NHTSA Complaint #10167568 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

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