2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

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 HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME NATURE ONLINE WITH SOME FIRES ALREADY STARTED. YIKES! *TR

7/21/09- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BROUGHT IT INTO DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THAT MY ENGINE IS SHOT AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, $5,100 PLUS TAX AND LABOR. THE PARTS FROM THE PRE-CATALYST HAVE BE SUCKED THROUGH THE EXHAUST AND BACK INTO THE ENGINE SCORING THE CYLINDER WALLS, WHICH INCREASES MY OIL CONSUMPTION AND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVER THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL YEAR AS ME. NISSAN DID A RECALL BACK IN 05/03 (RECALL 3007) TO TRY TO FIX THIS ISSUE BUT PROPER MEASURES WERE NOT TAKING. IN NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ACTION NUMBER- PE02078, IT STATES THAT "NISSAN IS STILL DEVELOPING A CORRECTIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE PRE-CATALYST." I HAVE FOUND NO RECORD THAT THIS WORK HAS EVER BEEN DONE, SINCE 05/03 !?!?. MY PROBLEM WITH NISSAN IS THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS WITH MODEL YEAR 2002 2.5 LITER ALTIMAS AND STILL AFTER OVER SIX YEARS OF RELEASING THIS INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC THEY NEVER ADDRESS ANY ISSUE THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN FOR ME. WITH THE ISSUE OF POTENTIAL FIRE AND SUDDEN ENGINE SEIZER I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED. I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

PA VEHICLE INSPECTOR FOUND LARGE RUSTED HOLES THROUGH FLOOR PAN IN OUR 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH WAS ALWAYS GARAGED AND HAD ONLY 42,000 MILES. BECAUSE EXHAUST FUMES COULD ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WE COULDN'T USE THE CAR. CALLS TO THE DEALER AND NISSAN WERE FRUITLESS. AN ONLINE SEARCH FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND A COUPLE HAD ESTIMATES OF OVER $2000 FOR REPAIR. *TR

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE; I WENT TO KRAFT NISSIAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS RECALL FIXED; AFTER ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 2-3 WEEKS LATER I EXPERIENCE A SHUT-OFF IN TRAFFIC. I RETURN THE CAR BACK TO KRAFT NISSIAN AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM. IT DID NOT HAPPEN A AGIN, BUT AFTERWARDS I NOTICE MY CAR WAS BURINING ALOT OF OIL. I REPLACE THE OIL EVERY TWO-TO THREE DAYS. THEN ONE DAY IT JUST DIED ON ME. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOW THE CAR I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO RMOVE THE CAR FROM THE PREMISES IMMEDITELY. I EXPLAIN TO THE TOP/HEAD SERVICE GUY THAT I WOULD HAVE SOMEONE COME AND REMOVE IT THAT FRIDAY. HE CALLED ON FRIDAY AND I TOLD HIM THAT IT WOULD BE AFTER 5PM BUT THE PERSON WOULD BE THERE TO MOVE IT. I GOT THERE AROUND 5:15 AND WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD BEEN TOWED. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CONTINOUS PROBLEM WITH THE RECALL AND THAT NISSIAN DEALERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND MAKES THE CONSUMER FEEL AS IF IT WAS THEERE FAULT. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION, I NOT SURE IF THEY TREATED ME THAT WAY BECAUSE I WAS A WOMAN OR WHAT BUT I REALLY FELT BELITTLED BY THIS DEALERSHIP. *TR

VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY LOOSES OIL 1 1/2 QTS PER 500 MILES REGARDLESS OF HOW OFTEN I CHANGE THE OIL. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL RECALL REPLACEMENTS{CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CRANK SENSOR, CAM SENSOR AFTER VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHT GROUND, AIR BAG SENSOR AS WELL AS OTHERS].VEHICLE HAS ROUGH START EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED. I ALSO HAVE COMPLAINT REGARDING THE HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR WHEN I COME TO A STOP. AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS I FEAR MY VEHICLE IS SOON TO FOLLOW IN REGARDS TO THE ENGINE FAILURE SO MANY HAVE REPORTED.WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND MY TIME CONSTANTLY CHECKING THE OIL TO MAKE IT IS PROPER WHEN THERE ARE NO OIL LEAKS AND VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES AND IS EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED? DUE TO THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF REPORTS AND CLAIMS SHOULDN'T NISSAN MOTOR CORP. ISSUE A RECALL FOR ENGINES THAT HAVE ALREADY INGESTED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MATERIAL DESPITE BEING REPLACED? HASN'T THE DAMAGE ALREADY BEEN DONE? *TR

