engine floods twice, car crank but wont start and spark plugs, coils, fuel pump replaced. nissan tech couldn't duplicate the problem but mentioned coolant was low and so that was why the cylinder misfire and head gaskets need to be fixed. oct. 07 engine shut off about 4 times while driving. november 07- engine fails. no recourse from nissan consumer affairs nor where nissan car was purchased. *tr
03/24/2004	63600	1	02/11/2002
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling) and had the repair work performed on the vehicle. three years later, while driving approximately 45 mph, the engine light illuminated. the vehicle restarted five minutes later. the dealer stated that his vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling). the vehicle has not been repaired. he filed a formal complaint with the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 63,600 and current mileage was 63,640. updated 3/18/08 cn the consumer stated had the airbag sensor recall performed. updated 03/18/08 *tr
12/03/2007	114000	2	05/08/2004
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the check engine light illuminated intermittently and the vehicle hesitated to start. on december 1, 2007, the vehicle would not start at all and was towed to a mechanic. a diagnostic was performed, but no failures were found. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the cam shaft, crank shaft, and spark plugs needed to be replaced. there are two nhtsa campaign id numbers regarding engine and engine cooling (03v455000 and 07v527000). the contact was informed that the recall repair had previously been performed on the vehicle. the purchase date and mileages were unknown. updated 03/06/08. lj the camshaft sensor and crankshaft were replaced. the consumer stated the engine light illuminated again. updated
08/24/2007	44888	3	04/01/2002
	In august of 2007, i had a problem with my crankshaft. i took it to the dealer for repair. i then researched and discovered that there was a recall for this same problem. i contacted nissan via their website to inquiry if my problem was covered under that recall because i do never received any notification that there was a problem. i was trying to determine if i should have been charged for the repair job. nissan usa never responded to me. now i see on the internet that there is a recall for a problem with the crankshaft. the description is what has happened to me: i.e, loss of power and stalling during low speeds. the diagnosis code is p0335, crank sensor failure. if this is the same problem, i felt that i should be reimbursed what i paid for this repair job. *tr
06/14/2007	85000	1	04/10/2006
	I have a 2002 nissan altima 2.5 s i have had for less than 2 years. about 6 months ago at around 80k miles my engine started to randomly overheat even though coolant and fluid levels were correct. i had to tow it to a mechanic and he said the radiator was split. i spent $500 t replace that but then shortly after it happened again. we then replaced both thermostats on the vehicle and this helped for 2 months. most recently we have been encountering a severe stuttering and shaking of the whole vehicle immediately upon starting it up. regardless of it being in neutral, drive or reverse the car jerks back and forth very violently. after you drive it for a few minutes and the vehicle warms up it ceases this action. in addition to this though there is never any warm air coming out of the vents no matter how long the car is driven for. this is all happening simultaneously in addition to now the car is overheating all the way up but then jumps around so we never know where the temperature is at. nissan themselves is very uncooperative in any capacity when attempting to rectify this situation. this is very disheartening as me and my wife are both working full time students and cannot afford to continue to chase this with time or money. my wife is a nanny part time and has had the car stop and need to be towed while she is out in the middle of the city with her 2 toddlers she watches. i am doing my best to avoid missing work as a result of having only one vehicle. we have a 2004 volvo that has had no problems but this altima is going to drag us down. *tr
11/01/2007	90000	10	05/26/2006
	I purchased a used 2002 nissan altima in 2006. 3 months after i bought it, i began having problems with it leaking oil. then a month after that i began having mechanical/electrical problems, such as the car would shut off on its own when i was driving on the surface street as well as the freeway. the car will now not go over 25 mph. i spoke to nissan regarding a recall that i found on your website and they stated to me that the previous owner had already brought the car in for these same problems and it was repaired already and that they are not obligated to repair it again. i have recently found hundreds of recent complaints on this matter. this is a horrible accident waiting to happen. i do not have thousands of dollars to repair a manufacturer (nissan) failure to resolve an issue with me and thousands of other consumers. for my car to shut off at a speed of 65-70 mph on the freeway is heart stopping. my granddaughter who is now 3, was with me. cars were swerving around me. we were all lucky to be alive. if this problem had been addressed properly and correctly, these problems would not be recurring . i have taken my car to 2 different mechanics and they say that i have to go to nissan because this car will not run without nissan parts. nissan says give me $6,000+ dollars and we can give you a new engine. but we have no problem with our nissan altima's. i don't know what to do. my car is sitting inoperable in my driveway as i make monthly payments. this is the worst car i have ever owned. *tr
10/11/2007	138490	15	09/01/2002
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and the engine shut off. there was a loss of steering power and the brakes failed. the vehicle was restarted after two or three attempts. there were no warning lights illuminated and the weather was not a factor. the duplicate failure is related to nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling), which was repaired two years ago. the vehicle was not towed. the dealer has not diagnosed the cause of the failure; however, they advised the contact to call nhtsa regarding a recall. the current mileage was 138,890 and failure mileage was 138,490. updated 12/12/2007 bf updated 12/12/07 *tr
10/08/2007	129000	1	06/01/2006
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that his vehicle should be covered under nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). he stated that his vehicle kept stalling and he took it to the dealer. the dealer stated that the crank position sensor failed and both they and the manufacturer stated that his vin was not included in the recall. the speed was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 129,000.
10/06/2007	80000	3	08/01/2006
	Problem started with service engine soon light on.. had it put on computer and codes read off were referring to cam shaft position sensors. had dealer look at it and they say there is nothing wrong with car. cars engine hesitates, loses power, goes through way to much gas for our driving. so now light hasn't come back on since they erased the codes! now several months later car drives awful. still same issues but now car will not start at times and does at other times..engine sputters as to wanting to stall while driving and just today vehicle no longer starts!!! but dealer was still saying hey there's nothing wrong. nothing has been done to remedy this issue. so my vehicle now sits at the dealer service dept. while i have no car and we wait to see if they will remedy the issue again or still say nothing is found. *tr
08/02/2007	73000	7	05/01/2006
	My 2002 nissan altima vehicle was taken in for service at bob bell chevrolet nissan, 7900 eastern avenue, baltimore, maryland, 21224, on thursday, august 2, 2007. it was brought in for servicing of all the vehicles' recalls, a soft grinding noise that could be heard when turning the steering wheel and low freon levels for air conditioning. on friday afternoon, august 3, 2007 around 5pm, i was contacted by the service department and strongly advised to pick up the vehicle before the service division closed at 6pm. the dealership stated that all recalls and issues had been resolved and completed. i picked the vehicle up around 5:45pm and proceeded to travel home. after only fifteen minutes, the vehicle engine started to smoke profusely. the engine started shaking harder and harder and a loud rattling noise could be heard from within the engine. the teenage passenger in the vehicle began to vomit and her eyes started swelling due to the volume of fumes expelled from the cars engine through the ventilation and into the car. i immediately pulled over (3700 eastern blvd.) and rushed to get her out of the seat where she continued to vomit once outside the vehicle. the dealership now denies ever seeing smoke from the engine (see attach.), as well as, denied causing damage to my car that potentially resulted in the engine smoking. the vehicle was picked up on wednesday, august 8, 2007 with the engine rattling uncontrollably even after being returned a second time to the dealership. the vehicle cut off while attempting to de-accelerate at a red light the following day. uncertainty surrounds whether the vehicle will cut off again while de-accelerating proving it hazardous to drive, whether the vehicles five recalls where all properly addressed, and if the engine will start smoking again. *tr
03/18/2004		6
	2002 nissan altima overheats, air conditioner and engine failures. customer states that she has brought the car in on numerous occasions for the overheating, air conditioning, and engine failures. kb the consumer stated she was backing out of the driveway, when all of a sudden the engine light flashed and there was an immediate loss of power and no steering capability. the starter, engine control module and radiator were replaced. the thermostat was sticking which was one of the reasons the engine was overheating. the rear middle seat belt locked into place. the fuel door would not open when using the internal latch. the gear was difficult to get out of park. jb
07/01/2004	20000	200	02/01/2003
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after driving a short distance. the vehicle would also hesitate while driving 5-10 mph. the failure only occurred during warm weather. the dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of failure. she took the vehicle to a different dealer and they stated that the cam shaft positioning sensor should be replaced. they made the repair, however, the failure continued to occur. the dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new head gasket. she took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and he stated that the vehicle needed a new engine. as of september 4, 2007, the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 20,000 and current mileage was 96,000.
01/05/2007	70000	1	01/02/2002
	Various services performed by dealer did not correct problem---such as throttle body cleaning, checking spark plug coils, crankcase sensors, o2 sensors---after 6 months dealer decided head gasket blown which i told them from beginning plus oil usage and antifreeze usage---head gasket replaced on extended warranty which i did not purchase with car- so there is some acknowledgement of problem---currently oil consumption about 1 qt for 400 miles, probably the result of head gasket and pre cat causing damage to oil sweeper ring on piston which would allow oil into cylinder---thus a reason for rough running at low idle plus smoke on acceleration---no smoke on normal running since cat converter is cooking---but sure will lead to another cat converter failure- this process started with dealer 01/07. *tr
08/06/2007	88000	7	11/30/2001
	At 6:30 pm i turned left out of a restaurant parking lot. there was plenty of time to cross traffic and enter the vacant turn lane. my 2002 nissan altima lost power leaving me in the path of oncoming traffic. luckily, the approaching traffic was able to brake before hitting me broadside. in the previous two days the car had briefly lost power while driving on the highway. there were no near accidents on these occasions. the problem was diagnosed as a faulty crankshaft sensor. it was replaced at our cost. this was the same part recalled in 2005. it was replaced then also. there was also a near accident before the first replacement. this part has failed twice, with near accidents. both were potentially fatal. tr the dealer also performed a exhaust hanger recall on the vehicle. updated 09/18/07 tr
06/24/2007	29000	1	01/01/2007
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle is burning oil after every 3,000 miles. the dealer diagnosed the failure as excessive oil consumption, but would not sell the contact a warranty. the vin, engine size, and dealer information were unavailable. the current mileage was 87,000 and failure mileage was 29,000.
07/16/2007	116000	1	06/13/2007
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving at any rate of speed or stationary he heard a noise coming from the engine. he stated that the vehicle burned excessive oil. approximately one month ago the catalytic converter was replaced however the failure continued to occur. there is a recall for the catalytic converter; however, his vehicle was not included. the failure mileage was 116,000 and the current mileage was 119,000. updated 02-01-08. kb the consumer also stated the rear shocks were bad. updated
07/18/2007	109432	1	04/16/2003
	Car consuming lots of oil. no oil light ever came on leading to complete engine failure. 4 quarts of oil completely gone with no trace (no oil spots in garage, no smoke, ...nothing) in less than 2 months. also a problem with radiator split.*jb
07/03/2007	69000	1	06/20/2007
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle is experiencing extreme oil consumption and loss of coolant. nissan stated that the vehicle was not under recall. the current mileage is 70,000 and failure mileage was 69,000.
05/21/2007	68850	5	02/27/2002
	2002 nissan altima 2.5s, while driving on the expressway the altima just cut off completely. the steering locked not giving me time to pull over off the road. this has happened 5 times. twice at high speed and 2 times at low speed and once stopped at a traffic light. i have read many complaints about this same problem and actually spoke to one driver with the same exact car with the same problem. that driver took the car in, and was told by the dealer that they couldn't find anything wrong. i will be taking my car to dealer at a rate of $110.00 to have it checked . someone should recall all these cars for the safety of the owners and their passengers. this is a serious problem for so many people to complain about, not including the one's that have not taken out time to voice their complaints. please inform me of any recalls involving this matter. i also, had other problems with the knocking from the engine, and the air conditioner. when i took it in to be checked while under warranty they again claimed they didn't t find anything wrong. please investigate before and not after someone is seriously hurt or killed. *ak
05/06/2006	65000	7	09/06/2005
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima se. when starting the vehicle, the contact heard the engine attempting to turn over, but would only start when the accelerator pedal was depressed. while driving at any speed, the vehicle would stall and shut off completely. the vehicle only restarted with a jump start. the battery was checked by a mechanic who found no failures. the vehicle was serviced for nhtsa recall # 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling), however the failure persists. the recall was serviced twice by the dealer. the current mileage is 80,000 and failure mileage was 65,000.
10/01/2006	78903	1	04/13/2004
	2002 nissan altima customer states that in october she noticed oil leak and has taken car in and notice has been found but continues to have the same problem*cc the consumer was told she qualified for a new engine. however when she returned to the dealer, she was told she didn't qualify for a new engine or even having the existing engine fixed. the consumer was told that the manufacturer's standards that a vehicle consuming 3/4 quart of oil was acceptable. the consumer stated the engine light stays on constantly, before it just flickered. jb
11/01/2003	30000	2
	2002 nissan atlima customer states since 30,000 miles the check engine light has been on*cc the consumer was unable to defrost the windows, due to the defroster being inoperative. the consumer stated the vehicle would lose power, so he would have to take his foot off the gas and eventually it would gain speed. the consumer had various repairs made on the vehicle. the catalytic converter was deteriorating, the valve cover gasket was replaced, the headlight was replaced 3 times, the tail light assembly needed to replaced the consumer was told the vehicle needed a new engine after experiencing the stalling and no start problems. jb
04/24/2007	89000	1	04/13/2004
	On november 8, 2006 i took the vehicle to nissan of rivergate with 78,903 miles on it which was well within the expiration date of the extended warranty. at that time i was told to bring the car back after i had driven approximately 1,000 miles. on november 22 , 2006 i returned and spoke with a service advisor and a mechanic. i was told the oil was about
02/06/2007	72309	1
	Overthe past two months both the cam sensor & crank sensor failed on my 2002 altima. the cam sensor failure turned on the check engine light. however the crank sensor failure shut down the engine while i was in traffic making for a very unsafe condition. just last week i was notified by the dealer of a recall for the crank sensor, two weeks after it failed. why i wasn't notified sooner is beyond me. i contacted the dealer & was given a 800 to call for reimbursement of my expenses. looking over this site it appears the crank sensor recall is a few year's back- why did i just receive the call about this recall? i also noticed that there are cam sensor failure complaints. why was there not a recall for this problem initiated? *tr
03/03/2007	126000	10	03/02/2002
	Check engine light comes on and off constantly. spark plugs died. took car to shop. repaired and other issues appeared: catalytic converter-fail (in pieces) repaired for $800. one week of driving and check engine light comes on constantly, oil extremely low, coolant low took back to shop now engine gasket blown, engine damaged and needs repair/replacement. this nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalytic converter. after inspection of the catalytic converter noticeable chucks of the catalytic converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer is fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *jb
02/08/2007	75000	1	11/20/2001
	Following the format requested above: 1: events leading up to the failure: simply bought the car and drove it... seems that all 02 4 cylinder altima owners are experiencing issue b/c of design flaw! 2. failure: the pre-catalyst completely disintegrates into the engine and causes the engine to fail! consequence: need a new engine. 3. what was done to correct the failure: nothing but hide! they mask the problem to get past all warranties. nissan usa is absolutely hiding from their responsibility to provide a safe vehicle! they started by hiding the pre -catalyst internal disintegration notification within a recall for a potential exhaust pipe hanger pin problem. they knew the pre-catalyst was disintegrating into engines causing damage, but didn't release that clearly to avoid needing to get past warranties and replace engines. my car was running rough and the dealer then replaced the precat (49k miles) and the car was never quite the same, but it did run so i thought all was fine. obviously the first one had disintegrated into the engine and the nissan didn't warn me of what was to come! i have taken very good care of this car and now have 98k on it.. but the end is very close. i had ses reports of p0420 and then later a report for a 4th valve issue... now the car drinks oil at 1 - 2 quarts a week or it is completely out of oil! there is no smoke, smell, or drips. the oil is just gone! the dealer says i need a new engine and said there is nothing they can do. they directed me to nissan consumer affairs- they have been very slow to respond. i am hopeful that they will replace my engine so that i don't have to worry about my engine seizing while i am driving on the highway or turning across in front of oncoming traffic! they have had my car for 10 days and i am waiting on consumer affairs to return my calls. *jb
02/01/2007	79000	2
	This vehicle will burn oil at a rate of 1-2 quarts every 1000 miles. this is a known recall situation from nissan related to failure of the precat and material from the failure being sucked back into the engine. engine replacement is usually necessary. nissan has yet to replace the parts or engine on a vehicle that now needs oil every 2000 miles. *nm
12/01/2006	40000	2	11/01/2001
	Tl* - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altim,a and stated that while driving there was excessive consumption of engine oil. the contact stated that the engine used a quart of oil every 350 miles. the engine light was on and the engine was running rough. the contact stated that the recall repair was completed when it had 40,000 miles, but had the same failure as stated on recall 03v455000 engine and engine cooling. the contact called the dealer and the manufacturer, but they stated that they wouldn't cover the cost of the repair because it wasn't under warranty. the contact stated that the dealer should inspect the vehicle to see if the repair that needed to be done had to do with the recall . ak updated 03/19/07. jb
01/01/2007		3	05/01/2003
	2002 nissan altima with a list of problems including lost power, electrical issue with 02 sensors, exhaust, cruise control*cc when the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, she was told the vehicle had 2 recalls. after the two recalls were completed, the consumer still experienced problems with the vehicles lack of power. the vehicle had also started to consume large amounts of oil. the consumer took the vehicle to a repair shop and it was discovered that the oil rings were stuck on the pistons. the engine light had constantly been on. the code stated there was a problem with the timing chain sensor. jb
01/09/2007	69772	3	03/10/2002
	Tl* - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving at 40 mph under dry conditions when the vehicle lost power, the contact was able to get the vehicle to the side of the road without a crash. there were no warning lights before the failure, but once the vehicle restarted the check engine light stayed on. there was recall 03v455000 for the crank position sensor, and was is the same failure that autoway of nissan told him he had. the contact stated that he received a call on 12-4-06 from the dealer, stating that this vehicle was not affected by the recall due to the vin . the contact has a diagnostic report, and repair order stating that the crank position sensor was the cause of the failure. ak the crankshaft position sensor was replaced under recall back in march of 2004, the recall replacement failed on jan 9, 2007. the consumer stated the part has been replaced 3 times. updated 02/02/07. jb
11/15/2005	92000	1	05/14/2002
	I own a 2002 nissan altima, which falls under the engine & cooling system recall, along with a number of other recalls. i did not receive the recall notice, however, because my service engine light came on, i took the vehicle to the dublin nissan for inspection. they noted the recall and apparently repaired the problem. after i picked up my car from the dealership in the evening, the service engine light came on the next morning. i took it back to the dealership. they apparently did not find any problems and just reset the sensor for the light. the next time i took it back to the dealership they said that they did their job and to do an inspection on the vehicle they would need to charge me. at this time i contacted nissan consumer dept. to see what needs to be done to resolve the issue. at this time the vehicle was also consuming oil very excessively (of which i was not aware of since i just had an oil change done), therefore causing the engine to overheat and damage the radiator. i took the vehicle to a private, licensed mechanic to replace the radiator. they also reset the check engine light, but it still came back on. at this time i took the vehicle to fremont nissan, where they did diagnosis of the vehicle and informed me that the vehicle has a blown head gasket and 2 of the cylinders are misfiring on the test. they said that in order to determine the cause of the problem and determine the exact damage to the vehicle, they would need to take apart the engine and physically examine it inside (cost approximately $900). i again contacted nissan consumer services, they said that they are not willing to help me in any way. the lady told me that in order for them to commit to any repairs, i would need to pay the dealership to examine the engine and if they dealership determines that the problem is warranty related then nissan would look into repairing. i symptoms of the problems with the vehicle are all those described on the nissan's website. *jb
11/30/2006	82000	1	01/15/2002
	Dt: the contact stated the vehicle did not start. there were some fumes prior to the incident. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined the catalyst converter came apart internally and sent the debris to the engine, damaging the engine. updated 03/07/07. jb
08/15/2006	87100	1	01/12/2004
	I brought my car into the nissan dealership in middletown, ct. aug. 2006 because i was loosing antifreeze. they told me i had a blown head gasket and my engine seemed to be using oil. they wanted to do an oil consumption test and asked me to bring the car back in at 500 miles. i did that and was told it wasn't conclusive enough so bring it back in another 1000 miles. when i brought it back they told me i would need a whole new engine since it was blown. they told me the head gasket is covered under my extended warranty but the engine was not covered under my extended warranty since it was caused by the pre catalytic converter. when i bought this car i was sold on the extended warranty since it covered the whole car except for mufflers, spark plugs, brakes all the things that normally wear out on a car. back in june of 2004 i brought the car in for recall # r30071 the recall was performed at lia nissan in enfield, conn. in the recall it states that if the material from the recalled pre catalyst gets into the engine it could do damage to the engine and may cause a fire. i now have an engine that had the recall fix done and their fix did not work. i am also concerned that the engine will catch fire and hurt me or one of my family members. i have gone through all the channels available to me at nissan and have gotten nowhere. i even got a letter back from nissan telling me that i have inadequate maintenance records. i change my own oil and filters but the rest i bring to the dealer if i have a problem since i have an extended warranty. this should have nothing to do with the failure of their fix. on a side note i have been searching the internet concerning this very same problem and have found many cases of people having the exact same problem with their nissan altima 2002. they have had the exact problem with nissan also. any help from you would be greatly appreciated my car is failing fast and it is my only mode of transport to work. *jb
11/23/2005	30000	1	11/28/2001
	Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle would not start for two days. the check engine light was illuminated prior to the incident. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who was not able to duplicate the problem. also the heater defroster was not working.
11/14/2006	66000	1
	Dt: the contact stated while traveling 40 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the problem was identified as a failed crank shaft position sensor and recall information was provided. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer where the contact was informed the vehicle was not included in recall # 03v455000 for engine and engine cooling due to the vin. the manufacturer was notified. updated 12/5/2006 - nm
09/16/2006		3	11/01/2001
	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
09/27/2006	110000	2	12/04/2005
	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.
09/26/2006	100000	1	08/08/2003
	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.
09/01/2006		2	10/26/2002
	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
08/18/2006	45000	10	05/15/2002
	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
12/01/2005	80000	10	10/15/2003
	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
05/05/2006	32000	3	02/12/2002
	I have a 2002 altima with 35,000 miles on it. i have had it to the dealership several times due to fact the check engine light was on and it was running rough. i was told that the #1 cylinder was showing up faulty on the computer reading for the check engine light. the dealer had my car for 3 days and found nothing wrong and replaced the plugs. the whole time they were in contact with the nissan factory tech team. 2 months later the check engine light came on again and after another try to the dealer they instructed me that there was no coolant in the cooling system and filled it. 2 weeks later the check engine light came on and the coolant level dropped. took to the dealer and nissan tech said to replace the head gasket. bolts were on back order and they took a month to come in. they replaced the head gasket and then discovered the engine needed to be replaced, which was on back order and they did not know when the engine would be available. i have now been without my car for 2 months, made 2 car payments on a car that i did not have, and am getting pretty annoyed. i contact nissan north america, who was soooo very unprofessional and told me that they did not see the problem since i had a warranty and the money was not coming out of my pocket. furthermore, they had more important issues to attend to since the 2006 altima recall. these took precedence and they did not know when my engine would be available. i am so frustrated with the lack of caring from this company. i have yet to decided where to turn next. if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. 8jb
06/01/2005	130678	2	11/19/2001
	My 2002 nissan altima had sparks plugs changed as a manufacturer recommended service. after i picked the car up and drove it for some time i would periodically smell gas coming through the vents. i took it to the dealer several times and they said they could not duplicate this problem. later the catalytic converter ceased working and i am told the car has to have the engine replaced. the catalytic converter was already replaced once by the dealer before the 60,000 mile mark. i have documentation that my car's engine was also using excessive oil as has been reported in the media. i am told because the warranty has passed, there is nothing that nissan will do. i am still making payments on this car. i have all the documentation to support my claim that this was a defective car. i have read in the news reports that nissan will recall all altima's back to the 2003 model year. i have the 2002 model which was the first line put out of this particular model. i am wondering what rights i have. if nissan does recall all the way back to 2002, how can my car be repaired if the engine has already failed? i would like to send in all of my documentation so my case can be studied and i can know where i stand. *jb
07/05/2006	117000	1	10/18/2001
	Dt: the contact stated the vehicle was burning oil excessively. there is a nhtsa recall, # 06v223000, regarding the engine and engine cooling. the vin was not included in the recall. updated 7/25/2006 - the consumer had to add oil to the engine every 500 to 800 miles. the vehicle failed to start. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the camshaft position sensor. nm
10/25/2005	100460	4	01/10/2002
	I bought an '02 nissan altima in jan. 2002. in 2003 i had recall work performed for the engine cooling system (cat converter defect) and at the time i complained that my vehicle went through excessive amounts of oil even though i had the oil changed regularly. the dealership stated that they inspected my vehicle and found that my car did not need any repairs and that the recall was performed. at 97,167 miles i took the car into the dealership because it was running rough and my warranty was about to expire. also advised them that i heard water running behind the dash and the check engine light was on. dealership stated that all i needed was a tune-up due to the mileage but other than that my car was great. at 100,460 miles my car would not start and flooded several times. had towed to the dealership. they stated that they could start the car just fine and that i had flooded the vehicle. again recommended tune-up and replacing spark plugs. (i had just replaced the spark plugs myself) next thing i know...my car won't run and sits in my driveway for several months. had towed to independent auto repair shop and advised me that my engine was blown and needed replaced due to cat converter. i made the dealership tow the car to them and they informed me of the same and that i would have to pay $5000 for a new engine. the service mgr. told me that nissan knows that this will occur,and that when they contacted the nissan rep they declined to replace the engine due to the mileage. i called nissan consumer affairs and got a total run around and told me that my mileage was too high and they have had no other complaints on this issue. bull!!! nissan must be responsible for this and fix the problem. i am paying for a car that has been sitting at the dealership back lot for 3 months!!! i am contacting the attorney general and making my voice heard and others need to voice as well because nissan is trying to sweep this under the carpet....not anymore. *nm
06/22/2006	104900		05/18/2005
	Dt: the contact stated that while driving at 40 mph on dry roads, the motor stalled. however, the electrical system remained operational. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic, where it was determined that the crank sensor was faulty. the mechanic was able to repair the problem. updated 07/25/06. jb
04/15/2006	68245	1	04/09/2004
	1) on 4/15/06 my husband was driving my car and complained that it was not running right, and was missing. the check engine light came on. my husband drove the car directly to the nissan dealer in corona, ca. 2) the dealer service department checked out the car and stated cylinder #1 misfire, butterfly bolt fell into #1 cylinder broke spark plug. 3)removed intake manifold to replace butterfly bolt. removed catalytic converter for inspection, minor hairline crack no codes. customer decided to have old cat reinstalled. reinstalled intake manifold and replaced related gaskets. 4) service representative stated this was a common problem and knew what it was right away. they charged me $727 to repair and i still have a cracked catalytic converter. i have checked out messaging forums and found that this is a known problem for nissan altima's. *jb
04/28/2006	34819	1	10/01/2002
	Dt: the contact stated a nhtsa recall # 03v455000 repair was performed on april 14, 2004 concerning, the engine and engine cooling. however, the repair did not remedy the problem. this failure almost caused an accident on april 28, 2006. the dealership would not offer a second repair without charge under the recall. updated 05/16/2006 - the consumer believes that the part that was replaced under the recall was defective. ak *nm
03/23/2006	92000	2	04/19/2002
	There was a crank shaft sensor recall on my vehicle which was repaired 2 years ago. last month the crank shaft sensor went out and was not cover by nissan. this vehicle has had 2 crank shaft sensors. it's hard to believe that a vehicle would go through 2 crank shaft sensors if the part weren't defective. *jb
03/23/2006	84000	5	09/19/2002
	Dt: the contact stated the air bag light on the dash flashed constantly. there is a safety improvement campaign, # 02i001000, regarding the air bag. the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the safety improvement campaign; however it is not included in the safety improvement campaign due to the vin. updated 4/17/2006 - the vehicle was taken to a dealer who indicated that eh air bag was defective. the dealer refused any assistance because the vehicle was 2000 mile out of warranty. the check engine light illuminated. the dealer found antifreeze leaking into the cylinders. the driver's side low beam headlamp was inop. the tech replaced the right side headlight bulb. radiator leaked coolant. the heater blew out cool air when the vehicle was stopped. the tech found an air pocket in the coolant system. replaced clutch assembly. cylinder head gasket was replaced. nm
11/15/2005	78000	10	10/01/2005
	Dt: the consumer experienced problems with the engine. the vehicle was taken to a dealership to determine what the problem was. the dealership stated there wais a nhtsa recall, # 03v455000, regarding the engine and engine cooling. the vehicle was exhibiting the same problem as indicated in the recall; however, the consumers vehicle identification number was not included in the recall. *jb
10/24/2005	44735	2	01/02/2004
	I have a 2002 nissan altima 2.5l. my car receives regular maintenance every 3 months and/or 3,000 miles (documentation can be provided), it never sits longer than 2 or 3 day, and it's driven on the highway for my work commute. twice my car suddenly wouldn't start without warning. the first time it was fixed, which was around april, there were several recalls for my car. one was for the fuel pump screen and the engine sensor that would cause the car to not start or suddenly stop running. this second time (10-24-05), my local mechanic showed me a 6-page service technical bulletin that was issued by alldata for my non-starting problem. the document suggested replacing the starter, adding a nissan brand fuel injector cleaner and/or reprogramming the computer to fix the problem. this second repair will cost me about $500 to fix when i pick up my car tomorrow. i thought the recall repairs would resolve this issue, but those repairs proved to only provide a temporary fix, but not resolve the underlying problem. since there's a service technical bulletin about my non-starting issue, 2 recalls related to this same problem, and i've had the same problem happen twice, i think my car should be recalled. i'm fortunate that i wasn't driving the car when it stopped running or that could have caused a serious accident. i should not have the same problem happen twice in 6 months. if my car fails to start twice in 6 months and the recall repairs don't remedy the problem, then there must be something else causing the problem. i'd hate to find out in a few months that the $500 start replacement wasn't the culprit, because i'd be back at square one. please tell me how i can get this issue escalated to a recall status or what i can do to prevent a 3rd failure. thank you, jenny r. baker. *jb
03/27/2005	84500	1	01/04/2002
	On march 27,05 my altima began to stutter while driving on the interstate very badly. i decided to return home to switch cars, and it began to stall while traveling at slower speeds (glad it did not stall while i was on the interstate). i took it to nissan the next morning and they said that both of the screws backed out of one of the butterfly valve plates in the intake manifold and the plate itself and the screws had fallen into the engine, thus causing severe misfiring and banging into the spark plugs and destroying them and also scoring all the walls of the engine. nissan said i would need to buy a new engine but i refused and towed it another nissan dealer after talking to the service manager there and he said he might be able to help more. it has been sitting there ever since because i refuse to pay. the service tech said that all 8 of the screws holding the butterfly plates in were all loose. many people have taken it upon themselves to apply the correct amount of loctite to the screws so they don't encounter the same problem. nissan obviously takes the blame according to recall p5202 but it only applies to 04's and 05's even though it is the same engine with the same problem in the 02's and 03's. please investigate this matter because if i had been crossing an intersection and the altima had stalled oncoming traffic could have killed me. this is definitely not a small problem and nissan needs to address it. i have taken some other steps already on my end to get nissan to accept fault, but please for my sake and other owners sake this issue needs to be addressed. i have plenty of printouts of how common the problem is with other owners and can email to anyone that is interested. the same engine (qr25de) is in the 02 and up nissan sentra spec-v so please check those complaints for similar issues since that is where most of the first complaints i have found came from.*jb
09/23/2005	103342	6	12/01/2001
	Certified ltr re complaints against the new nissan altima (my) 2002 & 2003 involving engine problems, requesting a defect investigation. ts the consumer experienced problem with his vehicle not starting and cutting off once started. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer claimed they fixed to problem but since the vehicle was no longer under warranty the consumer was financially responsible for the repairs. the vehicle would also lose power while accelerating and stall. the dealer diagnosed the problem as a cylinder 2 misfire. this occurred twice. the vehicle was returned to the dealer. this time they diagnosed the problem as a blown head gasket which was caused by a faulty converter. the service tech admitted that the initial diagnosis was incorrect but the consumer still had to pay to have the head gasket replaced. while doing research on the internet the consumer visited several sites which had complaints about the engine and other altima components. the consumer feels that the manufacturer should be responsible for his vehicle's repairs. nm
09/06/2005		1	05/15/2002
	My service engine soon light came on and i took my car to a local shop. they let me know that the cam/crank sensor was the problem and that it had been recalled by nissan. i took the car and paper work on the recall to nissan and was told that it was not recalled on my car. i told them to fit it anyway and was quoted $385. i returned home and called nissan. i was told that the crank sensor had already been fixed on my car. i do not recall having thes done. i explained that if it was done, it was done improperly because it needs to be fixed again. they said that they would look into it and gave me a file number and said that i should hear something back within 24 hours. *jb
10/11/2004	79087	15	10/13/2002
	The first thing was the oxygen sensor. then the oxygen sensor again. the dealership fixed the problem. mext there was, and still is, the jerking transmission. when driving in rush hour traffic or driving on the open highway, the trans shifts hard comming out of first into second. i have taken this car into several nissan dealerships and to this day, no one has found the problem. they keep telling me that this is normal. i have driven other altimas including several rentals while mine wasin the shop and they didn't shift like mine. the next problem is those headlights. they have replaced one of my light asemblies an great river nissan but the other has not been replaced. next, there was the heater coil that leaked and it took almost 6 months to determine because it didn't leak inside the car. next there was the ignition coils that were replaced 2x within a week and still caused the check engine light to come on. after the ignition problem the mechanics at sterling mccall nissan told my that it was my sparkplugs that had hust been checked about 2 weeks prior at great river nissan in mississippi. i went back to the dealership and invited the service man to a nice long ride. after driving about 20 miles, i stopped the car and le it sit for about 5 minutes. the car started and he smiled. he said, see there is nonthing wrong. after explaining that he needed to let the car set for a while and then try to start it, he said that it is still going to start.after sitting for about 2 hours, i asked the service man to step outside and lets giv the car a start... to no suprise, when i turned the key the car puttered, spitted, jerked, and everything else but started. it was determined the next morning that there was a blown head gasket that could have been caused by the catalyst that was just replaced due to a recall.
05/01/2005	36000	1	06/06/2001
	Dt: the consumer was driving and heard a loud bang on the passenger side. she exited the vehicle and checked it and everything seemed fine. as they accelerated smoke started coming from the engine. consumer exited the vehicle and was walking away from it to call for help when it burst into flames. *nm
05/03/2005	38000	1	08/26/2002
	Engine shutdown and the car stopped suddenly at 70mph on a highway. car was restarted but quickly shutdown again when trying to return to highway speed. managed to pull over, but when trying to shift into park the transmission got stuck in reverse and the car would no longer move. car had to be towed to dealer and is being looked at. car has a recent history of stalling 1 second after cold start, including at least once when the car lunged forward as it stalled while still in park. priot to this shutdown, the dealer was not very cooperative and had only found two settings out of spec in the engine management system and reset them (twice, 2 days apart).
10/14/2004		1	03/01/2003
	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
12/16/2003	35000	1
	Engine had a clicking sound. there was noise when vehicle accelerated. then, pedal was loose, and engine was hard to start.*ak
10/16/2004		1
	Attempted to have an oil change done by wal-mart. they informed me that they are no longer authorized to change the oil on the 2002 nissan altima vehicle due to the dip sticks breaking off in many of the cars they have serviced. *jb
07/15/2004	14200	2
	While driving vehicle stalled. dealership repaired the problem once, but problem recurred. *ak
08/22/2004	75500	6	04/15/2002
	(1) my 2002 nissan altima shutters and dies when being driven at low rpms. i.e.(heavy traffic, or stopping at a traffic light). (2) it shuts completely off when in motion. (3) i had the vehicle serviced last week, for this problem, and it's back at the shop again today for the same problem. i tried to explain that there was a related recall issue, but kevin at urban nissan in duncanville told me that according to his system, there were no recall issues for my car. *ak
02/26/2002	5000	2
	Recall 03v084000 concerning engine coolant. consumer claimed that vehicle consumed too much oil. dealer claimed that vehicle should not use more than 1 quart of oil per 5000 miles, even though the recall was done. consumer felt that vehicle was still using too much oil. ak
05/13/2004	38000	3	12/12/2002
	I purchased a 2002 nisaan altima and have had many problems with it since. it has been in twice already for the heater not working properly. it blows cold air when car is at idle below 2500 rpm. it was taken in twice and temporalily fixed. this problem has recurred for the third time. also the enigine would run rough and sometimes stall, this was initially recalled as a bad engine crank sensor. i had it in a second time where they replaced the crank sensor again. the same eveining when i got home the service engine light came on again and i contacted the service agent twice without any resolution. now the car is doing the same thing again for the third time. in addition to these repetiative problems the car now smokes when it is started, it also is rough starting. at the last oil change the vehicle was down 2 1/2 quarts of oil. the oil changes have been performed on a regular basis between 3000 and 4000 miles every time. the car would not even start approximately one week ago, i had to take out the spark plugs and clean them because they were so fouled out the car wouldn't start. the car has just over 43000 miles and the last incidents that are third time offenders along with the spark plugs being fouled have transpired after the warranty expired of course. *ak
05/06/2004	33186	1
	While driving engine warning light illuminated. vehicle jerked forward heavily. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
05/05/2004	45000	3
	While driving 55 mph vehicle stalled. consumer had the vehicle towed. dealership repaired the problem twice, but problem was not resolved. *ak
05/20/2003	25000	3
	Intermittently while trying to start the vehicle, it would take an extremely long time. the consumer claimed that black smoke blew from the tail pipe. the dealer has examined the vehicle three times for this problem. *jb
05/19/2004	7575	11	04/27/2002
	Service engine light has come on seven times. the engine has shut off for no apparent reason four times. total the car has been in for service nine times. two recalls have been issued one for the crank position sensor (which i was never notified of) and now one regarding gas tank ice crystals (received my notification 5/20/04). both of these problems can cause a crash without warning. i have worked with the bbb autoline, however since the car has not shut off since the crank position sensor was replaced the arbitrator believes that the most serious problem has been remedied and that the check engine light while being a chronic problem, does not substantially affect the use, safety, or value of the vehicle. i have only driven the vehicle 14,711 miles in two years because i am afraid to drive it, thus use has been affected. i have almost been in two accidents as a result of the vehicle's problems, this safety has been affected. carfax is showing six negative reports on my vin number, (the service that car dealers use to help determine if the vehicle has had problems such as major accidents, lemon law vehicle, etc.), therefore, no one would even be interested in purchasing my vehicle, so value has been affected. even after the crank position sensor was replaced the car's check engine light has come on four more times. nissan is unable to diagnose/remedy the problem and refuses to give me a refund on the vehicle. i have been in two near accidents as a direct result of these problems. i believe that the problems will reoccur and i will not be so lucky next time. i am pursing this with the state of florida's lemom law arbitration board. this vehicle is a danger to myself and all other on the road. *ak
05/04/2004		6
	While driving at any speed vehicle stalled, causing the driver to drift off the road. consumer towed the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic was not able to duplicate the problem. *ak
03/04/2004		1
	After the crank position sensor weld recall was performed, the check engine light came on. the vehicle was taken back to the dealership, but they were unable to correct the problem. *jb
		1	01/01/2002
	Consumer received her third recall notice since ownership. ph the vehicle experienced engine failure. the engine sensor kit and the ecu case holder foam recalls were replaced. the consumer requested compensation for one month's car payment. recall #03v455000. sc *jb
05/03/2004		1
	Consumer stated while traveling on the highway at approximately 65 mph motor lost power. consumer pulled to the shoulder until the vehicle came to a complete stop. also, consumer waited for a few minutes and then restarted the vehicle. consumer checked the fluids. after everything checked out okay, he then drove the vehicle home. two days later, consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and he told them what had happened. also, consumer called the insurance company to report the incident. he was told to report it to the manufacturer, and found out there was a recall on this problem. consumer asked them to replace the motor, and they refused. *ak
		1
	Consumer unable to get recall work done on her vehicle. ph the parts were not available. sc recall 03v455000. *jb
08/01/2003	56000	3	03/11/2002
	I was driving from mi to il on the day before my starting my new job in illinois. thirty miles out from my destination, the engine shuts down as i was driving approximately 60 mph. i was able to pull off the road safely and wait over two hours for a tow truck. the dealer claims the mass air flow (maf) sensor was at fault. although the maf sensor was replaced, i don't believe it was the component that disabled the vehicle on this date. the engine shutdown without first going into limp mode. this is exactly what is described in the recall for the crank position sensor (cps). at the time of the incident, there was an open recall on the cps. i did not have it replaced prior to my drive because i did not receive notification. the cps was replaced at the same time as the maf. what prompts this complaint is the maf sensor. the vehicle is now on the third maf. the first one was replaced on 8/2003. the second maf was replaced on 1/14/2004, which lasted less than six months. the failure mode for the first maf sensor allowed warning: the engine did not shut off, but instead limited the engine speed to 2500rpm. fortunately, both maf sensors were covered under an extended warranty. in addition to maf sensors and open recalls, my vehicle has a new ecm and throttle body (iacs). my extended warranty has since expired, and i am currently working with nissan in getting a new extended warranty out of goodwill for these problems experienced in the less than two years i have owned this nissan. my previous vehicles were ford products, and i have never experienced problems with those as i have with this nissan. i am currently having difficulty in having nissan returning my communication. *jb
05/23/2002	9400	9	12/07/2001
	Multiple problems with recall service work not correcting the malfunction the recall is supposed to correct. specifically of concern nhtsa campaign id numbers : 03v455000 & 03v084000 & 03v251000. not receiving recall notices by manufacturer or being informed by nissan service dept. i have since contacted nissan corp consumer affairs but received no resolution or suggestions. problems with engine performance, excessive exhaust, and strong burning smell are still present along with service engine soon light remaining on. have taken vehicle to service department for over 6 visits in last 5 months - vehicle is still at service dept. i have been told the vehicle was safe to drive over these past months while these problems persisted. i asked for a loaner vehicle or to have transportation to get my vehicle to the dealership but was declined any help - even though id # 03v084000 nissan recall notice states it should be offered free of charge if customer makes this request. i am greatly concerned for the safety of myself and my family and am scared to drive this vehicle any further. my local nissan service dept (pine belt nissan automotive) and nissan consumer affairs has not addressed my concerns and have failed to correct this problem that has existed for months. vehicle has had reduced power, hesitation, pulling and vibration, excessive exhaust and an increasingly strong burning smell from engine shortly after vehicle is started.*ak
03/08/2004	9000	4	11/01/2002
	Vehicle shuts down a highway speed without warning. dealer is not able to duplicate the problem. ak nm the consumer made many attempts to notify representative. vehicle stalled 4 times at highway speeds. *tc
12/01/2003	60000	1	06/01/2002
	The engine check light illuminated constantly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer to change the oxygen sensor, but the dealer refused to replace the oxygen sensor because this vehicle was not included in the recall. ak sc *jb
05/11/2003	8700	3	01/11/2002
	While driving, my 2002 nissan altima 2.5 s has stalled and left me in the middle of traffic lanes. this has happened 3 different times (including once being stalled on railroad tracks). my local dealership refuses to co-operate with me, telling me one time that it was the cam sensor, another i was told the vehicle was flooded, and the last time i got no assistance (including no loaner vehicle!). the dealership claims that these problems are caused by my actions (as though i am unable to operate a vehicle correctly). i am considering taking legal action, as this vehicle is unsafe for me and others around me. i was never notified of the latest recall until researching online few weeks ago (3 months after the recall was issued), i now have an appointment to have this situation remedied next week. i hope to get the excessive use of oil situation solved as well. i am appalled at the lack of customer service that nissan and the affiliated nissan dealerships afford their clients that shell out upwards of $25,000 for one of their death traps! *la
08/15/2003		1
	When applying brakes vehicle shuts off without warning.*ak
09/09/2003
	The cam sensor located in the engine compartment without warning . the light appear on the dashboard while driving she heard a poppying noise underneath the vehicle. the vehicle shut down no power no brakes, steering. please fill in additional information. dealer is aware of the problem
08/31/2003	14100	1	02/07/2002
	While traveling on highway in passing lane, engine light and brake light came on and vehicle lost all power, steering and brakes. vehicle started again and broke down 3 more times before arriving at dealership. very dangerous situation. dealership would not supply loaner vehicle, left without vehicle and dealership does not know if or when vehicle will be repaired. vehicle has 14000 miles and oil was changed about 200 miles ago. *ak
01/28/2003	5000		09/01/2002
	While driving approximately 60mph on highway engine stalled, almost causing consumer to have a collision.*ak
08/27/2002	7800	5	10/25/2001
	While traveling 70mph on highway and without prior warning engine check light appeared on dashboard, indicating that vehicle caught on fire. the dealership was aware of the problem. ak there was a sudden loss of power, there was also a clicking sound as if it were coming from the fuel injection system, the oil light, and the light had illuminated. cc
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
02/24/2009	102150
	I had purchased a nissan 2002 altima from a dealer as certified vehicle. i have bought two other cars from the same dealer and in addition all the cars were always serviced by the same dealer. since last two years the service engine soon light comes on and on one such occasion i was informed by the same dealership that the cat convertor had failed and the same needs to be replaced . recently the car has failed mv inspection with two codes p0420 and p1217. there is a similar recall # pe02078 on 268,000 cars on oct. 2002 (i bought the car in 2005, and have no knowledge if this issue has been taken care of or not.) the mv inspection report clearly indicates the failure of catalytic converter and requires repairs and monitors set for re-inspection. the inspection also notes a voluntary recalls ntb07-081 and ntb03-070c for pre-catalyst. the federal law requires emissions waranties (as per the mv inspection report)for at least 80000 miles and i have no idea if this was corrected on my vehicle on nisan's voluntary recall. i had not opted to repair this when the mechanic at dealer informed the reason for service engine soon at 82080 miles as the cost was exhorbitant and until i had similar problem (recall)with a ford windstar van thru nhtsa and was solved by the dealer. (i was about to junk that car, thanks to nhsta)
10/10/2010
	The car began to loose acceleration and the engine would kick and then gained the acceleration back. after 20 miles of driving started loosing acceleration again and shut off on a under construction interstate w/one lane of traffic. no service lights at first and after cranking and driving another 10-15 or so it stalled again and the check-engine, oil, and brake indicator's lights on the dash board came on. checked for recalls for this problems. contacting dealership for possible repair if its a recall problem.
10/21/2007	85000
	My engine blew up. i called my nearest nissan dealer who forwarded me to nissan corp, who sent me to nissan north america and after telling them my story 3 times, they advised me there was nothing they could do since it as not yet a recall. i looked online and many had the same issue and were trying to get this to be a recall. i had just moved to that area, i had no job, no money and was attending school. my car sat infront of my house for 6 months while i paid $430 a month on my note. when i finally had the money to fix it, i explained to them i had just gotten a new engine and only needed them to restart the computer. they advised me there was a recall on it, i asked for what and they could not explain. they then said they could not restart my computer or do the recall because it had a code that needed to get fixed. i said fine, and paid for them to fix it and the recall. later that day my engine light came back on and they had me go back in a week later and advised me a new code came on. i asked why they didnt tell me about it when i was their and they said they didnt see it till now. i did more research and found out that the codes they found were part of the recall, and that was the reason my engine blew up. but they would not fix or pay for it. i have been back and forth on this and fianlly i found a number to call regarding nissan recalls. the person i spoke with advised me that it was nissans responsability to have fixed the issue at no cost since it was a recall and it was all conected. (had that recall or problem been fixed my engine would have never blown up! recall or no recall, this was obviously a manufacturing issue! they never even contacted me about that recall! i found out about it when i took my car in!) she filed a claim for me and said someone would call me. it has been a week and no call from nissan north america yet. i call them everyday and everyday they say someone will call me. at least toyota is taking care of their customers!
01/11/2010	170000	1
	The latest problem with my nissan altima occurred yesterday. it would not start after extreme cold. this is the last in an ongoing saga of problems with this vehicle. we fail to get notifications of recalls from the manufacturer. if something fails to work, it is always our financial responsibility unless it is a very minor repair. the day after the sale there was no beam for a headlight. now we see headlights fall under the recall. maybe we should have known we had a lemon. we had a sensor go out as i was driving 70 miles an hour on an interstate. i had to pay because the vendor said at 8,000 miles it was just outside of warranty. i later find out that sensors fell under a recall. yet to get my money back i had to produce documents that i could not get the repairing dealership to fax to me. i wrote, called, etc. still the end was i paid and they did not return my money. we have had to have the air compressor replaced not once but 3 different times to get air conditioning in the car. now today the call i get says this, the engine is shot expect to pay in excess of $4900 to get it fixed. this car and many other nissan altimas i have found out have had the same series of problems. i want my car fixed at no cost to me or i want a replacement at an extremely reduced cost. i want the vendor to be required to notify car owners of recalls and to not merely have to report that there is a recall. my permanent address has not changed since the purchase. they could have let me know that. even now there are recalls that are due this car but conveniently not on the parts that now need to be replaced. please help or put me in contact with someone who can.!! i spoke with brandon at your office by phone this a.m. because i feel i was not able to effectively get my point heard by him, i have chosen to file this written complaint in the hopes of receiving attention and assistance. deep down i want a manufacturer that stands behind what they sell and that replaces what is defective. *tr
08/31/2009	117918	1
	As i was driving up a hill, i heard a loud popping noise. instantly i noticed my temperature gauge shoot up and the check engine light turned on. i parked my car and just figured that it had overheated. i added more water to the radiator and kept driving. 2 minutes later it was all the way hot again. i had my car towed home at which point i inspected the radiator and discovered a 4 inch horizontal crack in the plastic head of the radiator directly across from the hose mount. i could not believe that plastic could crack like this. i have seen cracks in plastic along seams, but there was no seam here. i just could not believe that this crack could happen this way. this must be some sort of a defect because this was unbelievable. i went on to purchase a new radiator plus hoses and antifreeze from the auto parts store for a total of $250, plus i will now have to take 3 hours out of my day to replace the radiator. i do all my own work on the car and take great care of it. i fix any small problems right away to prevent larger problems, such as this one, from happening. *tr
09/01/2007		1
	Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; i went to kraft nissian dealership to have this recall fixed; after about approximately 2-3 weeks later i experience a shut-off in traffic. i return the car back to kraft nissian and they stated that they did not see a problem. it did not happen a agin, but afterwards i notice my car was burining alot of oil. i replace the oil every two-to three days. then one day it just died on me. i then had the car tow the car i could not afford the repair of the replacement of the engine and was told i had to rmove the car from the premises immeditely. i explain to the top/head service guy that i would have someone come and remove it that friday. he called on friday and i told him that it would be after 5pm but the person would be there to move it. i got there around 5:15 and was told the car had been towed. i believe that there is a continous problem with the recall and that nissian dealership do not want to replace the engine and makes the consumer feel as if it was theere fault. i had taken the car back several times without any satisfaction, i not sure if they treated me that way because i was a woman or what but i really felt belittled by this dealership. *tr
01/01/2004		1
	I have a 2002 nissan altima. there was a recall on the pre-cat and it was replaced...in the recall it states that if the pre-cat is replaced then the engine has to be also but it was not. my engine burns 2qts of oil a week and makes a weird noise. i want this taken care of. *tr
12/20/2008	85139	1
	We own a 2002 nissan altima s 2.5 liter engine. we had a recall due to the exhaust pipe hanger pin possibly igniting with the main catalyst. after that was dealt with, the dealer charging me $80.81, said the engine noise and check engine light is due to faulty catalytic converter. the conversion efficiency of the pre-catalyst has deteriorated and now the catalyst has to be replaced. there is no heat when the car is at idle and now have increased oil consumption, 5 quarts every 2 weeks. because of the amount of damage a new engine may be in the picture. there are only 85000 miles on the car. we do not have the money for a new engine or even catalytic converter. what should we do to get nissan to fix their faulty catalytic converter/engine problem? nissan is not standing behind their product! we aren't talking about buying a gallon of milk! we are driving a car that could possibly start on fire while we are in it! search nissan catalytic converter; car and driver altima catalytic converter failure and www.canadiandriver.com/articles/cc/02-06altima.htm the complaints are numerous please reply with what recourse we have. *tr
02/11/2008	68000	1
	Just commuting to work and using my car for leisure; however, every other month i have to put oil into my car because the oil light comes on. this is with me doing my quarterly if not earlier oil changes. my 2002 nissan altima only has 73000 miles and is consuming oil and now has begun shaking when at a stop and shakes even more when the a/c is on. i've had it checked out and have been told it need a new engine because the oil has to do with the engine and the shaking they can't figure out what is wrong with it. nissan refuses to take ownership in this mechanical error. i've been doing research and i see that i'm not alone in this costly situation. it's hard for me to trust nissan when i feel as if they refuse to listen to the consumers. *tr
09/19/2003	86323
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for the entire emission system and took the vehicle to be repaired. he also stated that the converter needed to be replaced according to a voluntary recall. the converter was not replaced because the dealer would not do it for free. the nhtsa campaign id number was unknown. the failure and current mileages were 86,323.
08/31/2007	85000	1
	I loved the car until recently when i started having problems with the heater. months ago, i noticed that my heater was not working properly. i took it to be looked at and the mechanic told me that there may be bubbles in the coolant line. they bled the line, refilled it and it was fine for awhile. i have no heat again. they checked and could find no external leaks. this has been a problem for the past year, and every few months i need my coolant replaced and bled. i've gone to numerous mechanics and nobody can find the leak. i've searched many sites and forums and this seems to be a recurring problem for my type of car. the engine is overheating because the coolant is leaking, the car idles rough and is driving w/ higher rpms than it used. *tr
08/24/2008	85000	1
	I loved the car until recently when i started having problems with the heater. months ago, i noticed that my heater was not working properly. i took it to be looked at and the mechanic told me that there may be bubbles in the coolant line. they bled the line, refilled it and it was fine for awhile. i have no heat again. they checked and could find no external leaks. this has been a problem for the past year, and every few months i need my coolant replaced and bled. i've gone to numerous mechanics and nobody can find the leak. i've searched many sites and forums and this seems to be a recurring problem for my type of car. the engine is overheating because the coolant is leaking, the car idles rough and is driving w/ higher rpms than it used. *tr
08/19/2008	85000	1
	Recently the car would be rough to start. and when it did start it would sputter and shake. brought the car to a nissan service facility. after the initial diagnosis i was told the head gasket was blown and the catalytic converter was shot. also told that there was no oil in the reservoir. the oil light never came on so i had no warning that there was a problem. *tr
05/22/2008	121232	1
	When i start my car in the morning it always takes two or three times for the car to start. i figured maybe my engine was just cold. but then when i was driving, i slowed down because a red light was coming up and my car completely shut off!! i was so scared because my i almost hit the person in front of me. i figured that something was wrong so i better take my car to the dealership soon. the next day my car wouldn't start at all?? i had to have my car towed to the dealership but before i went, i checked to see if there were any recalls on my car. there was a recall on my vehicle regarding the regarding the crankshaft sensor. the whole time my car was behaving this way the service light never appeared. when the i got to the certified nissan dealership they explained that yes there is a recall but that my vehicle needed a new crankshaft sensor because my senor was no longer good. i said the recall clearly states that the crankshaft sensor is known to overheat which caused my crankshaft senor to now be replaced. so, i should be able to get my crankshaft senor under this recall. they insisted no and if i have any problems i need to contact the manufacturer. please help!!! *tr
02/11/2008	65000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that ignition does not immediately turnover when attempting to start the vehicle. the ignition hesitates regularly in all temperatures. prior to the failure, the engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. she took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the fuel pressure was in good condition and the cooling level was low. there was maintenance work performed on the cooling system. the mechanic also observed that the head gasket was leaking internally and advised that it be replaced. the heater has been replaced twice on the vehicle. the head gasket has not yet been repaired. the failure mileage was 65,000 and current mileage was 66,783.
11/22/2007	65000	1
	I have a nissan altima (2002) with under 75,000 miles. i have been experiencing problems with the coolant system for roughly 10,000 miles. the coolant tank drains every 2-3 days. i refill it, and it is empty 2 -3 days later. i have had 3 or 4 separate tests done on the coolant system, and no problems were found. yet, the problems continue. recently, gray smoke flows out of the tail pipe upon starting the car. also, when starting the car, the whole vehicle shutters, and sometimes does not turn right over (requiring 2 or 3 turns of the ignition key). i was told that perhaps it is a blown head gasket, warped head, or something of the sort. either way, it was determined that the coolant is somehow leaking into the engine (because no signs of leaks anywhere else have been detected). with only 75,000 miles on the car, this should be considered a manufacturers problem. the coolant tank is emptied every 2-3 days, the gray smoke blowing out of the tail pipe happens at least 3 times a week, and the shuttering (and inability to start initially) happens 1-2 times a week, with increasing frequency. nothing was done to correct the problem. one dealership said that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, which obviously is not the case. i was told by 2 mechanics (one at that same dealership, and one independent) that the problem is internal, and that the entire motor would probably have to be replaced. at the very minimum, the head gasket and / or header. researching the internet, i found hundreds of similar complaints by owners of nissan's of the same of similar model and year. this problem should be looked into, and should be seriously considered for a recall! *tr
01/16/2006	44000	15	04/10/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 03v251000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly). she had the vehicle repaired according to the recall. while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle completely stalled. she did not hear any noises and there were no warning indicators. minutes later, the failure recurred. the contact noticed that the failure occurred only during cold weather. she took her vehicle to the dealer and they stated that although she previously had her vehicle repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling), the part needed to be replaced again at her expense. the contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 44,000 and current mileage was 86,000.
09/12/2006	71000	1	09/29/2002
	Car was losing coolant. dealer said i needed a new engine because the head gasket was leaking. they refused to replace the catalytic converter and blamed the engine overheat problem on the leaking gasket. engine is working fine. i do not want them to replace the head gasket because i can get it done by an ase certified mechanic for half the price and i do not trust them since they told me i needed a new engine. the catalytic converter is supposed to be covered by warranty up to 80k miles. i have 71k miles on the car. *nm
09/12/2005		2	02/01/2002
	Dt: 2002 nissan altima. the consumer stated when she would start the vehicle in the morning, it felt like it was not getting any fuel. she would have to press the accelerator. she stated it would happen sometimes at lunch time, and when she went home from work. the check engine light came on at this time. this started on september 12, 2005. the consumer took vehicle to mechanic, and they found a recall. the throttle body was cleaned by mechanic. she called nissan of clovis, and took vehicle there, and they found the vehicle did not fall under the recall. they found it was the throttle body. she had the throttle body replaced. the next morning it started again, the dealership told her to bring it back in. this time it was the ecm computer. it was also replaced. on september 28, 2005 the vehicle did it again. she took the vehicle back on september 30, 2005, and they found the coolant is leaking into the number two cylinder; the head gasket would have to be replaced. the consumer stated the service manager said these vehicles have been coming in with this problem but at 80,000 miles.*ak
04/03/2005	75781	1	09/06/2001
	My car heating system was not functioning properly and then my car had overheated. mechanic said there was a leak in the radiator which caused my car to overheat causing a crack in my engine. car is only 3 years old with 75,781 miles.
11/10/2003	29778	12	10/31/2003
	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
05/13/2004	38000	3	12/12/2002
	I purchased a 2002 nisaan altima and have had many problems with it since. it has been in twice already for the heater not working properly. it blows cold air when car is at idle below 2500 rpm. it was taken in twice and temporalily fixed. this problem has recurred for the third time. also the enigine would run rough and sometimes stall, this was initially recalled as a bad engine crank sensor. i had it in a second time where they replaced the crank sensor again. the same eveining when i got home the service engine light came on again and i contacted the service agent twice without any resolution. now the car is doing the same thing again for the third time. in addition to these repetiative problems the car now smokes when it is started, it also is rough starting. at the last oil change the vehicle was down 2 1/2 quarts of oil. the oil changes have been performed on a regular basis between 3000 and 4000 miles every time. the car would not even start approximately one week ago, i had to take out the spark plugs and clean them because they were so fouled out the car wouldn't start. the car has just over 43000 miles and the last incidents that are third time offenders along with the spark plugs being fouled have transpired after the warranty expired of course. *ak
01/19/2004	20000	2
	After t recall 03v08400 repairs were done vehicle overheated. consumer managed to pull over to let the vehicle cool down. dealership was notified, but problem was not resolved. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
	25000	1
	Consumer said vehicle was taking in too much oil. every 800 miles vehicle needed 8 ounces of oil. dealers was aware of problem. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
02/01/2007	72633	200	12/30/2001
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 50 mph, the contact heard a knocking sound coming from the engine. she noticed that the check engine light was illuminated. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and they performed the replacement. approximately a month and half later, the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to excessive oil consumption. the dealer performed an oil change. the contact stated that she had to add a quart of oil ten days after the oil change was performed. the dealer was unable to determine the reason for the excessive oil consumption. the current mileage is 78,739 and failure mileage was 72,633.
03/20/2007	97000	5	04/15/2002
	Since i purchased this 2002 nissan altima 2.5, i've constantly experienced cold starts. i've also taken the car to the dealership for a clicking sound that appears to be in the glove compartment area. the dealership could not locate the source of the problem..i still have the clicking noise.*ak on march 20, 2007 i took the car to the dealership because i am experiencing problems with starting the car. after 6 or 7 attempts the car starts. i thought it was the fuel pump. the car was put on a diagnostic machine whereby air pockets were found in the radiator system. they also found that anti-freeze was in my first and third cylinder. i was told that i needed an engine. i must say that i'm truly disappointed with this car. i've experienced nothing but problems since i purchasedit new. now it is five years old and needing an engine. i don't understand it. i had an extended warranty which ended at 100,000 miles and i have 101,000. i don't think that i should have to pay for a new engine when nissan knows that is problem existed with the 2002 models. the sales agent at the dealership also informed me that this was a common problem with this car. i will be contacting nissan to get further compensation for the replacement of my engine. why hasn't a recall been issued? thanks...
10/01/2006	49639	6	10/01/2006
	Tl* - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the vehicle had air pockets in the radiator, preventing it from having heat. the failure mileage was 49,639. the dealer/mechanic changed the antifreeze and removed the air pockets. the failure returned after four months. the dealer/mechanic again removed the air pockets, changed the antifreeze ,and this time flushed the radiator. the failure mileage 55,200. the contact has the repair invoices. *ak
01/01/1901	30000	1
	Consumer 2002 nissan altima radiator was leaking. ts jb
11/09/2005	50000	1
	I want to report a failure in my nissan altima 2002. they day before yesterday i was driving to my evening work and i was chatting on the phone with my sister when the check engine soon light came up. i kept on driving around 10 more miles, and by the time i was about to get to the parking lot of my work place the car start shocking on me like if it was going to stop. at that time i was already in the parking lot and i parked. then i saw a huge smoke coming from the front and since i'm a women that doesn't understand much about cars, i just got scared and called my husband so he could pick me up after work. when i was at work i talk about the incident to my boss and he went to check the car, and he told me the radiator pretty much broke!!, he tried to put water, and the car couldn't hold it. it was just leaking, he told me i should tow it to the dealership so they could fix it, because if i drive it the engine will die and my car will stop in the middle of the street because it will overheat. i tow it to the dealership. i wanted to know why did the radiator broke, i was thinking i should get a reasonable explanation why that happen. the car is pretty new, it just has 50k miles. anyways, the dealer wasn't able to give me any good reason. they just said the radiator started leaking and eventually broke. excuse me? so what should i expect in the next 50k miles? the same?... i just don't think this is safe... what if i didn't got lucky and made it to my work place before the car died on me on a freeway?... i could cause an accident... this is obviously a nissan altima radiator defect.... and it should be a recall, i take care of changing oil and putting water in the car as i should.... so why do i have to deal with this?... please help. i had to pay $1058.00 to get my car fixed. *jb
08/14/2003	15908	5	08/12/2002
	Nissan replaced the radiator/parts three times but the consumer continued to smell antifreeze inside the vehicle. ph several attempt by different service dealer have been made to alleviate the problem, but none have been successful. nm
07/30/2004		3	03/28/2003
	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?*ak
06/24/2004	57500	1	12/21/2001
	Car failed to start... charged battery, no results...next purchase a new battery.two days later car failed to start with new battery...charge battery for an hour...car then started... while car was standing still in driveway with motor start car overhead and crack the radiator head ...car tow to dealer ...nissian of north america refused to replace a defective radiator......question how do you crack the head of a radiator at zero mile per hour in idle with nothing running accept the motor on a cool morning about 70 degree.*ak
	47514	1	07/01/2002
	Repairs required for 3 recalls, replacement or radiator and mass airflow sensor. however, manufacturer is willing to pay replacement of radiator, but won't pay for the replacement of mass airflow sensor. la mr
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
02/24/2009	102150
	I had purchased a nissan 2002 altima from a dealer as certified vehicle. i have bought two other cars from the same dealer and in addition all the cars were always serviced by the same dealer. since last two years the service engine soon light comes on and on one such occasion i was informed by the same dealership that the cat convertor had failed and the same needs to be replaced . recently the car has failed mv inspection with two codes p0420 and p1217. there is a similar recall # pe02078 on 268,000 cars on oct. 2002 (i bought the car in 2005, and have no knowledge if this issue has been taken care of or not.) the mv inspection report clearly indicates the failure of catalytic converter and requires repairs and monitors set for re-inspection. the inspection also notes a voluntary recalls ntb07-081 and ntb03-070c for pre-catalyst. the federal law requires emissions waranties (as per the mv inspection report)for at least 80000 miles and i have no idea if this was corrected on my vehicle on nisan's voluntary recall. i had not opted to repair this when the mechanic at dealer informed the reason for service engine soon at 82080 miles as the cost was exhorbitant and until i had similar problem (recall)with a ford windstar van thru nhtsa and was solved by the dealer. (i was about to junk that car, thanks to nhsta)
12/01/2002	180000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle was leaking oil. the vehicle was taken to a local shop who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced since water and oil were mixing together and leaking into the engine block which also caused the radiator to over heat. in addition, the engine block needed to be resealed. the remedy failed to repaired the problem.the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine block needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 180,000 and the current mileage was 230,000. pm
04/17/2011	100000
	No real warning. engine starting knocking one day and found out it was 2 quarts low after changing it the previous week. put 2 quarts of oil more in and drove 300 miles to only find that it was low again. i have to put oil in around every 200 miles now to prevent my engine from making loud noises. the mechanic i took it too said the cat converters and motor needed replacement. i am a college student and cannot afford a replacement engine or a new car so am stuck dumping 2 quarts in every 200 miles.
06/01/2008	94378
	When driving the vehicle in warm weather for over 15 minutes, the engine will stall in traffic or refuse to start after engine is turned off briefly (ex: at the gas pump.) the dealership serviced the recall for the crankshaft sensor, and we had another put in by an independent mechanic since then. diagnostics gave consult code po420 catalyst sys-b1. gave us an estimate to replace the catalyst. heard about a recall of some nissans for a similar problem in fall of 2010, but i guess this car did not fall into this category. we are also told that the heater core needs replacing, but do not want to put any more money into a vehicle that has a stalling problem that cannot be fixed.
03/31/2011	144000
	At 85000 miles, the car began to shudder and had difficulty accelerating; the diagnosis was a blown head gasket. at around 130000 miles the car started feeling rough and making rattling sounds. the dealer replaced the right and back engine mounts, leaking valve cover gaskets, front lower control arms, and left front hub and bearing but the sound still exists. at 141000 miles the check engine light came on and the dealer replaced the catalytic converter. at 144000 miles, the car suddenly would not go more than 10 mph. after turning the car off, the engine initially would not turn over; after a few minutes, the car started again but still could not go more than 10 mph. the second stop seemed to temporarily revive the car because it could be driven at normal speeds (at least long enough to make the 1 mile drive home) but it emitted a strong burning smell. at this point the diagnosis is irrelevant - it's time for a new, more reliable car.
06/01/2008	94378
	When driving the vehicle in warm weather for over 15 minutes, the engine will stall in traffic or refuse to start after engine is turned off briefly (ex: at the gas pump.) the dealership serviced the recall for the crankshaft sensor, and we had another put in by an independent mechanic since then. diagnostics gave consult code po420 catalyst sys-b1. gave us an estimate to replace the catalyst. heard about a recall of some nissans for a similar problem in fall of 2010, but i guess this car did not fall into this category. we are also told that the heater core needs replacing, but do not want to put any more money into a vehicle that has a stalling problem that cannot be fixed.
03/31/2011	144000
	At 85000 miles, the car began to shudder and had difficulty accelerating; the diagnosis was a blown head gasket. at around 130000 miles the car started feeling rough and making rattling sounds. the dealer replaced the right and back engine mounts, leaking valve cover gaskets, front lower control arms, and left front hub and bearing but the sound still exists. at 141000 miles the check engine light came on and the dealer replaced the catalytic converter. at 144000 miles, the car suddenly would not go more than 10 mph. after turning the car off, the engine initially would not turn over; after a few minutes, the car started again but still could not go more than 10 mph. the second stop seemed to temporarily revive the car because it could be driven at normal speeds (at least long enough to make the 1 mile drive home) but it emitted a strong burning smell. at this point the diagnosis is irrelevant - it's time for a new, more reliable car.
06/01/2008	94378
	When driving the vehicle in warm weather for over 15 minutes, the engine will stall in traffic or refuse to start after engine is turned off briefly (ex: at the gas pump.) the dealership serviced the recall for the crankshaft sensor, and we had another put in by an independent mechanic since then. diagnostics gave consult code po420 catalyst sys-b1. gave us an estimate to replace the catalyst. heard about a recall of some nissans for a similar problem in fall of 2010, but i guess this car did not fall into this category. we are also told that the heater core needs replacing, but do not want to put any more money into a vehicle that has a stalling problem that cannot be fixed.
03/31/2011	144000
	At 85000 miles, the car began to shudder and had difficulty accelerating; the diagnosis was a blown head gasket. at around 130000 miles the car started feeling rough and making rattling sounds. the dealer replaced the right and back engine mounts, leaking valve cover gaskets, front lower control arms, and left front hub and bearing but the sound still exists. at 141000 miles the check engine light came on and the dealer replaced the catalytic converter. at 144000 miles, the car suddenly would not go more than 10 mph. after turning the car off, the engine initially would not turn over; after a few minutes, the car started again but still could not go more than 10 mph. the second stop seemed to temporarily revive the car because it could be driven at normal speeds (at least long enough to make the 1 mile drive home) but it emitted a strong burning smell. at this point the diagnosis is irrelevant - it's time for a new, more reliable car.
06/01/2008	94378
	When driving the vehicle in warm weather for over 15 minutes, the engine will stall in traffic or refuse to start after engine is turned off briefly (ex: at the gas pump.) the dealership serviced the recall for the crankshaft sensor, and we had another put in by an independent mechanic since then. diagnostics gave consult code po420 catalyst sys-b1. gave us an estimate to replace the catalyst. heard about a recall of some nissans for a similar problem in fall of 2010, but i guess this car did not fall into this category. we are also told that the heater core needs replacing, but do not want to put any more money into a vehicle that has a stalling problem that cannot be fixed.
03/31/2011	144000
	At 85000 miles, the car began to shudder and had difficulty accelerating; the diagnosis was a blown head gasket. at around 130000 miles the car started feeling rough and making rattling sounds. the dealer replaced the right and back engine mounts, leaking valve cover gaskets, front lower control arms, and left front hub and bearing but the sound still exists. at 141000 miles the check engine light came on and the dealer replaced the catalytic converter. at 144000 miles, the car suddenly would not go more than 10 mph. after turning the car off, the engine initially would not turn over; after a few minutes, the car started again but still could not go more than 10 mph. the second stop seemed to temporarily revive the car because it could be driven at normal speeds (at least long enough to make the 1 mile drive home) but it emitted a strong burning smell. at this point the diagnosis is irrelevant - it's time for a new, more reliable car.
10/01/2010	161000
	My vehicle has shut off three times while driving in traffic. of course, this has been extremely dangerous each time, and we have been very lucky to avoid accidents. each time, we have had to find a way to get the vehicle to a safe location, and have it towed. because various mechanics have been unable to properly diagnose the problem, we have given up on driving the vehicle. we have now been through three alternators, a battery, and some wiring. after having previously said parts replaced, i decided to try the dealer. i dropped the vehicle off at the nissan dealership one morning before work. they called me at work and told me that a bolt had been welded to the alternator, and that it would cost me about $800 to resolve the problem. they also assured my wife that there was no recall on the vehicle. i told them not to fix it. when i went to inspect it myself, it was plainly evident that the bolt was not welded to the alternator, it was just not fully tightened down. since complaining to nissan recalls about poor service and the vehicle shutting off, i have been told that there is in fact a recall on my year, make, and model, but not on my specific vin. i have also been promised that a regional manager would be in contact with me. i have called back asking to speak with this regional manager,and they keep telling me he will call me in two business days. it has been at least two weeks now. nhtsa id number: 03v455000. 2002 nissan altima, 3.5se.
08/01/2009	65000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the crank shaft sensor malfunctioned. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred several times before. the vehicle was taken to a local shop who stated that they would be replacing the crank shaft sensor and the cam shaft sensor. the manufacturer was contacted, and did not offered any assistance do to the vehicle being out of warranty. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 65,000. pm
02/10/2011	247000
	I bought a nissan altima 2002 2.5 one month ago from her previous owner i drove the car back home it was smoth and perfect i put a temporary plates on it to do saftey and emisson test to it put before i do that i replaced the oil in it and after a couple of days i drove it to do the saftey checks on it suddenly the car was making noise from the engine while i was driving on the highway and i was going about 100 and the car engine shutdown thank god i controled the car on a highway feeled with a lot of cars so i called atowtruk to take it a way from the street to the garage and when the mechanic looked and did some test on it he told me that it needs a new engine and it cost 1,500 to buy an engine i told him its impposible i just bought the car it cant be , i asked him how did this happen he told me that this car has a manufactur proplem the programing of the crankshaft sensor gave the engine a wrong codes causing the engine to overheat and to burn more oil and because of that the engine is dead now he told me to call the nissan dealership and give them the v.i.n number of the car i live in ottawa by the way and to ask if there is any recall on it so i did that and they told me to call the nissan dealership in north america because its from there i did that i spoke with an agent and he told me yes there is arecall on it but we cant do anything about it because the car is nine years old now and the recall has ended tow years ago i told him why? its the dealership responsibility to make sure that they recall every dameged cars or some one will get hurt because of it thats first, second there was an investigation about this issue and there was alot of customers having the samething so its the dealership fault to make sure that every car has to be safe and perfect to drive it especially its a family car too so all im asking is that they have to take responsiplity of this and to fix my car and every car that has a manufacture proplem in it as soon as possible please....
08/01/2009	65000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the crank shaft sensor malfunctioned. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred several times before. the vehicle was taken to a local shop who stated that they would be replacing the crank shaft sensor and the cam shaft sensor. the manufacturer was contacted, and did not offered any assistance do to the vehicle being out of warranty. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 65,000. pm
02/10/2011	247000
	I bought a nissan altima 2002 2.5 one month ago from her previous owner i drove the car back home it was smoth and perfect i put a temporary plates on it to do saftey and emisson test to it put before i do that i replaced the oil in it and after a couple of days i drove it to do the saftey checks on it suddenly the car was making noise from the engine while i was driving on the highway and i was going about 100 and the car engine shutdown thank god i controled the car on a highway feeled with a lot of cars so i called atowtruk to take it a way from the street to the garage and when the mechanic looked and did some test on it he told me that it needs a new engine and it cost 1,500 to buy an engine i told him its impposible i just bought the car it cant be , i asked him how did this happen he told me that this car has a manufactur proplem the programing of the crankshaft sensor gave the engine a wrong codes causing the engine to overheat and to burn more oil and because of that the engine is dead now he told me to call the nissan dealership and give them the v.i.n number of the car i live in ottawa by the way and to ask if there is any recall on it so i did that and they told me to call the nissan dealership in north america because its from there i did that i spoke with an agent and he told me yes there is arecall on it but we cant do anything about it because the car is nine years old now and the recall has ended tow years ago i told him why? its the dealership responsibility to make sure that they recall every dameged cars or some one will get hurt because of it thats first, second there was an investigation about this issue and there was alot of customers having the samething so its the dealership fault to make sure that every car has to be safe and perfect to drive it especially its a family car too so all im asking is that they have to take responsiplity of this and to fix my car and every car that has a manufacture proplem in it as soon as possible please....
08/01/2009	65000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the crank shaft sensor malfunctioned. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred several times before. the vehicle was taken to a local shop who stated that they would be replacing the crank shaft sensor and the cam shaft sensor. the manufacturer was contacted, and did not offered any assistance do to the vehicle being out of warranty. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 65,000. pm
02/10/2011	247000
	I bought a nissan altima 2002 2.5 one month ago from her previous owner i drove the car back home it was smoth and perfect i put a temporary plates on it to do saftey and emisson test to it put before i do that i replaced the oil in it and after a couple of days i drove it to do the saftey checks on it suddenly the car was making noise from the engine while i was driving on the highway and i was going about 100 and the car engine shutdown thank god i controled the car on a highway feeled with a lot of cars so i called atowtruk to take it a way from the street to the garage and when the mechanic looked and did some test on it he told me that it needs a new engine and it cost 1,500 to buy an engine i told him its impposible i just bought the car it cant be , i asked him how did this happen he told me that this car has a manufactur proplem the programing of the crankshaft sensor gave the engine a wrong codes causing the engine to overheat and to burn more oil and because of that the engine is dead now he told me to call the nissan dealership and give them the v.i.n number of the car i live in ottawa by the way and to ask if there is any recall on it so i did that and they told me to call the nissan dealership in north america because its from there i did that i spoke with an agent and he told me yes there is arecall on it but we cant do anything about it because the car is nine years old now and the recall has ended tow years ago i told him why? its the dealership responsibility to make sure that they recall every dameged cars or some one will get hurt because of it thats first, second there was an investigation about this issue and there was alot of customers having the samething so its the dealership fault to make sure that every car has to be safe and perfect to drive it especially its a family car too so all im asking is that they have to take responsiplity of this and to fix my car and every car that has a manufacture proplem in it as soon as possible please....
08/01/2009	65000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the crank shaft sensor malfunctioned. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred several times before. the vehicle was taken to a local shop who stated that they would be replacing the crank shaft sensor and the cam shaft sensor. the manufacturer was contacted, and did not offered any assistance do to the vehicle being out of warranty. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 65,000. pm
02/10/2011	247000
	I bought a nissan altima 2002 2.5 one month ago from her previous owner i drove the car back home it was smoth and perfect i put a temporary plates on it to do saftey and emisson test to it put before i do that i replaced the oil in it and after a couple of days i drove it to do the saftey checks on it suddenly the car was making noise from the engine while i was driving on the highway and i was going about 100 and the car engine shutdown thank god i controled the car on a highway feeled with a lot of cars so i called atowtruk to take it a way from the street to the garage and when the mechanic looked and did some test on it he told me that it needs a new engine and it cost 1,500 to buy an engine i told him its impposible i just bought the car it cant be , i asked him how did this happen he told me that this car has a manufactur proplem the programing of the crankshaft sensor gave the engine a wrong codes causing the engine to overheat and to burn more oil and because of that the engine is dead now he told me to call the nissan dealership and give them the v.i.n number of the car i live in ottawa by the way and to ask if there is any recall on it so i did that and they told me to call the nissan dealership in north america because its from there i did that i spoke with an agent and he told me yes there is arecall on it but we cant do anything about it because the car is nine years old now and the recall has ended tow years ago i told him why? its the dealership responsibility to make sure that they recall every dameged cars or some one will get hurt because of it thats first, second there was an investigation about this issue and there was alot of customers having the samething so its the dealership fault to make sure that every car has to be safe and perfect to drive it especially its a family car too so all im asking is that they have to take responsiplity of this and to fix my car and every car that has a manufacture proplem in it as soon as possible please....
01/26/2011	109000
	Nissan 02 altima 2.5s has problem with engine/cat converter, car devloped a p0420 error and has been routinely consuming oil, now delear has diagnosed problem of cat converter disintegrating and and getting sucked into engine causing it to fail, estimate for repair is ~ $6,000. see following links for the simmilar problem reported by others. http://www.carcomplaints.com/nissan/altima/2002/engine/excessive_oil_consumption.shtml
04/11/2010	128800
	2002 nissan altima engine has hole in the side. i was told they had a recall to put a shied between the engine and the catalytic converter. i think this was done to stop the heat from the cat. convertor from fatiguing the block. wellon my car they did the recall but it didn't work! i had to put another engine in the car! i have also put a complaint in for the floor boards rotting out on the same car! nissan doesn't carethat they have built cars with defects!!! these problems should both have been fixed for free!!! these two problems will cost me thousands to fix!!!
10/10/2002	90000
	I have a 2002 nissan altima 3.5l v6. vin# is 1n4bl11e92c119589. at 90,000 miles my car dies while slowing down to a traffic light. the engine light comes on so i got it towed to auto zone for a diagnostic test. a failure crankshaft senor was a result. it has a recall for camshaft/crankshaft sensors. it states that due to these defective parts, the car will shut off while in operation resulting to a accident/crash. so i brought into nisaan to have this these fixed along with other recalls. they said that only the camshaft was fixed and not the crankshaft. it wasn't a recall for my vehicle according the vin#. i thought it ridiculous and a coincidence that the sensor that caused my car to shut off wasn't a recall for my car. so i ended up buyin the sensor for around 80 dollars. but after a few weeks after fixing, it my cars stalls out again while on the highway with both of my little children in the car almost ending up what would of been a real bad crash. fortunally i was in the inside lane with light traffic and able to quickly pull into the breakdown lane. my car would still be running but would not accelerate when in drive. after waiting for a 15 mins it would start to accelerate again and when i start to slow down it would stall again. this would go on and on until i finally got to a repair shop for help. my car was put through a diagnostic test and it came up twice for crankshaft sensor failure. i do not want to spend another 80 dollars on a sensor that will fail again. there is alot of complaint about this same issue for these nissan altimas. i am paying to much for this car and cannot afford another. i'm afaid to drive it now because i don't want to put the lives of my family at risk in this car with this ongoing problem. please help correct this problem before it becomes tragic. thanks.
11/22/2010	111111
	I have a 2002 nissan altima, that is burning oil. i have to put at least two quarts of oil in there every 2 weeks. now my car is shuttering and hissing at me and not getting anymore when i accelerate. i'm being told that i will need a new catalytic convertor and possibly an egine. nissan is willing to do nothing about this isssue. after doing some research i'm showing that this a common probelm with this year of car and should be taken care of by nissan. as a consumer what can be done. this is unfair to us, thinking we are buying a reliable car when it's really a piece of crap. i will never buy a nissan again. sticking to honda's.
03/02/2010	112254
	There were no significant events leading up to this failure. vehicle has been meticulously maintained. failure was recognized by cel p0420. catalytic converters were replaced. now engine has lost power and is emitting smoke. coolant and engine oil are dropping at increasing rates requiring constant attention but have never been allowed to be dry. now engine needs to be replaced. this appears to be consistent with many other claims which nissan denies.
04/05/2010	125000
	I had a 2002 nissan altima with 125,000 miles. i was told by nissan that my catalytic converter was bad and there was only one quart of oil in the engine after my check engine light came on. they added oil and i had to replace it again after only 2 weeks. i called the nissan dealership about the excessive oil consumption and was told that the only thing i can do to fix this problem is to replace the engine. i have found that this is a huge problem with altimas. i really think there needs to be a recall as this is not acceptable.
03/02/2010	112254
	There were no significant events leading up to this failure. vehicle has been meticulously maintained. failure was recognized by cel p0420. catalytic converters were replaced. now engine has lost power and is emitting smoke. coolant and engine oil are dropping at increasing rates requiring constant attention but have never been allowed to be dry. now engine needs to be replaced. this appears to be consistent with many other claims which nissan denies.
04/05/2010	125000
	I had a 2002 nissan altima with 125,000 miles. i was told by nissan that my catalytic converter was bad and there was only one quart of oil in the engine after my check engine light came on. they added oil and i had to replace it again after only 2 weeks. i called the nissan dealership about the excessive oil consumption and was told that the only thing i can do to fix this problem is to replace the engine. i have found that this is a huge problem with altimas. i really think there needs to be a recall as this is not acceptable.
10/10/2010
	The car began to loose acceleration and the engine would kick and then gained the acceleration back. after 20 miles of driving started loosing acceleration again and shut off on a under construction interstate w/one lane of traffic. no service lights at first and after cranking and driving another 10-15 or so it stalled again and the check-engine, oil, and brake indicator's lights on the dash board came on. checked for recalls for this problems. contacting dealership for possible repair if its a recall problem.
04/05/2010	125000
	I had a 2002 nissan altima with 125,000 miles. i was told by nissan that my catalytic converter was bad and there was only one quart of oil in the engine after my check engine light came on. they added oil and i had to replace it again after only 2 weeks. i called the nissan dealership about the excessive oil consumption and was told that the only thing i can do to fix this problem is to replace the engine. i have found that this is a huge problem with altimas. i really think there needs to be a recall as this is not acceptable.
10/10/2010
	The car began to loose acceleration and the engine would kick and then gained the acceleration back. after 20 miles of driving started loosing acceleration again and shut off on a under construction interstate w/one lane of traffic. no service lights at first and after cranking and driving another 10-15 or so it stalled again and the check-engine, oil, and brake indicator's lights on the dash board came on. checked for recalls for this problems. contacting dealership for possible repair if its a recall problem.
09/23/2010	112176
	2002 nissan altima. excessive oil consumption with no leak and problems with the vehicle starting. dealer states head gasket is blown. did not look at catalytic converter although i asked them to look into the problem as it mirrored issues car was recalled for. nissan will not cover as a consequence of mileage 112,000. many complaints online regarding the same issue. please investigate for the thousands of owners who need your help.
02/02/2010	95000
	I made a complaint by phone regarding my 2002 nissan altima and have yet to hear back or get a copy as promised of my complaint. due to the many complaints, concerns and problems related to this year ,make and model ,you would think nissan would be a little bit more concerned and wanting to remedy the problems that exist to avoid legal action for ignoring a potently dangerous problem that could be deadly . all though i have not been hurt physically ,mentally i am beside myself thinking if you cant get nissan to step up to the plate then who can???? i had a engine replaced by nissan dealership and it did not last 20,000 miles before the catalitic converter fell apart and got sucked up in the engine.. nissan is aware of the recalls for this year/make/model???? its time to do something as you have pages and pages of complaints regarding this exact thing and it is obvious nissan will do nothing because they get away with it time and time again..they are worse than toyota, at least toyota amits there is a problem...please let me know what and when you intend on doing something to get nissan to do whats right?/?
12/12/2009	85000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. within a few hours, she was able to restart the vehicle without difficulty. in addition, the vehicle burned oil excessively. the contact confirmed that she the oil was changed at least three times a week. the dealer was called and stated that there were no related recalls for her vin. the contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing or to be repaired. the failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.
10/21/2007	85000
	My engine blew up. i called my nearest nissan dealer who forwarded me to nissan corp, who sent me to nissan north america and after telling them my story 3 times, they advised me there was nothing they could do since it as not yet a recall. i looked online and many had the same issue and were trying to get this to be a recall. i had just moved to that area, i had no job, no money and was attending school. my car sat infront of my house for 6 months while i paid $430 a month on my note. when i finally had the money to fix it, i explained to them i had just gotten a new engine and only needed them to restart the computer. they advised me there was a recall on it, i asked for what and they could not explain. they then said they could not restart my computer or do the recall because it had a code that needed to get fixed. i said fine, and paid for them to fix it and the recall. later that day my engine light came back on and they had me go back in a week later and advised me a new code came on. i asked why they didnt tell me about it when i was their and they said they didnt see it till now. i did more research and found out that the codes they found were part of the recall, and that was the reason my engine blew up. but they would not fix or pay for it. i have been back and forth on this and fianlly i found a number to call regarding nissan recalls. the person i spoke with advised me that it was nissans responsability to have fixed the issue at no cost since it was a recall and it was all conected. (had that recall or problem been fixed my engine would have never blown up! recall or no recall, this was obviously a manufacturing issue! they never even contacted me about that recall! i found out about it when i took my car in!) she filed a claim for me and said someone would call me. it has been a week and no call from nissan north america yet. i call them everyday and everyday they say someone will call me. at least toyota is taking care of their customers!
08/03/2009	93338
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 mph, the vehicle completely shut off. the contact coasted to the side of the road and was towed to an authorized dealership for a diagnostic test. the dealer informed her that the mass air flow sensor was defective. the failure mileage was 93,338. the current mileage was approximately 98,000.
04/12/2008	76800
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving at speeds of approximately 69 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the warning blinkers were activated and was unable to maneuver the vehicle from the center of the highway. the gear was shifted into neutral with the foot applied to the brake pedal. the vehicle was pushed to the to the median with another vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the recall repaired was performed under campaign id number 07v527000 reprogramming of the ecu), before the vehicle was completely off the lot, the vehicle stalled a second time without warning. the dealer advised a diagnostic test to determine the actual failure, at the owner's expense. the contact refused to pay out-of-pocket for a recall associated repair. the dealer stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the identical failures occurred one mile from the dealer. the brakes were inoperable and the vehicle began to veer into on coming traffic. while the brakes were depressed the steering wheel was non-responsive with extreme bodily force applied. the vehicle crashed into a telephone pole. there was no personal injury. the insurance company deemed the cause of the crash as due to engine failure. the vehicle was destroyed. the failure and current mileages were 76,800.
07/21/2007	213000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. when the contact would drive the vehicle she noticed a loud rattling noise coming from the engine. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact had the vehicle
06/01/2009	85000	1
	I have a 2002 nissan sentra se-r with the 2.5 liter (qr25de) engine i purchased new. this is the same engine that the problematic 2002 nissan altima has. my car has had numerous serious recalls, originating within the first year and a half i purchased it. two years ago, my ses light went on. my car was still under warranty at this point as i'd purchased nissan's gold plus warranty coverage. i was told it was a loose gas cap, they'd checked and performed all outstanding recalls, and all was fine. 8 months later, the ses light went on again.the car began to also exhibit signs of increased oil consumption. i had it checked, was told it was a cracked oil pan by an independent mechanic. finally, i took it to nissan. i was told i needed a new catalytic converter, the exact part that has been mentioned in several recalls on my vehicle, and since the car was out of warranty they would not pay for it. estimate was $1200, which i got in writing, for the catalytic converter. i asked for records of what they had done to inspect and repair the recall previously. they had no record of it. i called nissan north america, who told me the dealer kept the records, and to ask them.. finally, an independent mechanic replaced the part. the ses light went on two weeks later. the independant mechanic said the pre-catalytic converter was damaged/falling apart, also listed in my recall explicitly. the dealer had misdiagnosed the car. called dealer, wrote letter, bbb complaint, nissan complaint, no response. had pre-cat replaced for $600. ses light came on again. eventually, my car stalled and wouldn't start. i had it towed to a repair facility who informed me my engine was blown, replaced for $4k. a screw had been found in the third cylinder. this is also listed in some of the 'bulletins' nissan distributed to their dealers. i've tried a demand letter, no response. obviously, no one inspected my car for recalls, or repaired the faulty parts. *tr
02/03/2009	214000	1
	I own a 2002 nissan altima with the 2.5l engine. excessive oil consumption lead to damage to the engine and having to get it rebuilt approximately one year ago. purchased the car new and while i drive a lot of miles each year there was no indication in terms of warning lights that the engine oil was low. this probably lead to damage to the engine in addition to that possibly caused by the other design defects (i.e. pre-catalyst) in this model. there should be some penalty to nissan for lack of owning up to the problems that they must have been aware of for this many years. *tr
12/15/2009	77280
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while the contact was driving approximately 45 mph, he noticed that the engine light appeared on the dashboard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the 02 ring needed to be replaced. the contact noticed prior that the vehicle would not start or would hesitate while being driven. the vehicle has not been serviced and the current and failure mileages were 77280.
01/01/2009	50000	1
	This complaint is in reference to the following: nhtsa action number: pe02078 nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalyst converter. after inspection of the catalyst converter noticeable chucks of the catalyst converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer with fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *tr
09/28/2009	112000	1
	Vehicle check engine light came on. took car in to garage and code reads catalytic converter. converter was replaced, drove car home and engine was making a ticking noise. brought car in to dealership on sept. 30, 2009. dealership said i needed new timing chain to get the noise in engine to stop. timing chain replaced, and same noise still existed. dealership had my car for 2 weeks and in the end they said they called a technical service line for help and an representative said that they had reports of a similar noise and that i would need a new engine. this diagnoses was made over the phone from a description given by the technician to the service rep. on the phone. i called nissan consumer affairs to explain this and was assigned a rep. whom didn't get in contact with me for 10 days. he said he contacted the dealership and that i needed a new engine. he explained that nissan would not provide a replacement engine since it is out of warranty. i explained that the dealership technicians said that there could be particles in the cylinder and that is an engine defect. the rep only offered a master technician to inspect the car and was not sure when that would happen. i investigated a recall that shows was completed on my car, but it describes exactly what is currently happening with my engine. i feel that nissan should replace my engine as the faulty engine issue was listed in an engine campaign recall. i am in no way to blame for particles entering into the cylinder or a screw as the tech's described as a possibility. i should not be out of a vehicle due to a faulty engine, especially one that was listed in an engine recall. i would like to know what my recourse is in this situation to get my engine issue covered under the campaign or have nissan place a replacement engine in my vehicle. it is deemed unsafe to drive and is burning excessive oil causing the converter to overheat which may cause a fire. just as it describes in the recall information #3v084000. *tr
10/26/2009	80000	1
	The car had dark oil on the car lot and we just asked to have oil changed, we have mentioned this when we took the car for recalls, always having to add oil and now losing anti freeze. no one could find out where the oil and antifreeze were going-not on the driveway or anywhere. a mystery. even the first diagnostic test did not show what was going on. left the car all night to test it. this has been going on for years and we wanted to find the cause because we had a bumper to bumper warranty up until july of 2009. last week we took it again to have it checked, because it is getting worse and the check engine light is on- finally this repair center found the reason-we need an head gasket, a bad head, etc. so now i am researching and i find a web site-car complaints.com and boy are there many many complaints about the same thing. it is not right what nissan is getting away with. my car would probably be worse if i was not always checking it from the beginning. something needs to be done about this. please read the letter and i am sure if i go to other websites i will find alot more of the same problems. some people don't know how to go about these things, but i assure you i will get to the bottom of this. i am on a fixed income and cannot afford another car right now. people think nissan is an honest company. all the letters i read tell me they are not. these things have been happening to my car since i drove it off the lot on 7/07/03. it had 17,766 miles on it at the time. i would like to file a class action law suite and so would some of the people on that website. the people in this country are tired of being taken advantage of. this is not fair and the media needs to know about this too. please let me know what to do about this. thank you for your help in this matter. *tr
10/14/2009	91000	1
	Engine needs to be replaced due to a time chain and other engine parts being defective. vehicle currently has 91,000 miles. *tr
09/14/2009	97000	1
	2002 nissan altima check engine light with catalytic converter breaking up and pieces destroying the engine. the engine has started burning oil with loud noises. was told car needed a new engine by dealer with no explanation on why. car has only 97, 000 miles and is well maintained. contacted nissan consumer affairs and was told to send all maintenance records. after they reviewed all my records i was told they could not help me. after confronting them with the fact it is a known defect in that model car they still insisted they cannot help us. if engine seizes while driving it will mostly like cause a dangerous situation. something needs to be done by nissan to resolve this defect that they are aware of. *tr
10/03/2009	80000	1
	2002 nissan altima 2.5l s. has started consuming oil despite regular maintenance andu se ig hoigh quality mobile 1 5w30 oil. in searching internet there are thousands of complaints from owners of this model year and engine. nissan know about the issue and offers no relief. time for a class action lawsuit. i have not had a car burn oil and have driven every one of my cars over 200,000 and sold them. *tr
08/28/2009	126000	1
	I bought a 2002 nissan altima in november 2005. the last two years i have been having several problems concerning the vehicle including, jerking, stalling on highway, over heating and smoking. i have a the oc sensors replaced, spark plugs, cadillac converts, coils...the list goes on and on. i noticed my oil light always coming on and the need to always refill the oil but i could not see where it was leaking from. the same problem was with the coolant---i kept pouring it in the place for coolant and in 2 days it would be gone.at the end of august my infant and i were in the vehicle and it began jerking and cut off right in the middle of the highway. a tow truck was called to pick up the car. i took the car to nissan and they told me that the converter needs to be replaced again and the engine. after researching it looks as if this problem has been going on with several nissan altima's. i just want my engine and converter to be replaced the nissan corp to take responsibility. *tr
07/27/2009	67000	1
	The vehicle lost power and shut off while i was driving at about 45mph on several occasions. *tr
07/21/2009	114800	1
	7/21/09- check engine light came on brought it into dealer and they tell me that my engine is shot and it needs to be replaced, $5,100 plus tax and labor. the parts from the pre-catalyst have be sucked through the exhaust and back into the engine scoring the cylinder walls, which increases my oil consumption and could result in a fire. after some research i discover that this has been a problem with hundreds of other people with the same model year as me. nissan did a recall back in 05/03 (recall 3007) to try to fix this issue but proper measures were not taking. in national highway traffic safety administration action number- pe02078, it states that nissan is still developing a corrective action to address the pre-catalyst. i have found no record that this work has ever been done, since 05/03 !?!?. my problem with nissan is they have known about these problems with model year 2002 2.5 liter altimas and still after over six years of releasing this information to the public they never address any issue that would prevent this from happening. i have contacted nissan and have been told that they have done all they can for me. with the issue of potential fire and sudden engine seizer i have not been able to drive my car since this issue has occurred. i would like nissan to pay for all repairs that are needed due to this issue. *tr
07/17/2009	75779	1
	Vehicle continuously looses oil 1 1/2 qts per 500 miles regardless of how often i change the oil. i have had my vehicle in the dealership for several recall replacements{catalytic converter, crank sensor, cam sensor after vehicle shut off while driving, headlight ground, air bag sensor as well as others].vehicle has rough start every time vehicle is started. i also have complaint regarding the heater blowing cold air when i come to a stop. after reading hundreds of complaints and reports i fear my vehicle is soon to follow in regards to the engine failure so many have reported.why should i have to spend my time constantly checking the oil to make it is proper when there are no oil leaks and vehicle has less than 80,000 miles and is extremely well maintained? due to the immense amount of reports and claims shouldn't nissan motor corp. issue a recall for engines that have already ingested the catalytic converter material despite being replaced? hasn't the damage already been done? *tr
07/02/2009	57805	1
	My car has been at lebruns nissan dealership 3 times they detected three different problems, the last resort was my blown headgasket. i have a 2002 with 60,000 miles on it i should not be having a headgasket problem!! i have researched different problems and concerns with other owners online and have come across the same problems. problems containing oil consumption, engine failure, head gaskets, catalytic converters, not starting, service engine light on. now to me if this is happening to more than a few cars same exact year and model this is a defect on nissan and they are not stepping up to the plate. i have contacted nissan again and have gone further into this and have spoken to nissan north america, i which my specialist returns my phone calls every three days, they have accepted to fix my catalytic converter which is appreciated, but that still does not fix my problem as others have experienced. i feel i have been purchased a lemon vehicle and i am not satisfied, and i will continue to go further until nissan steps up to the plate and takes fault on there product. *tr
06/13/2009	139000	1
	I was on vacation, driving to cleveland, oh with my wife & parents on 6-13-09, sat in 2002 nissan altima, 2.5 sl. around 9.00 pm, on i-80, apprx 40 mil from cleveland, suddenly smoke started coming from the car hood, causing poor visibility. temp and oil level indicators did not show any sign of problem with the engine. after narrowly escaping crash with other vehicles by grace of god, we could stop the car with smoke still coming out. by the time i moved everybody away from the car, the smoke stopped. this sudden failure of the engine could have been more disastrous, endangering precious lives. on cranking the engine, loud noise from the engine made us believe that car was in bad shape, so car was towed to nissan of north olmsted, oh (dealer). after inspection on mon, 6/15/09 i was informed that the engine casting had a big hole apprx 2 big. we were asked to either scrap the car or replace the engine with estimated cost of $4500. we were not told any good reason for this engine failure. being stranded with my family for 3 days and despaired, i decided to replace engine hoping to get compensation from nissan. initial positive response from nissan customer affairs became very dissatisfying and frustrating after i paid the dealer. it was a shock to us that after calling so many times nissan did not took any responsibility stating on 6/24 that the vehicle is outside of manufacturer's warranty later i found many publications stating that 2002, nissan altima-2.5l engines have faced similar engine failures but nissan has not done enough to avoid such incidents. irresponsible behavior like this is not expected from such a reputed org. there had been multiple recalls on my car including engine sensor kit and engine cooling system. i would like to request you to look in to this matter so as to contain further damage to precious lives of people at large. i further request you to impress upon nissan to reimburse us for total cost of replacing engine and mental agony. *tr
06/12/2009	109250	1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 40 mph, the contact heard a clicking sound followed by a popping sound. the consumers daughter pulled the vehicle over and noticed smoke coming from the bottom of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the engine needed to be replaced due to a lack of engine oil. there were no warnings prior to the failure. the current and failure mileages were 109,250. updated 8/3/09 cn the consumer stated there was a known defect with the vehicle, in which a recall had been issued. the consumer daughter had just had the oil changed. updated 08/10/09.*jb
12/01/2008	80000	1
	My car started stalling and got harder and harder to start. premier nissan (metairie, la) said a power valve screw came loose, fell into the engine, the engine was ruined, and i needed to buy a new engine. i googled the matter. many others have complained about this for same make, model and year (2002). (there are lots of complaints of this happening in the 2003 model also.) and this was exactly the subject of a nissan recall campaign for the 2004 and 2005 altimas (nissan #: p5202; ntb05-058b). *tr
06/01/2009	178000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle consumed an excessive amount of oil. he took the vehicle in for an oil change and by the time he arrived back home (within 300 miles) the vehicle was in need of more oil. the low engine oil warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact placed more oil into the vehicle before it was taken to a repair shop. the mechanic verified the low oil level in the vehicle and stated that the vehicle was burning oil at an alarming rate. there was no evidence of oil leakage anywhere in the vehicle. the contact found over 700 complaints on the nhtsa web site for the same failure. the failure and current mileages were less than 178,000.
05/06/2009	125000	1
	I own a 2002 nissan altima, 2.5l engine. i have had more problems with this car than you can imagine. the car has stopped on me two times in the past year or two. it came to a halt in september 2007 in the middle of traffic and i had to wait over an hour for a tow truck. at that time i had the sensor detector replaced by a neighborhood garage. on last tuesday, the car stopped again and would not move but i happened to be in parking lot and waited 3 hours to get my car moved. this time the car was repaired by a nissan dealer and the sensor detectors were again replaced. i was informed that my engine was coming apart internally bit by bit and i would need the engine replaced or run the risk of having the engine stop on me at any time. i have changed the catalytic convertor, have an oil leak and some gaskets have been replaced. i put oil in my car every week because the leak was not repaired. i never seen any oil on my driveway and don't know where it is leaking. when i checked to see if i could find an engine for less than what the dealership quoted me, i found 400 complaints on one website and 99 on another website complaining of the exact same problems with their 2002 nissan altima with a 2.5l engine of which i am complaining. many of the complaints are reporting engine failure or breakdown. this is very concerning and i think something needs to be done by nissan as this seems to be a manufacturing problem but i don't know where to go. *tr
05/08/2009	98000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the crank position sensors keep failing in her vehicle. in 2004, the dealer repaired the vehicle according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). the contact is the second owner of the vehicle and the dealer stated that she would have to pay $300 to repair the failure again. the failure mileage was 98,000.
03/12/2009		1
	One month ago oil light went on, checked oil and low. mechanic said the oil was not leaking, yet we were losing oil every 100 miles. went to nissan for diagnostic check and they said the 2002 nissan altima 2.5s, 80,000 miles needs catalytic converter and engine .researched on www.carcomplaints.com and many complaints for the same year and model has had the same problem. according to the research this defect can cause a engine fire. *tr
03/05/2009	81145	1
	The car, nissan 2002 altima 2.5s, would stall without warning while driving. this was starting to happen on a regular basis during the first week of march 2009. nissan replaced the crank & cam sensors. they stated they weren't covered under any nissan safety recall. *tr
03/20/2009	80000	1
	Major oil consumption at 80,000 miles. *tr
02/03/2009	93000	1
	The cam chain tensioner in the nissan motors vq35de and vq40de are prone to failure after the warranty expires resulting in thousands of dollars in repairs. nissan has revised the parts to prevent the failure from happening but those parts are only installed afterthe failure has occurred. the cost to have this done prior to failure is very high. surely nissan should have done something to prevent this from happening before putting these motors into production...*tr
03/13/2009	127000	1
	Catalytic converter failure, head gasket failure; engine and catalytic converter must be replaced. *tr
02/22/2007	92000	1
	2002 nissan altima 2.5 s excessive oil consumption began around 92k miles. this vehicle has always had timely oil changes, suddenly the car was low on oil. the car was brought to the nissan dealership in smithtown, ny on 2/22/07, and i was informed that it needed a new engine and that there wasn't anything else that could be done. the catalytic converter was ordered on 2/23/07 (this was back-ordered). the catalytic converter was replaced on 3/13/07, approx. $600. now the car needs another catalytic converted and the engine is consuming several courts of oil a week. there are many people with the same car that have all experienced this sudden excessive oil consumption. the are other altima years that had this same problem and that were recalled but nissan has not done that for the 2002 model. it is widely know that it was due to the oil rings and the faulty pre-cats and exhaust manifolds. this car needs approx. $8k is repairs in order to stop burning oil and to correct the emissions. nissan should be responsible for these faulty parts in these cars, in all the years that they effected. *tr
02/20/2009	144700	1
	Recently traveling to nc and the car lost power and won
09/18/2008		1
	Car is sucking up oil makes noise and engine light is always on. *tr
01/10/2009	115000	1
	My 2002 nissan altima's check engine light came on. the car started running sluggish, and totally ran out of oil! mechanic said i needed a new engine. i bought one - and that one went on the fritz two days after fixing it. the diagnostics test said it was an o2 sensor. it ran out of oil. now i find out the car is a lemon, after i bought a new engine to boot. two engines are ruined in this car, and i still don't have it paid for. *tr
09/04/2008	129000	1
	New 2002 altima, well maintained, buying nissans since 1992 receiving mileage over 260,000 miles. looking back car constantly low on oil w/no light registering then light never came back on for 3 years, yet oil was always low. checking oil every 2 weeks and every oil change at dealership-oil low at tip of the dip stick. had car serviced-no indication of problems; september the car smelled hot; not registering or showing any signs of it running hot. car constantly not starting, stalling as driving along the road. go to dealership, need a motor replaced, warped head gasket cost $4,000 plus dollars. the dealership owner asked how many cars has come in (altima 2002) per mechanic several hundreds for the motor and/or radiator problems (replacing motors). he has ordered a large number of nissan motors from the company to replace the engines. owner was surprised of this motor having to be replaced and has kept my car in storage until i can afford to replace the motor. he will also follow up on a recall for the engines with that many cars being repaired. this has changed my mind on purchasing another nissan product because of the rudeness when reporting the problems to their customer affairs department and nothing can be done (per the rep). this need to take some priority with the number of issues reported as complaints on all the websites. ii have found 114 here plus one more 115 plus i have about 30 other complaints and then the report that the dealership has fixed over 200 cars. please help us get our money and/or engines repaired. with the stalling and shut down of the motors, thanks to god the low death rates. car is still in storage at the dealership when it stalled on route 29 interstate. *tr
12/29/2008	128000	1
	Nissan claims that they have fixed their recalls but car stalled on a hwy where speed limit was 70 my family & myself could have got killed. i paid 1100 dollars to fix it. engine light was back on did oil change car keeps burning oil every day i have to check it and add oil then they tell me i need a new engine have called over 50 times & left messages they tell me they can not give me a new engine but this is an on going problem & they know about it. there are a lot of people with this car & same problem they need a new engine & no one is doing anything about it. they should give them a new engine for free because they manufacture these cars wrong & are still manufacturing cars with problems then they wonder why people aren't buying there cars. this is a safety issue to anyone who owns this car & until people start getting killed they won't due anything about it. have spent a lot of money trying to fix this lemon. they also tell you that you need a catalytic converter. is it going to take several death please someone do something immediately. all my recalls are up to date so this is not the problem. *tr
07/19/2007	78785
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact was experiencing engine failure. he noticed a silent recall on the nissan website. the manufacturer stated that they would not take liability for the repairs due to the fact that he was not the original owner, although his vin was included in the recall. the engine was replaced at the cost of $3,000, but with less than 2,500 miles, the engine failed again. the contact heard a ticking sound when the vehicle was in motion and it was burning oil at rapid speeds. the manufacturer performed an oil consumption test and found that the engine was faulty. the nhtsa campaign id number was unknown. the failure mileage was 78,785 and current mileage was 97,000.
02/02/2009	80000	1
	I have an 02 nissan altima. it is consuming my oil and anitfreeze. i was told that i needed a new engine and a new cat. my car randomly dies and will not start most of the time. *tr
01/08/2009	179000	1
	Power valve screws fell into the intake manifold plate on 2002 nissan altima 2002 nissian altima 2.5 stalled on the highway. car had been idling very rough and engine vibration as well as intermittent power loss 24 hours prior to issue. took it to two independent mechanics. both confirmed that the pvc value screw fell intake manifold. this was also confirmed by nissan. however it was only recalled on the 2004-2006 models. it just so happens that nissan had to replace my engine on my vehicle in 2004, therefore my car should be included in the recall but because my call is 02 nissan will not cover the problem. 2002 models need to be included in the recall. *tr
02/10/2005	32500
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the check engine warning indicator would continuously illuminate. the dealer could not determine why the indicator continued to illuminate and stated that there was rust around the fuel tank. on a separate occasion, the engine began to make a knocking sound and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. it was determined that the knocking noise originated from the overhead cam component of the engine. there was no oil in the vehicle, although the contact maintained regular maintenance and oil changes every 3,000 miles. his vin was not included in any of the recalls that described the same failures he experienced (nhtsa campaign id numbers 03v455000 and 03v455000). the failure mileage was 32,500 and current mileage was 86,600.
01/10/2009	126846	1
	Well maintained 2002 nissan altima.... followed all maintenance schedules, had all recalls performed all work performed at nissan dealerships. has had continual oil consumption issues, had heat issues, catalytic converter failure leading to full engine failure. nissan denies any wrong doing and will not help due to mileage on the car. however this problem started well within the warranty period and the dealership(s) did not do let us know about a known problem with the design (catalytic converter in front of the exhaust). there are 1000 of consumers on the internet with the exact same problem. *tr
07/15/2007	72000	1
	I have a 2002 altima 2.5 standard. i bought the car in july 2007 with 72,000 miles and had a misfire reading from the time i bought it till i replaced the head gasket and got some head work done on the car. mileage now totals at nearly around 110,000 miles. nissan looked at my car all the way for any problems and i had a few recalls done on it including replacing the headlamps. little did i know when i had my mechanic (non-nissan mechanic later on from my dealer visit) replace the head gasket ( w/valve guides and oil rings) for $1600 that my front engine fan was unplugged near the headlamps which had caused some really bad overheating issues. my cat is bad (via a engine code) which i have yet to replace as i see no need to at this point... also my car has been eating up more than 1 quart of oil per week as i drive over 460 miles a week as a commuter to dallas, tx. at this point the option would be to either re..re-build the engine or replace with a new very expensive engine nothing that i have already spent too much money on this car. *tr
12/20/2008	85139	1
	We own a 2002 nissan altima s 2.5 liter engine. we had a recall due to the exhaust pipe hanger pin possibly igniting with the main catalyst. after that was dealt with, the dealer charging me $80.81, said the engine noise and check engine light is due to faulty catalytic converter. the conversion efficiency of the pre-catalyst has deteriorated and now the catalyst has to be replaced. there is no heat when the car is at idle and now have increased oil consumption, 5 quarts every 2 weeks. because of the amount of damage a new engine may be in the picture. there are only 85000 miles on the car. we do not have the money for a new engine or even catalytic converter. what should we do to get nissan to fix their faulty catalytic converter/engine problem? nissan is not standing behind their product! we aren't talking about buying a gallon of milk! we are driving a car that could possibly start on fire while we are in it! search nissan catalytic converter; car and driver altima catalytic converter failure and www.canadiandriver.com/articles/cc/02-06altima.htm the complaints are numerous please reply with what recourse we have. *tr
11/05/2008	119197
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the dealer repaired the vehicle according to nhtsa campaign id numbers 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling) and 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). two weeks later, the catalytic converter failed and went into the wall of the engine, which caused the engine to crack. the dealer stated that the repair would cost $6,000. the contact was unsure if the recall was the cause of the failure and if assistance could be provided. the failure mileage was 119,197.
11/29/2004	45000	1
	1.the year 2004 thanksgiving i was driving home from la, baton rouge when my heat wouldn't come on. i got it fixed but was the knob to the control would only turn 3/4 of the way or it wouldn't work. then when the spring came and i used my a/c it didn't work. i took it in and when i went to pick it up they said i would have to have it on max in order for it to work properly. 2. as of 2006 to current my car jerks and runs out of oil often and now i need to put at least 4 quarts every week. the check engine light comes on at lease once a week. 3. i take it into my mechanic to check to see what the problem could be and doesn't see a leak, burning oil it just consumes it. i get all the necessary car medical check up's and the car still eats oil, jerks and continues to give me panic attacks as i drive to and from work. my mechanic and i have detailed logs of how many times they've put in oil or i have purchased and put it in myself along with any additional work. *tr
11/29/2008		1
	Nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalyst converter. after inspection of the catalyst converter noticeable chucks of the catalyst converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer with fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *tr
03/16/2002		1
	Like thousands of other 2002 nissan altima 2.5 owners, nissan has left every one of us hanging out there and all they can recommend is to replace the engine. nissan created this problem and is very aware of the oil consumption, catalytic converter break up and oxygen sensor failure. then there is the excessive oil consumption and let's not forget the hard starting and failure to start. i will not buy another nissan again and it disgusts me that nissan is washing its hands of these issues. i could understand their reluctance to look any further if there were only a handful of owners with this problem but there are thousands and we are all fed up with the way nissan has handled the issues. they knew after they rolled out the 2002 nissan altima, it had issues but they have buried their heads in the sand. whenever you call nissan direct, they just blow you off and all the dealerships can recommend is a new engine. they are treating their customers as if they are stupid. it annoys me the facade nissan is putting on and treating any nissan altima customer as if they are the only one with a lemon which needs a new engine. my nissan has done 145,000 miles and should not need a new engine after years of regular maintenance. nissan issued a recall in dec 2006 when i think they knew they had a problem. they did not replace the oxygen sensors at that time. they just checked them. if you want to read more reports like this go to www.mycarstats.com, which is where i got the link to send you this complaint. i would appreciate if the nhtsa would at least investigate what is happening to all 2002 nissan altimas. did i mention that my engine service light has been on for over a year - since the last time it went into a nissan dealership. i rest my case.n *tr
10/10/2008	68000	1
	Nissan altima 2002 oil consumption problem. problem can lead to car fire. dealership admitted to defect in engine. see: http://forums.automotive.com/70/1106267/nissan/2002-nissan-altima-oil-dropping-at-108000miles-i-w/index.html. i had to pay $5,000 for a new engine. *tr
10/08/2008		1
	Excessive oil consumption in my nissan altima 2002 model. when i contacted the local nissan dealer, he says that the problem is because of the catalytic converter being sucked into the engine and the engine might blow up any time. and they are asking $6000 for fixing the vehicle. this is totally sucking the customer of anything that one can live off even. as a small family with meager earnings, this is going to hit our family in a major way as this kind of spend is not something we can afford. this problem is being faced by thousands of other altima owners also. request the government to help us out immediately. *tr
06/01/2008	74987	1
	I own a 2002 nissan altima which is exhibiting the symptoms very typical with 100's of other altima owners. one month ago the check engine light came on, engine is consuming large quantities of oil, power is sluggish especially at startup, coolant is being consumed etc. took the car in to the dealer and the fault code was for faulty catalytic converter. dealer suggests complete replacement of long block. since the recall (ntb03-070c) had been done on my car a few years ago, previous to me owning the car, they are no longer responsible for the recall. seems unfathomable that so many owners are experiencing the same problem and no definite action is being taken from nissan or being forced to be taken from the government oversight. *tr
07/15/2006	90000	1
	Nissan altima 2.5 2002 in 2006 my car was using 2 or 3 quarts of oil every three thousand miles. luckily my car was still under warranty, but nissan and the nissan dealership were very reluctant to provide help. finally after months of testing, ten trips to the dealership, calls to corporate, and a trip to the dealership with my father, they finally replaced my engine. they would not, however, tell me exactly what the problem was and why the engine had to be replaced. now, two years later, i am facing the exact same problems. the dealership says i need a new catalytic converter and new o2 sensor. another one thousand dollars! after researching this car and others who are facing the same problems i am convinced nissan should take responsibility and a recall should be mandatory. thank you for your help. *tr
09/25/2008		1
	My 2002 nissan altima has very high oil consumption. seems that im not alone according to the dealer service people. is costing me a lot in replacing engine and catalytic converter. *tr
08/23/2008	96000
	My nissan altima has gone through 2 catalytic converts and is burning 2 quarts of oil every 100 miles. *tr
09/14/2008	98401	1
	I have a 2002 nissan altima 2.5 s model, the car started to use excessive amounts of oil and coolant. took car to a nissan dealer and the service dept. told me i need a new engine and without having the service dept. disassemble the engine they can't determine what the failure of is. this car only has 98k on it and is and was taken very good care of. i've heard of others who own nissan altimas having the same symptoms and problems. the nissan dealer told me there is nothing they or nissan of america can or will do. i know that nissan has had problems and they will not do anything to help. *tr
09/01/2008		1
	Constant problem with a misfire#4 in a 2002 nissan altima. i have replaced the spark plug,coil, and injector. same problem. also noticed a high volume of oil consumption. no one can seem to fix the problem. shakes during a cold our hot start. smoothes out then the car runs fine. dealer is saying it passed the pressure test but is saying i need a new motor. *tr
08/28/2008	90270	1
	I bought a used 2002 nissan altima 2.5 sl 2 months ago. i took it to nissan service center 2 times for in 2 months for oil change. last time i got engine check soon icon so i asked to do diagnostic engine check and required repair. they did it and said coolant level is low and engine cap is leaking pressure so need to replace the radiator cap. after 1 month i had a mechanical failure problem on highway suddenly and a rod threw from inside the engine out and made a whole on engine. this engine was called for a recall in march 2008 and it was done. but now i got the same problem again and now turned out to be a big problem to replace the whole engine. i'm a student and i can't pay $4500 for this. nissan should take responsibility for this and bare the cost. this car's warranty period is also over. but as nissan servicers know that when engine check soon problem occurs in these vehicles it is going to crash but they don't tell this. nissan must take responsibility for my losses. *tr
02/07/2007	75000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving at any speed, the engine made a grinding noise. the contact examined the engine and noticed that there was no oil present. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the failure occurred without warning. the current mileage was 118,000 and failure mileage was 75,000.
08/31/2007	85000	1
	I loved the car until recently when i started having problems with the heater. months ago, i noticed that my heater was not working properly. i took it to be looked at and the mechanic told me that there may be bubbles in the coolant line. they bled the line, refilled it and it was fine for awhile. i have no heat again. they checked and could find no external leaks. this has been a problem for the past year, and every few months i need my coolant replaced and bled. i've gone to numerous mechanics and nobody can find the leak. i've searched many sites and forums and this seems to be a recurring problem for my type of car. the engine is overheating because the coolant is leaking, the car idles rough and is driving w/ higher rpms than it used. *tr
08/24/2008	85000	1
	I loved the car until recently when i started having problems with the heater. months ago, i noticed that my heater was not working properly. i took it to be looked at and the mechanic told me that there may be bubbles in the coolant line. they bled the line, refilled it and it was fine for awhile. i have no heat again. they checked and could find no external leaks. this has been a problem for the past year, and every few months i need my coolant replaced and bled. i've gone to numerous mechanics and nobody can find the leak. i've searched many sites and forums and this seems to be a recurring problem for my type of car. the engine is overheating because the coolant is leaking, the car idles rough and is driving w/ higher rpms than it used. *tr
06/30/2006	55000	1
	Too many issues to remember than all but i'll try: - excessive oil use - excessive coolant use - overheating to the aforementioned issues - intermittent transmission issues - failing airbag - electrical issues - broken sensors - catalytic converters gone bad - oxygen sensors gone bad - intermittent failure to start - intermittent car shaking and so on. *tr
06/15/2006	80000	1
	At about 80,000 miles my 2002 nissan altima had an issue where the coolant started leaking into to combustion chamber, had to have the heads resurfaced, and cat converters replaced. now the car burns oil, has to be replaced at about 1000 miles (completely empty if i let it go to 1500 miles). the car now stops when driving at slow speeds, starts right back up, but dies while driving. *tr
07/02/2008	70000	1
	Excessive oil consumption after precatalyst sucked into engine, which caused nissan to declare my engine was shot. this a known issue with nissan. hundreds of others have reported it. there should be a recall issued by nissan and engines replaced for free. *tr
02/01/2006	100000	1
	After replacing the oxygen sensor various times, i began to get huge amounts of oil consumption where i had to add every week. as a result the catalytic converter was shot, and also ruined the engine. during that period, my 2002 altima had spontaneously shut down completely while operating on city roads and interstate freeways. despite having perfect maintenance and completing all recalls (see nhtsa recall number: 03v084000 or nissan recall r3007), i had no choice but to replace the engine. the design is completely flawed and no recall will correct this bad design. *tr
08/08/2008	100000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 70 mph, the engine failed in the middle of the road. there were no warning lights illuminated prior to the failure. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that there was no oil in the engine. as a result, a rod failed and destroyed the engine. the nissan dealer stated that there were no recalls for this issue. the failure mileage was 100,000.
07/31/2008		1
	My car has a recall for the engine. i took time off from work to go and get my car serviced. the same day of the service, my car service engine soon light came on and the car had poor performance. i called the dealership back to explain the situation, and the service person told me to bring it back in. i told them i needed a loaner car so i could go to work. they insisted that they do not issue loaners anymore, so i proceeded to obtain another way. i called the dealership, on several occasions to let them know it was a problem getting my car in without the courtesy of a loaner. in june 2008, i tried to obtain my license but the car failed the emission test. i contacted the nissan headquarters with my complaint making several calls and leaving messages. a regional manager assistant contacted me to let me know the manager will call me within 3 days. she did not contact me like she promised, so i kept calling until finally i requested someone call me asap. i received a call on thursday, 7/31/08 from the regional specialist stating that the problem i am having has nothing to do with the emission test failure and added there was nothing they could do. she referred me to the dealership and stated she has nothing to do with their decision. i called the dealership and the serviceman stated that he had spoken to the regional specialist and when i bring the car in i would have to pay for diagnostic costs and repair services, because it is probably not their problem. as of now, the problem of my car not being repaired and unsafe has not been resolved, which was stated could result in a fatal accident. *tr
07/18/2008	69000	1
	We purchased a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s in june 2008 with 69,000 miles and we took the car to the local nissan dealer (universal nissan) when the check engine light came on. the dealer performed work on several recalls including the replacement of the catalytic converter. the engine uses a quart of oil every 50 miles so the dealer did an oil consumption test and the dealer informed us that the engine failed the oil consumption test, that the engine is bad and that it needs to be replaced. we contacted nissan consumer affairs and requested that they replace the engine due to the catalytic converter going bad and allowing material from the damaged pre-catalyst to enter the engine and result in increased oil consumption per their recall # ntb03-070c, dated november 17, 2006. we have been denied our request for nissan to pay for and to replace the defective engine with a new engine. this is a known defect and nissan should replace the engine. *tr
12/19/2007	89991	1
	Bought used 2002 nissan altima 3/07 took car to dave solon nissan, pueblo co 12/07. i commuted every other week to colorado springs on those weeks i was putting 3 quarts of oil. there was no oil leak oil was gone. nissan couldn't tell me where oil was going they contacted warrant & they decided on a refurbished engine. got my car back end of december. jan, feb & march only drove car every other week to springs. noticed at end of feb i was putting about 8 quarts oil a week. took it back to nissan in beginning of march they told me i needed to find receipts for oil changes, told them i wasn't sure i could find them. but questioned that it oil would need to be changed when there was no oil in the car after a two days. a week later husband started back to work he took nissan to colo springs for work on his way home it just died out good thing for us on our not so busy street and only a couple of houses from ours. so there it stood for a couple of months not having money to get it towed or even looked at. in may we found a mechanic a mile from our home who would come and tow it to his shop. he looked at it and found we needed a catalytic converter paid $800 for it. when he went to put it in he found where our oil was going. he said 3 of our 4 cylinders were covered in oil which made the catalytic converter explode. he told use to call nissan which i did they said they would not look at the car unless we give them receipts for oil changes again why tried again to find them of course could not locate i think we did 2 in the time frame. argued with them for a long time they basically told me it was our problem not there's. went online and researched found many many people with same problem as myself. need something done about this we are paying for a car that is not working. i would understand if it was our fault but how can a 2002 car with about 89,000 miles on it need another engine. nissan needs to take the blame and compensate nissan owners. *tr
07/02/2008	94000	1
	Engine head gasket failure,seams to be a common problem and nissan north america won't do anything about it .the gasket was replaced,the head needed to be machined. events leading to failure, antifreeze loss from overflow tank no leaks or puddles after a two weeks the engine became hard to start. $1600.00. *tr
05/01/2008	65000	1
	1. the failure found at june, 6 2008 at mileage 65,000 miles 2. it has misfire code cause by very small cylinder head gasket leak 3. the gasket is replaced and the head cylinder is resurfaced. *tr
06/21/2008	123000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact's vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling). approximately two weeks later, the vehicle began to exhibit the same symptoms as it did prior to the recall repair. while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle would stall and then restart. the vehicle also failed the state smog emissions test due to crankshaft position sensor failure. the dealer was notified of these failures, but informed the contact that the recall repairs could only be performed once. the failure mileage was 123,000.
01/02/2008	103000	1
	I own a 2002 nissan altima 2.5 se sedan that has a design flaw, (admitted by nissan) that causes the engine to burn oil at an excessive rate. many other owners have acknowledged this problem but nissan has arrogantly denied all of its customers. this problem can cause engine failure at any time and injury due to fire. please demand that nissan recalls these models and does the right thing. one thing that i would also like to mention is that my children ride in this car with me. if this problem were to endanger their safety, nissan would be out of business, i'd make sure of it!!! thanks for your attention. *tr
05/01/2008	65200	1
	1. on june, 8 2008, at 65,200 miles 2. randomly misfire code that cause by very small leak cylinder head gasket that cannot be detected easily. (no overheat, no smokes from the muffler, just slow lowering coolant fluid level) 3. change the cylinder head gasket, and warped cylinder head. *tr
12/05/2007	100000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the engine does not start. when the engine does start, the vehicle shutters and then shuts off. the vehicle was taken to the repair shop, but the engine is still not working properly. the current mileage was 109,000 and failure mileage was 100,000.
05/02/2008	143000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 75 mph, the contact heard a bumping sound from outside the vehicle and noticed that the check engine light illuminated. the vehicle lost power and the brakes failed. the contact had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. once the vehicle was stopped, she was unable to place the vehicle into park. the contact exited the vehicle and noticed that the front end caught fire. there were no injuries and a police report was filed. the current and failure mileages were 143,000.
12/29/2007	60000	1
	While driving on the interstate my car stalled around 70 mph causing me to have to pull off the road while in a thunder storm. since that my car is also burning about a quart of oil every 2 weeks. *tr
04/14/2008	217000	3	03/31/2002
	My 2002 nissan altima (2.5l) started out with o2 sensors needing replaced, the overheating, no coolant, loosing oil, replaced crank sensor, had all recalls done electronic control module (ecm). now i am left with having to replace my engine. this seems like a problem out of most 2002 nissan altima with 2.5 according to the internet searches i have completed. i feel nissan needed to recall the whole engine. *tr
12/07/2007	85000	1	12/31/2005
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. she had several mechanics inspect the vehicle, and they all identified the failure as electrical. the following day, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. the dealer stated that water leaked into the engine and caused it to lock. the contact stated that she had been taking her vehicle in for routine maintenance every 3,000 miles to have the oil changed, and had not experienced any engine failure. she was informed that a new engine would cost between $6,000-$7,000 and a used engine would cost between $3,000-$4,000. the failure and current mileages were 85,000.
10/08/2007	100000	1	10/11/2005
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 60 mph the engine shut off down without warning and spun out of control. the vehicle crashed into a median. the driver was able to gain control and stop the vehicle was spinning. the contact sustained severe injuries. prior to the crash several warning lights on the dashboard were illuminated. the driver received a recall notice today stating the potential danger. the related nhtsa campaign number was 07v527000. the vehicle was destroyed. the current and failure mileages were 100,000.
03/02/2008		1
	2002 nissan altima 2.5 . there are many complaints about the oil consumption with this particular car, my car lis bone dry in between oil changes. according to many owners they have had to get the engine replaced do to this problem. shouldn't nissan be doing something about this? no car owner should have to be constantly pouring oil into their car. myself and other owners would like to see nissan recognize it as a problem instead of cashing in on it. *tr
10/28/2007	79496	7	03/31/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving various speeds, the vehicle would shut off without warning and had to be restarted on several occasions. there was a recall on the vehicle and repairs have been made; however, the failure continues. the recall number was unknown. the current mileage was 81,000 and failure mileage was 79,496.
09/29/2007	97014	1	03/23/2002
	I purchased a new 2002 nissan altima from pence nissan on 3/23/02. since the 2002 was a new model year for the altima, i also purchased a security+plus gold vehicle warranty for $995.00 extending the warranty to 3/23/2008 or 75,000 miles whichever occurs first. after having recurring clutch problems, i started researching on the internet and found that this model had frequent complaints regarding engine failure due to the catalytic converter breaking apart. because of this i made especially certain that i checked my oil every week, that i had all scheduled maintenance performed and that they were performed by pence nissan (i have copies of each receipt totaling $3,853.06). despite all of these precautions, my check engine light illuminated on september 25th. i took the car immediately to the dealer who said that the catalytic converter had broken apart some. i was advised not to drive the car until i replaced the converter and two oxygen sensors. i was told particles from the converter could enter the engine and destroy it resulting in an $8,000 repair. i took the dealer?s advice and replaced the catalytic converter and both oxygen sensors at a cost of $1251.05. upon inspection, the dealer noted that there were no signs of metal in the oil. i was told that although the oil looked clear, there was no guarantee that fragments from the converter hadn't made their way into the engine and it could be two weeks or two years before possible engine failure. after hearing this, i decided to purchase a new car. given my experience with the 2002 altima and what i read from other owners, i feel that this is a manufacturing defect and nissan should take responsibility for the repairs. i sent nissan two letters respectfully requesting that nissan consider reimbursing me for the $1251.05 repair charge, but have not heard anything back. *tr
01/02/2008	107053	1	07/15/2002
	My car wouldn't start. i notified nissan, they towed my car in. my car had several recalls. nissan checked my car and reset my ecm. when i went to get my car from mitchell nissan which is 30 miles away. they told us that i had a possible head or coil failure. when we left the dealership we didn't check the oil cause when they reprogrammed they suppose to have checked everything. when my husband checked that's when we found out it was no oil. i drove my car 30 miles with no oil. my car is a 2002 altima i checked the recalls and saw that the 2.5 2006 altimas has a recall on the engine as well as the sensor like the earlier years. the recalls states something about the ecm and about the pistons and driving without oil. now i have to get my engine replaced and nissan is saying it is not on them. my car was not acting up nor smoking until it cut off and had to be reprogrammed. i feel this messed up my engine. *tr
01/08/2008		1	06/10/2002
	I had a 90,000 mile vehicle checkup at nissan village in attleboro, ma. the vehicle had 88,000 miles at the time of the service. at the suggestion of the service technician, i had the catalytic converter replaced. my car currently has 92,000 miles on it and i noticed a problem with the engine. after looking the car over i noticed that the oil was bone dry. i searched on the internet for problems related to this vehicle and noticed multiple instances of the exact same problem with the catalytic converter, burning oil, and eventually total engine replacement. i have only had the catalytic converter replaced and the oil burning problem has started. i fear that i will have complete engine failure shortly, like numerous others have, because of this issue. http://forums.automotive.com/70/1106267/nissan/2002-nissan-altima-oil-dropping-at-108,000 miles-i-w/index.html http://www.nissanforums.com/l31-2002-altima/105620-little-guy-vs-nissan-north-america.html http://www.nissanforums.com/l31-2002-altima/117470-recall-r3007-resurfaces-02-03-altima.html. *tr
12/25/2005	100000	1	11/26/2001
	I have a 2002 nissan altima that began consuming oil. previous to having any problems, nissan had a recall on the precatalyst which said that materials could be caused to go into the engine and increase oil consumption. i had this recall done along with a number of other problems. now, i and other altima owners are experiencing oil consumption. i was told that the problem was with the catalytic converter which has now messed up my engine and both needed to be replaced. when i questioned the dealership regarding the previous recall, they told me that they would have look for damage when the recall was done. obviously not, since now a number of altimas are having this same problem after the recall was done. i have spoken with a former engineer that said there were a number of design issues with the 2002 model. i have also found on the internet that the catalylic converter may be located too close to the engine which is causing the problems. so if if the engine and catalytic converter were replaced, the problem can start again. some owners who have paid for replacement have eventually starting experiencing the same problem. the 2002 model year is not the only model with engine problems. *tr
05/30/2007	105000	1	11/03/2001
	Starting at just over 100,000 miles the engine began making strange noises. but once i changed my oil the noises would go away. i also noticed that my car was having difficulty shifting gears and even would just stop running at low speeds. after about 4 months of this is when we realized that the engine was consuming a lot of oil. so, basically my car was running on no oil for months at at a time. i took my car in and they said that the only way to get around this is to put oil in her every 2 weeks! that, or get a new engine. my car has never been recalled for this issue and nissan refuses to fix it, simply b/c of the mileage. *tr
09/17/2007	89	1
	Engine cylinder walls are scored and using an excess amount of oil also catalytic converter is no good. *jb
10/05/2006	74432	1	10/05/2006
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 5 to 50mph, the vehicle began idling intermittently. speed was not a factor. the failure has occurred since october 5, 2006. the dealer replaced the throttle body; however, that didn
06/25/2007	109800	2	07/01/2005
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. on july 23, 2007, the check engine light illuminated. the contact noticed massive oil consumption and smoke coming from the tail pipe. the catalytic converter had to be replaced at 50,000 miles and currently must be replaced again at 110,000 miles. he stated that the failure has caused engine damage. nhtsa recall number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) was referenced. the current mileage was 110,000 and failure mileage was 109,800.
07/06/2007	60000	2	05/06/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle experienced difficulty starting and consumed large amounts of oil and coolant. the dealer changed the spark plugs, but the failures still persist. the failures began six months ago. the vin was unknown. the current mileage was 70,400 and failure mileage was 60,000.
07/13/2007	230667	1	06/05/2002
	Car engine began to misfire, the service engine soon dashboard light came on and was sometimes flashing. proceeded to drive car at less than 80 kph (per owner's manual recommendation) to dealer for service, dealer advised that power valve (part of intake manifold) came apart on 2002 nissan altima, resulting in metal parts entering the combustion chamber. dealer made repairs, but now the engine is burning oil excessively (have had to add 2.5 l over 1400 km). there is a recall related to this problem on the 2.5l engine for the 2004 nissan altima, which apparently has identical engine to the 2002 model. car has 230,000 km so is beyond warranty. dealer not willing to pay for repairs. *tr
04/07/2007		1	09/26/2003
	My engine still dies out while driving. *tr
06/17/2007	66900	1	11/10/2001
	2002 nissan altima 2.5 began to chug violently while being driven at highway speeds. drove the vehicle to the next exit, but was unable to determine what was wrong with it. shut off the car, and restarted to examine the engine while idling, noticing an intermittent shuddering of the engine. drove the car a few miles to my destination, and it stalled several times. after the last stall o the check engine light finally came on. had it towed the next morning to the nearest nissan dealership. after running the code, they immediately went to work on the power valve. both screws had come loose from the metal plate in the power valve, and the screws had gone through the engine crushed the spark plug in cylinder #1, and they made their way into the exhaust manifold. the dealer had to replace the screws, the plate in the intake manifold, the exhaust and adapter gaskets, and the spark plug. there is currently a recall for this problem on 2004 and 2005 altimas, though not on 2002 and 2003 models, which share the same engine. this problem is documented in other 2002 and 2003 models on this odi website and on various internet forums.*ak
05/09/2007	60493	2
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact takes her vehicle in regularly for scheduled maintenance and is upset that at 60,000 miles, the engine needs to be replaced. she stated that the vehicle failed to start properly on june 9, 2007 and took it to the dealer. on may 13, 2007, the vehicle began overheating and shaking. the contact stated that she has been battling with the corporate office every since. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage is 60,604 and failure mileage was 60,493.
05/10/2004	45000	1
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the engine is making a loud noise and burning oil. the service engine light illuminated. the dealer diagnosed the vehicle as needing a new engine and will not replace it free of charge. the vin and purchase date were unavailable. the current mileage is 110,000 and failure mileage was 45,000.
01/01/2004	67000	1	04/01/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that there was a recall for his vehicle. the dealer stated that he needs a new engine, but the contact believes that the dealer damaged what they were trying to prevent. nissan and the consumer affairs office did not offer any assistance in the matter. the recall repair was performed in january of 2004 and the head gasket was repaired that same year. the engine size was unknown. the current mileage is 145,400 and failure mileage was 67,000.
04/01/2007	90000	40	04/01/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start. the dealer stated that the head gasket was blown. the contact spoke with the manufacturer who stated that they were unable to repair the vehicle because it was no longer under warranty. the current mileage is 112,000 and failure mileage was 90,000.
04/01/2007	80000	3	07/07/2003
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact complained about oil consumption failure. the check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter was failing. through further investigation debris was discovered in the engine. the dealer stated that replacing the motor would be the only way to remedy the failure. the cost of the repair would be $4,000.00. the vehicle was under investigation # pe02078 for the same failure in 2003. nissan issued a recall from this investigation. the contact brought the vehicle to dealer for the recall repair, but the failure was not remedied, and recurred. the current mileage is 89,000, and failure mileage was 80,000. ak
04/17/2007	90500	1	11/01/2001
	Design flaw caused catalytic converter breakdown which resulted in engine failure despite proper maintenance. car only had about 85,000 miles when problems began and 90,500 when failure occurred. new engine is needed at no fault of my own and despite proper car of vehicle. ninety thousand miles is too soon for engine replacement. *jb
01/05/2007	74000	3	05/09/2006
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima there is a recall on the fuel pump screen which caused the engine to stall, and the engine service light to remain on. during the diagnosis they found a service engine code pertaining to the catalyst. he took it to the dealership and called nissan, who inform him that the dealer would fix it, but nissan called back refusing to cover the cost of the repair. the failure mileage was 74,000 , and the current mileage was 80,000.ak the manifold exhaust was replaced, when the vehicle was in idle, it would surge. the air bag sensor was replaced. updated 05/22/07. *jb
04/07/2007	113730	1	12/15/2001
	I purchased a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s in december 2001 and currently have 113,000 highway miles and have maintained my car with oil changes and recommended services. though i never received a recall notice, i have done all recalls when the service dept advised that there one on it. about a week ago my service engine light came on while driving. i immediately made an appointment with nissan service dept. i was informed that the catalytic converter broke into pieces and went into the engine causing it to fail ($5,000). after paying the $550 fee for nissan basically telling me that i had a defective catalytic converter which cause the damage, i went home and did some research. i find that there are thousands of frustrated altima owners. i called nissans headquarters to advise them of my situation. i was contacted by nissan 48 hrs later basically telling me that my car had to many miles on it and past the warranty. i told them that i was aware of the many people with this same problem and can't believe that nissan is choosing to ignore that they have made this car with defective parts. i also can't believe that they are choosing to risk people lives and ignoring the many customers who are having the same problem. their excuse is that the car is past the 80,000 mile warranty, although i'm sure they will come up with some other poor excuse. the message i got from nissan is that they stand behind their product only until the warranty and although they have made their cars with a known defective part, basically it is the consumers problem for putting their faith into supposedly a company that stands behind their product. i'm currently awaiting word from the local dealer to see if they would replace the engine as a goodwill. although i doubt this will happen. maybe nissan will finally do something when unfortunate people really get hurt or lose their life! i can't believe that they also know about this problem and continue to close their eyes. *tr
02/19/2007	90000	1
	My 2002 nissan altima 2.5s appears to have pieces of the catalytic converter in the engine cylinder, causing an engine misfire. when doing research on the internet i find hundreds of owners of this same model vehicle with the same problem and in most cases they are being denied any help from nissan due to the vehicle being out of warranty. it is obvious that there is a definite pattern of premature problems/failures with this model that nissan refuses to address. it is time that nhsta uses their influence to get this company to stand behind these defective vehicles! *jb
07/02/2005	100000	1	11/26/2001
	Dt*: the contact stated the engine was burning oil at a rate of 5 quarts per 1000 miles. the vehicle was provided with the proper oil service. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined that the engine needed to be replaced.
10/13/2006	148850	1	03/21/2002
	My 2002 nissan altima 2.5 s started engine misfiring and stalling while in heavy traffic. this occurred with no prior warning lights or unusual performance from the engine. the malfunction indicator light then started alternating from flashing to constantly on. i consulted my vehicle manual and followed the directions to drive my vehicle at speeds less than 45 miles per hour to the dealer to have it serviced. the dealer diagnosed the problem and told me that a power valve screw had come loose and damaged the spark plug. the suggested replacing all of the power valve screws, but they indicated that i may have internal engine damage and catalyst failure that could not be seen. they further advised that i may have future problems with the car. i understand that the 2003, 2004 ,and 2005 versions of this car may have the same problem and that nissan had a voluntary service campaign for 2004 and 2005 engines. i believe that the damage which might have been caused is potentially catastrophic and should be attended to by the manufacturer in the form of a recall and repair of any damages. *nm
09/15/2006	80023	1	04/27/2002
	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
08/10/2006	78000	3
	The car either hesitated or stalled (engine stopped running) on about 3 different trips while my wife was driving between 30 mph and 50 mph. the car started right back up each time. this vehicle had been though a recall on 11/17/2003 (r3021/r3022) to replace the cam position sensor. i was not the owner of the car when the recall was done. the dealer said this vehicle was repaired under that recall. the problem has appeared again or a similar problem is happening a second time. i brought the car into the dealer on 9/29/06 and they replaced the cam sensor to stop the stalling. since the problem and the solution appeared to be the same as in the 11/17/2003 recall, the dealer said the problem was fixed once and therefore the second repair was not covered under the recall. i'm concerned weather this could be a recurring problem and if the original repair was adequate to remedy the stalling problem. *nm
07/25/2006	99500	1	01/02/2003
	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
09/14/2006	50000	10	10/01/2001
	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
08/20/2006	70000	4	09/13/2002
	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
07/11/2006	55100	15	02/06/2002
	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
08/08/2006	66741	1	04/01/2002
	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
08/15/2006	83352	5	05/26/2006
	Service engine soon light comes on. continuously fails to start. reduced engine power. engine shuts off while driving. *nm
05/05/2006	71000	1	01/03/2003
	My 2002 altima had the recall for the heat shields and every other one i was notified about. my car started consuming excessive amounts of oil. on approximately may 5 i drove the car in the morning, parked it in my moms yard, went to leave and it would not start. i called the dealer and had to tow at my expense the car to them. the car has 71,000 miles on it but i had purchased an extended warranty so i thought i was okay. well dealer says that to tear it apart and find out what was wrong he needed to get authorization from the warranty company. i was informed that because i did all the oil changes myself, they wouldn't authorize it, even though i could get a statement from the garage attesting to this fact along with my own personal log where i recorded all my gas ups and oil changes. any ideas how i can get them to fix this car i still owe three years on it. and i think it is bs they don't know what is wrong, they know exactly what is wrong they just don't want to payup. my car failed exactly how they described it would on aol the other complaints i read about, there was a problem with solder and they know it!!! thank you, mike redmond. *nm
11/19/2005	88000	2	03/12/2002
	Oil consumption very high , engine seized without any warning or dashboard warning light.on highway engine stalled and burned some ruber hoses etc..car inoperabble.nissan stated it was my problem due to miles on car were high..i paid $7,000.00 in canadian money for repair that seems to be a defect..i am angry at nissan for saying it was my problem...with no warning lights or other warning , i do not feel this is normal...
07/10/2006	81000	15	05/15/2002
	My 2002 altima is using oil excessively. one quart in 500 -700 miles. *jb
06/21/2006	81689	1	12/09/2002
	The oxygen sensor on my 2002 nissan altima overheated and destroyed itself. the fragments of the sensor shattered the main catalytic converter and pieces of the parts mixed with the oil damaging the entire engine, ie. pistons and other internal components, rendering the engine not serviceable. new engine is needed at a cost of about six thousand dollars. i have notified nissan consumer affairs representative and i am waiting for their response. *nm
06/07/2006	77887	3	01/02/2002
	Engine failure: at just under 78,000 miles the car would not start. car towed to mechanic who was able to start the car after an extended crank. cooling system pressurized instantly upon cold start in a.m. mechanic suggested towing to dealership because he suspects a possible cylinder head problem. he says the 02 altima has a well-known history of engine problems. 3 months prior to this the engine was constantly running out of oil and coolant. the thermostat and radiator cap were replaced by a mechanic. 2 months prior to that, the check engine light came on and a full tune up was done. all recalls have been done previously. the car is currently at the dealer for diagnosis. after reading many customer complaints i am concerned that the recall work that i had done previously was either not completed properly or something else is not quite right. a nissan shouldn't have a ruined engine with this few miles. this is my second altima and my love affair with nissan is fading fast. *nm
04/05/2006	40	10	12/31/2001
	After purchasing my vehicle (2002 nissan altima 2.5s) in december 2001 i have consistently maintained the vehicle according to the manual. however, good maintenance have not led to good performance after about 10,000 miles i started experiencing all kinds of engine problems (radiator, throttle body and now the entire engine) which i mostly have had to pay out of my pocket. i have been taking the vehicle to the dealer numerous types concerning various engine problems, however, they told me some of the problems could not be fixed. i also contacted nissan north america, however, they basically turned me down, leaving me with astronomical bills for causes that were manufacturer related and not operational related. below is a few of the problems i have experienced thus far and have had to pay out of my pocket: 1. radiator crack - $1,000 including labor (at about 30,000 miles) 2. new throttle body - $1,200 including labor (at about 65,000 miles) 3. new engine - estimated $6,500 including labor (at 70,000 miles) 4. electrical problems leading to battery failure every 2/3 months (a new battery was put in a year ago and the problem still persists) 5. numerous other problems in which the dealer has not taken care of. as mentioned above, the dealer and nissan north america have not stepped in and fixed or cover some of the these costs despite numerous visits. consequences: 1. astronomical mechanical bills 2. no use of a vehicle presently which is affecting my livelihood. *nm
01/01/2006	100000	1	09/01/2001
	Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 mph the engine stalled. the vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. they determined the engine needed to be replaced however no repairs were made. the manufacturer was alerted.
11/03/2005	0	1	10/19/2005
	It has come to my attention that the nissan 2.5 liter power plant has issues with intake butterfly valve screws that have became loose and are sucked into the engine resulting in stalling and severe damage that could cause grave harm or death. i myself have not experienced this however there is great knowledge and a current recall for some of the 04-05 nissan altima models. i am a current 2002 nissan altima owner and this issue has me concerned to the point that for my own safety i am going to have all of the 8 screws lock tightened so i can feel safe when driving. please see the discussions on this issue as it is a common problem(one found >20% had missing screws): http://www.b15sentra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86248 and http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192671 and http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192671 people have to use these instructions to repair this issue themselves just to feel safe here: http://forums.thevboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=64780 they have a current recall (04-05) why not older models with the same problem? http://www.nissanhelp.com/ownership/bulletins/nissan/2005/ntb05-058.htm *nm
07/19/2005	66000	1
	The car had been using a little oil prior to the event. on my way out of town on the highway my car caught fire and blew the engine
11/05/2004	58000	2	05/18/2002
	The consumer stated a new engine was placed in the car in november, then two months later, it needed a new driveshaft, and currently needs motor mounts. there was a moving sensation when first taking off. when the consumer stopped the vehicle there was a popping noise. the car has been doing this since ownership. *ak
03/22/2005	72000	1	03/12/2002
	Recall campaign 03v455000 crank shaft failure. consumer took vehicle to dealer because the check engine light came on. consumer was informed there was recall repairs that needed to be performed for the crank shaft sensor. recall repairs were performed. upon receiving the vehicle from the dealer the performance changed. then, vehicle started to smoke from the rear. it was taken back to the dealer, and the engine was found to be defective, and needed to be replaced at consumer's expense. ak consumer kept oil changed every 3,000 miles, engine failure. bf
03/01/2003		1	01/12/2002
	Recall campaign, replaced exhaust cat shields and front pipe. several other problems. bf as soon as the vehicle was started it stalled. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but they could not duplicate the problem. the vehicle consumer excessive amounts of oil and the check engine light illuminated. the consumer was told that he needed a long block engine assembly, a catalytic converter and front oxygen sensor. nm
11/15/2004	116000		02/14/2002
	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
06/18/2004		1
	Reporting 2002 nissan altima accident/fire; and requesting assistance on how to get reimbursed for auto repairs. bf 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. nm
10/15/2004		2
	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. *nm
07/30/2004		3	03/28/2003
	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?*ak
10/09/2003	81588	3	01/12/2002
	Engine failure due to recall that was not performed by nissan. *ak
01/01/1901		8
	Multiple engine failures. ph 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. la *jb
02/26/2004	31000	5	05/30/2002
	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. *ak
01/18/2004	61308	1
	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). *ak
04/28/2003	12521	3	10/11/2001
	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 *la
11/14/2003	18000	3	11/18/2001
	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. *la
11/20/2003	15000	3
	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. *ph
09/17/2003
	While driving at any speed the vehicle stalled out without warning. the dealer replaced the crankshaft position sensor but the problem still occurred. please provide further information. *nlm
		6
	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.*ak
		1
	Consumer states at any speed vehicle stalls . there is no warning. it is very dangerous. *ak
12/27/2002	18914	2	10/30/2001
	Hot air blowing in vents, burns 1/2 qt. oil every 1,000 miles, nissan wants to replace engine.*ak
	49130	1	10/01/2001
	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. ak. the vehicle failed to start twice and had to be towed, the first occurrence, the vehicle stalled while in driving. ts *jb
06/16/2003	28975	4	11/14/2001
	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. *jb
05/20/2003		1
	The consumer noticed every 1000 miles the engine consumed one quart of oil. the dealer was unable to find a problem. *jb
05/07/2003
	The consumer noticed that the engine consumed 1/2 quart of oil every 1500 miles. the dealer replaced the engine. *nlm
04/01/2003		2
	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. *jb
03/24/2003	6000	1	04/28/2002
	This is written notice of a complaint i have regarding my new 2002 nissan altima. at the time of purchase, i was sold a defective engine, which is leaking oil at the rate of 2 quarts every 1,300 miles. the nhtsa has a recall for this as 03v084000 under the 'notes' section as i believe this is what my problem is. the car only has 7,000 miles but i have had to top the oil since i purchased the 2002 2.5 altima. *nlm
02/19/2003		1
	The vehicle failed to start.*jb
02/28/2002		4	12/01/2001
	The first failure was on 2/28/02. the car stopped on my husband on the interstate & was towed back to the dealer. the crank sensor was defective & was replaced. exactly one weeek later on 3/7/02, the car was taken back to the dealer where a defective coil to the crank sensor was found defective & replaced. on 5/10/02, the car stopped on me in the middle of the street & after being towed back to the dealer, the crack sensor was found to be defective again! it was replaced & i wrote to nissan about our concerns. on 6/4/02 the car againstopped on my husband on the interstate. again a letter was sent to nissan (as well as several nissan vps) and as of today (three weeks later) we do not have our vehicle, nor do we want that one back! the dealer has loaned us a vehicle, but we are currently paying for a car that nissan obviously cannot fix or do not know how to repair! they say that they are waiting on a part, but my husband & i do not trust a vehicle that will stop in the middle of the road without warning! i am trying all avenues to get help with this situation. obviously, we purchased a lemon (& have met tn's lemon law), but this is a serious safety issue for me & my family! are other brand-new altimas having similar defects? also, why is nissan refusing to replace our brand-new no-defective vehicle? please feel free to contact me at any time.*ak
01/01/2002
	When putting the key inside of ignition switch to start vehicle it starts intermittently, and then shutoff without prior warning. dealership was aware of problem.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
01/24/2008	117520	2	11/10/2005
	I have a 2002 nissan altima with 117,000 miles. nissan usa replaced the engine and the catalytic converter as part of a recall january 06 when the car had 99600 miles. last week on 1/24/08, the car shut off while driving and i was lucky to pull to the side on time to prevent an accident. i took the car to the dealer nissan cox in the bronx the following saturday. they checked the car out and told me that the reason why the car shut off is not related to the previous recalls. they told me that i needed to replace my throttle and clean the fuel system. i paid $563 for the labor on 1/30/08. i drove the car around the dealer and once again the car shut off by itself then i started it again and while driving it back to the dealer the engine surged a couple of times. i took the car to the dealer and the next day 1/31/08, i received a call from the service worker in which she tells me that my catalytic converter is bad and that's what's causing the problem. i don't think is fair that i had to pay $563 to later find out that the car had something else. also, i don't understand why the catalytic got damaged when i religiously serviced the car for the past two years since the new engine and cat were installed. the dealer tells me that i'm no longer covered by the warranty and that i need to pay another $900 for parts and labor. i think im being ripped off by the dealer and nissan. i've read how much problems the 2002 altima has. can you guys please help me. *tr
12/15/2007	85000	2	04/19/2006
	2002 altima, loss of power early in dec 2007, dec 17 2007 at 85,000 miles catalytic convertor fails, at 90,000 miles using 1 quart of oil in 700 miles. at 91,125 miles to dealership and report made with nissan. a recall part of a exhaust pipe hanger replaced by dealer and i am told the other expenses of convertor (approx $800.00 plus labor and possible motor replacement $3900.00) are up to me. yet there are thousands of other people with the same identical problem and no recall is issued.research, per nissan news bullitins, has indicated that the convertor on the altima and sentra blows internal residue into the cylinder walls causing the excessive oil problem. *cn
10/18/2007		1	05/05/2002
	I own a 2002 nissan altima. it seemed great when i bought it and now after 5 years it is crap and the thing wont run. the car idles rough when it first starts if it starts at all, there is a water rushing sound under the dash, and my check engine light has been on for quite some time. i am constantly refilling the radiator with coolant and adding so much oil to my car it is crazy. my father-in-law which is a mechanic, told me that the catalytic converter was deteriorating into the #4 cylinder which is causing engine failure which is also where the oil and coolant and gas are going. the easiest fix is to replace the whole engine, which is a $6,300 fix. i just finished paying off my car in may and 3 months later my car start having major problems. i cant afford to fix this and i don't think i should have to, catalytic converter don't just deteriorate. heck i am the only owner to my car and it is only 5 years old. this is crazy. i have now replaced my engine at my own cost, because the dealer that i bought the car at claims they are not be enough to do anything and to call nissan, which i did and nissan does care. well after spending six grand on fixing my car, my machine has informed me this is all due to plugged pcv valve because the two inlace holes for this valve are so small they get clogged so easily and the discharge for the pcv valve becomes in intake and to to the size of the discharges the oiled is getting pulling into the engine and well as other fluids which is what is causing the failure of the engine and destroying the catalytic converter. i am giving you the date my car finally died. it took me over a month and a 1/2 to get this fixed and it is still far from being fixed. please also check out this website for thousands of other nissan dealer that are having the same issue. http://www.thenissanfight.com/phpbb3/index.php http://forums.automotive.com/70/1106267/nissan/2002-nissan-altima-oil-dropping-at-108,000miles-i-w/page5.html#6468288. *tr
05/30/2007	46900	2	04/26/2002
	Twice last month the car just cut itself off and i was able to pull to the side of the road. thank god i was on a secondary road and not going over 35 mph. i got an appointment with the roanoke va dealership and took the car in. *ak because the check engine light did not come on, the service mgr stated they could find nothing wrong with the car--he then charged me $77 and told me to drive on the right side of the road in case it happened again!! i copied reports of the recall for the crank position sensor and left for th service dept, but because the code did not show up, they will not replace it. i will never ever buy a car from first team nissan again. they replaced the crank sensor in 2004 after i receiced a recall letter. but i found out that some of the replacement parts were defective too-i left that information and hi-lited the part about bad replacement parts. no help from dealer at all!!
02/01/2003	152135	6	12/18/2001
	My 2002 nissan altima has been having problem with suddenly shutting off without any warning since around february of 2003. in april 2003, it grew worse & stopped in the middle of traffic and i manage to get it restarted. the check engine light would be reset only to come back on within a few days to a week later. they stated it was the engine sensor and they replaced that but that was only a temporary fix. just this past august or september when i had my car taken to a repair shop & placed on a diagnostic machine which determined that catalytic converter was bad & had to be replaced. once they did that the car drove well for at least 2 weeks only to have the same problems again. took it to hampton nissan which is a 45 min drive from my home to have them check the car. they determined it might be the intake but wasn't really sure but they were going to have to check to see if that was the problem which was going to cost me $350. on my way home my car cut off in the middle of the street but luckily in front of my home but the car has not restarted since nov 10, 2005. called nissan they informed me to take to the dealer & they have indicated that my engine has been damaged from the catalyst converter & i need to have the engine replaced. the cost for a new motor would be $4,800 & $3,800 for a used motor with over 24,000 miles on it. the mechanic stated that nissan knows there is a problem with the catalyst converter damaging engines. i feel that i wouldn't have to replace my engine if this problem was corrected by nissan. i had spoken to a representative of nissan on several occasions but now i can't reach him & i have left numerous messages. the dealer states that because my car has over 141,000 miles on it that they cannot replace my engine for free as the mechanic stated they would do if it was determined that it was the catalyst converter. *jb
03/23/2005	77000	1	02/28/2002
	First was the service engine light was coming on and off. then i noticed as i accelerate there was a strange noise, which was getting more pronounced daily, finally the last two days as i was traveling and accelerated to go faster it was almost like it was slowing down instead of increasing in speed. the noise also is obvious in park now. i went on-line and noticed a recall (03v455000) for the exact same symptoms so i called the dealer and was told no that does not incude your vin #, we go by vin#'s and yours isn't listed. i saidbut this is what is going on with my car and it says it can stall at high sppeds and crash. she said she could charge me $85 to hook it up and check it out but it is not under a recall nor warranty. perhaps their recall is not broad enough and should include more vin#'s... not sure what to do from here, afraid to drive it, and the dealer is 50+ miles away. another recall (03v061000) is for driver air bag intermittent which is also whats going on in my car. *ak
01/30/2002	500	1	12/20/2001
	Car using 2 quarts of oil every 3000 miles. *ak
07/17/2003		1
	While driving during cold days at any speed engine will shut down , and force consumer to pull of the road. this was due to a faulty gas module sensor. consumer most have at least half tank of gas to avoid freezing up the module sensor.*ak
05/15/2002	6456		12/06/2001
	Car has been burning oil since 1st oil change and dealership and nissan have refused to acknowledge this problem. *nlm
07/20/2002
	Consumer states that when accelerating vehicle will lose engine power very breifly. dealer and maufacturer contacted. *mr
07/10/2002		1
	Consumer states while driving the vehicle caught on fire under the hood, vehicle was pull out of the road. dealer has been notified. please provide any further information. nlm
08/27/2002		1	10/01/2001
	No collision-no warning lights until engine exploded and burst into flames-auto undfrwent 7500 mile service at tourelle's 12 days prior.*ak
08/02/2002		3
	While driving vehicle shut off with out any notice. this was the third time that this problem has occurred. contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything about it. *ak
12/01/2001
	Since december of 2001 every month vehicle needd an oil change. vehicle was burning too much oil. took vehicle to dealer, and they stated that engine needed replacement, but couldn't say what the cause was. please provide any further information.*ak
01/29/2002		1
	While driving 40-45 mph, noticed smoke coming from under the hood. consumer pulled over and fire department put out the fire. vehicle was totalled. fire department thought fire was caused by fuel injection system. however, cause of fire has not been officially determined yet. no injuries. ak jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
02/21/2004	85000	1	09/09/2001
	While driving onto a ramp at 15 mph, the consumer heard a loud banging sound from the engine compartment. consumer lost the ability to steer and almost collided with another vehicle. after pulling over to the shoulder, he determined that the drive belt came off. ak jb
03/12/2003	15691	3
	I own a 2002 nissan altima, that my husband purchase for my 15 year anniversary, may 2002. in oct 2002, it started with lose belts that wasn't repaired until dec 2002. well, in mar 2003, my car wouldn't start. so, the service guy told me to put it in neutral and try to start it, nothing!! so, when the tow guy arrived to tow to dealer, he tried with no success. so, my car was left at the dealer for 4 days, the service dept said it started for them. so, while i was checking out at the cashier, the service manager so happen to be standing by and over heard me talking to the cashier. so, he and i went out to my car and it started for him, but he stated that it's a delayed cranking and they've gotten a service complaint about the altima's not starting and they believe it's has something to do with the fuel injection, but before they can recall the car, they must know how to repair the problem. so, he said whenever it does it again, while cranking the car, push down on the accelerator and give it some gas and it should start. well, in april, while in d.c., on vacation, coming out to start the car, it didn't start. so, i did what the service manager told me to do and it started, but i had to end my vacation, because i was afraid to chance it far from home. well, i took my car in to get the oil change and i did let the service dept know of the problem. well, here it is june 2003, my car stalled again and my husband was very upset, because he had driven it to work and he managed to get it back to work and when he got ready to leave work, it wouldn't start and he had to push down on the accelerator and give it some gas for it to start. well, i'm taking my car to the dealer on saturday, june 21, 2003 and who knows what excuse they'll have. and to make it soo bad, i'm going to a reunion, in florida and i wanted to drive my car, but i'm not sure if it's safe to drive at all, now. well, i hope those of you get some solution to this problem. *nlm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
08/04/2011	190000
	I have a 2002 nissan altima with a 2.5 engine. at 66,000 miles i was told the convertor was bad. since that time, i have replaced the engine, the pre-convertor and the convertor on my own dime. after six months the new convertor failed, it was replaced. six months later i am in the same boat. i'm told that the convertor is bad again.
06/08/2011	62100
	The catalytic converter disintegrated and the debris clogged the system, causing back pressure and my vehicle stopped running on a dangerous 2 lane road; drifted as far to the right as possible and called a tow truck . car towed to nearest mechanic and it was determined the converter had failed and clogged the system and the backpressure probably damaged the engine. excessive oil consumption is now observed after the converter was replaced. mechanic reports the ebris coud have damaged the cylinder walls causing the oil consumption
06/27/2011	71287
	I purchase the car on 03/29/2011 from a used car dealership,on june 27, 2011 while on vacation the car quit running checked fluids and found oil reservoir had no oil in it.had oil change performed before i went on vacation.never had an oil leak or sign of oil burning.had car towed to a private mechanic whom told me the catalytic converter was clogged due to high oil consumption.did some research on the car and found it had a problem with the pre-catalytic convertors coming apart and sucking the carbon into the engine causing cylinders being scored and causing the high oil consumption causing the secondary catalytic converter to become clogged and in turn causing the engine to blow up.i went to the local dealership and told them my catalytic convertor was clogged which called my enigne to blow up and they told me i was on my own cause it was out of warranty and when i pushed the issue the head service tech said it is what it is and walked away.i left and called nissan north america,they told me the recall was taken care of on 01/08/2004 and said that they would open a claim on this vehicle,she also told me that if it was repaired properly in 2004 the i would still have 1 year warranty on the convertor since they place a 8 year 80,000 miles on the convertor,she advised me to have it towed to the local dealership to have them look at since she opened a claim.the following monday i recieved a call stating i have to call nissan good faith program number.i called and expressed my feeling on how i thought nissan should cover all damaged parts since it was a previously recalled part that caused the problem,they informed me they would call me back by the end of the next business day with their answers.i recieved a call and was informed they would not be covering anything on the repair because they said their was never a recall on this vehicle.i would like to know how 1 person at nissan north america could say their was a recall and they other say there wasn't,ridiculous!!
02/24/2009	102150
	I had purchased a nissan 2002 altima from a dealer as certified vehicle. i have bought two other cars from the same dealer and in addition all the cars were always serviced by the same dealer. since last two years the service engine soon light comes on and on one such occasion i was informed by the same dealership that the cat convertor had failed and the same needs to be replaced . recently the car has failed mv inspection with two codes p0420 and p1217. there is a similar recall # pe02078 on 268,000 cars on oct. 2002 (i bought the car in 2005, and have no knowledge if this issue has been taken care of or not.) the mv inspection report clearly indicates the failure of catalytic converter and requires repairs and monitors set for re-inspection. the inspection also notes a voluntary recalls ntb07-081 and ntb03-070c for pre-catalyst. the federal law requires emissions waranties (as per the mv inspection report)for at least 80000 miles and i have no idea if this was corrected on my vehicle on nisan's voluntary recall. i had not opted to repair this when the mechanic at dealer informed the reason for service engine soon at 82080 miles as the cost was exhorbitant and until i had similar problem (recall)with a ford windstar van thru nhtsa and was solved by the dealer. (i was about to junk that car, thanks to nhsta)
06/24/2011
	My family has owned my 2002 nissan altima since it was originally driven off the lot. we have maintained the vehicle and have completed all recalls. in july 2005 recall 03v084000 was supposedly corrected, but i have been informed that my catalystic converter and engine needs to be replaced due to particles from the converter being inhaled by my engine. i have 143,582 miles on my vehicle. due to this design defect i fear that driving the vehicle is a hazard, due to the chance that it will catch on fire. i contacted nissan consumer concerning this issue, but was told that the issue have been resolved. through my research i've learned that thousands of 02 nissan altima owners are experiencing this issue. please help nissan customers get justice, when nissan is obviously aware that the corrective action does not stop the potential hazard of fire.
02/24/2009	102150
	I had purchased a nissan 2002 altima from a dealer as certified vehicle. i have bought two other cars from the same dealer and in addition all the cars were always serviced by the same dealer. since last two years the service engine soon light comes on and on one such occasion i was informed by the same dealership that the cat convertor had failed and the same needs to be replaced . recently the car has failed mv inspection with two codes p0420 and p1217. there is a similar recall # pe02078 on 268,000 cars on oct. 2002 (i bought the car in 2005, and have no knowledge if this issue has been taken care of or not.) the mv inspection report clearly indicates the failure of catalytic converter and requires repairs and monitors set for re-inspection. the inspection also notes a voluntary recalls ntb07-081 and ntb03-070c for pre-catalyst. the federal law requires emissions waranties (as per the mv inspection report)for at least 80000 miles and i have no idea if this was corrected on my vehicle on nisan's voluntary recall. i had not opted to repair this when the mechanic at dealer informed the reason for service engine soon at 82080 miles as the cost was exhorbitant and until i had similar problem (recall)with a ford windstar van thru nhtsa and was solved by the dealer. (i was about to junk that car, thanks to nhsta)
06/24/2011
	My family has owned my 2002 nissan altima since it was originally driven off the lot. we have maintained the vehicle and have completed all recalls. in july 2005 recall 03v084000 was supposedly corrected, but i have been informed that my catalystic converter and engine needs to be replaced due to particles from the converter being inhaled by my engine. i have 143,582 miles on my vehicle. due to this design defect i fear that driving the vehicle is a hazard, due to the chance that it will catch on fire. i contacted nissan consumer concerning this issue, but was told that the issue have been resolved. through my research i've learned that thousands of 02 nissan altima owners are experiencing this issue. please help nissan customers get justice, when nissan is obviously aware that the corrective action does not stop the potential hazard of fire.
02/24/2009	102150
	I had purchased a nissan 2002 altima from a dealer as certified vehicle. i have bought two other cars from the same dealer and in addition all the cars were always serviced by the same dealer. since last two years the service engine soon light comes on and on one such occasion i was informed by the same dealership that the cat convertor had failed and the same needs to be replaced . recently the car has failed mv inspection with two codes p0420 and p1217. there is a similar recall # pe02078 on 268,000 cars on oct. 2002 (i bought the car in 2005, and have no knowledge if this issue has been taken care of or not.) the mv inspection report clearly indicates the failure of catalytic converter and requires repairs and monitors set for re-inspection. the inspection also notes a voluntary recalls ntb07-081 and ntb03-070c for pre-catalyst. the federal law requires emissions waranties (as per the mv inspection report)for at least 80000 miles and i have no idea if this was corrected on my vehicle on nisan's voluntary recall. i had not opted to repair this when the mechanic at dealer informed the reason for service engine soon at 82080 miles as the cost was exhorbitant and until i had similar problem (recall)with a ford windstar van thru nhtsa and was solved by the dealer. (i was about to junk that car, thanks to nhsta)
06/24/2011
	My family has owned my 2002 nissan altima since it was originally driven off the lot. we have maintained the vehicle and have completed all recalls. in july 2005 recall 03v084000 was supposedly corrected, but i have been informed that my catalystic converter and engine needs to be replaced due to particles from the converter being inhaled by my engine. i have 143,582 miles on my vehicle. due to this design defect i fear that driving the vehicle is a hazard, due to the chance that it will catch on fire. i contacted nissan consumer concerning this issue, but was told that the issue have been resolved. through my research i've learned that thousands of 02 nissan altima owners are experiencing this issue. please help nissan customers get justice, when nissan is obviously aware that the corrective action does not stop the potential hazard of fire.
02/01/2009	140000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the check engine light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who stated that the catalytic converter was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was previously repaired under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000, engine and engine cooling exhaust system manifold header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 140,000.
02/01/2009	140000
	Tl - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle check engine light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local shop who diagnosed that the catalytic converter was defective and it needed to be replace. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offered any additional assistance since the vehicle was repaired under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (component: engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 140,000. pm
03/15/2011	77000
	My car is 2002 nissan altima with 77,000 miles on it. my car has failed emissions and the reason is the catalytic converter need to be replaced. i have performed all the recalls related to the catalytic converter.nissan does not provide any information.
03/08/2011	75118
	This is a formal request petitioning nhtsa to open an investigation for an inadequate remedy of recall 03v-084 (nissan # ntb03-070d) 3/8/11-material from a damaged pre-catalyst enter the engine causing internal damage which increased the oil consumption to 1 qt of oil per 100 miles. 1/20/11-oil change at 74,243 miles, in perfect running condition not consuming any oil. 3/8/11-875 miles later, heard engine noise and scheduled service inspection. engine noise due to low oil level. filled oil and the engine noise stopped. car smokes at higher rpm
02/07/2011	120951
	Marilyn requarth 805 674-5336 re: 2002 nissan altima vin#1n4al11d12c170250 i took my car to morin brothers automotive on 2/7/2011 to have the 'check engine light' looked at . diagnosis revealed a failed pre-catalytic converter. upon removal the cat was found to be physically damaged. bot were replaced. subsequently i discovered that nissan of north america has an active campaign or recall covering replacement of the catalytic converter. (recall #'s r3007, r3014, r3015, r3016, r3017) i contacted the serviced department at coast nissan in person and was told that since i already had the converter replaced, there was nothing further they could do for me. i contacted nissan corporate offices and was told that there were no open recall campaigns on my car. this is what i want nissan to do for me: reimburse me for the expense of relacing my catalytic converter and oxygen sensor. verify that the current programming in the electronic control module will prevent this from happening again. verify that the programming in the control module has also been updated to address stalling issues (recall 0712) assure me in writing that should my engine begin using oil as a result of the failure of the converter, nissan will repair it free of charge.
03/08/2011	75118
	This is a formal request petitioning nhtsa to open an investigation for an inadequate remedy of recall 03v-084 (nissan # ntb03-070d) 3/8/11-material from a damaged pre-catalyst enter the engine causing internal damage which increased the oil consumption to 1 qt of oil per 100 miles. 1/20/11-oil change at 74,243 miles, in perfect running condition not consuming any oil. 3/8/11-875 miles later, heard engine noise and scheduled service inspection. engine noise due to low oil level. filled oil and the engine noise stopped. car smokes at higher rpm
02/07/2011	120951
	Marilyn requarth 805 674-5336 re: 2002 nissan altima vin#1n4al11d12c170250 i took my car to morin brothers automotive on 2/7/2011 to have the 'check engine light' looked at . diagnosis revealed a failed pre-catalytic converter. upon removal the cat was found to be physically damaged. bot were replaced. subsequently i discovered that nissan of north america has an active campaign or recall covering replacement of the catalytic converter. (recall #'s r3007, r3014, r3015, r3016, r3017) i contacted the serviced department at coast nissan in person and was told that since i already had the converter replaced, there was nothing further they could do for me. i contacted nissan corporate offices and was told that there were no open recall campaigns on my car. this is what i want nissan to do for me: reimburse me for the expense of relacing my catalytic converter and oxygen sensor. verify that the current programming in the electronic control module will prevent this from happening again. verify that the programming in the control module has also been updated to address stalling issues (recall 0712) assure me in writing that should my engine begin using oil as a result of the failure of the converter, nissan will repair it free of charge.
03/08/2011	75118
	This is a formal request petitioning nhtsa to open an investigation for an inadequate remedy of recall 03v-084 (nissan # ntb03-070d) 3/8/11-material from a damaged pre-catalyst enter the engine causing internal damage which increased the oil consumption to 1 qt of oil per 100 miles. 1/20/11-oil change at 74,243 miles, in perfect running condition not consuming any oil. 3/8/11-875 miles later, heard engine noise and scheduled service inspection. engine noise due to low oil level. filled oil and the engine noise stopped. car smokes at higher rpm
02/07/2011	120951
	Marilyn requarth 805 674-5336 re: 2002 nissan altima vin#1n4al11d12c170250 i took my car to morin brothers automotive on 2/7/2011 to have the 'check engine light' looked at . diagnosis revealed a failed pre-catalytic converter. upon removal the cat was found to be physically damaged. bot were replaced. subsequently i discovered that nissan of north america has an active campaign or recall covering replacement of the catalytic converter. (recall #'s r3007, r3014, r3015, r3016, r3017) i contacted the serviced department at coast nissan in person and was told that since i already had the converter replaced, there was nothing further they could do for me. i contacted nissan corporate offices and was told that there were no open recall campaigns on my car. this is what i want nissan to do for me: reimburse me for the expense of relacing my catalytic converter and oxygen sensor. verify that the current programming in the electronic control module will prevent this from happening again. verify that the programming in the control module has also been updated to address stalling issues (recall 0712) assure me in writing that should my engine begin using oil as a result of the failure of the converter, nissan will repair it free of charge.
03/11/2010
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic because the check engine light illuminated. the mechanic stated that the failure was within the exhaust system and catalytic converter, which was related to nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told that the vehicle was not included in the recall. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 82,590.
03/11/2010
	Tl- the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact took the vehicle into their mechanic because the check engine light came on. their mechanic stated the problem with the vehicle was with the exhaust system and catalytic converter, which was under nhtsa campaign id number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told their vehicle was not included in this recall. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 82,590.rl
02/11/2009	90000
	Tl-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the motor is ruined because the catalytic converter is being disengrated by a faulty design and particles that are being pulled into the engine. the motor was burning oil and no heat in the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed him he needed to replace the engine and offered no other assistance. the manufacturer was contacted who informed him the vehicle was out of warranty and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage were 127,250...mw
01/24/2011	100000
	I have owned a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s since 2003. i bought vehicle with 11000 miles as a short term lease turn back. i have doneall regular service work; oil changes,tires, brakes ect. recently took to dealer for inspection on engine noise. vehicle has 113,000 miles on it at present time. service writer informed me that the catalytic converter is disintegrating and causing the materials that this is made of to be ingested into engine. consequently, the engine now needs to be replaced. i have discovered thru some online research and inquireis, with other nissan service departments, that this is a common problem on this vehicle for the model years 2002 & 2003. there was a tsb forthis car for the dealer to do a visual inspection on the converter in 2003. i feel that a vehicle should not need an egine replacement due to a defective factory part. the advertisement for the manufacturer displays the vehicle being tested for prolonged driveing . this is a serious issue with the amount of these vehicles that are on the road. a car owner should not be subject to extensive repairs due to a factory defective part. there are alot of complaints posted on the intrenet concerning this fault.
06/01/2010	115000
	We have a 2002 nissan altima that has about 132xxx miles on it and it is burning oil at about 5 quarts in a week. we have changed the oil regularly prior to this problem starting, which was about 6 months ago. we took it to the dealership and were told we had a catalitic system failure and it was going to cost $900 to fix, then we were told that the engine would have to be replaced costing upwords of $4000. i have looked into this problem and found a ton of other people have had this problem just outside of the warranty
11/30/2010	80000
	2002 nissan altima with only 80,000 miles. my complaint is the same complaint you have received from others, regarding their nissan altima 2.5l engine. excessive oil consumption/catalyctic converter issues, where the nissan dealers say we need total engine replacement at a cost of over $4,000. on vehicles that have been maintained according to service requirements. i am amazed that nissan continues to get away with this. just look up nissan altima engine problems, smoking, excessive oil consumption and you'll see all the complaints, with people from various states amazed that nothing is being done about it. especially, since this condition could cause a fire which was noted in nissan recall id# 5449.
01/18/2010	100000
	2.5 engine the same as all the others, this engine should have been replaced or repaired by nissan. if nissan would have recalled them before the damage was done.
08/27/2010	102000
	I purchased my nissan alitma in august 2003, i have maintained my car for 7 years at 111,000 miles my engine went on my car. i was going through 3 quarts of oil in a week, i had a mechanic look at it and could not find anything leaking. i have my censors change twice in period of 6 months. my sparks plug kept going bad after six months. i i would started it up and would get a rattling noise, then i would hear water coming from my front dash. my car was being maintained very well. until it started to put oil every week, i had it looked at several times and was told needed my oil flushed, then my i had to replace spark plugs. i did everything i needed to do but the issue was still happening. my engine light kept coming on, 2 cylinder misfire, 02 censor, cat converter. i took it to a mechanic and replaced the censor engine light went off came back on 1 week later had it replaced again. i would come to a stop and would jerk put in neutral and stops, get home check my oil bone dry. i had an mechanic look at so many times that i was throwing money away enduring this for one whole year and no mechanic can find the solution. i was told to keep oil in my car. this was just unacceptable. on august 27th 2010 i went to leave from work and saw a cloud of smoke took it the mechanic only to be told i need a new enigne i was appauled. because my engine should not have went this soon. well i reviewed complaints on the 2002 nissan alitma and what i come to found out many consumer all over the u.s.a. had the same issues i experienced. this very upsetting. i feel nissan should take responibility for there products. i have went to many website and found many consumers have made attempts to have there enigine replace and to no satisfication nissan has turned the other ear. this is just unacceptable business practices. i should not have to put out $4800 dollars when it very clear that there is a problem with the nissan alitmas made in 2002.
03/02/2010	112254
	There were no significant events leading up to this failure. vehicle has been meticulously maintained. failure was recognized by cel p0420. catalytic converters were replaced. now engine has lost power and is emitting smoke. coolant and engine oil are dropping at increasing rates requiring constant attention but have never been allowed to be dry. now engine needs to be replaced. this appears to be consistent with many other claims which nissan denies.
