2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

I HAVE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S,MY CAR BURN OIL LIKE CRAZY, COULD MAKE A FIRE IF I DIDN'T KEEP CHECKING ON THE OIL LEVEL, I SPENT 5 QUART JUST FROM IOWA TO MINNEAPOLIS AND FOR THE LOCAL DRIVE I NEED TO REFILL 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 5-6 DAYS (BETWEEN OFFICE AND HOME WHICH IS JUST 4 MINUTES DRIVING). *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. 1)REAR PADS + ROTORS WORN AT 35,000 MILES: REPLACED AT OWNERS COST. NOW 83000 MILES(MAY '08): DEALER HAS TOLD ROTORS AND PAD NEED REPLACEMENT AND POSSIBLY CALIPERS NEED TO BE EVALUATED. AT 75000 MILE CHECK EVERYTHING WAS OK. (PER THE SERVICE RECORD). IN JAN'08 I HAD SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE BREAKS TO BE INSPECTED. TOLD OK. NOW SUDDENLY THE ROTORS ARE SHOT. OTHER THAN A SQUEAL SOUND FOR 2 DAYS NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. CONCERNED ABOUT HOW BRAKES GO FROM FINE TO SHOT IN 3 MONTHS. I THINK IT IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN IF THE TIME IT TAKES BREAKS TO DISINTEGRATE IS LESS THAN A 3 MONTH PERIOD. 2) ENGINE NOT STARTING AFTER PARKED IN THE COLD. HAPPENED TWICE ONCE AT 48000 MILES. (LOWER BILL. ) 2ND TIME AT 78000 MILES. (HUGE BILL ~$1000). MULTIPLE PARTS REPLACED AND SERVICED. HIGHLIGHTED AS PROBLEM ON VARIOUS FORUMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR NISSAN MODEL. EVALUATE POSSIBILITY RELATED TO ECM TIMINGS ETC. *TR

LOSING OIL AND COOLANT WHICH LED TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE IN MARCH 2006. REPLACED ENGINE AND 50K MILES LATER LOSING COOLANT AND MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 3. SUSPECT HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IGNITION DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY TURNOVER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION HESITATES REGULARLY IN ALL TEMPERATURES. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND THE COOLING LEVEL WAS LOW. THERE WAS MAINTENANCE WORK PERFORMED ON THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY AND ADVISED THAT IT BE REPLACED. THE HEATER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ON THE VEHICLE. THE HEAD GASKET HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,783.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AND TAKE 5-10 MINUTES TO RESTART. THE FAILURE WORSENED OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE TWO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS (03V455000 AND 07V527000), BOTH FOR ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HE CALLED THE DEALER AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND A REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED HIM THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2004, THE TECHNICIAN USED THE SAME EXACT PART THAT THEY REMOVED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,555. UPDATED 06/09/2008. *LJ THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 06/09/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BUMPING SOUND FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SHE WAS UNABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END CAUGHT FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY CAR STALLED AROUND 70 MPH CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WHILE IN A THUNDER STORM. SINCE THAT MY CAR IS ALSO BURNING ABOUT A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2 WEEKS. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURES THAT ARE INCREASING ACCORDING TO REPORTS WIDELY PUBLICIZED ON THE INTERNET. THERE IS A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT IN US. IN SPEAKING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE REASON FOR THE RECALL BEING RECOGNIZED IN CANADA BUT NOT IN THE U.S. IS DUE TO THE FACTORY IN WHICH VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED. SEEMS TO ME THIS REASON IS RIDICULOUS IF THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING IN THE U.S. TOO! SEE INFO BELOW: TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL NUMBER 2003060. UNITS AFFECTED: 30589. 2002-2003: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD WHICH COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. CORRECTION: DEALER WILL REMOVE THE PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN. ALSO, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF SUBSTRATE PARTICLES ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THEY MAY SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS, RESULTING IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. CORRECTION: DEALER WILL REPROGRAM THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PRE-CATALYST OVERHEATING. IF THE CONVERSION EFFICIENCY OF THE PRE-CATALYST HAS DETERIORATED, THEN THE CATALYST WILL BE REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL PRE-CATALYST WILL THEN BE INSPECTED FOR EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE TO THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF DAMAGE IS PRESENT, THE VEHICLE ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED. WHILE I HAVE BEEN OBSESSIVE ABOUT ENSURING MY VEHICLE IS SERVICED ROUTINELY, I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHICH WILL RESULT IN HAVING TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. I DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCES TO JUST DROP $2000 ON A NEW ENGINE! MY CASE IS CURRENTLY IN THE HANDS OF A REGIONAL SPECIALIST (FILE # 6149122), BUT I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW TO DATE. I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING REVIEW OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. INITIALLY, THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RELEASE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. CURRENTLY, THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMPS DIM ON THEIR OWN; HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL SHOW THEM AS BEING ACTIVATED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 073054000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A TICKET DUE TO THE HEADLAMP FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,791 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.