MY CAR HAS BEEN AT LEBRUNS NISSAN DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES THEY DETECTED THREE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, THE LAST RESORT WAS MY BLOWN HEADGASKET. I HAVE A 2002 WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING A HEADGASKET PROBLEM!! I HAVE RESEARCHED DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS WITH OTHER OWNERS ONLINE AND HAVE COME ACROSS THE SAME PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS CONTAINING OIL CONSUMPTION, ENGINE FAILURE, HEAD GASKETS, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, NOT STARTING, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. NOW TO ME IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MORE THAN A FEW CARS SAME EXACT YEAR AND MODEL THIS IS A DEFECT ON NISSAN AND THEY ARE NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AGAIN AND HAVE GONE FURTHER INTO THIS AND HAVE SPOKEN TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, I WHICH MY SPECIALIST RETURNS MY PHONE CALLS EVERY THREE DAYS, THEY HAVE ACCEPTED TO FIX MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH IS APPRECIATED, BUT THAT STILL DOES NOT FIX MY PROBLEM AS OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN PURCHASED A LEMON VEHICLE AND I AM NOT SATISFIED, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO GO FURTHER UNTIL NISSAN STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKES FAULT ON THERE PRODUCT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PRE-CAT AND IT WAS REPLACED...IN THE RECALL IT STATES THAT IF THE PRE-CAT IS REPLACED THEN THE ENGINE HAS TO BE ALSO BUT IT WAS NOT. MY ENGINE BURNS 2QTS OF OIL A WEEK AND MAKES A WEIRD NOISE. I WANT THIS TAKEN CARE OF. *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 CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,964.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V08400 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY HAS NOT CORRECTED THE SAFETY DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 101,0000.

I WAS ON VACATION, DRIVING TO CLEVELAND, OH WITH MY WIFE & PARENTS ON 6-13-09, SAT IN 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, 2.5 SL. AROUND 9.00 PM, ON I-80, APPRX 40 MIL FROM CLEVELAND, SUDDENLY SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE CAR HOOD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. TEMP AND OIL LEVEL INDICATORS DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGN OF PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. AFTER NARROWLY ESCAPING CRASH WITH OTHER VEHICLES BY GRACE OF GOD, WE COULD STOP THE CAR WITH SMOKE STILL COMING OUT. BY THE TIME I MOVED EVERYBODY AWAY FROM THE CAR, THE SMOKE STOPPED. THIS SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE DISASTROUS, ENDANGERING PRECIOUS LIVES. ON CRANKING THE ENGINE, LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE MADE US BELIEVE THAT CAR WAS IN BAD SHAPE, SO CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN OF NORTH OLMSTED, OH (DEALER). AFTER INSPECTION ON MON, 6/15/09 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE CASTING HAD A BIG HOLE APPRX 2" BIG. WE WERE ASKED TO EITHER SCRAP THE CAR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH ESTIMATED COST OF $4500. WE WERE NOT TOLD ANY GOOD REASON FOR THIS ENGINE FAILURE. BEING STRANDED WITH MY FAMILY FOR 3 DAYS AND DESPAIRED, I DECIDED TO REPLACE ENGINE HOPING TO GET COMPENSATION FROM NISSAN. INITIAL POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM NISSAN CUSTOMER AFFAIRS BECAME VERY DISSATISFYING AND FRUSTRATING AFTER I PAID THE DEALER. IT WAS A SHOCK TO US THAT AFTER CALLING SO MANY TIMES NISSAN DID NOT TOOK ANY RESPONSIBILITY STATING ON 6/24 THAT "THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY" LATER I FOUND MANY PUBLICATIONS STATING THAT 2002, NISSAN ALTIMA-2.5L ENGINES HAVE FACED SIMILAR ENGINE FAILURES BUT NISSAN HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO AVOID SUCH INCIDENTS. IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR LIKE THIS IS NOT EXPECTED FROM SUCH A REPUTED ORG. THERE HAD BEEN MULTIPLE RECALLS ON MY CAR INCLUDING "ENGINE SENSOR KIT" AND " ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM". I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST YOU TO LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER SO AS TO CONTAIN FURTHER DAMAGE TO PRECIOUS LIVES OF PEOPLE AT LARGE. I FURTHER REQUEST YOU TO IMPRESS UPON NISSAN TO REIMBURSE US FOR TOTAL COST OF REPLACING ENGINE AND MENTAL AGONY. *TR