2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

View complaints related to 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 1,020 complaints submitted for the 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - CHANHASSEN, MN

    UNDERBODY RUST. AUTO BODY SHOP STATED THIS WAS A VERY UNUSUAL CONDITION FOR A VEHICLE THIS AGE . *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - DURHAM, NC

    MY DAUGHTER HAD COMPLAINED OF THE CLUTCH IN HER CAR LOOSING PRESSURE AND BASICALLY DROPPING TO THE FLOOR, INTERFERING WITH HER ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS, AND IT SOMETIMES LURCHING FORWARD ON OCCASIONS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IN AUGUST 2010, SHE WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, IN FIRST GEAR WITH HER FOOT ON THE CLUTCH WHEN THIS OCCURRED, CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP FORWARD INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, I FELT THAT HER FOOT MAY HAVE SLIPPED OFF THE CLUTCH INSTEAD, UNTIL IT LOST PRESSURE AGAIN A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS. I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL EXHIBITING VERY SIMILAR BEHAVIOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC IT'S DANGEROUS, BECAUSE IT CAN LURCH BY ITSELF OR YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING VEHICLES, LIKE IF YOU'RE CROSSING TRAFFIC. IT ALSO INHIBITS THE ABILITY TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. NISSAN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH MANY PEOPLE HAVE BADGERED THE DEALERSHIPS INTO REPLACING THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND/OR SLAVE CYLINDER UNDER WARRANTY, AND NISSAN HAS NOT HAD A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. MINE IS WAY OUT OF WARRANTY, SO MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT SO THAT HOPEFULLY OTHERS WILL NOT BECOME INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF FAULTY PARTS OR FLUID BEING USED IN THE CLUTCH SYSTEM. THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER IS ALLOWING AIR, AND/OR MOISTURE, TO ENTER THE SYSTEM, BUT MOREOVER, THE DOT 3 FLUID THAT IS USED SEEMS TO BE THE MAJOR FACTOR IN THE FAILURE, WHERE AS DOT 4 OR 5.1 SHOULD BE USED INSTEAD. I HAVE NOT DONE ANY REPAIR TO THE CAR SINCE SHE HAS IT AT SCHOOL, BUT I WILL HAVE IT FIXED AS SOON AS I GET IT BACK HOME.

    Source: PORTABLE SAFETY COMPLAINT FORM
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - BRIDGEPORT, CT

    I PURCHASED MY NISSAN ALTIMA IN AUGUST 2003, I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR FOR 7 YEARS AT 111,000 MILES MY ENGINE WENT ON MY CAR. I WAS GOING THROUGH 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN A WEEK, I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING LEAKING. I HAVE MY SENSORS CHANGE TWICE IN PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS. MY SPARKS PLUG KEPT GOING BAD AFTER SIX MONTHS. I WOULD STARTED IT UP AND WOULD GET A RATTLING NOISE, THEN I WOULD HEAR WATER COMING FROM MY FRONT DASH. MY CAR WAS BEING MAINTAINED VERY WELL. UNTIL IT STARTED TO PUT OIL EVERY WEEK, I HAD IT LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD NEEDED MY OIL FLUSHED, THEN MY I HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS. I DID EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO DO BUT THE ISSUE WAS STILL HAPPENING. MY ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, 2 CYLINDER MISFIRE, 02 SENSOR, CAT CONVERTER. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND REPLACED THE CENSOR ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF CAME BACK ON 1 WEEK LATER HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN. I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND WOULD JERK PUT IN NEUTRAL AND STOPS, GET HOME CHECK MY OIL BONE DRY. I HAD AN MECHANIC LOOK AT SO MANY TIMES THAT I WAS THROWING MONEY AWAY ENDURING THIS FOR ONE WHOLE YEAR AND NO MECHANIC CAN FIND THE SOLUTION. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP OIL IN MY CAR. THIS WAS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. ON AUGUST 27TH 2010 I WENT TO LEAVE FROM WORK AND SAW A CLOUD OF SMOKE TOOK IT THE MECHANIC ONLY TO BE TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE I WAS APPALLED. BECAUSE MY ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT THIS SOON. WELL I REVIEWED COMPLAINTS ON THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AND WHAT I COME TO FOUND OUT MANY CONSUMER ALL OVER THE U.S.A. HAD THE SAME ISSUES I EXPERIENCED. THIS VERY UPSETTING. I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE PRODUCTS. I HAVE WENT TO MANY WEBSITE AND FOUND MANY CONSUMERS HAVE MADE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THERE ENGINE REPLACE AND TO NO SATISFACTION NISSAN HAS TURNED THE OTHER EAR. THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT OUT $4800 DOLLARS WHEN IT VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMAS MADE IN 2002. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - LEXINGTON , KY

    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.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - PARKER, CO 80134, CO

    I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. A FEW MONTHS AGO I NOTICED RUST ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS WORSE THAN THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THERE IS AN ACTUAL HOLE IN THE METAL WHERE IT HAS CORRODED. IT HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SO IT APPEARS TO ME AS IF IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. I CALLED NISSAN AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. SHE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING NISSAN COULD DO BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I TALKED TO HER SUPERVISOR AND SHE TOLD ME ALSO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HER 3 REASONS WERE: (1) IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO FIX (2) SHE DOES NOT KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE AND (3) THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN NEED TO FIX IT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - PINOLE, CA

    THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. FAILURE WAS RECOGNIZED BY CEL P0420. CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE REPLACED. NOW ENGINE HAS LOST POWER AND IS EMITTING SMOKE. COOLANT AND ENGINE OIL ARE DROPPING AT INCREASING RATES REQUIRING CONSTANT ATTENTION BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO BE "DRY." NOW ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH MANY OTHER CLAIMS WHICH NISSAN DENIES. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - CHAMPLIN, MN

    I HAVE MAILED AN OFFICIAL LETTER SINCE THE SPACE PROVIDED IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR MY COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER STATED DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED AN ENORMOUS RUSTED HOLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FLOOR PANEL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO HAD A BIG RUSTED SPOT WHERE ANOTHER HOLE WAS DEVELOPING. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY A REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FLOOR PANEL SINCE IT WAS SO BADLY RUSTED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DEFECT WAS DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF DRAIN HOLES IN THE FLOOR PAN UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DRAIN HOLES WERE VISIBLE TO HAVE BEEN OUTLINED, BUT THEY WERE NEVER DRILLED THROUGH. THE WATER FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GET TRAPPED ON TOP OF THE FLOOR PANEL AND COLLECT THERE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING RUST. UPDATED IVOQ *JB *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - CANTON, GA

    I HAD A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 125,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY NISSAN THAT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE QUART OF OIL IN THE ENGINE AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY ADDED OIL AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN AFTER ONLY 2 WEEKS. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY THING I CAN DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH ALTIMAS. I REALLY THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - VICKSBURG , MS

    THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE WOULD KICK AND THEN GAINED THE ACCELERATION BACK. AFTER 20 MILES OF DRIVING STARTED LOOSING ACCELERATION AGAIN AND SHUT OFF ON A UNDER CONSTRUCTION INTERSTATE W/ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC. NO SERVICE LIGHTS AT FIRST AND AFTER CRANKING AND DRIVING ANOTHER 10-15 OR SO IT STALLED AGAIN AND THE CHECK-ENGINE, OIL, AND BRAKE INDICATOR'S LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD CAME ON. CHECKED FOR RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEMS. CONTACTING DEALERSHIP FOR POSSIBLE REPAIR IF ITS A RECALL PROBLEM. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - CRYSTAL LAKE, IL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME EXHIBITED AN UNUSUALLY LARGE HOLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT HE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE