2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

[XXX] [XXX] RE: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA VIN [XXX] I TOOK MY CAR TO MORIN BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE ON 2/7/2011 TO HAVE THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' LOOKED AT . DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A FAILED PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER. UPON REMOVAL THE CAT WAS FOUND TO BE PHYSICALLY DAMAGED. BOT WERE REPLACED. SUBSEQUENTLY I DISCOVERED THAT NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA HAS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN OR RECALL COVERING REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. (RECALL #'S R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, R3017) I CONTACTED THE SERVICED DEPARTMENT AT COAST NISSAN IN PERSON AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I ALREADY HAD THE CONVERTER REPLACED, THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICES AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGNS ON MY CAR. THIS IS WHAT I WANT NISSAN TO DO FOR ME: REIMBURSE ME FOR THE EXPENSE OF RELACING MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR. VERIFY THAT THE CURRENT PROGRAMMING IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WILL PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. VERIFY THAT THE PROGRAMMING IN THE CONTROL MODULE HAS ALSO BEEN UPDATED TO ADDRESS STALLING ISSUES (RECALL 0712) ASSURE ME IN WRITING THAT SHOULD MY ENGINE BEGIN USING OIL AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE CONVERTER, NISSAN WILL REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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. 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.

WHEN MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD, MY VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTIES STARTING IN THE MORNING. I LIVE IN SUNNY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SO OUR COLDEST MORNINGS ARE IN THE HIGH 30S. AS A RESULT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO MY VEHICLE NOT WANTING TO START. HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE NEVER OCCURRED IN THE WARM AFTERNOON. EVER SINCE THE INITIAL INSTANCE, IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN A COUPLE OF TIMES EACH YEAR. I NOTIFIED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASSIONS. OF COURSE THE PROBLEM NEVER AROSE WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, SO I DECIDED TO JUST DOP THE ISSUE, AS IT DIDN'T HAPPEN FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO BE OF MAJOR CONCERN TO ME. MORE RECENTLY; HOWEVER, MY CAR NEARLY STALLED ON MY WAY HOME FROM MY FRIEND'S HOUSE. I HAD TO THROW MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO PREVENT IT FROM DOING SO. EVER SINCE MY CAR NEVER WANTS TO START ON THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY. IN FACT, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON, AND I HAVE TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR TO GET THE CAR STARTED. I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE CHECKED AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAM POSITION SENSOR. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT NISSAN RECALLED THIS PART ON SOME 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS. AS A RESULT, I CONTACTED TWO DIFFERENT LOCAL NISSAN DEALESRHIPS AND GAVE THEM MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER SO THEY COULD SEE IF THE RECALL APPLIED TO MY CAR. OF COURSE IT DID NOT. I ALSO DISCOVERED THROUGH MY RESEARCH THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND I WAS DIRECTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA WHICH IS WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY. PLEASE HELP TO KEEP US SAFE FROM VEHICLES STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS. NOT ONLY IS THIS A TERRIFYING THOUGHT, BUT IF AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT COULD BE A FATAL PROBLEM. *TR

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.

FLOORBOARDS RUSTED THROUGH ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA PUTTING MY CHILD IN DANGER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,590.

MY VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS EACH TIME, AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. EACH TIME, WE HAVE HAD TO FIND A WAY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION, AND HAVE IT TOWED. BECAUSE VARIOUS MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE GIVEN UP ON DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE NOW BEEN THROUGH THREE ALTERNATORS, A BATTERY, AND SOME WIRING. AFTER HAVING PREVIOUSLY SAID PARTS REPLACED, I DECIDED TO TRY THE DEALER. I DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ONE MORNING BEFORE WORK. THEY CALLED ME AT WORK AND TOLD ME THAT A BOLT HAD BEEN WELDED TO THE ALTERNATOR, AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $800 TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO ASSURED MY WIFE THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM NOT TO FIX IT. WHEN I WENT TO INSPECT IT MYSELF, IT WAS PLAINLY EVIDENT THAT THE BOLT WAS NOT WELDED TO THE ALTERNATOR, IT WAS JUST NOT FULLY TIGHTENED DOWN. SINCE COMPLAINING TO NISSAN RECALLS ABOUT POOR SERVICE AND THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS IN FACT A RECALL ON MY YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL, BUT NOT ON MY SPECIFIC VIN. I HAVE ALSO BEEN PROMISED THAT A REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH ME. I HAVE CALLED BACK ASKING TO SPEAK WITH THIS REGIONAL MANAGER,AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME HE WILL CALL ME IN TWO BUSINESS DAYS. IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST TWO WEEKS NOW. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 03V455000. 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, 3.5SE. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE A MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS, THEY FOUND A STORED CODE P0420; CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD. THEY ERASED THE CODE TO SEE IF IT WOULD RETURN AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER IT RETURNED. ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A FAILED PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER. UPON REMOVAL OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IT WAS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING. THE FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER THEN DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, BUT WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED HIM THAT SINCE HE HAD ALREADY HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED, THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THEY COULD DO FOR HIM, THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. *JB

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