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
    - SHREVEPORT, LA

    I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT HAS BEEN GIVING ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS . I HAVE HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED AND NOW IT NEEDS ANOTHER ONE . OIL IS BEING CONSUMED OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THE NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME IN 2006 HE SAID I NEED A MOTOR I HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER TOO MANY TIMES TO THINK THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO CHANGE THINGS EVERY TIME I'D TAKE IT . IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT I DON'T THINK THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM AT FIRST. EITHER THEY DIDN'T KNOW OR THEY DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER MY WARRANTY ENDED TO TELL ME THAT I NEEDED A MOTOR!! I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR. I FEEL THAT I PAID TOO MUCH FOR THIS CAR TO BE TRYING TO PAY OVER $5000 FOR A MOTOR. THE CAR IS NOW 6 YRS OLD AND THAT'S NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR A MOTOR. NISSAN SHOULD FEEL VERY BAD THAT THEY A RESPONSIBLE FOR PEOPLE PAYING TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THAT LEMON OF A CAR. I NEED TRANSPORTATION NOT A NEW CAR NOTE!! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, WA

    I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH IS EXHIBITING THE SYMPTOMS VERY TYPICAL WITH 100'S OF OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS. ONE MONTH AGO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE IS CONSUMING LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL, POWER IS SLUGGISH ESPECIALLY AT STARTUP, COOLANT IS BEING CONSUMED ETC. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAULT CODE WAS FOR FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALER SUGGESTS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF LONG BLOCK. SINCE THE RECALL (NTB03-070C) HAD BEEN DONE ON MY CAR A FEW YEARS AGO, PREVIOUS TO ME OWNING THE CAR, THEY ARE "NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL". SEEMS UNFATHOMABLE THAT SO MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO DEFINITE ACTION IS BEING TAKEN FROM NISSAN OR BEING FORCED TO BE TAKEN FROM THE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - PHILADELPHIA, PA

    SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE CAT CONVERTER WAS BAD. CHECKED WEBSITE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND AFTER REPLACING THE CAT CONVERTER, HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE. THE WEBSITE IS HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/1106267/NISSAN/2002-NISSAN-ALTIMA-OIL-DROPPING-AT-108000MILES-I-W/INDEX.HTML. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT OR BE DIRECTED ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. *TR

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

    THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE A DEFECT IN CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH IS DAMAGING MY ENGINE. I HAVE TO GET IT REPLACE, BUT IT COSTS $1500. MY CAR HAS ONLY 84,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO, I TAKE IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT EVERY 3,000 MILES AND FOR REGULAR CHECK UPS. SO I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BELOW ARE THE LINKS TO SOME OF THE WEBSITES WITH COMPLAINTS FROM THE ALTIMA DRIVERS ON THEIR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. 1)HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/2002/ENGINE/CATALYTIC_CONVERTER_FAILURE_CAUSED_ENGINE_DAMAGE.SHTML 2)HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/NISSAN_ALTIMA.HTML 3) HTTP://WWW.ALLWORLDAUTO.COM/COMMENTS/VIEWTHREAD.PHP?CID=638520 4)HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEW_105673.HTML 5)HTTP://WWW.CARAUDIO.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-222455.HTML 6)HTTP://FORUMS.CARANDDRIVER.COM/AUTO/BOARD/MESSAGE?BOARD.ID=NISSAN&THREAD.ID=158 7)HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/1106267/NISSAN/2002-NISSAN-ALTIMA-OIL-DROPPING-AT-108,000 MILES-I-W/INDEX.HTML 8)HTTP://ANSWERS.EDMUNDS.COM/QUESTION-NEGOTIATION-2002-ALTIMA-REPLACEMENT-ENGINE-28642.ASPX 9)HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_84045.HTML 10) HTTP://AUTOREPAIR.ABOUT.COM/B/2008/01/17/ALTIMA-OWNER-THINKS-HES-GETTING-THE-SHAFT.HTM I THINK NISSAN KNOWS THIS PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - SMITHFIELD, RI

