2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 69 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE WARNING BLINKERS WERE ACTIVATED AND WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE FROM THE CENTER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE TO THE MEDIAN WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE RECALL REPAIRED WAS PERFORMED UNDER CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECU), BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE LOT, THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL FAILURE, AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR A RECALL ASSOCIATED REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE." THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ONE MILE FROM THE DEALER. THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NON-RESPONSIVE WITH EXTREME BODILY FORCE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH AS "DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE." THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,800.

RE: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA SE. SINCE APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. I LIVE IN THE NE WHERE IT GETS COLD IN THE WINTERS, AND ONLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMP. IS APPROX. BELOW 30 DEGREES. THIS PROBLEM HAS TYPICALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR HAS SAT IDLE ALL NIGHT, BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT OTHER TIMES WHEN IT HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN FOR A FEW HOURS. WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SO STIFF THAT I CAN'T PRESS IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR - ALMOST LIKE IT IS FROZEN. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED ONE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SLOW DOWN, COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR PARKING LOT EXIT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP, OR TRYING TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER. I HAVE TO TRY TO REMEMBER TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL 10 - 15 TIMES EVERY TIME I START THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER, AS THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO "LOOSEN" IT UP SO THAT IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSES THIS. WHEN I'M DRIVING THIS CAR, I'M ALWAYS AFRAID THAT THE BRAKES WILL TOTALLY GIVE OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED, HOWEVER THE CONTACT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 213000.

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 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE, AND SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. ESTIMATE WAS $1200, WHICH I GOT IN WRITING, FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I ASKED FOR RECORDS OF WHAT THEY HAD DONE TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THE RECALL PREVIOUSLY. THEY HAD NO RECORD OF IT. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, WHO TOLD ME THE DEALER KEPT THE RECORDS, AND TO ASK THEM.. FINALLY, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE PART. THE SES LIGHT WENT ON TWO WEEKS LATER. THE INDEPENDANT MECHANIC SAID THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DAMAGED/FALLING APART, ALSO LISTED IN MY RECALL EXPLICITLY. THE DEALER HAD MISDIAGNOSED THE CAR. CALLED DEALER, WROTE LETTER, BBB COMPLAINT, NISSAN COMPLAINT, NO RESPONSE. HAD PRE-CAT REPLACED FOR $600. SES LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. EVENTUALLY, MY CAR STALLED AND WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHO INFORMED ME MY ENGINE WAS BLOWN, REPLACED FOR $4K. A SCREW HAD BEEN FOUND IN THE THIRD CYLINDER. THIS IS ALSO LISTED IN SOME OF THE 'BULLETINS' NISSAN DISTRIBUTED TO THEIR DEALERS. I'VE TRIED A DEMAND LETTER, NO RESPONSE. OBVIOUSLY, NO ONE INSPECTED MY CAR FOR RECALLS, OR REPAIRED THE FAULTY PARTS. *TR

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED HE NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 133,000.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2/5/10, NEXT MORNING (SATURDAY) WENT OVER CAR LOOKING FOR ISSUE, FOUND LOW OIL LEVEL IN ENGINE, ADDED OIL, MONDAY SCHEDULED WITH DEALER FOR SOONEST APPOINTMENT, WEDNESDAY DEALER CHECKED OUT THE CAR. FOUND THAT THE PRE-CATALYST HAD CRUMBLED INTO DUST WHICH WAS PULLED IN TO THE ENGINE. ENGINE IS RUINED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING. THERE IS A RELATED RECALL (NISSAN R3007) - THIS HAD BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER IN JANUARY 2004. ALL OTHER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE. MY STATEMENT TO NISSAN WAS A. RECALL WAS NOT ACTUALLY DONE (DEALER SAYS IT WAS - HAVE NO REASON NOT TO BELIEVE THEM) B. RECALL WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY OR C. RECALL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY - I BELIEVE IT WAS C THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REALLY FIXED, JUST DELAYED. UNDERSTAND THAT THE CATALYTIC WARRANTY WAS 80,000 MILES, BUT SHOULD A CATALYTIC BREAKDOWN ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO RUIN THE ENGINE? IF NISSAN KNEW IT DID NOT TOTALLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE, THEY SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC AT XX MILES, OR AT XX YEARS. NEVER HEARD OF THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT THE CATALYTIC FAILURE CAN RUIN THE ENGINE. NOW RATHER THAN $700 OR $800 FOR THE CATALYTIC, FACING THAT PLUS ANOTHER ENGINE (ESTIMATE $3000 TO $4000) FOR A USED, SALVAGE ENGINE. BUT THEN WOULD STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. RECALL STATES THAT THIS CAN RESULT IN ENGINE FIRE. I BELIEVE IT IS FAULTY DESIGN. *TR