2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SOME HESITATION AT SPEEDS OF OVER 40MP BUT WAS INTERMITTENT. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD STALL FREQUENTLY AT LOW SPEEDS. REGULAR MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM - NO ENGINE LIGHT. I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND FOUND TWO RECALLS FOR MY MAKE , YEAR AND MODEL. ONE RELATED TO ECM SENSOR - WHICH CAUSED THE STALLING. RECALL INDICATES THAT SENSOR WOULD BE REPROGRAMMED. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALER - THEY REPROGRAMMED IT AND SENT ME OFF ON MY WAY. SAME DAY THE CAR WAS RUNNING WORSE THAN BEFORE - RPM RACING AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR OVER 40 - THEN IT WOULD RUN OK AND THEN START UP AGAIN. THE STALLING CONTINUED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REPROGRAMMING WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND WOULD ACTUALLY CAUSE THE CAR TO RUN WORSE. I WAS NEVER TOLD THIS WHEN I WALKED OUT...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER SIGNS OR ANY FAILURES OTHER THAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY DETECTED A FAULTY ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. ` UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 1/11/11 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD DRIVE ROUGH AND WOULD SPUTTER ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, RADIATOR AND THE TIMING BELT COVER BUT NONE OF THE REPAIRS CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/18/11*LJ

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS KNOW HAD TO HAVE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. MOTOR MOUNTS SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL, THEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

WE HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT HAS ABOUT 132XXX MILES ON IT AND IT IS BURNING OIL AT ABOUT 5 QUARTS IN A WEEK. WE HAVE CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM STARTING, WHICH WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD WE HAD A CATALYTIC SYSTEM FAILURE AND IT WAS GOING TO COST $900 TO FIX, THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED COSTING UPWARDS OF $4000. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND A TON OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM JUST OUTSIDE OF THE "WARRANTY". *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V223000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE RECALL BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXPANSION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE UPDATED RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR RECALL, BUT THE REPAIR DIDN'T CORRECT THE FAILURE. ON OCTOBER 19, 2010 WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THE CRANK SENSOR FAILED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE CAUSED BY THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. REPORT 69622767 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR NHTSA RECALL 03V455000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING REPAIR ONE TIME. THE CONTACT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED FRO SOME TIME AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE ABNORMALLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILING. IN ADDITION, THE THIRD CYLINDER WAS BLOWN AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND REPLACED THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 04/07/11

THE CAR INITIALLY USED A LOT OF OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE. BASICALLY WE NEEDED TO PUT A QUART OF OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE IN THE CAR EVERY 100 - 200 MILES. WE HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AND THIS HELPED WITH THE ANTIFREEZE AND THE OIL BUT AFTER A WHILE IT STARTED TO USE A LOT OF OIL AGAIN. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS GOING THROUGH A QUART OF OIL EVERY 100 MILES OR LESS. MY SON WENT OUT TO RUN SOME ERRANDS AND WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND IT JUST QUIT. UPON LOOKING AT THE ENGINE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER THE CAR. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND NO ONE HIT ME. *TR

I MADE A COMPLAINT BY PHONE REGARDING MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AND HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK OR GET A COPY AS PROMISED OF MY COMPLAINT. DUE TO THE MANY COMPLAINTS, CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS YEAR ,MAKE AND MODEL ,YOU WOULD THINK NISSAN WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED AND WANTING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST TO AVOID LEGAL ACTION FOR IGNORING A POTENTLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD BE DEADLY . ALL THOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN HURT PHYSICALLY ,MENTALLY I AM BESIDE MYSELF THINKING IF YOU CANT GET NISSAN TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE THEN WHO CAN???? I HAD A ENGINE REPLACED BY NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND IT DID NOT LAST 20,000 MILES BEFORE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FELL APART AND GOT SUCKED UP IN THE ENGINE.. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL???? ITS TIME TO DO SOMETHING AS YOU HAVE PAGES AND...

NISSAN 2002 ALTIMA 69,00 MILES, ALWAYS SERVICED NOW CONSUMING OIL AT THE RATE OF 4 QTS A WEEK, NO INDICATOR NOTICE ON DASH PANEL UNTIL CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SLOWS DOWN TO 20 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES. WENT ON THE WEB AND FOUND OVER 169 + COMPLAINTS. NISSAN HAS NO COMMENT. NEXT TIME SOMEONE IS INJURED DRIVING AN ALTIMA MAY WANT TO CHECK THE OIL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED DUE TO THERE BEING VERY LOW OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE CONTACT HAD A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE SERVICE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE DESPITE HER JUST HAVING AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE OIL LEAK BUT ADVISED THERE WAS OIL WAS LEAKING FROM AN...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 2.5 NISSAN ALTIMA . WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE STATED THAT HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE THE OIL WAS CHECKED. HE ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE AFTER HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE STICK. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED FOR NEARLY A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. HE HAD TO ADD TWO QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 83,000. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF UPDATED 10/07/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, AFTER ADDITIONAL TESTING, THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE ALSO WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE VEHICLE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE RECALL WOULD ONLY COVER A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,996

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING ENGINE OIL AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN BLOW BLACK SMOKE FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

MY ENGINE BLEW UP. I CALLED MY NEAREST NISSAN DEALER WHO FORWARDED ME TO NISSAN CORP, WHO SENT ME TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND AFTER TELLING THEM MY STORY 3 TIMES, THEY ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE IT AS NOT YET A RECALL. I LOOKED ONLINE AND MANY HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND WERE TRYING TO GET THIS TO BE A RECALL. I HAD JUST MOVED TO THAT AREA, I HAD NO JOB, NO MONEY AND WAS ATTENDING SCHOOL. MY CAR SAT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR 6 MONTHS WHILE I PAID $430 A MONTH ON MY NOTE. WHEN I FINALLY HAD THE MONEY TO FIX IT, I EXPLAINED TO THEM I HAD JUST GOTTEN A NEW ENGINE AND ONLY NEEDED THEM TO RESTART THE COMPUTER. THEY ADVISED ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT, I ASKED FOR WHAT AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN. THEY...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED CONTINUOUSLY AND SHE SMELLED FUEL. SHE ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED; SHE HAD TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL FROM THE ENGINE ONCE THE ENGINE WAS WARM. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR HER MODEL BUT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE DAY BEFORE, ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED ON A FIVE LANE HWY IN CENTER LANE DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC AT SPEED LIMIT OF 70MPH. MY SON AND I WERE STRANDED HELPLESS IN THE MIDST OF CARS HEADING RIGHT TOWARDS US. AN HOUR LATER GEICO SENT A TOW TO TAKE US TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. THE STALL WAS DUE TO A RECALL ON THE ENGINE SENSOR ISSUED IN 2006. DEALER HAD DENIED RECALL MULTIPLE TIMES PRIOR BUT HAD FINALLY RECOGNIZED IT. LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT TO HAVE ECN REPROGRAMMED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED DIAGNOSTIC FOR $192.14. I STATED I WANTED TO TAKE IT ELSEWHERE AND WAS CALLED THE NEXT MORNING TO COME PICK UP MY CAR. GOT THERE CAR WAS RUNNING, ASKED IF THERE HAD EVER BEEN ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND TOLD NO. GOT 1/2 OF MILE AND LOUD...

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN SENTRA SE-R WITH THE 2.5 LITER (QR25DE) ENGINE I PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE THAT THE PROBLEMATIC 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS. MY CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS SERIOUS RECALLS, ORIGINATING WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF I PURCHASED IT. TWO YEARS AGO, MY SES LIGHT WENT ON. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THIS POINT AS I'D PURCHASED NISSAN'S "GOLD PLUS" WARRANTY COVERAGE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP, THEY'D CHECKED AND PERFORMED ALL OUTSTANDING RECALLS, AND ALL WAS FINE. 8 MONTHS LATER, THE SES LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN.THE CAR BEGAN TO ALSO EXHIBIT SIGNS OF INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAD IT CHECKED, WAS TOLD IT WAS A CRACKED OIL PAN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. FINALLY, I TOOK IT TO NISSAN. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE EXACT PART THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN SEVERAL...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED TWO DAYS AFTER HE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED HE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS IN THE RECALL 03V455000. THE DRIVER STATES HE CONTACTED HIS NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD CHECK IT AND IF IT WERE THE SAME PROBLEM THEY WOULD FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOW THEY ARE TELLING HIM HIS VEHICLE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 126,100. UPDATED 04/16/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE ON MARCH 10,2010 AND THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN. UPDATED 05/17/10

ON 1/25/10, MY 2002 ALTIMA WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES ON IT, KEPT STALLING OR NOT STARTING DURING 3 SHOPPING STOPS. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY BATTERY AND WAS NEAR CLARK AUTO WHERE MY BATTERY IS UNDER WARRANTY... *TR

2002 ALTIMA NISSAN-PROBLEM WITH OIL CONSUMPTION. THERE IS 196 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTIONS ON 2002 ALTIMA NISSAN WHERE THIS IS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE CAR DIES AFTER DRIVING, WHICH CAN CAUSE WRECKS AND EVEN DEATHS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT HELP WITH ANY OF THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLES. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH 2 CHILDREN AND AT THIS POINT DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE REFER TO WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/2002/.../EXCESSIVE_OIL_CONSUMPTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD AND THEN CUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. OCCASIONALLY HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT START IMMEDIATELY AND HE HAS TO RESTART IT WITHIN 30 MINUTES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,140.

THE HEATER/ AC HAD MANY PROBLEMS, ALMOST YEARLY-NEEDED TO BE BLOWN OUT & ANTI FREEZE ADDED. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 60,000 & CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED, TIMING CHAIN TENSION REPAIR. NOW ENGINE & TIMING BELT NEED TO BE REPLACED @$4800.00 65,000 MILES-DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT! *TR UPDATED 03/05/10. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE BURNS MOTOR OIL EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,450.

NISSAN 2002 2.5 SL HAS TO BE CHECKED ONCE A WEEK BECAUSE THE ENGINE LOSES OIL. WHEN THE OIL IS CHECKED IT IS COMPLETELY DRY. OIL HAS TO BE PUT IN THE CAR ONCE A WEEK. THE ENGINE KNOCKS AND COMES CLOSE TO SHUTTING DOWN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DEFECT. THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WERE REPLACED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. *CN UPDATED 02/17/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL NOT CIRCULATE HEAT. ALSO AFTER SERVICE THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEVELS DEPLETES PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE ENGINE COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS COST $1600.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21. THE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A SENSOR WAS SOAKED IN OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TELL THE CONSUMER WHERE THE OIL WAS COMING FROM. SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WHEEL BEARING AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE THEN NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ABSORPTION OF OIL FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,200.

RECALL NUMBER 03Y-455 FOR 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED POOR ACCELERATION AND POWER AND IT ALSO RAN A LITTLE ROUGH. BUT, AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF MILES THE LIGHT WENT OUT, BUT A FEW DAYS LATER THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY PERFORMED AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC. THEY WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM AS TO WHY THE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THEN GO OUT. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS APART OF THE RECALL. *JB

SIMPLE ENGINE HEAT APPEARS TO DISINTEGRATE THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER PART ON A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L ENGINE. THE ENGINE SUCKS IN THE BROKEN PARTS, WHICH THEN DAMAGE THE ENGINE, REQUIRING THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. *TR

