NHTSA Complaint #10167517 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

IN 2003, NISSAN CONDUCTED A RECALL OF 2002 ALTIMA'S, REF #03V-084, IN WHICH THEY WERE TO CORRECT A FIRE HAZARD RESULTING FROM ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. ON 9/8/03, A NISSAN DEALER COMPLETED REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL. OVER THE LAST YEAR, MY VEHICLE HAD VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES UNDER THE HOOD AND BEGAN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. IN AUGUST 2006, THE 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT CAME ON AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR HAD FAILED AND WAS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER WHO PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE VEHICLE BURNED 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN 600 MILES AND ADVISED ME THE ENGINE WAS MOST LIKELY DAMAGED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY REFUSED TO COMPLETE ANY DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR REPLACED AGAIN AND THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF THE CONVERTOR INSTALLED AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL ARE CLEARLY DISINTEGRATED. I HAVE THE OLD PART AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. THE REPAIRS NISSAN COMPLETED IN ITS RECALL DID NOT RESOLVE THE DEFECT AND ARE A CONTINUING SAFETY HAZARD. *JB