NHTSA Complaint #10694018 — 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL. IT HAD 105000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, IT IS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A 2.5L (4 CYLINDER ENGINE) SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE.. WE NOTICED A VERY FOUL SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN. ALSO THE ENGINE CONSUMED 1 QUART OF OIL PER 50 TO 60 MILES. NO EXAGGERATION ! I DISCOVERED A RECALL ON THE ALTIMA CONCERNING IT'S PRECAT/CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD OVER HEAT, BREAK INTO PIECES AND SOME OF THE PIECES COULD BE SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE, SCORING THE CYCLINDER WALLS AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I EMAILED NISSAN WITH MY CONCERNS. THEY ASSIGNED A CASE # TO MY CONCERN. THEY ASKED FOR A NISSAN DEALER TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEMS AND GIVE THEM A FORMAL DIAGNOSTIC OF THE ISSUES. THE ALTIMA HAD A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSTALLED IN 2007. A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS DONE ON THE CAR AND THE OIL TOPPED OFF AND WE WERE TOLD TO COME BACK IN 250MILES SO THEY COULD CHECK THE OIL. IN 160MILES WE RETURNED AND THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK! ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND A CODE FOR "CATALYST" PROBLEMS WAS IN THE COMPUTER. THIS WAS ALL SENT TO NISSAN VIA EMAIL. NOW INSTEAD OF A REP. HANDLING THE ISSUES.. THEY HAVE SENT IT TO A REGIONAL REP. AND WE ARE AWAITING THEIR "GOODWILL" DECISION. THAT YEAR ALTIMA AND ENGINE HAS REPEAT ISSUES EVEN AFTER RECALL REPAIR. TPART OF THE RECALL STATES THAT IF THE OWNER DOES NOT CHECK THE OIL OFTEN AND IGNORES ENGINE NOISES THAT IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE! SUPPOSEDLY A EXHAUST HANGER CATCHS DEBRIS AND CAUSES THE FIRE??? LOL WHO ARE THEY KIDDING? *TR