NHTSA Complaint #10171275 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

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