NHTSA Complaint #10711995 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V251000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LAMP REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OIL WAS CONSTANTLY LOW AND HAD TO BE REFILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE TRAVELING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO RESTART AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRE-CATALYST OVERHEATED, WHICH CAUSED THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE PARTICLES TO FLOW INTO THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER WALLS FAILED CAUSING OIL CONSUMPTION, WHICH LEAKED INTO THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSING DAMAGES. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 8/19/15*CN UPDATED 10/06/2017*CN