MY CAR WAS SERVICED FOR A RECALL ISSUE IN 3/09 BY THE MANUFACTURER. IN AUGUST OF 09, MY CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE WHEN STARTING, THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER AND HESITATION DURING OPERATION, SOON AFTERWARDS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND FINALLY THE CAR FAILED TO START. I BROUGHT IT IN TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICING WHEN I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. I OPENED A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE RECALL WORK, BUT NISSAN IS SAYING THAT THE PARTS THAT I HAD INSTALLED HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULDN'T START, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, LEAKING COOLANT, NOW NISSAN SAYS I NEED A NEW MOTOR. ALUMINUM WAS USED MAKING THESE CARS AND NISSAN NEW THEY COULDN'T WITH STAND THE HEAT. MY SON NEEDS HELP. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA - ENGINE DEFECT. THE ENGINE NEARLY CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE THE OIL WAS BURNING SO MUCH THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AFTER A FEW MILES! FIRST THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATING/COOLING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE. HAD EACH PROBLEM ADDRESSED AT MECHANIC BUT PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED BECAUSE THE SOURCE WAS IN THE ENGINE ITSELF - A NISSAN DEFECT. NOW I "NEED A NEW ENGINE" BECAUSE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN 2 OTHER 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND IT IS DANGEROUS IF YOU DO NOT CATCH IT AND REPLACE THE ENGINE, DUE TO SUCH FAST OIL LOSS AND AN OVERHEATED ENGINE! SCARY! THE CAR ONLY HAS 100K MILES!! THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE NOW AND I AM SEEING...

INTERNAL OIL LEAK IN 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER. THE TECHNICIAN REINSTALLED NEW SPARK PLUGS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO DETECTED MISSING SCREWS FROM THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,681 AND...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JIFFY LUBE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ONE WEEK LATER. SHE CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO JIFFY LUBE AND OIL WAS ADDED; HOWEVER, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE SHOP AND THEY FOUND NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OIL WAS ENTERING INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE PISTON RING. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO START. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS FAULTY AND A RECALL WAS PENDING FROM 2004 FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL IN 2004; THEREFORE, THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HE IS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE CHECKING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. HE REPLACED THE OIL WITH AT LEAST TWO QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING AROUND THE RINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE ECM FAILURE. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE FAILED. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT PARTICLES FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DAMAGED THE CYLINDER WALLS IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN...

AT APPROX 100K MILES, MY ALTIMA WAS CONSUMING ALOT OF OIL, RUNNING POOR, EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE FAILED, HAD ENGINE REPAIRED, BEGAN SAME OIL BURNING PROBLEM AGAIN, HAD CAT CONVERTER HALLOWED OUT, ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OIL AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOW. HE PLACED 11/2 QUARTS OF OIL INTO THE VEHICLE AND HAD A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CHANGE THE FILTER AT THE COST OF $42.68. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOSING A QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. EACH WEEK, HE WOULD ADD A QUART TO REFILL THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AT THE COST OF $28.96; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND ERROR CODE PO420 WAS PRODUCED, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CRANK CASE PRESSURE WERE FAILING. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $4,500. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING...

I BOUGHT MY 2002 2.5 NISSAN 72K FOUR DAYS AGO. A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE IS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I PUT OIL IN, AND A FEW MILES LATER I NEED TO ADD MORE. I HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING YET, SIMPLY BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT. NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO NEVER BUY A NISSAN. I AM NEVER BUYING A NISSAN AGAIN. I'VE READ NUMEROUS POSTS BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. *TR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT. HEATER CORE WENT OUT, THEREFORE NO HEAT IN THE CAR. *TR

THIS ISN'T FAIR. 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. 5900 MILES. MAN THIS CAR IS JUNK, NISSAN SHOULD REIMBURSE PEOPLE ABOUT THAT, WORK CAR EVER. AND I NOTICE EVERYONE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR STALL, CAMSHFT PROBLEM.. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE. ITS NOT SAFE WHEN U DRIVING AND CAR DIE ON YOU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD CONSUME ABNORMAL AMOUNTS OF OIL. SHE HAS A 2.5 LITER ENGINE IN HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); THEREFORE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $5,000. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND HESITATE TO START. SHE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL AND HESITATE. THE CONTACT FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE AND WAS CONCERNED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 85,000.

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA , I HAVE TO PUT A QUART OF OIL IN THIS CAR EVERY 50 MILES, FROM WHA T I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM , THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT AND REFUSES TO ADMIT TO THE PUBLIC THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MOTOR, THAT THE RECALL WILL COST THE COMPANY TO MUCH IN REPAIRS. WE ARE A FAMILY ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD THE $6000.00 FOR REPAIRS ON THIS CAR. NISSAN ASKS SO MUCH FOR THESE CARS THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND REPAIR THIS DEFECT!!!! *TR