2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

MY CAR HAS A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE. I TOOK TIME OFF FROM WORK TO GO AND GET MY CAR SERVICED. THE SAME DAY OF THE SERVICE, MY CAR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD POOR PERFORMANCE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION, AND THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IN. I TOLD THEM I NEEDED A LOANER CAR SO I COULD GO TO WORK. THEY INSISTED THAT THEY DO NOT ISSUE LOANERS ANYMORE, SO I PROCEEDED TO OBTAIN ANOTHER WAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO LET THEM KNOW IT WAS A PROBLEM GETTING MY CAR IN WITHOUT THE COURTESY OF A LOANER. IN JUNE 2008, I TRIED TO OBTAIN MY LICENSE BUT THE CAR FAILED THE EMISSION TEST. I CONTACTED THE NISSAN HEADQUARTERS WITH MY COMPLAINT MAKING SEVERAL CALLS AND LEAVING MESSAGES. A REGIONAL MANAGER ASSISTANT CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THE MANAGER WILL CALL ME WITHIN 3 DAYS. SHE DID NOT CONTACT ME LIKE SHE PROMISED, SO I KEPT CALLING UNTIL FINALLY I REQUESTED SOMEONE CALL ME ASAP. I RECEIVED A CALL ON THURSDAY, 7/31/08 FROM THE REGIONAL SPECIALIST STATING THAT THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EMISSION TEST FAILURE AND ADDED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SHE REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STATED SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR DECISION. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICEMAN STATED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN TO THE REGIONAL SPECIALIST AND WHEN I BRING THE CAR IN I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC COSTS AND REPAIR SERVICES, BECAUSE IT IS PROBABLY NOT THEIR PROBLEM. AS OF NOW, THE PROBLEM OF MY CAR NOT BEING REPAIRED AND UNSAFE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, WHICH WAS STATED COULD RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN TOLD MY CAR IS NOT FIT FOR THE ROAD AND AS THE MECHANIC AND SALES PERSON TOLD ME, IS A "TICKING TIME BOMB". THE CAR WAS VOLUNTARILY RECALLED IN 2003 BY NISSAN AND I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY HEAT UP AND BREAK DOWN THE CATALYST CAUSING IT TO SPRAY PIECES BACK INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE REPRESENTATIVE AT NISSAN TELLS ME HE IS "AWARE OF THE ISSUE" BUT MY CAR IS NOW OUTSIDE OF THE 80,000 MILE WARRANTY AND IT DOESN'T MATTER( I JUST TURNED OVER 100,000). NISSAN REFUSES TO ADDRESS THAT I DID TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL AND MANY TIMES AFTER WHEN THE SENSORS WENT OFF AND THE MECHANICS NEVER MENTIONED THIS ISSUE OR OFFERED TO CORRECT IT WITH THE "REPLACEMENT ENGINE" THAT NISSAN CLAIMS THEY WOULD GIVE THE CUSTOMERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INSTANCES WHEN MY CAR'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD BREAK INTO PIECES AND SPRAY THROUGHOUT MY ENGINE? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN? I HAD A 90,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER MAINTENANCE AND THEY CHARGED US AROUND $400 AND NEVER MENTIONED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. PLEASE HELP! I HAVEN'T HAD A CAR TO DRIVE IN THREE WEEKS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY NEXT MOVE SHOULD BE. STACY OLEXY, READING, PA. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S IN JUNE 2008 WITH 69,000 MILES AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER (UNIVERSAL NISSAN) WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER PERFORMED WORK ON SEVERAL RECALLS INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ENGINE USES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 50 MILES SO THE DEALER DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE FAILED THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, THAT THE ENGINE IS BAD AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND REQUESTED THAT THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER GOING BAD AND ALLOWING MATERIAL FROM THE DAMAGED PRE-CATALYST TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND RESULT IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION PER THEIR RECALL # NTB03-070C, DATED NOVEMBER 17, 2006. WE HAVE BEEN DENIED OUR REQUEST FOR NISSAN TO PAY FOR AND TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE WITH A NEW ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR THE ROAD. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CONSUMER IS OVER THE 80,000 WARRANTY. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH COULD CAUSE HEAT BUILD-UP AND BREAK DOWN THE CATALYST WHICH COULD CAUSE PIECES TO SPRAY BACK INTO THE ENGINE.*JB

