NHTSA Complaint #10163439 — 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA

2003 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S IS PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN SURROUNDING THE CATALYTIC PIN. MY ALTIMA STOPPED FUNCTIONING ON LAST YEAR AFTER TWO WEEKS OF STOPPING, STALLING, SMOKING, ENGINE KNOCKING, ETC. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED (SUPPOSEDLY) AT THE EXPENSE OF NISSAN. THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO OCCURRED TWO WEEKS AGO THIS YEAR AND THE CAR AGAIN WAS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THIS TIME, THEY'RE REFUSING TO MAKE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THEY'RE CLAIMING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE THIS TIME IS NOT RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC PIN. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE, ALTHOUGH THE OIL WAS CHANGED JUST 500 MILES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE LOCKING. AFTER READING OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS, I'VE LEARNED THAT THESE ALTIMA'S REQUIRE OIL ON A WEEKLY BASIS OR THIS IS THE RESULT. WHAT KIND OF CAR REQUIRES OIL WEEKLY? AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHERE IT WILL STAY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I CAN AFFORD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE AND PAY THE LENDER AT THE SAME TIME. *JB