NHTSA Complaint #10072317 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

I PURCHASED MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA S 2.5 IN NOV. 2001. 1) AFTER A FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED A SHIMMING OR VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING. IT FEELS AS IF WERE COMING UP FROM THE FRONT TIRES THROUGH THE SUSPENSION. HOWEVER, THOUGH IT IS USUALLY PRESENT, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T VIBRATE FOR A WHILE, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN! I HAVE CHANGED THE TIRES (THOUGH USED THE SAME BRAND), HAD THE TIRES BALANCED, ROTATED AND THE WHEELS ALIGNED, YET THE VIBRATION CONTINUES. IN ADDITION, AT THE LAST ALIGNMENT, THE MECHANIC HAD PROBLEMS ALIGNING THE REAR SUSPENSION IN PARTICULAR. THE CAR HAS ALSO SHOWN ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED THE CONSUMER'S COMMENTS SECTION OF EDMUNDS.COM, A CAR-BASED WEBSITE, AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE NOTED THIS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *LA