BOUGHT USED 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3/07 TOOK CAR TO DAVE SOLON NISSAN, PUEBLO CO 12/07. I COMMUTED EVERY OTHER WEEK TO COLORADO SPRINGS ON THOSE WEEKS I WAS PUTTING 3 QUARTS OF OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAK OIL WAS GONE. NISSAN COULDN'T TELL ME WHERE OIL WAS GOING THEY CONTACTED WARRANT & THEY DECIDED ON A REFURBISHED ENGINE. GOT MY CAR BACK END OF DECEMBER. JAN, FEB & MARCH ONLY DROVE CAR EVERY OTHER WEEK TO SPRINGS. NOTICED AT END OF FEB I WAS PUTTING ABOUT 8 QUARTS OIL A WEEK. TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN IN BEGINNING OF MARCH THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO FIND RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES, TOLD THEM I WASN'T SURE I COULD FIND THEM. BUT QUESTIONED THAT IT OIL WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED WHEN THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR AFTER A TWO DAYS. A WEEK LATER HUSBAND STARTED BACK TO WORK HE TOOK NISSAN TO COLO SPRINGS FOR WORK ON HIS WAY HOME IT JUST DIED OUT GOOD THING FOR US ON OUR NOT SO BUSY STREET AND ONLY A COUPLE OF HOUSES FROM OURS. SO THERE IT STOOD FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOT HAVING MONEY TO GET IT TOWED OR EVEN LOOKED AT. IN MAY WE FOUND A MECHANIC A MILE FROM OUR HOME WHO WOULD COME AND TOW IT TO HIS SHOP. HE LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND WE NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PAID $800 FOR IT. WHEN HE WENT TO PUT IT IN HE FOUND WHERE OUR OIL WAS GOING. HE SAID 3 OF OUR 4 CYLINDERS WERE COVERED IN OIL WHICH MADE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER EXPLODE. HE TOLD USE TO CALL NISSAN WHICH I DID THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR UNLESS WE GIVE THEM RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AGAIN WHY TRIED AGAIN TO FIND THEM OF COURSE COULD NOT LOCATE I THINK WE DID 2 IN THE TIME FRAME. ARGUED WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME IT WAS OUR PROBLEM NOT THERE'S. WENT ONLINE AND RESEARCHED FOUND MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM AS MYSELF. NEED SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS WE ARE PAYING FOR A CAR THAT IS NOT WORKING. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS OUR FAULT BUT HOW CAN A 2002 CAR WITH ABOUT 89,000 MILES ON IT NEED ANOTHER ENGINE. NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE THE BLAME AND COMPENSATE NISSAN OWNERS. *TR

IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I STOPPED AT THE FIRST STORE I CAME TO AND PUT OIL IN THE CAR. BEFORE THIS I HAD NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR BURNING OIL. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE CAR WAS BURNING OIL AT A HIGH RATE, ABOUT A QUART A WEEK. I HAD A TECHNICIAN LOOK AT MY CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SOME KIND OF ENGINE FAILURE. AT THIS POINT I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAD A PROBLEM THAT CREATED EXCESS OIL BURN AND ENGINE DAMAGE. ON MAY 23RD I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WHO DID NOT RESPOND. ON MAY 30TH I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AGAIN AND THEY REFERRED ME TO A LOCAL DEALER. ON THE 30TH I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED MY OIL ($36.32) IN ORDER TO DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ON MY CAR. ONE WEEK LATER I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND AFTER DRIVING 70 MILES THE CAR HAD BURNED 4 QUARTS OF OIL. WHEN PICKING UP MY CAR, I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE MY BROTHER WAS THE FIRST OWNER OF THE CAR AND NOT ME EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 ALTIMA ENGINES. THEY ALSO QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $3,792.70 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. ON THURSDAY, JULY 10TH THE ENGINE FAILED AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NISSAN HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT WHAT EVER THEY DID DID NOT WORK. *TR

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE,SEAMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT .THE GASKET WAS REPLACED,THE HEAD NEEDED TO BE MACHINED. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE, ANTIFREEZE LOSS FROM OVERFLOW TANK NO LEAKS OR PUDDLES AFTER A TWO WEEKS THE ENGINE BECAME HARD TO START. $1600.00. *TR

1. THE FAILURE FOUND AT JUNE, 6 2008 AT MILEAGE 65,000 MILES 2. IT HAS MISFIRE CODE CAUSE BY VERY SMALL CYLINDER HEAD GASKET LEAK 3. THE GASKET IS REPLACED AND THE HEAD CYLINDER IS RESURFACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED METAL HANGING FROM THE BOTTOM OF HER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A HOLE UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE, WHICH EXPOSED ROTTEN METAL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE FLOORBOARD WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE SALES DEALER TOOK PICTURES AND SENT THEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. MOST RECENTLY, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT BE OF ASSISTANCE AND THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE SALES DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $6,000 REPAIR COST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000. UPDATED 07/29/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. UPDATED 07/29/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS IT DID PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND THEN RESTART. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED THE STATE SMOG EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THESE FAILURES, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS COULD ONLY BE PERFORMED ONCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.