02/02/2010	95000
	I made a complaint by phone regarding my 2002 nissan altima and have yet to hear back or get a copy as promised of my complaint. due to the many complaints, concerns and problems related to this year ,make and model ,you would think nissan would be a little bit more concerned and wanting to remedy the problems that exist to avoid legal action for ignoring a potently dangerous problem that could be deadly . all though i have not been hurt physically ,mentally i am beside myself thinking if you cant get nissan to step up to the plate then who can???? i had a engine replaced by nissan dealership and it did not last 20,000 miles before the catalitic converter fell apart and got sucked up in the engine.. nissan is aware of the recalls for this year/make/model???? its time to do something as you have pages and pages of complaints regarding this exact thing and it is obvious nissan will do nothing because they get away with it time and time again..they are worse than toyota, at least toyota amits there is a problem...please let me know what and when you intend on doing something to get nissan to do whats right?/?
10/23/2008	93505
	Tl-the contact owns a nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle is losing a quart of oil a week. the contacts mechanic stated that the pre-catalytic converter is disintegrating. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle is not listed under recall campaign number 03v084000 for the engine and engine cooling for the exhaust system and the manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe filler, even though the vehicle is experiencing the same problem. the failure was 93505 and the current mileage was1116908. rl
05/21/2010	154635
	Car shuts of while driving. car will start immediatly after engine has shut off. very dangeruous lmost wrecked. my 2002 nissan altima doesn't feel safe. there are several problems with this vehicle that should have been recalled. all which could cause potentialy fatal and or severe accidents. the head gasket blew on my 2002 2.5 s qr25 4 cylinder engine. i had the head gasket replaced and it blew again. upon further inspection the head had been cracked and there were thousean of marks in cyclinder 1. one of the power valve screws located in the intake manifold of the engine came loose and shot through the engine, ruining engine compression (in turn destroying the engine) and it also destroyed the exhaust manifold, o2 sensor and power valve intake and power valve plates. the estimate to repair this is over 6000. apparently one of power valve screws had gotten loose and was banging around the engine. apparently this can ruin these engines. i experience power loss because of this. my car has stalled several times nearly causing a severe accident each time. the vehicle starts right up immmediately after it stops. besides the cost to repair these issues it is very concerning driving this vehicle. it is definelty unsafe and should not have been allowed to be mass produced in my opinion . i believe many others would agree. the is avoluntary service campaign on the 04 and 05 models, but 02 and 03 owners have the exact same engine and are experiencing the exact same problems. are not included in these recalls? it's ridiculous and someone willl get hurt or killed if these issues arent adddressed. nissan should be required by law to fix these issues. t he results are very simlar to toyotas reecent problems which killed several. apparentlt nissan is trying to use some kind of loophole by volunteering a service campaing. but this needs to be fixed.
04/12/2002	72105
	I have taken my car to nissan april 6, 2010, due to dashbroad lights went out, i had to pay $630.00 for a new cluster, after 4hrs of diagnosis testing nissan had to arrange for me a ride home two days later while driving the service engrine soon light lit again i returned the car back to nissan and was told i need a catalytic convertor and sensors $1668.00, there was a recall regarding this problem , but i do not think nissan fix the problem.
04/12/2010	134455
	After reading hundreds of complaints about the 2002 nissan altima 2.5 l engine failures, i've decided to write. car began running rough. mechanic said an oxygen sensor was out, but was probably the cat. converter. paid for both, and car is still running rough and using 2 quarts/oil per week. mechanic said when the cat con went, it blew refuse into the engine, requiring a new one. i've joined the ranks of the 1000's who are getting no help from nissan corp. in rectifying this expensive problem.
06/01/2009	90000
	This complaint is in response to nissan recall r3007 which covers heavy oil consumption which leads to low oil level, catalytic converter damage, engine damage and eventually an engine fire. i've been having this problem for sometime where i need to add oil on a biweekly basis. my check engine light has been on for some time. i've had two diagnostic tests performed and showed code p0420 - cat. efficient low, needs exhaust manifold/catalytic converter/gaskets replaced. based on internet research (type: nissan altima 2002 - heavy oil consumption or catalytic converter) i found that thousands of other consumers with the same car are having the same problem and have filed complaints with nissan corporation. nissan refused to remedy the situation. please advise what recourse i can take.
10/21/2007	85000
	My engine blew up. i called my nearest nissan dealer who forwarded me to nissan corp, who sent me to nissan north america and after telling them my story 3 times, they advised me there was nothing they could do since it as not yet a recall. i looked online and many had the same issue and were trying to get this to be a recall. i had just moved to that area, i had no job, no money and was attending school. my car sat infront of my house for 6 months while i paid $430 a month on my note. when i finally had the money to fix it, i explained to them i had just gotten a new engine and only needed them to restart the computer. they advised me there was a recall on it, i asked for what and they could not explain. they then said they could not restart my computer or do the recall because it had a code that needed to get fixed. i said fine, and paid for them to fix it and the recall. later that day my engine light came back on and they had me go back in a week later and advised me a new code came on. i asked why they didnt tell me about it when i was their and they said they didnt see it till now. i did more research and found out that the codes they found were part of the recall, and that was the reason my engine blew up. but they would not fix or pay for it. i have been back and forth on this and fianlly i found a number to call regarding nissan recalls. the person i spoke with advised me that it was nissans responsability to have fixed the issue at no cost since it was a recall and it was all conected. (had that recall or problem been fixed my engine would have never blown up! recall or no recall, this was obviously a manufacturing issue! they never even contacted me about that recall! i found out about it when i took my car in!) she filed a claim for me and said someone would call me. it has been a week and no call from nissan north america yet. i call them everyday and everyday they say someone will call me. at least toyota is taking care of their customers!
06/01/2009	85000	1
	I have a 2002 nissan sentra se-r with the 2.5 liter (qr25de) engine i purchased new. this is the same engine that the problematic 2002 nissan altima has. my car has had numerous serious recalls, originating within the first year and a half i purchased it. two years ago, my ses light went on. my car was still under warranty at this point as i'd purchased nissan's gold plus warranty coverage. i was told it was a loose gas cap, they'd checked and performed all outstanding recalls, and all was fine. 8 months later, the ses light went on again.the car began to also exhibit signs of increased oil consumption. i had it checked, was told it was a cracked oil pan by an independent mechanic. finally, i took it to nissan. i was told i needed a new catalytic converter, the exact part that has been mentioned in several recalls on my vehicle, and since the car was out of warranty they would not pay for it. estimate was $1200, which i got in writing, for the catalytic converter. i asked for records of what they had done to inspect and repair the recall previously. they had no record of it. i called nissan north america, who told me the dealer kept the records, and to ask them.. finally, an independent mechanic replaced the part. the ses light went on two weeks later. the independant mechanic said the pre-catalytic converter was damaged/falling apart, also listed in my recall explicitly. the dealer had misdiagnosed the car. called dealer, wrote letter, bbb complaint, nissan complaint, no response. had pre-cat replaced for $600. ses light came on again. eventually, my car stalled and wouldn't start. i had it towed to a repair facility who informed me my engine was blown, replaced for $4k. a screw had been found in the third cylinder. this is also listed in some of the 'bulletins' nissan distributed to their dealers. i've tried a demand letter, no response. obviously, no one inspected my car for recalls, or repaired the faulty parts. *tr
02/05/2010	124823	1
	Check engine light came on 2/5/10, next morning (saturday) went over car looking for issue, found low oil level in engine, added oil, monday scheduled with dealer for soonest appointment, wednesday dealer checked out the car. found that the pre-catalyst had crumbled into dust which was pulled in to the engine. engine is ruined and needs to be replaced. have contacted nissan and they will do nothing. there is a related recall (nissan r3007) - this had been done by the dealer in january 2004. all other maintenance has been done. my statement to nissan was a. recall was not actually done (dealer says it was - have no reason not to believe them) b. recall was not done properly or c. recall did not fix the problem completely - i believe it was c that the problem was not really fixed, just delayed. understand that the catalytic warranty was 80,000 miles, but should a catalytic breakdown actually be able to ruin the engine? if nissan knew it did not totally resolve the issue, they should have notified owners to replace the catalytic at xx miles, or at xx years. never heard of this with any other vehicle that the catalytic failure can ruin the engine. now rather than $700 or $800 for the catalytic, facing that plus another engine (estimate $3000 to $4000) for a used, salvage engine. but then would still have the same problem waiting to happen again. recall states that this can result in engine fire. i believe it is faulty design. *tr
03/10/2009		1
	Nissan 2002 2.5 sl has to be checked once a week because the engine loses oil. when the oil is checked it is completely dry. oil has to be put in the car once a week. the engine knocks and comes close to shutting down. *tr
01/01/2009	50000	1
	This complaint is in reference to the following: nhtsa action number: pe02078 nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalyst converter. after inspection of the catalyst converter noticeable chucks of the catalyst converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer with fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *tr
10/22/2009	80091
	I have a nissan altima 2002 model .i have been calling 1-800-333-0829 for nissan recall campaign from last two and half weeks. i have a reference number for my case . this recall is with reference to campaign i.d. # r3007, r3014, r3015, r3016, & r3017. i had taken my car to great neck nissan dealer, new york for routine servicing. i came to know that pre-catalyst was damaged and the dealer also informed me about the chances that the particles from the catalyst converter might have already entered the engine. i went through the national highway traffic safety administration website which clearly states that this is a manufacturing defect and it needs to be rectified by nissan. nissan has also taken responsibility for the same and hence released the recall campaign bulletin. however, nissan are declining my case based on three reasons on three different occasions at 1st they said i am not a loyal customer , however when i insisted then they said my vin no. does not fall in the category and then on the 3rd call after too much of perseverance they said they decline because i am the second owner of the vehicle and i do not have maintenance record from the first owner. as a proof of maintenance i have already faxed them the car fax report which shows the car was properly maintained. however, i do not understand that the make and model will not change with the ownership my concern is that even if i change the catalyst converter and continue to operate the vehicle then there are chances that if my engine catches any particles due to precatalyst damage there is a possibility that my engine will catch fire and i might be blown out while driving. i have spoken to nissan and they don't want to take any responsibility and refuse to give me an answer in writing. i have tried to go on www.google.com where i have searched nissan 2002 catalyst converter . my search hit found too many people owning nissan altima 2002 have the same problem. please help us to resolve this issue. *tr
04/01/2006	90000	1
	2002 nissan altima with various check engine light with catalytic converter breaking up and pieces destroy engine. ongoing battle never resolved can't get help still owe 3700 on vehicle without vehicle now. engine won't crank have to pump gas pedal even then like not getting gas but mechanics all say the same you got a bad car, defective catalytic converter. plus nissan refuses to do recalls never even done that were ecm related and rear suspension. all ongoing since april 2006. have records/evidence. *tr
08/28/2009	126000	1
	I bought a 2002 nissan altima in november 2005. the last two years i have been having several problems concerning the vehicle including, jerking, stalling on highway, over heating and smoking. i have a the oc sensors replaced, spark plugs, cadillac converts, coils...the list goes on and on. i noticed my oil light always coming on and the need to always refill the oil but i could not see where it was leaking from. the same problem was with the coolant---i kept pouring it in the place for coolant and in 2 days it would be gone.at the end of august my infant and i were in the vehicle and it began jerking and cut off right in the middle of the highway. a tow truck was called to pick up the car. i took the car to nissan and they told me that the converter needs to be replaced again and the engine. after researching it looks as if this problem has been going on with several nissan altima's. i just want my engine and converter to be replaced the nissan corp to take responsibility. *tr
07/07/2009	930000	1
	Design flaw with engine causes excessive oil consumption. the burning oil then makes the converter start to fall apart and be sucked into the engine. this made the engine stall in heavy traffic on the highway. numerous complaints on this flaw throughout the internet. contacted nissan i they said to bad. dealer strongly suggested that i sell the car since it would only get worse due to this issue. *tr
08/23/2009	111000	1
	I purchased a 02 altima 2.5 (automatic) on thursday, july 16, 2009. on friday, july 17, i had to take it to the mechanic because it was making a terrible sound coming from the engine. upon arrival, it was found that the oil tank was bone dry. after adding 3 quarts of oil, the noise was gone. throughout that day when driving i smelt something like exhaust or burning oil or something. i just thought oil was spilled on the engine and it was simply burning off. i put approx 30 miles on the car that day. on saturday, july 18, i put approx 20 miles on the car (same smell). on sunday, i noticed smoke coming out of my muffler when i would hit the gas. it would go away when i was at a steady pace but if i put gas in it, the smoke would come out. i took the car to a friend of mine and had him check the oil. to my surprise, there was not a lick of oil left in the tank... where did it go????????? there was no sign of leaks underneath the car and no spot on my driveway. we went and purchased 3 more quarts of oil and added it to the car. when we checked the dip stick, the oil was pitch black. the car was also blowing black smoke. i am a single 27 year old mom, working and going to school. a nissan is what everyone told me to get.. why??? i have just forked out every dime i had (7800.00) in savings to purchase this car so what was i to do now? on monday, july 20, i took it back to the mechanic which then told me the engine needed to be replaced. i then took it to another mechanic which verified the same thing. after 2 weeks a 05 model engine was put in the car and i picked it up on august 7. shortly after being on the road, the check engine light came on and it was making a loud squeaky sound. after taking it back on august 18, they said it now needed a catalytic converter and they replaced a belt. on august 23, the car started going dead with no warning while driving; once i was on the interstate and thought i was going to die! it also acts as if it doesn't want to crank now. *tr
08/13/2009	98	1
	I began to burn about 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles that i drove at the beginning of 2009. there was also a strange growling noise when starting my car. eventually the check engine light came on. the oil usage also began to increase. i brought my car to a local mechanic and they said that my catalytic converter needed to be replaced and there were some engine issues that was beyond their capabilities. they recommended taking it to a nissan service department. i dropped my car off on 8/15 and within less then 2 hours they service technician told me that i not only needed a new catalytic converter but i also needed a new engine. he told me that because of a faulty design the front catalytic converter was to close to the engine causing it to over heat. once it overheated it would break down and because there is no egr valve on the cat the particles of the converter would get sucked back into the engine which ended up scoring the cylinder walls. they told me that because the recall campaign # 03v084000 was performed at 13,208 miles nissan would not cover the cost of a new engine and catalytic converter even though it is direclty related to the defective part that nissan is already aware of. the service advisor quoted me 4586.oo plus tax for my out of pocket cost and the parts and labor would only be covered for 12 monhs or 12,000 miles even though the engine that comes with the car when it is new is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. i am currently filing a complaint with nissan and consluting a lawyer. *tr
08/01/2009	80000	1
	I recently purchased a 2002 nissan altima. since i've had it, it uses oil and has a bad catalytic problem due to manufacturer defect. this 2.5s is under a recall. the ecm was replaced on the car to avoid this problem, but it still persists. nissan refuses to acknowledge the recall even though its never been fixed......the recall number for this catalytic converter is 03v084000. *tr
10/22/2007	80000	1
	My nissan altima 2002 2.5 car needs a new engine that will cost me approximately $5000. my car had close to 90,000 miles. but in tracking down my repair history, the problem could have occurred between 70,000 - 90,000 miles. i've taken my car to the dealership (younker nissan in renton washington) several times during a year to maintain so that i don't run into any of these problems but apparently didn't help. the problem started occurring when i took my car in for a problem that turned out to be a catalytic converter replacement. a few weeks later the engine service light came on so i took it back to the dealership. the dealership looked into the problem and said i needed a new engine. i filed a complaint with nissan corp because i've been taking my car to the nissan dealership to maintain but only to be told later i needed a new engine. corp nissan did not want to help out and neither did the dealership. i did some research online and was found so may people with this car had the same problem. i feel i've been not been treated fair because i've been taking care of my car (through maintenance at the dealership (younker nissan in renton washington)) and only to be told later i needed a new engine. *tr
07/21/2009	114800	1
	7/21/09- check engine light came on brought it into dealer and they tell me that my engine is shot and it needs to be replaced, $5,100 plus tax and labor. the parts from the pre-catalyst have be sucked through the exhaust and back into the engine scoring the cylinder walls, which increases my oil consumption and could result in a fire. after some research i discover that this has been a problem with hundreds of other people with the same model year as me. nissan did a recall back in 05/03 (recall 3007) to try to fix this issue but proper measures were not taking. in national highway traffic safety administration action number- pe02078, it states that nissan is still developing a corrective action to address the pre-catalyst. i have found no record that this work has ever been done, since 05/03 !?!?. my problem with nissan is they have known about these problems with model year 2002 2.5 liter altimas and still after over six years of releasing this information to the public they never address any issue that would prevent this from happening. i have contacted nissan and have been told that they have done all they can for me. with the issue of potential fire and sudden engine seizer i have not been able to drive my car since this issue has occurred. i would like nissan to pay for all repairs that are needed due to this issue. *tr
07/02/2009	57805	1
	My car has been at lebruns nissan dealership 3 times they detected three different problems, the last resort was my blown headgasket. i have a 2002 with 60,000 miles on it i should not be having a headgasket problem!! i have researched different problems and concerns with other owners online and have come across the same problems. problems containing oil consumption, engine failure, head gaskets, catalytic converters, not starting, service engine light on. now to me if this is happening to more than a few cars same exact year and model this is a defect on nissan and they are not stepping up to the plate. i have contacted nissan again and have gone further into this and have spoken to nissan north america, i which my specialist returns my phone calls every three days, they have accepted to fix my catalytic converter which is appreciated, but that still does not fix my problem as others have experienced. i feel i have been purchased a lemon vehicle and i am not satisfied, and i will continue to go further until nissan steps up to the plate and takes fault on there product. *tr
06/11/2009	86000	1
	In oct of 2002 a investigation was made by (odi) concerning 2 potential fire hazards on 2002 nissan altima( nhtsa)action # pe02078)according to your report nissan would remove portions of the exhaust pin and apply a heat shield. over the precat. you also stated nissan is developing corrective actions to address precat from overheating .what corrective action were introduced to fix this precat problem? after reading pages of nissan customer complaints concerning the precat destroying their motors i would say nissan did not do anything to fix this problem .these 2 manufacturer defects are not the same and should be treated differently if your car had a heat shield applied years ago what was done to correct the faulty precat.now a few years later your motor is shot and nissan will tell you they already had it in for the recall i ask once again what was done the fix the faulty precat?? if you have the answer please include it in corrective actions taken so myself and every other dissatisfied nissan customer can make some sense out of their statement when they tell us they fixed the problem when they put a heat shield on it. *tr
06/03/2009	85000	1
	I have a concern involving my 2002 nissan altima it is a 4 cylinder engine my check engine light has come on and its burning large amounts of oil (1 quart every 1000 miles) i bought this car in 2004( second hand)the cars burning of oil was strange to me because i always changed my oil approximately every 3000 miles,so i started to do some investigating on the web and came across a recall campaign in 2003 ( #03v084000) i read were fire may be caused by the catalytic converter and of 3 instances of fire to date of closer of nhtsa report in 2003. also nissan acknowledging a problem with the 2002 altimas converters and engine failers from this catalytic con. being that nhtsa has closed there report in 2003 will that affect nissan responsibility to fix this problem. i did not receive any type of recall for this issue and know finding out about potential fires and engine failures is starting to scare me this is a family car and i do have children can you please advise on needed actions on my part. *tr
04/24/2009	117400	1
	I purchased a vehicle from city ford lincoln mercury located in bronx, ny.. on 4/11/2009.. the next day when i went to pick up the car it started making loud noises. i called and informed the dealership of the situation. i went to the dealership three times before they decided to take it in to their repair shop.. they never fixed the car and they're giving me the run around. they expect to take the car back and the engine is smoking and making loud noises worse then it was when i had it.. i need help on how i go about getting the dealership to fix the car.. they've offered me to get another car & have it financed rather for them to fix the car or provide me with a refund. *tr
06/02/2009	112400	1
	At 112,000 miles the ses light on my 2002 nissan altima 2.5l came on. i had it diagnosed and was told that i need to have the catalytic converter replaced a $1500 repair job. after consulting many mechanics in the area, viewing many, many websites this is an extremely common problem with this car for this same year, make and model. the problem is by the time ses light indicates there is a problem it is too late as the damage has already been done to the engine and those that have paid the $1500 to have the catalytic converter replaced ended up having to replace the entire engine just a few months later!!! this cost up to $5000 to have done, bringing the total cost for this repair to $6500 dollars for something that is an ongoing issue, but not detectable during regular scheduled maintenance and often times has occurred after the car's warranty has expired. this can cause the car to stop in the middle of a highway and just shut down, as i've read from other owners that have experienced this same problem. i have a 3 year old, a 2 year old and newborn and i no longer feel safe driving them around in this car. please do the research and i feel rest assured that you will see the commonality of this problem. thank you from a very distraught 2002 nissan altima owner. *tr
07/01/2008	98997	1
	Engine started burning oil before 100,000 miles. come to find out not only does this vehicle have a bad cata lytic converter but that many nissan buyers got struck with the same drama and unbelievable costs that nissan will take no responsibility for. now my dream car is dead in the driveway and nissan wants $4600 for an engine and i still owe $7900 on the car. this is a nightmare. *tr
04/24/2009	105000	1
	2002 nissan altima stalling out while driving. losing power and not reaching speeds above 45 mph. read several reviews from other customers with engines going bad and started out with the same issues and problems with hard crank, and catalytic converter going bad and causing engines to go bad. *tr
05/02/2009	94000	1
	Purchased a new nissan altima in sept. 2002 and was recently told that i need a new engine. i have an excellent maintenance record. brought the car in last month for a loud grinding noise in the engine but was told that they couldn't find anything wrong. then the engine started a racing noise and i immediately dropped it off. now i am told that i need a new engine at the tune of $4,700.00. i only have 94,000 miles on the vehicle. i have filed a complaint and am waiting for a response. i have had all of the numerous recalls fixed over the past eight years. *tr
03/01/2009	104000	1
	A month or so ago, the check engine light went on and i took it to the nissan dealership for diagnosis. my car is a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s, 104,000 miles and the mechanic stated it needs a catalytic converter and possibly a new engine . the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) in 2004, but that recall has not corrected the issue. the vehicle has not been repaired yet. this is ridiculous- there are hundreds, if not thousands of exact failures and no recall??? nissan should be investigated for not repairing the matter. the small fix in 2004 did nothing to avert the long term issue. the maintenance records to this car are impeccable. oil changes documents every 3000-5000 miles using top grade synthetic synpower motor oil. there is no reason for this type of failure aside from design flaws. *tr
11/17/2008	137000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while performing a diagnostic, the dealer stated that the main catalyst failed due to increased oil consumption in the engine. the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the failure mileage was 137,000.
03/13/2009	127000	1
	Catalytic converter failure, head gasket failure; engine and catalytic converter must be replaced. *tr
02/22/2007	92000	1
	2002 nissan altima 2.5 s excessive oil consumption began around 92k miles. this vehicle has always had timely oil changes, suddenly the car was low on oil. the car was brought to the nissan dealership in smithtown, ny on 2/22/07, and i was informed that it needed a new engine and that there wasn't anything else that could be done. the catalytic converter was ordered on 2/23/07 (this was back-ordered). the catalytic converter was replaced on 3/13/07, approx. $600. now the car needs another catalytic converted and the engine is consuming several courts of oil a week. there are many people with the same car that have all experienced this sudden excessive oil consumption. the are other altima years that had this same problem and that were recalled but nissan has not done that for the 2002 model. it is widely know that it was due to the oil rings and the faulty pre-cats and exhaust manifolds. this car needs approx. $8k is repairs in order to stop burning oil and to correct the emissions. nissan should be responsible for these faulty parts in these cars, in all the years that they effected. *tr
06/01/2008		1
	Catalytic converter went out. heater core went out, therefore no heat in the car. *tr
03/07/2009		1
	I purchased a nissan altima 02 on sept 08. after three days i found out the oil was low took it to nissan dealership and was told that i need a brand new engine. one day my wife came and pick me up at work and the car won't start again. i took it to the mechanics and they still can't find the problem with it and i am suspecting because my mechanic told me one time that the catalytic converter was bad. nissan will not get away with it as a matter of fact my mechanics told me that all nissan altima with that type has the same problem. *tr
01/10/2009	115000	1
	My 2002 nissan altima's check engine light came on. the car started running sluggish, and totally ran out of oil! mechanic said i needed a new engine. i bought one - and that one went on the fritz two days after fixing it. the diagnostics test said it was an o2 sensor. it ran out of oil. now i find out the car is a lemon, after i bought a new engine to boot. two engines are ruined in this car, and i still don't have it paid for. *tr
01/07/2009	88173	1
	1. events- vehicle constantly miss-fired. 2. failure- screws in butterfly valve came out, were passed through piston, damaged spark plugs and came to rest in the exhaust manifold. 3. correction- part air plenum gasket. labor r&r upper air plenum intake and r&r exhaust manifold to remove screw. *tr
01/17/2009	100000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power. the contact managed to pull the vehicle over and was unable to restart the engine. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the catalytic converter overheated and shattered. the shattered pieces entered into the motor, which caused the engine to completely fail. the only remedy would be to install a new engine and a new exhaust. the contact was informed that the reason for the defect was due to the size of the catalytic converter that was manufactured into the vehicle by nissan. she believes that a recall should be issued for the failure. the vehicle is currently at the dealer and has not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were 100,000.
12/01/2008	133000	1
	Many problems with the catalytic converter, check engine light remains on although vehicle has been serviced at the dealer properly. engine rattles. there have been many complaints regarding the 2002 nissan altima catalytic converter. although previous recalls with the engine coolant system have been honored nissan fails to recognize there is a problem with the catalytic converter. many consumers have complained. *tr
06/07/2006	77065
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. when the ignition key was activated, the contact heard a loud noise coming from outside of the vehicle. the noise occurred intermittently and without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection and they stated that the failure was related to the catalytic converter. the contact was advised to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. the dealer replaced the front exhaust assembly, front 02 sensor, and cleared the system codes. the repairs were performed under warranty. the failure recurred and the engine and catalytic converter were replaced. the failure mileage was 77,065 and current mileage was 120,000.
11/15/2008	68000	1
	I have a 2002 nissan altima that i purchased with 57,000 miles (2nd owner). in december 2006 with about 68,000 miles on vehicle, the catalytic converter blew up. i had this replaced and at 76,000 miles i took the vehicle in to complain about the oil/coolant and metallic noise from engine. the dealer said they could not find a problem, at 86,000 the dealer said i needed a new motor since there were particles that had been sucked in from the cat, they wanted $5,900 to replace. i called and spoke to representatives of nissan north america and lodged a complaint, after about a week i received a call from them stating that they would not repair or help with costs. i was forced to find an alternate repair option and purchased a rebuilt motor, the problem with this was after a few weeks the service engine light came on. i tried smogging the vehicle and was unable to, i finally found out that the cause of the problem was the catalytic converter again, i had the cat replaced again ($750) and i was able to get it smogged. this was only 3-4 weeks ago and about 1 week ago i took the car back to the shop and was informed that the rattling/grinding noise is coming from the engine again!! please help me with this, i have nothing but problems with this vehicle since i purchased it with only 57,000 miles on it. the problem with the catalytic converter on the 2002-06 altima/sentra with the 2.5l motors is a factory defect!! there are thousands of the same exact complaints on numerous sites. nissan should be held responsible for this defect. i now have a vehicle that i pay $300 a month for that i have put an engine & 2 cat's in, and now it needs another motor. this is ridiculous for a car company to sell vehicles and not stand behind what they make. *tr
11/29/2008		1
	Nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalyst converter. after inspection of the catalyst converter noticeable chucks of the catalyst converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer with fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *tr
10/22/2008	84000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 30 mph on normal road conditions, the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact also heard excessive noise coming from the engine. the warning indicator remained lit until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to the catalytic converter. the vehicle was excluded from the recall due to the mileage and has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 84,000 and current mileage was 85,721.
07/05/2006	81286
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. when the contact started the ignition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. he also heard a loud noise coming from the four cylinder engine, which was not operating properly. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to an oxygen sensor that was replaced. the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling, exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe); however, the repair was insufficient. the vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer for the same failure on three occasions. the vehicle has not been repaired again. the contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was 81,286 and current mileage was 95,500.
10/31/2008	111835	1
	My 2002 nissan altima 2.5 began to experience engine failure in december of 2007. it started with an engine code . referred to the catalyst converter. i had begun searching for evidence of a bigger problem prior to taking it to the dealer. there are hundreds of people on different forums describing the exact same symptoms for the same car. not ironic, disturbing. the vehicle has been maintained properly and preventable maintenance performed regularly. i also had hard to start problems . recently took my vehicle into the nissan dealer because i could not figure out what was going on. i kept loosing coolant and oil and i did not have any witness marks on my driveway to prove that it was leaking. at times you can smell the sweet odor of antifreeze inside the vehicle. after nissan service visit, the service rep said that i needed a new engine..catalytic converter broke up and was sucked back into the engine. here is what the invoice reads. invoice: ecm recall could not perform recall veh has e-lights that need to be corrected?multi point visual inspection only?inspection performed rec engine assy and cat related parts a/c low pressure hose?cust states veh losing coolant and has a miss ck diag and chck out time only?cust states veh has coolant leak and miss1.00 inspection veh for coolant leak but found no visible leak. misfire found inspected plugs and found they're fouled out and have corrosion type substance on them?veh poss burning coolant. inspected cat and found is coming apart. rec engine cat and related parts cust declined repairs? note has replaced o2sensors, spark plugs. i asked the service rep why nissan wouldn't pay for this if this was obviously a design problem. she simply responded by saying that all they would do is the work but i would have to pay for everything. they told me to contact nissan headquarters if i had a complaint. it doesn't seem that many of my fellow altima owner?s have had much luck with that. nissan be responsible. lives may depend it. *tr
01/02/2008	171000	1
	Pre catalytic converter failure. converter comes apart, gets sucked into the engine, and causes engine damage. contacted nissan and was told mine was an isolated incident. nothing done to correct problem. *tr
08/01/2006		1
	I have a 2002 nissan altima that has been giving me nothing but problems . i have had the catalytic converter changed and now it needs another one . oil is being consumed or at least that's what the nissan dealer told me in 2006 he said i need a motor i have been taking this car to the nissan dealer too many times to think they have claimed to change things every time i'd take it . it's always something different i don't think they knew the problem at first. either they didn't know or they decided to wait until after my warranty ended to tell me that i needed a motor!! i have spent so much money on this car. i feel that i paid too much for this car to be trying to pay over $5000 for a motor. the car is now 6 yrs old and that's not old enough for a motor. nissan should feel very bad that they a responsible for people paying too much money for that lemon of a car. i need transportation not a new car note!! *tr
06/01/2008	74987	1
	I own a 2002 nissan altima which is exhibiting the symptoms very typical with 100's of other altima owners. one month ago the check engine light came on, engine is consuming large quantities of oil, power is sluggish especially at startup, coolant is being consumed etc. took the car in to the dealer and the fault code was for faulty catalytic converter. dealer suggests complete replacement of long block. since the recall (ntb03-070c) had been done on my car a few years ago, previous to me owning the car, they are no longer responsible for the recall. seems unfathomable that so many owners are experiencing the same problem and no definite action is being taken from nissan or being forced to be taken from the government oversight. *tr
09/24/2008	103000	1
	Service engine light came on in my 2002 nissan altima. took it to the mechanic and was told the cat converter was bad. checked website to see if others had the same issue and discovered that hundreds of individuals had the same issue and after replacing the cat converter, had to replace the whole engine. the website is http://forums.automotive.com/70/1106267/nissan/2002-nissan-altima-oil-dropping-at-108000miles-i-w/index.html. i would like to file a complaint or be directed on what to do next. *tr
10/04/2008		1
	The technician performed a diagnostic test on my 2002 nissan altima because the service engine soon light came on. the problem was due a defect in catalytic converter, which is damaging my engine. i have to get it replace, but it costs $1500. my car has only 84,000 miles on it. also, i take it in for an oil change at every 3,000 miles and for regular check ups. so i researched it online and discovered that there are hundreds of complaints on the catalytic converter. below are the links to some of the websites with complaints from the altima drivers on their catalytic converter. 1)http://www.carcomplaints.com/nissan/altima/2002/engine/catalytic_converter_failure_caused_engine_damage.shtml 2)http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/nissan_altima.html 3) http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=638520 4)http://www.carsurvey.org/review_105673.html 5)http://www.caraudio.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-222455.html 6)http://forums.caranddriver.com/auto/board/message?board.id=nissan&thread.id=158 7)http://forums.automotive.com/70/1106267/nissan/2002-nissan-altima-oil-dropping-at-108,000 miles-i-w/index.html 8)http://answers.edmunds.com/question-negotiation-2002-altima-replacement-engine-28642.aspx 9)http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_84045.html 10) http://autorepair.about.com/b/2008/01/17/altima-owner-thinks-hes-getting-the-shaft.htm i think nissan knows this problem and they need to do something about it. *tr
09/02/2008	119474	1
	File #6258697 2002 altima my complaint involves a qr25de engine installed in my altima. i like to give you some background on the engine and then talk about my problem. the qr25de is in the 2002-present nissan altman 2.5, 2.5s, 2.5sl 175hp, hybrid 158hp. the qr25de sold in the united states has been subject to a significant number of problems in its short lifetime. a variety of mechanical flaws have led to numerous technical service bulletins, recalls, repairs, and outright engine replacements. vehicles with the qr25de may ingest material from a damaged pre-catalyst resulting in increased oil consumption. the pre-catalyst was replaced at 79,000 miles and shortly thereafter realize the engine was consuming more oil but nothing that significant. i started to notice more oil being consumed at 117,000 called nissan and started a file they suggested i take the car to a nissan dealer and check out the problem. the car broke down and i had it towed to nissan and they looked at the car and told me the catalytic converter was gone at 118,151 miles and it was replaced at a cost of $825.65. at the same time they checked for oil leaks and said there were no leaks and top off the oil and told me to bring the car back. the car was driven 1062 miles brought it back to nissan dealership and was told it was down 3 quarts. they filled the oil back up and after 261 miles the oil light came on brought it back to nissan and found it to be down 4 quarts and was told the engine was gone. unsuspecting customers have let the oil run completely dry which could lead to engine fire or complete shutdown of engine while driving on the highway. nissan consumer affairs reviewed the case and denied responsibility for a poor design and nissan is letting many consumers in my situation pay for a new engine. i little research on this particular engine will yield many more unsatisfied consumers. the car had oil changes at 3000 miles intervals.*tr
07/01/2008	85000	1
	Nissan (woodfield nissan, hoffman estates, il) is not forthright in acknowledging recall # ntb03-070c and is not willing repairing this know hazard. *tr
09/14/2008	98401	1
	I have a 2002 nissan altima 2.5 s model, the car started to use excessive amounts of oil and coolant. took car to a nissan dealer and the service dept. told me i need a new engine and without having the service dept. disassemble the engine they can't determine what the failure of is. this car only has 98k on it and is and was taken very good care of. i've heard of others who own nissan altimas having the same symptoms and problems. the nissan dealer told me there is nothing they or nissan of america can or will do. i know that nissan has had problems and they will not do anything to help. *tr
12/26/2007	110000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact noticed that her vehicle was consuming more oil at a rapid pace. the check engine light illuminated and she called the manufacturer. she was informed that there was an outstanding recall on her vehicle, nhtsa campaign id number 06v242000 (engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was taken to the dealer and partially repaired according to the recall. the entire recall repair was not performed because the dealer stated that the ecm software was up-to-date and did not need the repair. the contact was informed that the check engine light illuminated due to an engine fire and that she needed to make an appointment for a diagnostic. she referenced nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe), which was previously repaired partially. the contact was concerned that the hanger pin was replaced, but no heat shields were incorporated to complete the recall repair. she spoke with the manufacturer again to open a case in september of 2008. the current mileage was approximately 121,000 and failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
09/17/2008	83000	1
	My 2002 nissan altima needs a new engine at 83,000 miles. this is a widespread problem, i found and nissan is not doing anything to rectify the matter. engines that are well taken care of should not die at 83,000 miles. this all started in june when my car started becoming difficult to start. i brought my nissan into the dealership for some recall items and asked them to check the hard start while it was in there. they couldn't find anything wrong and suggested a fuel system tune up (which i did) and if that didn't work i might need a new fuel pump. this worked well for a while but then it started again. i paid for new spark plugs, oil changes, air filters, all seemed to help for a day and the hard start would happen again. suddenly the computer finally got a read of o2 sensor and catalytic converter. i called nissan consumer affairs because this problem started happening before the 80,000 mile warranty ran out and it was mis-diagnosed. they told me that there was nothing they could do about it unless i brought my car to the dealer, which i did. when i got there they told me i needed a new engine on top of the o2 sensor and catalytic converter. and that nissan denied my request to honor the warranty. *tr
09/05/2008	115000	1
	2002 nissan altima 2.5sl with 119k miles, purchased brand new from dealership, excessive oil consumption with check engine light on. nissan refuses to accept any responsibility for poor emission/engine construction. appears we need a new engine due to converter breaking down and being sucked into engine. *tr
09/05/2008	78000	1
	At 78k miles, the service engine light came on, and soon after, it started excessive oil consumption followed by a significant drop in power, especially in take-off speed. took it to the dealer and was informed that i need to change the engine for close to $5000. apparently, there are hundreds if not thousands of customers with the same problem. i found out about the extent of the problem after i did a simple google search. the root cause of this failure mode seems to be the same as well as attested by people who have the problem. catalytic converter that was oddly designed too close to the engine thermally wears and sends chips into the engine where by scorching the cylinder. *tr
07/13/2008	108000	1
	My complaint is the same as about 50 other complaints i found on this site. my check engine light came on and when we brought it to the dealer to get it fixed, we were told that the catalytic convert failed and the engine ingested particles that scored the cylinder heads. now the engine needs to be replaced. we contacted nissan to see if they would help differ the cost of the repair and was told the catalytic converter was past the 80,000 mi. warranty period and we did not buy enough nissan vehicles in the past to warrant any good will. in fact the region nissan rep refused to even acknowledge that she had heard of this problem before even though the dealer told me that they see a large number of this same problem every year. in reading recalls like 03v084000, it appears that this is a known defect that nissan has agreed to repair voluntarily, but is now not standing behind their agreement. please let me know if there is anything i can do to persuade nissan to help out. also, my vehicle has been experiencing all of the symptoms of the 03v455000 recall but the dealer tells me that this recall was already performed by the previous owner. even the dealers own diagnostic test shows the p0335 ckp sensor circuit error code is still a problem. can a recall be performed twice if a failure occurs again? the info provide in your description of the remedy for this recall seems to indicate that the circuit boards installed under the previous recall 01v357 were still defective. what should i do? *tr
06/15/2006	80000	1
	At about 80,000 miles my 2002 nissan altima had an issue where the coolant started leaking into to combustion chamber, had to have the heads resurfaced, and cat converters replaced. now the car burns oil, has to be replaced at about 1000 miles (completely empty if i let it go to 1500 miles). the car now stops when driving at slow speeds, starts right back up, but dies while driving. *tr
07/20/2008	120000	1
	2002 nissan altima - engine is going through 2 quarts of oil every 100 miles. i have done some simple research on this and find that hundreds of people have the same problem and apparently nissan is aware of it yet claim that there is no problem. the basics of the issue are that an internal part of the catalytic converter is getting sucked back up into the engine scoring the cylinder. my daughter's car has about 100,000 miles on it however there are complaint after complaint on various blogs of the same thing happening as soon as 50-60,000 miles. her car has had regular maintenance and this should not be an issue. the cost of replacing the engine is $5,000. i have read stories of engines having been replaced 2 times on the same car. does nissan have to address this or can they just blow off the customer and pretend that there is no issue with the motor, converter etc? *tr
07/28/2008	126797	1
	Own a 2002 nissan altima; replaced catalytic converter 6/2005 @ 71k miles. it fell under federal emissions warranty. 7/2008 service engine light on again and seem to be burning through oil. took into balise nissan - converter needs to be replaced again, needs more expensive tests to diagnose oil issue. googled 2002 nissan altima problems, consumer affairs website had post after post of owners with the same problem as i've had/having. ultimate fix, need to replace engine. one man replaced engine twice and car is still not correct. called nissan headquarters, the regional rep, catherine, who was extremely rude as though i was trying to accomplish something terrible, said she reviewed my complaint and there is nothing nissan will do because there are no recalls pending and the car is a 2002 and now has 126k on it and my warranty expired. i told her the initial problem happened while i was still under warranty and obviously that had to be a problem also because a well maintained vehicle, regardless of mileage should not burn through 2 catalytic converters in 6 years and also need a new engine. i also tried to bring her attention to the countless other owners with the same issue, she did not want to discuss it. there is an obvious problem with the vehicles...please help!!!!! *tr
07/20/2008	90	1
	2002 altima 2.5 engine- began using oil, a little between changes, increased to using 4 quarts for a 16 mile round trip. car began to smoke , becoming a hazard to operate, due to the tremendous amount of smoke screen. was told by mechanic , nissan has issued a bulletin, but not recall on problem of cat. converter failure, causing engine to fail around 100k. *tr
06/25/2004	34727	1
	Nhtsa campaign # 03v084000. this recall was performed on my nissan altima back in 6/2004. it was not performed completely. precat was found damaged and replaced but engine was not. precat failed again in 5/2008 and was replaced under warranty. engine was not replaced a second time. engine is now using excessive oil and is a fire hazard. i have contacted nissan north america and i am receiving resistance from them on replacing engine. *tr
07/10/2002	85000	1
	In the beginning of may my oil light came on while driving. i stopped at the first store i came to and put oil in the car. before this i had never had any issues with the car burning oil. within a few days, the car was burning oil at a high rate, about a quart a week. i had a technician look at my car and was told that it looks like some kind of engine failure. at this point i went on line and found out that 2002 nissan altima's had a problem that created excess oil burn and engine damage. on may 23rd i contacted nissan north america who did not respond. on may 30th i contacted nissan north america again and they referred me to a local dealer. on the 30th i brought my car to the dealer who changed my oil ($36.32) in order to do an oil consumption test on my car. one week later i brought the car back and after driving 70 miles the car had burned 4 quarts of oil. when picking up my car, i was told that nissan was not willing to fix my car because my brother was the first owner of the car and not me even though they were aware of engine problems with the 2002 altima engines. they also quoted me a price of $3,792.70 to replace the engine. on thursday, july 10th the engine failed and now needs to be replaced. nissan had a recall to fix this problem but what ever they did did not work. *tr
11/29/2007	50438	1
	I own a nissan altima 2002 (54,000 miles) that consumes 3.5 pints of oil every 350 to 400 miles. my mechanic has identified the problem related to nhtsa # 03v-084 on 11/29/07 and tells me that my engine should be changed by nissan. my muffler, catalytic converter o2 sensors had to be changed on 3/28/08 the nissan dealership does not want to acknowledge the issue related to the recall. i have been trying to contact nissan customer relations without success. what else can i do? *tr
03/04/2006	78000	1
	2002 nissan altima, case#5865538. the very public and well-documented problems with oil consumption in the 2002 and 2003 nissan altimas warrant your immediate attention. i have spent over 26 months and thousands of dollars trying to fix my car. i first noticed an oil consumption problem at about 75,000 miles. i keep up with the required services on my vehicle and i make oil changes at the recommended intervals at a minimum, so i tried additional oil changes and oil refills. these efforts did not seem to work; so i replaced the catalytic converter, the two crank position sensors, the pcv valve, four coil packs, two oxygen sensors, and the spark plugs. many of these items were on recall and nissan should have paid for them, but i paid for them. i found countless numbers of nissan altima owners were having the exact same issues. in fact, there are now reports of the 2002/2003 altima
01/08/2008	112000	1
	I took my 2002 nissan altima in for repair. when i was told my catalytic converter was bad also destroying my engine. i searched your web site for recalls and found one dealing with this exact problem. when i brought it up to my dealer they said the recall was done in january of this year, if it was already done why would it happen again and shouldn't they replace the engine?well i contacted nissan and they told me that they wouldn;t honor the recall ! so i would like to file a complaint and hope that you can pressure nissan to update their service to cover the second time this same defect happens to over 250,000 cars. *tr
01/02/2008	177150	1
	2002 nissan altima pre-cat problem. pre-cat comes apart, a backflow of debris enters engine via the exhaust manifold and causes engine damage. this condition is the result of a design flaw involving the pre catalytic converter. contacted nissan north america was told nothing could be done on their part as this is an isolated incident. apparently there was a recall to replace the pre-cat on these engines which only served in most cases to put off the pre-cat blow up past engine warranty. *tr
05/25/2008	100260	1
	I have 2002 nissan altima 2.5 s,my car burn oil like crazy, could make a fire if i didn't keep checking on the oil level, i spent 5 quart just from iowa to minneapolis and for the local drive i need to refill 1 quart of oil every 5-6 days (between office and home which is just 4 minutes driving). *tr
11/22/2007	65000	1
	I have a nissan altima (2002) with under 75,000 miles. i have been experiencing problems with the coolant system for roughly 10,000 miles. the coolant tank drains every 2-3 days. i refill it, and it is empty 2 -3 days later. i have had 3 or 4 separate tests done on the coolant system, and no problems were found. yet, the problems continue. recently, gray smoke flows out of the tail pipe upon starting the car. also, when starting the car, the whole vehicle shutters, and sometimes does not turn right over (requiring 2 or 3 turns of the ignition key). i was told that perhaps it is a blown head gasket, warped head, or something of the sort. either way, it was determined that the coolant is somehow leaking into the engine (because no signs of leaks anywhere else have been detected). with only 75,000 miles on the car, this should be considered a manufacturers problem. the coolant tank is emptied every 2-3 days, the gray smoke blowing out of the tail pipe happens at least 3 times a week, and the shuttering (and inability to start initially) happens 1-2 times a week, with increasing frequency. nothing was done to correct the problem. one dealership said that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, which obviously is not the case. i was told by 2 mechanics (one at that same dealership, and one independent) that the problem is internal, and that the entire motor would probably have to be replaced. at the very minimum, the head gasket and / or header. researching the internet, i found hundreds of similar complaints by owners of nissan's of the same of similar model and year. this problem should be looked into, and should be seriously considered for a recall! *tr
04/24/2008	100000	1
	2002 nissan altima faulty engine and catalytic converter. *tr
04/29/2008	81005	1
	2002 nissan altima 2.5 l engine excessive engine oil consumption, burning oil no leaks. black smoke from exhaust pipe wants to stall and shakes most of the time. check engine light comes on and off. *tr
02/21/2003	12800	1	10/31/2001
	My vehicle stalls when driving on the highway. and the heat doesn't work at all, when the weather conditions are bad, i can't see out the window.*ak
01/01/2007		3	05/01/2003
	2002 nissan altima with a list of problems including lost power, electrical issue with 02 sensors, exhaust, cruise control*cc when the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, she was told the vehicle had 2 recalls. after the two recalls were completed, the consumer still experienced problems with the vehicles lack of power. the vehicle had also started to consume large amounts of oil. the consumer took the vehicle to a repair shop and it was discovered that the oil rings were stuck on the pistons. the engine light had constantly been on. the code stated there was a problem with the timing chain sensor. jb
04/12/2005	0	1	03/28/2002
	In the beginning of april 2005 the engine light in my nissan altima came on - since i was told unless the light was flashing it is okay to drive - i called for the next appointment with nemith nissan. on the days prior to taking my car in i noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust. i no longer drove the car and had it towed to nemith nissan. upon inspection of the car a t nemith they stated that the pre-catalyst had failed ( a recalled part never replaced only inspected) and exhaust had blown into the engine scoring the cylinders. answer: new engine $4573.45. car had 87,000 miles but was well taken care of - oil changes regularly - reg. maintenance etc.. nemith suggested we contact nissan direct - filed a case - no satisfaction - completely refused any assistance. car has since been fixed - mechanic clearly states pre-catalyst cause of problem - this part was recalled and only inspected by nemith - never replaced! had i driven this car any further car would have caught fire!!!!!!!!!!!. *jb
	47514	1	07/01/2002
	Repairs required for 3 recalls, replacement or radiator and mass airflow sensor. however, manufacturer is willing to pay replacement of radiator, but won't pay for the replacement of mass airflow sensor. la mr
01/16/2004	54548	1	12/26/2001
	Ref. investigation pe 02-078 the 'check oil' light flashed on the dashboard of my 2002 nissan altima on 1-16-2004. i stopped to check the oil level and found the dipstick to be bone dry. i filled the oil reservoir on this date and have checked the oil daily since. the oil level has steadily dropped. it appears that the description of potential engine damage described in odi resume for investigation pe 02-078 (i.e. scoring of the cylinder walls) has occurred and now my engine is consuming motor oil at a rapid pace. *la
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
01/31/2006	53500	1	01/05/2006
	I was turning right when all of a sudden my car starts choking and sputtering and the service engine soon light came on, slip light came on, and the traction control light came on. i slowed down and it seemed to work alright but when i got up to 35-40 mph the car started sputtering again and wouldn't go faster than 35 mph. i pulled over to the side of the road and turned the car off and started it back up and had the same problem. luckily there was not much traffic around and i was close to home so i drove back to my house. later that night i went to start the car and it started but immediately died, started it again and it immediately died, started it a third time and it immediately died, but on the fourth try it started and stayed running. that next morning i had the car towed to a nissan dealership and explained the problem to them. the called me back the next day and told me that they have to replace the mass air flow sensor on the car at a price of $700.00 + tax. i have read many car forums and this problem with the mass air flow sensor failing seems to happen a lot on 2002-2003 nissan altimas. i think there should be a recall on the mass air flow sensor because with a car having this problem could cause a major accident. reading the forums it sounds like nissan fixed the problems on the 2004 and newer altimas so why can't they fix them on the 2002 and 2003 models? *jb
04/28/2002	14500	0	03/23/2002
	Maf sensor failure..any complaints of this problem on altima . org forum...with or without after market air intakes. *nlm
02/01/2002
	Consumer states that intermittenly when filling the fuel tank the check engine light will illuminate. checked by the dealer who advised that car is reading a vapor leak code. dealer has replaced gas cap twice, but problem is still occuring. ts
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
12/15/2010	140000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the catalytic converter broke and damaged the engine. the engine also burned oil weekly causing the contact to add oil every two weeks. the check engine light illuminated constantly. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic test. the contact was responsible for paying $105. the dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. the failure mileage was 140,000.
01/01/1901		1
	2002 nissan altima. consumer states premature breakdown of the catalytic converter tgw the vehicle was burning a quart of oil every few days, due to a defective catalytic converter that was deteriorating and its particles were sucked into the engine destroying its ability to administer power to the vehicle. also the vehicle would stall when accelerating. jb
05/12/2008	81000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated the engine light illuminated while driving 40 miles per hour. the contact was advised by an independent mechanic of a recall for the catalytic converter. the contact spoke with the dealer who advised there was no recall. the contact received a call from the dealer the next day who advised the catalytic converter was defective and the contact would have to pay out of pocket since the vehicle was not under the recall. the current and failure miles were 81000.
01/18/2010	133000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. whenever the contact drove the vehicle at any speed he noticed a rattling noise under the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the contact previously noticed that the check engine light appeared on the dashboard. the current and failure mileages were 133,000.
12/10/2002	21	2
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the air conditioning system will not circulate heat. also after service the oil and antifreeze levels depletes prematurely. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and she was advised that the catalytic converter and the engine coil needed to be replaced. a representative from the dealer and manufacturer stated that the repairs cost $1600.00. no repairs were made. the failure mileage was 21. the mileage was 105,000. the consumer stated the vehicle would stall while driving at any speed. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and upon inspection, the consumer was informed a sensor was soaked in oil. there was no oil leaking from the vehicle, but they were not able to tell the consumer where the oil was coming from. soon after, there was a recall for the same problem. the wheel bearing and alternator had to be replaced. the engine light has been on for over 2 1/2 years, the vehicle has no heat and anti-freeze was evaporating, but there were no leaks. the consumer stated she could smell coolant coming through the vents. updated 02/01/10*jb
06/12/2009	101000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle coasted to the side of the road and roadside assistance was called to the scene. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing and they stated that the failure was contributed to the catalytic converter. the vehicle was previously repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v08400 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe); however, the remedy has not corrected the safety defect. the vehicle is currently inoperable and has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were less than 101,0000.
06/01/2009	103000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the catalytic converter was not working properly and the parts damaged his engine. the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000; however, the failure continued. debris from the catalytic converter entered the engine and caused more damage. the failure and current mileages were less than 103,000.
02/11/2009	100000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while the vehicle was at a service center, the technician observed that the engine oil reservoir was empty. an oil change was performed on the vehicle at that time. one week later, the reservoir was empty again. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the catalytic converter failed. the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) in 2004, but the recall has not corrected the issue. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 100,000.
12/12/2008	85000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the recall repair was performed in july of 2004; however, the failure is recurring due to the catalytic converter. the failure could cause an engine fire. the contact feels that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. the current mileage was 100,000 and failure mileage was 85,000.
03/28/2008	149000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving at various speeds, the vehicle feels as if it will shut off, but it remains running. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic, who stated that there may be recalls on her vehicle. the manufacturer stated that there were four open recalls on her vehicle and advised her to go to a dealer for the recall repair. the repair was made, but the failure continued. the contact returned to her local mechanic and the oxygen sensor was removed. the mechanic discovered that the catalytic converter had shattered into pieces as explained in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the failure mileage was 149,000.
04/15/2008	104000	1	11/15/2001
	'service engine soon' light came on & would go on & off for the past 3-4 months. i took the car to a dealer due to a recall notice about something else and the dealer said the catalytic converter needed replaced. the exhaust system should not be failing on this car. when picking up the part from the dealer, the dealership told my father that they keep this part (exhaust manifold) in stock b/c they replace so many of them. my dad asked if they were going to recall the part, the nissan service mgr said no. the catalytic converter should not be cracking or needing to be replaced. i got the part ($400) and my mechanic is fixing it today. *tr
11/26/2007	100000	8	03/01/2007
	Massive oil loss which causes numerous problems, c02 censor, catalytic converter goes out, head lights went out, car shakes and rattles. plug wires, spark plugs all needed to be replaced.*tr
04/04/2008	110000	2	09/20/2002
	Car misfiring ,took it to nissan dealer was told that power valve screws located in the intake manifold became loose in to engine damaging #3 spark plug head cylinder and precat dealer estimate repair over $3,000 .contacted nissan corp for assistance with no luck,recalls for the same problem on 04 and 05 but not for mine 02 or 03 although the engine is the same,and alot of complaints. thank you. *tr
11/01/2007	58000	3	10/01/2001
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact noticed that the engine was using more oil than usual. while at the dealer for a 60,000 mile inspection, the mechanic stated that the catalytic converter failed. the catalytic converter was replaced; however, oil was able to enter into the engine valve and eventually the engine will also need to be replaced. the contact stated that he purchased the vehicle new and the manufacturer built the vehicle with a defected catalytic converter. the manufacturer stated that the contact will receive a call back from a regional specialist. it has been over a month and she has not received a call. the powertrain was unknown. the current mileage was 61,000 and failure mileage was 58,000.
07/09/2007	95000	1	03/15/2006
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. in 2007, the contact's vehicle burned 1 quart of oil per month. within the last few months, the vehicle has begun to burn 1 quart of oil per week. a local mechanic inspected the vehicle and stated that the oil was burning through the catalytic converter, which caused debris to flow back into the engine. the contact was informed that the vehicle needed a new engine or should be sold. she received a recall notice and took the vehicle to the dealer for repair, but was informed that the service could not be performed because the error code for the catalytic code appeared. a local mechanic informed the contact of a service bulletin and nhtsa campaign id number 03v084. the mechanic advised her to check with the dealer to find out if the vehicle had previously been repaired. the manufacturer stated that the service had already been performed by the previous owner. the dealer wanted to assist, but the manufacturer would not let the dealer perform the service. the failure mileage was 95,000 and current mileage was 105,000.
01/01/2006	85000	50	09/28/2004
	I have had a problem with my vehicle since the catalytic converter failed...i noticed that my oil level had dropped but did not equate it initially with this issue. after the failed converter ( check engine light code)....i bought a new converter and had it replaced within the week....as well as an oil change from . a few days later when i as i was checking fluids in my car i noticed my oil was very low......adding oil ( soon after an oil change did not seem right. i went to nissan ( dealer) and explained the problem. they did an oil consumption test and determined that i needed a new engine. i have done research online and have explained to them that other cars have the same problem in different areas but they declined to fix the engine, only stating that i needed to pay for a new engine. *tr
03/16/2008	85000	1	10/06/2006
	While driving my 2002 nissan altima to work on march 16th 2008 i noticed that it was bucking severely on the freeway and that my check engine light was flashing rapidly. my car had approximately 85,000 miles on it at that time. i drove my car to the nissan dealership in tempe and had it looked at on march 17th 2008. i was informed that the head gasket had blown in the engine. after having my warranty company take a look at it i was informed that i would in fact need a new engine in my car. apparently when the head gasket blew it leaked coolant into my catalytic converter. when that happened and the coolant heated up enough to combust it started to disintegrated the inside of my catalytic converter. my engine then ingested some of the sub strait of the converter. in doing so i now have to replace my engine because all of the components are covered in a fine sandy material from the inside of the converter. *tr
01/09/2008		1	02/16/2002
	I was very happy with my car until 1-/9/08 i took my car to stewart nissan in fayetteville to do a computer update and to see why my check engine light was on. they did the update and turned the light off and said i might wind up needing a catalyst converter if the light comes back on. it came back on before i even got home. i called them back and ask if it was under warranty they said the one that tells them that was off and i would have to wait till that monday but i called vester in clinton. i took it to them on saturday but they had to get one in. picked my car up thought everything was fine but it started skipping and my oil was a quart low .drove a few more days another quart low called back to clinton took it back in they changed plugs and did oil change told me to drive a few days and keep a check on my oil i have and it is worse still skipping and using oil but cannot see a leak of any kind i just do not under stand what happen to my car i did not have any trouble until this catalyst converter i am suppose to take it back to vester saturday. i have seen several complaints close to this one on the internet so maybe you can tell me what needs to be done to get my car back to normal and why this happen in the first place i really feel like this is something that came from that part . i only have 81,000 thousand miles. *tr
02/14/2007	116460	2	03/14/2003
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that her motor mounts have either failed or are loose. when she depresses the brake pedal, the vehicle jerks dramatically. the sensor in the catalytic converter failed. the dealer stated that if the vehicle had less than 80,000 miles, the failure would be covered under nissan's extended warranty. the vehicle exceeds 80,000 miles and will not be covered under warranty. the current and failure mileages were 116,460. updated 04/21/08 bf
02/29/2008	92257	1	04/24/2002
	The vehicle was taken to a dealership for 90,000 mile maintenance on 2/26/08. at that time, we were informed there was an open recall for the ecm. the maintenance was done and the ecm was reprogrammed per the service dept. 3 days later on 2/29/08, the check engine light came on while we were driving home at night on the freeway. we stopped at a gas station and checked under the hood, but nothing unusual appeared, ie no leaking fluids, not overheating, engine running smoothly, etc. we checked the oil; the level was at full and was clean as it should be from an oil change 3 days earlier. the next day, we took it back to the dealership for diagnosis. they told us the error code indicates that the catalytic converter needs to be replaced. its extended warranty expired at 80,000 miles. looking for key words altima catalytic converter on the internet to do a cost analysis, we have found many blog entries by other 2002/2003 altima drivers discussing this same issue. many of them indicated that the cat converter will break apart and backflush parts into the engine, damaging the cylinders and ultimately requiring engine replacement. this has apparently happened before and also after converters have been replaced. the converter or associated parts apparently have serious design flaws that can ultimately cause engine failure while a driver is on the road. this could have potentially serious side effects depending on where and when the failure occurs. replacement of our converter is pending; in the meantime, the vehicle is parked in our garage. *tr
12/24/2007		4	03/18/2002
	I bought my 02 altima in march 02. there was several recalls over the years and once fixed there were no problems. in 2007 i reached 80k miles and the engine light starting coming on. i took it to the dealership and they said it was a catalytic converter going bad and since i was past the mileage for warranty i would have to fix it at a cost of $1000+. the car is hesitant to start at times, it rattles under the hood and blows cold air when idling. there was also another recall issued this year where the engine is said to stop at any given time. i'm getting the car fixed this weekend which is totaling me $3700, of which the mechanic is saying nissan really should have taken another look because he's had to fix more than 100 of this same vehicle at his dealership alone. unfortunately there is nothing he can do without nissan's approval but to fix it at my cost. i called nissan and all they could tell me is there was nothing they could do except fix the latest recall that came out at the end of 07 into 08. well the mechanic can't fix the recall without fixing the problem which is causing the engine light to come on and off. oxygen sensor, catalytic converter is what the code is coming back saying needs to be fixed. from the list of complaints it looks like this car has a defect in these parts, not due to owner misuse and should be taken seriously not lightly. *tr
06/24/2004	64000	4	01/02/2002
	Well i have 2002 nissan altima 2.5 i have about 66,000 miles on the car and it has been having the same problem . it first started when they had recall oxygen sensor. i have had to replace the same sensor 3 times already at about cost of $350 each time . now my check engine light keeps coming on the replaced the catalytic converter and told me i had to change my engine coils and spark plugs for about $1000 dollars . after that was completed there was no change my check engine light still comes on engine idles rough always having to fill coolant . and have had to been towed several time to the dealer with no explanation as to what is wrong. *tr
01/21/2008	89347	5	11/01/2007
	We purchased a 2002 nissan altima on 11/01/07 at newburgh nissan in newburgh ny on 17k.3 weeks after, we saw on the news that the nissan 2002 had a recall. then we contacted nissan in newburgh & informed them .they informed they found that in addition to the recall that there was a coil that needed to be fixed. (this should sound familiar as every other complaint on the web states the same story) they told me that they would need to charge us almost $1kto have it fixed. i proceeded to remind them that this is a recall;then transferred me back to the receptionist at the newburgh nissan who said that we would have to pay. i then said i wanted to speak to a mngr immediately. finally they gave me to a diff person. this mngr comes on the phone with the clear message that they were not going to help.) he said well give me some time to go over the info. they said its in great condition, we're going to replace the battery after it always acted as if it was ready to stall. i then called nissan consumer affairs. i placed a complaint. i then received a call from nissan in newburgh the next day that they would fix the car. then when they fixed the recall and its coil issue then my husband received a call from nissan consumer affairs asking if it was fixed. well he told them that it has been two days since they fixed it and the engine check light is on and now the car is not going up hills. they never called us back. i called the nissan consumer affairs people and left numerous voicemail messages for the regional contact. this is what was in they their invoice: c/s check engine light is on found muliticylinder misfire. coil packs are deteriorated and breaking up replaced all 4 spark plugs and coil packs why is it ironically that the car they sold us cannot climb a hill. my car will not start. i can't even get the car to the dealer. i was told that if i can't get my car started i would have to get it towed to them at my expense. this car is not safe. *tr
01/08/2008		1	06/10/2002
	I had a 90,000 mile vehicle checkup at nissan village in attleboro, ma. the vehicle had 88,000 miles at the time of the service. at the suggestion of the service technician, i had the catalytic converter replaced. my car currently has 92,000 miles on it and i noticed a problem with the engine. after looking the car over i noticed that the oil was bone dry. i searched on the internet for problems related to this vehicle and noticed multiple instances of the exact same problem with the catalytic converter, burning oil, and eventually total engine replacement. i have only had the catalytic converter replaced and the oil burning problem has started. i fear that i will have complete engine failure shortly, like numerous others have, because of this issue. http://forums.automotive.com/70/1106267/nissan/2002-nissan-altima-oil-dropping-at-108,000 miles-i-w/index.html http://www.nissanforums.com/l31-2002-altima/105620-little-guy-vs-nissan-north-america.html http://www.nissanforums.com/l31-2002-altima/117470-recall-r3007-resurfaces-02-03-altima.html. *tr
12/15/2007	85000	2	04/19/2006
	2002 altima, loss of power early in dec 2007, dec 17 2007 at 85,000 miles catalytic convertor fails, at 90,000 miles using 1 quart of oil in 700 miles. at 91,125 miles to dealership and report made with nissan. a recall part of a exhaust pipe hanger replaced by dealer and i am told the other expenses of convertor (approx $800.00 plus labor and possible motor replacement $3900.00) are up to me. yet there are thousands of other people with the same identical problem and no recall is issued.research, per nissan news bullitins, has indicated that the convertor on the altima and sentra blows internal residue into the cylinder walls causing the excessive oil problem. *cn
11/12/2007	107970	1	11/20/2001
	Pre-catalytic failure causing engine damage leading to excessive oil consumption presenting a potential fire hazard. nissan's previous recall campaign to address this issue has proven inadequate as i have read about numerous complaints regarding this same issue. *tr
10/18/2007	70000	2	03/03/2005
	Tl*the contact's daughter owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle overheated while driving, the engine makes strange sounds, and black smoke comes from the vehicle intermittently. the vehicle also has excessive oil consumption. a mechanic performed a diagnostic and discovered that the catalyst converter and precatalyst were malfunctioning due to too much oil coming out of the engine. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the speed was unknown. the current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 70,000.
10/29/2007	82630	1	12/15/2001
	Dealer says the engine in my 2002 nissan altima must be replaced at a cost of $5,400 because it blew a head gasket allowing coolant to enter the cylinders. car is out of warranty because it has 83,00 miles. it has come to my attention that this is a very common problem for this model because of defective design. nissan refuses any help to correct problem. *tr
09/17/2007	89	1
	Engine cylinder walls are scored and using an excess amount of oil also catalytic converter is no good. *jb
10/12/2007	86000	1	02/14/2002
	Catalytic converter coming apart. pulling parts of converter into engine. causing mis fire on #3 cylinder. need to replace engine and converter. *jb
03/01/2007	122000	1	07/01/2005
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 75 mph, the vehicle lost power and the vehicle would not accelerate above four mph. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter failed. the manufacturer issued a voluntary recall for the catalytic converter, however, they stated his vehicle was not included. the dealer replaced the engine. the failure mileage was 122,000 and current mileage was 125,000.
08/22/2007	59632		01/21/2002
	I recently purchased a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s model from my 75 yr old aunt ,in trying to smog it . check engine light on w/ p0420 code , car has 61450 mi. uses alot of oil , alhambra nissan checked and stated engine no good ruined catalytic. catalytic has federal warrenty 8yr-80k,also alot of smoke early am start up..industry knowledge./ iatn says catalytic break up cause engine damage ,scoring cylinder walls, dealer has replaced 23 engines & catalytics mostly under warranty. powertrain warranty expired 01/07.. first inspected 03/97 & again 08/07. i believe problem come from catalytic, smoke ,oil consumption, check engine light. i think nissan should warranty problem..a respone would be appreciated...
05/01/2007	68000	120	02/01/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 55 mph, the service engine light illuminated. the dealer stated that the inside of the catalyst was scorched and the oxygen sensors needed to be replaced. the dealer removed the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin prior to the failure. the dealer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa recall number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle has not been repaired. the current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 68,000.
07/08/2007	96000	5	04/23/2007
	Massive oil consumption, oil burning, in 2002 nissan altima 2.5l standard. catalytic converter setting check engine light. i was told i needed a new head gasket. $1200. still burning oil. nissan has many complaints for this issue and refuses to help. *tr
05/07/2007	97288	6	01/04/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 55mph, the check engine light came on two to three weeks later after the vehicle was repaired. the mechanic stated that after replacing the head gasket on the engine the catalyst converter broke causing the rings in the engine wall to be destroyed. due to the failure, the vehicle burned excessive oil. after driving 645 miles the vehicle burned two quarts of oil. the mechanic also stated that this is an ongoing problem with the 2002 altima. this is the second catalyst converter replacement on the vehicle. the current mileage is 131654 and the failure mileage was 97288.
05/07/2007	50762	1	01/21/2005
	The 2002 nissan altima 2.5s has 50700 miles on it. i am currently experiencing high oil consumption problem because catalyst substrate particles flew into the engine. these particles have scored the cylinder walls. nissan had a recall on this problem based on nhtsa action number: pe02078, nissan had made preventive changes to the car to prevent this problem, as required by law in 2004. but whatever they did had not fixed the problem because it recurred. so now the altima 2002 had an engine failure because of the pre catalyst overheating problem, and nissan was refusing to address the problem . they stated had done recall procedures in 2004. it was very important for nhtsa to look to this matter as nissan had not fixed the defects just prolonged it. there were lot of altima owners at risk as this problem could result in a fire in certain conditions. so office of defect investigation should open this investigation again to get nissan to fix the pre catlyst overheat problem. *ak
11/01/2003	30000	2
	2002 nissan atlima customer states since 30,000 miles the check engine light has been on*cc the consumer was unable to defrost the windows, due to the defroster being inoperative. the consumer stated the vehicle would lose power, so he would have to take his foot off the gas and eventually it would gain speed. the consumer had various repairs made on the vehicle. the catalytic converter was deteriorating, the valve cover gasket was replaced, the headlight was replaced 3 times, the tail light assembly needed to replaced the consumer was told the vehicle needed a new engine after experiencing the stalling and no start problems. jb
01/01/2007		1	11/25/2005
	My car has the same problems as the newer model, and nissan refused to repair it, we were told that the problems only pertained to 2003-2004 models, not the 2002 models *ak
04/17/2007	90500	1	11/01/2001
	Design flaw caused catalytic converter breakdown which resulted in engine failure despite proper maintenance. car only had about 85,000 miles when problems began and 90,500 when failure occurred. new engine is needed at no fault of my own and despite proper car of vehicle. ninety thousand miles is too soon for engine replacement. *jb
03/10/2007	73444	1	01/05/2007
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact brought the vehicle to the dealer for its regularly scheduled maintenance. the dealer informed the contact that there was a recall on the vehicle for the exhaust pipe hanger pin and pre catalyst. the contact stated that a month after the recall was honored a knocking noise was heard in the engine. the contact brought the vehicle to the mechanic, who stated that the oil was low. the contact had only driven the car for 1,000 miles prior to the failure. the current mileage is 75,000 and failure mileage was 73,444. ak
03/03/2007	126000	10	03/02/2002
	Check engine light comes on and off constantly. spark plugs died. took car to shop. repaired and other issues appeared: catalytic converter-fail (in pieces) repaired for $800. one week of driving and check engine light comes on constantly, oil extremely low, coolant low took back to shop now engine gasket blown, engine damaged and needs repair/replacement. this nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalytic converter. after inspection of the catalytic converter noticeable chucks of the catalytic converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer is fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *jb
03/24/2007		1	05/24/2002
	My service engine soon lite became illuminated just prior to and rite after having my vehicle serviced. i became alarmed when, i noticed it would not go out. i checked to make sure my fuel cap was tightly secured. i then drove my vehicle for several miles to reset the sensor. when that didn't work, i called nissan service dept in victorville, calif. to ask what else if any could be wrong with my veh. the answer i received from the serv. manager was one i could except. having taken my car into the service dept for a diagnostic test of the problem. just to be told that my pre catalyst converter was not functioning properly and that i needed to replace it as soon as possible due to server engine damage that could result from debris being sucked into the converter. now if the protruding portion of the exhaust pin was removed, and heat shields installed on the pre catalyst and surrounding exhaust tubing was done to correct or prevent any further problems. why would the pre catalyst convertor fail if proper corrective action was performed correctly in a vehicle not 5yrs old. i don't think i should have to pay $1092.00 dollars for faulty manufacturer defective parts/equipment. *jb
12/11/2006	66000	3	10/10/2006
	My daughter purchased the 2002 altima, 64,000 mi, october 2007, her first car. in december the car began to sputter near to the point of engine stall. per mechanic the computer registered an o2 sensor failure. they replaced the o2 sensor. same day we picked up the car from the mechanic the check engine light came on again. we immediately returned the car to mechanic. the computer now registered a misfire problem. per mechanic recommendations we replaced all spark plus and leads. mechanic reported oil on one spark plug. within 2 days of picking up car the check engine light was on again. in february we returned the car to the mechanic ,and also informed him that we were losing considerable oil, at least 1 - 1.5 quarts every 2 weeks, roughly every 800 miles. computer now reported catalytic converter failure. mechanic advised to take car to nissan dealer as catalytic converter was still under warranty , car at 68,000 miles. dealer informed us that previous owner had car in their shop september 15, 2007 and they had advised to replace engine. stated that engine coolant and oil was getting into exhaust system and fouling the catalytic converter. stated that nature of problem is not covered under 80,000 mi catalytic converter warranty. no mention of nissan recall regarding o2 sensor failure, high oil loss and catalytic converter failure. after reading the many complaints on nhtsa describing exactly our same problem and nissan's reluctance to resolve problem i would like recommendations concerning how to make the dealer and nissan own up to this pattern of faulty design and reluctance to take responsibility.*ak
02/23/2007	86000	1	10/22/2001
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the current mileage was 86,000. the vehicle was consuming oil as stated in the recall. the contact's vehicle had the same failures as stated in the recall issued by nissa concerning : exhaust pipe hanger pin and catalytic converter. the dealer advised the contact that the recall did not pertain to this vehicle. the current and failure mileage was 86,000. there is a related odi investigation, pe02078. *ak
02/19/2007	90000	1
	My 2002 nissan altima 2.5s appears to have pieces of the catalytic converter in the engine cylinder, causing an engine misfire. when doing research on the internet i find hundreds of owners of this same model vehicle with the same problem and in most cases they are being denied any help from nissan due to the vehicle being out of warranty. it is obvious that there is a definite pattern of premature problems/failures with this model that nissan refuses to address. it is time that nhsta uses their influence to get this company to stand behind these defective vehicles! *jb
01/12/2007	120000	1	02/10/2006
	This complaint is in reference to the following: nhtsa action number: pe02078 nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalytic converter. after inspection of the catalytic converter noticeable chucks of the catalytic converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer is fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *nm
01/26/2007	71534	1	04/02/2002
	I was recently notified that my 2002 nissan altima is in need of a new engine. it has 72k miles on it. the catalytic converter was already replaced by the dealership. it has had an oil consumption problem that has of late become quite a cause for concern. (i now check my oil every couple of days.) i fear that if i keep driving it, i will ruin another catalytic converter. unfortunately, i have no other transportation and i cannot in good conscience sell it to another party. nor can i afford the replace the engine. this was the first new car that i ever bought off the lot. i have kept excellent service records and have maintained the vehicle very well and have had all of the recommended recalls done. i feel that i have been duped. the dealership acts as if i have done something wrong but i have found that i am not the only one who has experienced this very same problem. please add me to your list of dissatisfied customers! i would welcome your input as what my next course of action might be in the pursuit of a just resolution. i would also be interested hearing about any class action law suits that may exist as a result of nissan's negligence in this matter. *nm
11/30/2006	82000	1	01/15/2002
	Dt: the contact stated the vehicle did not start. there were some fumes prior to the incident. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined the catalyst converter came apart internally and sent the debris to the engine, damaging the engine. updated 03/07/07. jb
11/30/2006	112000	1	01/01/2002
	Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the check engine and oil light illuminated. the vehicle was inspected by an independent repair shop, who performed a diagnostic test which produced a failure code, and indicated the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. there was a nhtsa recall, # 03v084000, regarding the electrical system. the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin. the manufacturer was alerted.
10/03/2006	98000	2	07/20/2003
	2002 nissan altima. lost the engine due to no oil. dealership stated catalytic converter failed and caused abundant oil consumption. the catalytic converter was replaced on recall at 50,000 miles. the new converter only had a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty, unlike the original warranty. advised to contact nissan and i did. they stated converter and car were out of warranty and the y could accept responsibility. dealership charged me 4,500.00 dollars to replace the engine and the converter. vann york nissan supposedly replaced the entire engine with one from the factory in a miracle of 2 days from getting my approval. (3) weeks later the serpentine belt broke and i discovered it was the original belt from the old engine. this is a rip off and nissan north america should recall all these cars. plus dealers are taking advantage of the situation and making a tremendous amount of money. i'm suing..........*nm
08/05/2006		1
	I have followed the manufacturer and dealers maintenance and have so many major problems with my car. i think nissan needs to revisit this model and determine if it is a defect. i have an 02 nissan altima. the heater was replaced in the 2nd year, this year the catalytic converter was replaced and now the struts are worn out. to my understanding, this is something that happens in the long run, not with a new car. *jb
07/19/2006	129000	2	02/04/2002
	The engine light on my 2002 nissan altima came on, i brought it into my local service station for an oil change and asked them to check it. they said that they got a catalytic inefficiency code but were positive the catalytic needed to be replaced. i decided to bring the car to the dealership and was told that the oxygen sensors needed to be replaced but everything else looked good. one week later the light came back on and i brought it back to the nissan dealer. i was told the catalytic convertor failed and pieces of it broke off and got into the engine causing damage to the engine and i would need to replace both the convertor and engine. i had the recall work done on my car that was supposed to prevent this problem but apparently it didn't. i have placed several calls to the nissan consumer affairs department and have yet to hear back from anybody, for now my car is sitting at the nissan dealership, inoperable. *jb
06/01/2005	130678	2	11/19/2001
	My 2002 nissan altima had sparks plugs changed as a manufacturer recommended service. after i picked the car up and drove it for some time i would periodically smell gas coming through the vents. i took it to the dealer several times and they said they could not duplicate this problem. later the catalytic converter ceased working and i am told the car has to have the engine replaced. the catalytic converter was already replaced once by the dealer before the 60,000 mile mark. i have documentation that my car's engine was also using excessive oil as has been reported in the media. i am told because the warranty has passed, there is nothing that nissan will do. i am still making payments on this car. i have all the documentation to support my claim that this was a defective car. i have read in the news reports that nissan will recall all altima's back to the 2003 model year. i have the 2002 model which was the first line put out of this particular model. i am wondering what rights i have. if nissan does recall all the way back to 2002, how can my car be repaired if the engine has already failed? i would like to send in all of my documentation so my case can be studied and i can know where i stand. *jb
03/01/2006	90000	10	04/01/2003
	Dt*: the contact stated the engine shuts off while driving at 60 mph. originally the check engine light was illuminated; the vehicle was cutting off, stalling and lurching. the rpm hand was moving erratically. the dealer determined there was a internal failure and the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the catalytic converter was replaced by an independent mechanic. after having a second catalytic converter replaced, the vehicle is still having the same problems.
02/16/2006	114000	2	10/22/2001
	A recall (r3007) was issued on my 2002 nissan altima 2.5 to correct a manufacturing safety defect which could cause a fire in the engine compartment. the recall stated that the catalytic converter would fail and cause the engine to consume excessive oil, and if not monitored would cause an engine fire. consequently, worse case, the engine would have to be replaced. on february 16, 2006 mossy nissan (national city) dealership did a diagnosis on my engine after i had stated that my engine was making a noise and consuming excessive oil. the results were engine fail and catalytic fail. i brought recall r3007 to their attention and said that their recall did not correct the safety defect. they insisted to that i take it up with nissan north america. i have and nissan north america is stating that the recall r3007 corrected the defect and that i can't prove otherwise. my four year old car is suddenly a safety hazard as i drive it to work and for personal use with my family in it. please help. there are others with the same problem. thank you. *nm
08/30/2005	85000	1	10/10/2001
	2 separate nissan dealers told me that i need a new engine and that the engine failure was caused by a failure of the pre cat that was sucked back into the engine. the cat was a recall that nissan replaced but parts of the cat were already sucked back into the engine. the second cat they installed failed again and is in need of replacement. they engine failure was a direct result of nissan's failure to repair my engine the first time. *nm
08/28/2005	79000	7	02/13/2002
	Nissan altima 2002, 6 recalls issues with 3 way catalytic converter that has burst into the engine causing engine failure. has there been any other reports? company honored warranty for converter, but denied to stand behind the engine. service location in libertyville, il is aware also spoke to executive office in ca. *nm
02/06/2005	90000	1	04/01/2002
	My 2002 nissan altima has a pre-catalyst that has broken apart inside and has caused severe engine damage. this has happened after my vehicle was in for recall repairs for this exact issue. never the less, this pre-catalyst has indeed failed and the engine damage has occurred including excessive oil consumption, engine noise and a burning smell. i am concerned that my vehicle is unsafe and that there is a possibility of fire since this has happened to other vehicles like mine. i have gone to a dealer and to nissan north america, but they refuse to help me. they claim that they have done the recall work and that this is no longer their problem. *nm
07/15/2005	103000	2	01/26/2002
	(1) i allegedly had the enginge crank sensors replaced in march, as according the mandated recall on 2002 nissan altimas. yet, my car still experienced difficulties starting and continued to conumse large quantities of oil. i was having to add 2 or 3 quarts in between scheduled oil changes. (2) if in fact the crank sensors on the enings of my vehicle were replaced, the starting difficulties persisted. also, the recall informaiton listed and shown on nissan usa's website provide exlpicit and detailed information about what mechanical trouble and events will occur if the sensors and the catalyic (catalyst) converter are not replaced simulteaneously. (3) i had my 2002 nissan altima towed to peachtree nissan on 7/15/05, and on 7/16/05 i called the dealership and gainer smith (maintenance mgr.) informed me that my catalyic (pieces) converter had been sucked into my engine and caused major damage and cracked the pistons and engine block. prior to this incident my car had ofter stopped without warning on the freeway, for unexplained reasons. my 02 altima never had any major engine or part problems since i purchased the automobile brand new from troncalli nissan. peachtree nissan instructed me to call nissan usa because there dealership could not authorize themselves to replace the engine in my car. also, a mechanic on duty told me the problem that destroyed the engine in my car happens often to 2.5 liter engine altimas. he stated the problem usually occurs at 60,000 miles and since my car has 103,000 miles and no warranty they wouldnt immediately take responsibilty for replacing my engine. lastly, my engine did not malfunction because i abused my car. i changed the oil and kept coolant in the compartment at all times. my car is not working because when my car was at peachtree nissan in march the dealer failed to properly complete the recall portion on my exhasut/hanger pin and pre-catalyst (converter). a faulty exhaust should never cause an engine to be destroyed.
11/10/2004	83000		01/03/2002
	My 2002 nissan altima 4 cylinder had a recall that certain engines may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. if the particles enter the combustion chamber they could score the cylinder walls restulting in increased oil comsumption and engine fire the pre-catalyst was to be tested and if there is damage, a new engine needs to be replaced. i brought my car in 11/04 to be checked. supposedly nothing was wrong. last month, my oil light flashed and we checked and i was down 2 qts of oil. i brought it in last month and i was told nothing was wrong. one week later, i was down another 2 qts and then they advised me that i need a new catalyst converter. i brought it to nissan and they are requesting my documentation for all my oil changes even though my extended warranty did not run before this problem started. autospa in medford, long island where i bring my car had a computer crash and lost all cocumenation and had to get new computers. nissan will not fix the problem with my car. i asked them do i have to wait until my car goes on fire and they responded that it will be cheaper to replace an engine then to check if there is something wrong with the engine. nissans voice service even states that vehicles manufactured before 5/20/03 are having these problems. i purchased mine in 1/02. i feel the problems with my car are manufacturing problems. my oil changes should not determine if my car should be looked at when the company is admitting to having problems. i pulled my car out of nissan and having my personal mechanic put in a new catalyst converter. if my car goes on fire and either myself or my son is injured, there will definitely be a lawsuit.
01/02/2005	101900	1	11/30/2001
	Engine damage due to catalytic converter breaking up into pieces and this pieces going into the engine. *jb
08/10/2004	75000	3	05/02/2002
	While i was driving my car( 2002 nissan altima) the car stalled in traffic and a engine light came on i drove my car to the dealer mike shad nissan in jacksonville ,florida and they check my car and advice me that they found the number one spark plug closed the cause of the failure was due to a poorly manufacturer catalyst converter by nissan and advice me that my engine needed to be replaced this is the third engine on this car this car stalls at highway speeds it happen to me twice and resently at slow speeds while i was executing a turn these cars 2002 nissan altimas with the 2.5 4 cyl engines must be recall or have the dealers advice the owners to brign their cars in for check, before someones gest killed and to make matters worse nissan make me pay the dealer $498 to have my motor look at .why should i pay mike shad nissan $498 to take my engine apart to find a problem that the nissan corporation knows that is wrong with their cars the failure of my engine was cause by a faulty design part. the 2002 altimas are plague with problems.*ak
05/07/2003
	The dealer replaced the catalytic converter because the vehicle consumed excessive amounts of oil (every 1500 miles). *nlm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CRANKCASE (PCV)
02/29/2008	92818	1	04/26/2002
	1. vehicle's exhaust pipe hanger caught bag of debris from the road and felt like the car was falling apart in the rear. debris was removed by discount tires after purchasing new wheels and tires. 2. service engine warning light is on. engine has reduced power and it causes the engine to stop running without warning during operation, with vibrating noises. nissan states that the cam sensor with crank sensor is faulty and should be replaced. apparently it is under recall and they want us to pay for a recalled item. 3. engine long block was replaced on 2/14/06 because of catastrophic engine failure, and the engine continues to have problems with vibrating and sluggishness. 4. rear engine mount replaced in 11/03/04 as recommended. now, passenger upper mount was recommended to be changed on 3/14/08. 5. air conditioning is blowing hot air and we replaced air conditioning high side compressor and oil recharged system in 6/01/07, as recommended. as of today 3/30/08 air conditioning is blowing hot air again. we purchased new wheels, tires and brakes because of the vibration in the car and steering column with low sounding noise. we have consistently taken our car in for maintenance, recalls and additional mechanical problems with very minimal resolutions. thank you. *tr
06/24/2004	64000	4	01/02/2002
	Well i have 2002 nissan altima 2.5 i have about 66,000 miles on the car and it has been having the same problem . it first started when they had recall oxygen sensor. i have had to replace the same sensor 3 times already at about cost of $350 each time . now my check engine light keeps coming on the replaced the catalytic converter and told me i had to change my engine coils and spark plugs for about $1000 dollars . after that was completed there was no change my check engine light still comes on engine idles rough always having to fill coolant . and have had to been towed several time to the dealer with no explanation as to what is wrong. *tr
01/02/2008	107053	1	07/15/2002
	My car wouldn't start. i notified nissan, they towed my car in. my car had several recalls. nissan checked my car and reset my ecm. when i went to get my car from mitchell nissan which is 30 miles away. they told us that i had a possible head or coil failure. when we left the dealership we didn't check the oil cause when they reprogrammed they suppose to have checked everything. when my husband checked that's when we found out it was no oil. i drove my car 30 miles with no oil. my car is a 2002 altima i checked the recalls and saw that the 2.5 2006 altimas has a recall on the engine as well as the sensor like the earlier years. the recalls states something about the ecm and about the pistons and driving without oil. now i have to get my engine replaced and nissan is saying it is not on them. my car was not acting up nor smoking until it cut off and had to be reprogrammed. i feel this messed up my engine. *tr
05/20/2006	100	4	07/24/2005
	My nissan altima (2002) with vin#1n4al11d62c270215) engine's stopped while driving the service engine soon light came on. after a few moments, i started the vehicle and i noticed reduced engine power as i drove to a safe location. vehicle has been diagnosed and shows a code p0335 and i was informed by mechanic (service garage) that there was a recall for the 2002 altima's with similar problems. i contacted nissan dealer in tucson and was informed that my vin # does not fall within the recalled group. upon calling the national consumers affairs office @ (888)737-2647 i spoke to macy spencer (extension 8510). she looked up the vin # an informed me that this vehicle had the crankshaft position sensor replaced in may of 2004 and that it only had a 12 month warranty. i purchase this vehicle from nissan in july 2005. *nm
	75000	1	06/12/2002
	Vehicle keeps losing power at any speed. consumer believes vehicle may be involved in a collision *ak
01/22/2003			01/02/2002
	At two different nissan dealerships, el paso and las cruces, the oil level on the dipstick of my 2002 altima registered approximately one quart low. this leads me to believe that the information in the manuals as to the amount of oil needed may be incorrect.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
02/28/2004	71000	4	03/10/2002
	The 2002 altima started to stall. i took the car to the dealership. i was advised that the car had 3 recalls on it and i should have been notified a year in a half before. i took the car back 3 times and on the third time i was adivsed that the car would need a new motor. that was on mar 15,2004. i called april 24,2004 at 3 pm and was advised by the manager handling the car that nissan approved then disapprove the replacement order then reapproved it again. he adivsed me he would call me with further. this has gone on for the passed 6 weeks and the car is no longer working but i'm paying for it.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
02/01/2011		1
	2002 nissan altima. consumer requests reimbursement for the expense of replacing catalytic converter and oxygen sensor tgw the consumer stated the check engine light illuminated. when the consumer took the vehicle to the a mechanic for a diagnosis, they found a stored code p0420; catalyst system efficiency below threshold. they erased the code to see if it would return and shortly thereafter it returned. another diagnosis revealed a failed pre-catalytic converter. upon removal of the catalytic converter it was found to be damaged as a result of overheating. the front oxygen sensor was also damaged and both had to be replaced. the consumer then discovered a recall had been issued, but when he contacted the dealer, they informed him that since he had already had the catalytic converter replaced, there was nothing further they could do for him, the consumer then contacted nissan north america and was informed there were no open recalls on his vehicle. jb
01/01/1901		1
	2002 nissan altima. consumer states premature breakdown of the catalytic converter tgw the vehicle was burning a quart of oil every few days, due to a defective catalytic converter that was deteriorating and its particles were sucked into the engine destroying its ability to administer power to the vehicle. also the vehicle would stall when accelerating. jb
01/10/2009	80000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that repairs for recall 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) had been partially performed by the previous owner. the dealer told the contact that the catalytic converter, which was supposed to be replaced, was not and was not malfunctioning; the converter failure caused the engine to malfunction which also needed to be replaced. although the recall had not been thoroughly performed, the manufacturer stated that they would offer no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 80,000. the current mileage was approximately 80,000.
06/01/2008	91000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the engine has to be replaced, because the oil rings and the cylinder wall have collapsed. the vehicle identification number was excluded from recall# 03v084000 , ( engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the nissan manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. the failure mileage was 91,000.
12/01/2009		2	07/01/2002
	Recall number 03y-455 for 2002 nissan altima. nj the consumer stated over the past 24 months the service engine light illuminated intermittently. the vehicle also exhibited poor acceleration and power and it also ran a little rough. but, after driving a couple of miles the light went out, but a few days later the light illuminated again. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer on several occasions and they performed an engine diagnostic. they were unable to pinpoint the problem as to why the light would illuminate and then go out. the consumer went back to the dealer and they recommended replacing catalytic converter which was apart of the recall. jb
11/01/2009	77000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. he heard a peculiar noise coming from the engine. a technician from the dealer made repairs to the catalytic converter. his vin was included in recall campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). however he was advised by the manufacturer that the recall ended in december 2009 and was not an actual recall. the representative added that if he had brought the vehicle in two months prior to the repairs, they would have covered the entire costs. the manufacturer agreed to split the costs of the repairs to the catalytic converter. the current and failure mileages were under 77,000. the vin was not available.
10/22/2009	106000
	Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the vehicle was repaired according to recall # 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). several years afterwards the engine warning light would illuminate on the instrument control panel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the error code was reset. soon afterward the engine would intermittently stall. the current and failure mileages were 106500.
08/13/2009	98	1
	I began to burn about 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles that i drove at the beginning of 2009. there was also a strange growling noise when starting my car. eventually the check engine light came on. the oil usage also began to increase. i brought my car to a local mechanic and they said that my catalytic converter needed to be replaced and there were some engine issues that was beyond their capabilities. they recommended taking it to a nissan service department. i dropped my car off on 8/15 and within less then 2 hours they service technician told me that i not only needed a new catalytic converter but i also needed a new engine. he told me that because of a faulty design the front catalytic converter was to close to the engine causing it to over heat. once it overheated it would break down and because there is no egr valve on the cat the particles of the converter would get sucked back into the engine which ended up scoring the cylinder walls. they told me that because the recall campaign # 03v084000 was performed at 13,208 miles nissan would not cover the cost of a new engine and catalytic converter even though it is direclty related to the defective part that nissan is already aware of. the service advisor quoted me 4586.oo plus tax for my out of pocket cost and the parts and labor would only be covered for 12 monhs or 12,000 miles even though the engine that comes with the car when it is new is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. i am currently filing a complaint with nissan and consluting a lawyer. *tr
08/01/2009	80000	1
	I recently purchased a 2002 nissan altima. since i've had it, it uses oil and has a bad catalytic problem due to manufacturer defect. this 2.5s is under a recall. the ecm was replaced on the car to avoid this problem, but it still persists. nissan refuses to acknowledge the recall even though its never been fixed......the recall number for this catalytic converter is 03v084000. *tr
09/01/2007		1
	Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; i went to kraft nissian dealership to have this recall fixed; after about approximately 2-3 weeks later i experience a shut-off in traffic. i return the car back to kraft nissian and they stated that they did not see a problem. it did not happen a agin, but afterwards i notice my car was burining alot of oil. i replace the oil every two-to three days. then one day it just died on me. i then had the car tow the car i could not afford the repair of the replacement of the engine and was told i had to rmove the car from the premises immeditely. i explain to the top/head service guy that i would have someone come and remove it that friday. he called on friday and i told him that it would be after 5pm but the person would be there to move it. i got there around 5:15 and was told the car had been towed. i believe that there is a continous problem with the recall and that nissian dealership do not want to replace the engine and makes the consumer feel as if it was theere fault. i had taken the car back several times without any satisfaction, i not sure if they treated me that way because i was a woman or what but i really felt belittled by this dealership. *tr
06/12/2009	109250	1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 40 mph, the contact heard a clicking sound followed by a popping sound. the consumers daughter pulled the vehicle over and noticed smoke coming from the bottom of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the engine needed to be replaced due to a lack of engine oil. there were no warnings prior to the failure. the current and failure mileages were 109,250. updated 8/3/09 cn the consumer stated there was a known defect with the vehicle, in which a recall had been issued. the consumer daughter had just had the oil changed. updated 08/10/09.*jb
06/03/2009	85000	1
	I have a concern involving my 2002 nissan altima it is a 4 cylinder engine my check engine light has come on and its burning large amounts of oil (1 quart every 1000 miles) i bought this car in 2004( second hand)the cars burning of oil was strange to me because i always changed my oil approximately every 3000 miles,so i started to do some investigating on the web and came across a recall campaign in 2003 ( #03v084000) i read were fire may be caused by the catalytic converter and of 3 instances of fire to date of closer of nhtsa report in 2003. also nissan acknowledging a problem with the 2002 altimas converters and engine failers from this catalytic con. being that nhtsa has closed there report in 2003 will that affect nissan responsibility to fix this problem. i did not receive any type of recall for this issue and know finding out about potential fires and engine failures is starting to scare me this is a family car and i do have children can you please advise on needed actions on my part. *tr
03/15/2006	60000	2	07/21/2002
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima with a 2.5 liter engine. the contact stated that the check engine light illuminated on two occasions. the first failure occurred approximately in march of 2006 and again in may of 2009. she found nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 on the internet and realized that she was experiencing the same issues with her vehicle; however, the dealer stated that her vin was not included in the recall. in 2006, the dealer stated that the catalytic converter was clogged and charged $1,000 to have it replaced. a recall notice in 2002 did not state that it was related to a vin at that time. the recall was later amended in 2006 and 2008 to pertain to a specific vin. in may of 2009, while driving 20 mph, the check engine light illuminated again and black smoke and oil poured out of the tail pipe. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter and engine needed to be replaced because the engine had consumed oil. the vehicle can be driven as long as the oil does not leak. an independent technician stated that it was unusual for the catalytic converter to be replaced this frequently. the first failure mileage was 60,000 and the recent failure and current mileages were 129,000. updated 062909 bf updated 07/02/09.*jb
01/12/2009	114000	1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact experienced an issue with her catalytic converter. when she took the vehicle in for emissions testing, she was informed that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer stated that there was no recall for this issue. the failure mileage was 114,000. updated 06/10/09 bf updated 06/11/09 updated 06/30/09. the consumer wanted to know the status of his/her complaint. updated 03/01/10 updated 03/05/10
03/01/2009	104000	1
	A month or so ago, the check engine light went on and i took it to the nissan dealership for diagnosis. my car is a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s, 104,000 miles and the mechanic stated it needs a catalytic converter and possibly a new engine . the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) in 2004, but that recall has not corrected the issue. the vehicle has not been repaired yet. this is ridiculous- there are hundreds, if not thousands of exact failures and no recall??? nissan should be investigated for not repairing the matter. the small fix in 2004 did nothing to avert the long term issue. the maintenance records to this car are impeccable. oil changes documents every 3000-5000 miles using top grade synthetic synpower motor oil. there is no reason for this type of failure aside from design flaws. *tr
03/13/2008		1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that her catalytic converter will not pass inspection and needs to be replaced. the dealer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe), although the failures were identical. the contact is in the process of having the vehicle repaired. the failure mileage was unknown and current mileage was 118,000. updated 05/08/09. lj updated 05/08/09.*jb
06/12/2008		1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that her vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). several months later, she noticed that her vehicle began consuming an abnormal amount of oil and the engine warning indicator was illuminated on the instrument panel. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter would need to be replaced at the cost of $900. the vehicle has not been repaired and the manufacturer did not assist. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 85,000. updated 02-11-09 bf the consumer stated the catalytic converter was placed too close to the exhaust. updated 02/12/09. *jb
12/19/2008	103000	1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the check engine indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. he took the vehicle to the gas station from where the vehicle was purchased and they referred him to a dealer. the dealer performed an oil consumption test and discovered that the vehicle lost three quarts of oil after 630 miles. the dealer stated that the vehicle was outside of the warranty; therefore, they could not assist. the manufacturer stated that they could not assist due to the expired warranty. the current and failure mileages were approximately 103,000. updated 3/19/09 cn the consumer stated the problem was due to a defective catalytic converter installed as original equipment. material from the defective catalytic converter has damaged the engine causing excessive oil consumption. updated 03/26/09.*jb
11/13/2008	87000	1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the check engine indicator illuminated and the dealer stated that it needed to be replaced. the engine was damaged; however, the dealer did not know the severity. the nissan manufacturer stated that there was a recall for the catalytic converter, but the vehicle was never repaired according to the recall. the recall was actually from 2003, and that the dealer said that there was engine damage and that the engine would have to be replaced. this syptom was also stated on the recall notice (the catalytic convertor and the engine would need to be replaced). the contact stated that there was no failure with the catalytic converter, which is why he never took it in for repair. he also completed a claim with nissan, but he received a denial letter for the repairs. the failure mileage was 87,000. updated 02/10/09 bf updated 02/11/09. *jb
01/01/1901		1
	2002 nissan altima recall for catalytic converter. consumer states that the mechanic stated that the vehicle is not safe for the road. dealer says they can't do anything due to the fact that the consumer is over the 80,000 warranty. kb the consumer was told by the dealer, the catalytic converter was too close to the transmission which could cause heat build-up and break down the catalyst which could cause pieces to spray back into the engine.jb
02/15/2008	50000	1
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the service engine light began illuminating intermittently and then remained lit. when starting the vehicle and taking off, the vehicle made a strange noise and jerked as if something were slipping. once the vehicle gained speed, the noise stopped. the dealer stated that the following components needed to be replaced: the catalytic converter, two major sensors, and the heating and air conditioning systems. the vehicle was burning oil on the inside of the engine, which caused it to fail. the vehicle could have an oil change and then four days later, the oil would have burned out completely. nhtsa campaign id numbers 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/ header/muffler/tail pipe), 07v527000 (engine and engine cooling), and 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling were referenced. the current mileage was 116,000 and failure mileage was 50,000. updated 06/05/08 bf the driver side power mirror was replaced, the gear selector was sticking. the cylinder head, gasket radiator and thermostat were replaced. were replaced. updated 06/04/08
10/01/2007		1	02/01/2003
	2002 nissan altima problems with the engine consuming oil. consumer states that her vin and production date is not in the service campaign for the problem. therefore the dealer told her they cannot fix her vehicle. kb the consumer she took the vehicle to a repair shop after she noticed the vehicle began to loose oil and the vehicle made a rough idling sound. the mechanic informed the consumer that the catalytic converter had gone bad, and being that it was attached to the engine, the engine would need to be replaced. the mechanic also stated that oil and other debris had extracted back into the engine block which caused the pistons to grind on broken converter pieces. jb
02/16/2008	95000	1	06/12/2002
	I purchased a new 2002 nissan altima that falls within nhtsa recall # 03v-084 (campaign id# r3007, r3014, r3015, r3016 & r3017). the recall campaign (ntb03-070b) was done in 2003 with approximately 20,000 miles on the vehicle. however, sometime before 95,000 miles on the car, a failure of the pre-cat occurred with exactly the same symptoms as described in the recall campaign bulletin. material from inside the pre-catalyst entered the cylinders and resulted in high oil consumption and now nissan is recommending a new engine. this demonstrates that the recall campaign was not sufficient to solve the problem with the car or the dealer did not follow the recommended procedures. even with a new catalyst there is still a high likelihood of another failure and possible fire as noted in the recall campaign bulletin. *tr
01/15/2008	136777	2	03/11/2002
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 10 mph, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument control panel. the contact took his vehicle to a local mechanic and they stated that an error code appeared for the catalytic converter. the mechanic stated that the failure was caused by the same issued outlined in nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the manufacturer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. an authorized dealer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired for that recall in march of 2004. the vehicle has not been repaired. the contact filed a formal complaint with the manufacturer. the failure and current mileages were 136,777. updated 03-04-09 bf updated 03/05/09. *jb
12/28/2007	135000	1	05/01/2002
	Nissan altimas have an engine flaw that nissan is aware of and refuses to correct. *tr
01/23/2004	67930	1	12/01/2001
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). three years later, the contact stated that she smelled smoke underneath the vehicle. the local dealer stated that the catalytic converter was completely destroyed, which was causing the oil to burn. she took her vehicle to an authorized dealer and they stated that they would not assist because her vehicle exceeded the warranty. the contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer. the purchase date was unknown. the failure mileage was 67,930 and current mileage was 143,000. the consumer stated initially car was burning oil not leaking then heavy smoke was exiting the exhaust. updated 12/19/07 tr
11/24/2007	92000	1	08/23/2006
	I've recently heard loud noises in the engine of my 2002 nissan altima 2.5s. i took it to a mechanic and was told the engine needed to be replaced because the precatalytic converter broke apart and was sucked into my engine. he also told me this was inevitable in all the 2002, 2003 altima's because the placement of the pre catalytic converter was so close to the engine that the heat disintegrated the converter which gets sucked into the engine. nissan's website claims that they have been working on addressing this issue since march 2003 yet nothing is being done. nissan has told me since my car is outside the warranty they will not assist me in purchasing a new engine. *tr
10/10/2007	96000	1	09/12/2007
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact heard a loud knocking noise coming from the engine compartment. the dealer stated that the engine was consuming a lot of oil due to the catalytic converter and the engine needed to be replaced. the manufacturer stated that the vin was affected by nhtsa campaign id number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe); however, the recall was closed and the repair could not be made. the current and failure mileages were 96,000.
07/17/2007	77000	1	12/22/2001
	2002 nissan altima 2.5s 77,000 miles. july 2006 took a road trip to chicago, when we arrived the check engine light came on. we took it to the dealership and we were informed that the catalytic converter had gone bad. it was replace under warranty. prior to that we notice that there was no heat while the car was idling, rough starts, whooshing noise under the dash. july 2007 check engine light came on, took it to the dealership, multi-cylinder misfire, coolant in cylinder 3, which was the result of a leak in the head gasket which is going to cast $1500.00. this car only has 77,000 miles, why do we need to replace the head gasket so soon. upon doing further research, i find that there are hundreds of other whose 2002 altima had the same problems, same diagnosis (www.carsurvey.org). called nissan consumer affairs, and there is nothing they can do about it. *tr
06/21/2007	99000	2	11/01/2003
	Tlthe contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the service engine warning indicator light illuminated. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter was sucked into the engine and a new engine was needed. the catalytic converter was replaced in august of 2005. the failure mileage was 99,000 and current mileage was 101,000. updated 01-11-08. kb the consumer discovered a recall had been issued for the very same problem. the consumer was told the problem had been fixed, but obviously it wasn't fixed properly and the consumer had to pay for the repairs. the consumer stated the part has since failed. updated 12/31/07. *jb
08/06/2007	88000	7	11/30/2001
	At 6:30 pm i turned left out of a restaurant parking lot. there was plenty of time to cross traffic and enter the vacant turn lane. my 2002 nissan altima lost power leaving me in the path of oncoming traffic. luckily, the approaching traffic was able to brake before hitting me broadside. in the previous two days the car had briefly lost power while driving on the highway. there were no near accidents on these occasions. the problem was diagnosed as a faulty crankshaft sensor. it was replaced at our cost. this was the same part recalled in 2005. it was replaced then also. there was also a near accident before the first replacement. this part has failed twice, with near accidents. both were potentially fatal. tr the dealer also performed a exhaust hanger recall on the vehicle. updated 09/18/07 tr
07/12/2007	107000	1	07/01/2002
	Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 55 mph on a smooth surface, the tail pipe began to smoke. the check engine warning light illuminated prior to the failure. the vehicle was serviced for nhtsa recall # 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) at 33,000 miles. the manufacturer stated that the failure was related to the recall, but they will not make the repair because it was previously repaired. the vin was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 107,000.
11/06/2006	90000	4	06/01/2002
	Dt: the contact stated the vehicle had problems turning the ignition on. this occurred on a regular basis. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the dealer checked the vin # to see if it was covered under recall and stated that their system showed that vehicle part had been fixed on a previous recall. the contact stated that the vehicle was never brought in for any recall work in regards to this matter, nor did the contact receive a recall letter on this matter. the vehicle was currently at the dealer, no repairs were made.ak
10/10/2004	34500	1	11/26/2001
	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
06/15/2006	80000	1	11/16/2001
	Dt: the contact stated upon inspection, it was noticed the vehicle was burning oil from the main catalyst. although the dealership and manufacturer were alerted, no inspections have been made. there is a nhtsa recall, # 03v084000, regarding the electrical system. the vin was not included in the recall. ak
04/15/2006	68245	1	04/09/2004
	1) on 4/15/06 my husband was driving my car and complained that it was not running right, and was missing. the check engine light came on. my husband drove the car directly to the nissan dealer in corona, ca. 2) the dealer service department checked out the car and stated cylinder #1 misfire, butterfly bolt fell into #1 cylinder broke spark plug. 3)removed intake manifold to replace butterfly bolt. removed catalytic converter for inspection, minor hairline crack no codes. customer decided to have old cat reinstalled. reinstalled intake manifold and replaced related gaskets. 4) service representative stated this was a common problem and knew what it was right away. they charged me $727 to repair and i still have a cracked catalytic converter. i have checked out messaging forums and found that this is a known problem for nissan altima's. *jb
10/28/2005	93000	2	01/17/2002
	Dt: contact states while driving on the freeway vehicle stalled/ lost power. the vehicle was taken to a dealership. they told the contact it was an alternator, and it was repaired. when she drove the vehicle home it started doing the same thing . she took vehicle back to the dealership, they said it was the intake manifold. there was a recall on this year, make and model of vehicle, but this vehicle was not included due to vin. also, the dealership told her that if she didn't have this fixed that it would blow the pistons.*ak
05/05/2005	84		05/30/2002
	I am very upset. just all of a sudden, i started hearing a noise that sounded as if it was coming from the exhaust. i took it to a local service repair store for new tires and asked them to check out the noise. they informed me that this was a common problem with 2002 nissan altima's and that it was a very serious, dangerous problem. they indicated the problem was the 02 valve backed out of the catalitic converter and because the catalitic converter and the exhaust manifold were one piece, they all had to be replaced. they adivsed me that there was a service advisory out on this and it was very serious. it cost me $900.00 to get this fixed as i was in fear of my life to drive this any longer. i want to know why there was not recall on this and i am requesting my money be refunded. this is extremely frustrating for a 3 year old vehicle. if i do not receive some type of contact on this complaint, i plan to contact the bbb and possibly an attorney. if this problem warranted a service advisory, it certainly should have warranted a recall.
05/17/2004	30000	1
	Vehicle was recalled on may 17 2004 for the exhaust pipe hanger pin. the engine light came on while driving. the fire department was called due to the engine being engulfed in flames. *ak