NHTSA Complaint #10290032 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR IN TO GARAGE AND CODE READS CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, DROVE CAR HOME AND ENGINE WAS MAKING A TICKING NOISE. BROUGHT CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEPT. 30, 2009. DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED NEW TIMING CHAIN TO GET THE NOISE IN ENGINE TO STOP. TIMING CHAIN REPLACED, AND SAME NOISE STILL EXISTED. DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND IN THE END THEY SAID THEY CALLED A TECHNICAL SERVICE LINE FOR HELP AND AN REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY HAD REPORTS OF A SIMILAR NOISE AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THIS DIAGNOSES WAS MADE OVER THE PHONE FROM A DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY THE TECHNICIAN TO THE SERVICE REP. ON THE PHONE. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO EXPLAIN THIS AND WAS ASSIGNED A REP. WHOM DIDN'T GET IN CONTACT WITH ME FOR 10 DAYS. HE SAID HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HE EXPLAINED THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT ENGINE SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED THAT THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS SAID THAT THERE COULD BE PARTICLES IN THE CYLINDER AND THAT IS AN ENGINE DEFECT. THE REP ONLY OFFERED A MASTER TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE CAR AND WAS NOT SURE WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN. I INVESTIGATED A RECALL THAT SHOWS WAS COMPLETED ON MY CAR, BUT IT DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING WITH MY ENGINE. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE MY ENGINE AS THE FAULTY ENGINE ISSUE WAS LISTED IN AN ENGINE CAMPAIGN RECALL. I AM IN NO WAY TO BLAME FOR PARTICLES ENTERING INTO THE CYLINDER OR A SCREW AS THE TECH'S DESCRIBED AS A POSSIBILITY. I SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF A VEHICLE DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT WAS LISTED IN AN ENGINE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY RECOURSE IS IN THIS SITUATION TO GET MY ENGINE ISSUE COVERED UNDER THE CAMPAIGN OR HAVE NISSAN PLACE A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IN MY VEHICLE. IT IS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL CAUSING THE CONVERTER TO OVERHEAT WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. JUST AS IT DESCRIBES IN THE RECALL INFORMATION #3V084000. *TR