    FILE #6258697 2002 ALTIMA MY COMPLAINT INVOLVES A QR25DE ENGINE INSTALLED IN MY ALTIMA. I LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON THE ENGINE AND THEN TALK ABOUT MY PROBLEM. THE QR25DE IS IN THE 2002-PRESENT NISSAN ALTMAN 2.5, 2.5S, 2.5SL 175HP, HYBRID 158HP. THE QR25DE SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PROBLEMS IN ITS SHORT LIFETIME. A VARIETY OF MECHANICAL FLAWS HAVE LED TO NUMEROUS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, RECALLS, REPAIRS, AND OUTRIGHT ENGINE REPLACEMENTS. VEHICLES WITH THE QR25DE MAY INGEST MATERIAL FROM A DAMAGED PRE-CATALYST RESULTING IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. THE PRE-CATALYST WAS REPLACED AT 79,000 MILES AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER REALIZE THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING MORE OIL BUT NOTHING THAT SIGNIFICANT. I STARTED TO NOTICE MORE OIL BEING CONSUMED AT 117,000 CALLED NISSAN AND STARTED A FILE THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER AND CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND I HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS GONE AT 118,151 MILES AND IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $825.65. AT THE SAME TIME THEY CHECKED FOR OIL LEAKS AND SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND TOP OFF THE OIL AND TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 1062 MILES BROUGHT IT BACK TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS DOWN 3 QUARTS. THEY FILLED THE OIL BACK UP AND AFTER 261 MILES THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BROUGHT IT BACK TO NISSAN AND FOUND IT TO BE DOWN 4 QUARTS AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS GONE. UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS HAVE LET THE OIL RUN COMPLETELY DRY WHICH COULD LEAD TO ENGINE FIRE OR COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS REVIEWED THE CASE AND DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR A POOR DESIGN AND NISSAN IS LETTING MANY CONSUMERS IN MY SITUATION PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE. I LITTLE RESEARCH ON THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE WILL YIELD MANY MORE UNSATISFIED CONSUMERS. THE CAR HAD OIL CHANGES AT 3000 MILES INTERVALS.*TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - DUNLAP, TN

    NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 2002 IN 2006 MY CAR WAS USING 2 OR 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES. LUCKILY MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NISSAN AND THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WERE VERY RELUCTANT TO PROVIDE HELP. FINALLY AFTER MONTHS OF TESTING, TEN TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, CALLS TO CORPORATE, AND A TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY FATHER, THEY FINALLY REPLACED MY ENGINE. THEY WOULD NOT, HOWEVER, TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WHY THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, I AM FACING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS I NEED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEW O2 SENSOR. ANOTHER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS! AFTER RESEARCHING THIS CAR AND OTHERS WHO ARE FACING THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM CONVINCED NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND A RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATORY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - DALLAS, TX

    JUST COMMUTING TO WORK AND USING MY CAR FOR LEISURE; HOWEVER, EVERY OTHER MONTH I HAVE TO PUT OIL INTO MY CAR BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS WITH ME DOING MY QUARTERLY IF NOT EARLIER OIL CHANGES. MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA ONLY HAS 73000 MILES AND IS CONSUMING OIL AND NOW HAS BEGUN SHAKING WHEN AT A STOP AND SHAKES EVEN MORE WHEN THE A/C IS ON. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE OIL HAS TO DO WITH THE ENGINE AND THE SHAKING THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP IN THIS MECHANICAL ERROR. I'VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND I SEE THAT I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS COSTLY SITUATION. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TRUST NISSAN WHEN I FEEL AS IF THEY REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THE CONSUMERS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - COCOA, FL

    MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS VERY HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. SEEMS THAT I"M NOT ALONE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE PEOPLE. IS COSTING ME A LOT IN REPLACING ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - SMITHTOWN , NY

    BOUGHT MY 2002 ALTIMA NEW IN MAY \'02. THE CAR HAS RECEIVED ALL MAJOR AND MINOR SERVICES, OIL CHANGES, AND RECALLS THROUGH A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. RECENTLY THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS AN ONGOING HEAD GASKET LEAK THAT HAD GONE UNDETECTED PAIRED WITH A SOUND FROM THE TIMING CHAIN THAT INDICATED IT WAS SOON TO GO. RECOMMENDATION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MIND YOU, THE CAR WAS IN THIS NISSAN DEALERSHIP A MONTH PRIOR FOR A ROUTINE MINOR SERVICE AND 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS \"DIAGNOSIS\" FOR A RECALL. NOTHING WAS INDICATED ON EITHER OCCASION. AFTER PLEADING, THE DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED TO NISSAN A PROPOSAL FOR THEM TO COVER THE COST (WHICH WAS DENIED BY NISSAN HEAD QUARTERS) THEN NISSAN APPROVED A 50/50 COMPENSATION (ME PAYING 1/2 AND NISSAN PAYING 1/2) I THEN OPENED A CLAIM WITH NISSAN\'S REGIONAL OFFICE IN THE HOPES THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE COST BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE 50/50 OFFER WAS THE BEST THEY COULD DO.. DAMAGE RESULTING = A NEW ENGINE WAS QUOTED AT APPROX: 3500.00. I ENDED UP PAYING 1700 PRE-TAXED OUT OF MY POCKET. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
    - CAROL STREAM, IL

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENTIRE EMISSION SYSTEM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THE CONVERTER WAS NOT REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER WOULD NOT DO IT FOR FREE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,323.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE