2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Complaints

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA TO WORK ON MARCH 16TH 2008 I NOTICED THAT IT WAS BUCKING SEVERELY ON THE FREEWAY AND THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING RAPIDLY. MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN TEMPE AND HAD IT LOOKED AT ON MARCH 17TH 2008. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN IN THE ENGINE. AFTER HAVING MY WARRANTY COMPANY TAKE A LOOK AT IT I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD IN FACT NEED A NEW ENGINE IN MY CAR. APPARENTLY WHEN THE HEAD GASKET BLEW IT LEAKED COOLANT INTO MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHEN THAT HAPPENED AND THE COOLANT HEATED UP ENOUGH TO COMBUST IT STARTED TO DISINTEGRATED THE INSIDE OF MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MY ENGINE THEN INGESTED SOME OF THE SUB STRAIT OF THE CONVERTER. IN DOING SO I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE MY ENGINE BECAUSE ALL OF THE COMPONENTS ARE COVERED IN A FINE SANDY MATERIAL FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CONVERTER. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE CONSUMING OIL. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER VIN AND PRODUCTION DATE IS NOT IN THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE THE DEALER TOLD HER THEY CANNOT FIX HER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AFTER SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE OIL AND THE VEHICLE MADE A ROUGH IDLING SOUND. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD GONE BAD, AND BEING THAT IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT OIL AND OTHER DEBRIS HAD EXTRACTED BACK INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED THE PISTONS TO GRIND ON BROKEN CONVERTER PIECES. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. SHE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND THEY ALL IDENTIFIED THE FAILURE AS ELECTRICAL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DEALER STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED IT TO LOCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD BEEN TAKING HER VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE EVERY 3,000 MILES TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED, AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ENGINE FAILURE. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST BETWEEN $6,000-$7,000 AND A USED ENGINE WOULD COST BETWEEN $3,000-$4,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH MY CAR UNTIL 1-/9/08 I TOOK MY CAR TO STEWART NISSAN IN FAYETTEVILLE TO DO A COMPUTER UPDATE AND TO SEE WHY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY DID THE UPDATE AND TURNED THE LIGHT OFF AND SAID I MIGHT WIND UP NEEDING A CATALYST CONVERTER IF THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. IT CAME BACK ON BEFORE I EVEN GOT HOME. I CALLED THEM BACK AND ASK IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY SAID THE ONE THAT TELLS THEM THAT WAS OFF AND I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TILL THAT MONDAY BUT I CALLED VESTER IN CLINTON. I TOOK IT TO THEM ON SATURDAY BUT THEY HAD TO GET ONE IN. PICKED MY CAR UP THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE BUT IT STARTED SKIPPING AND MY OIL WAS A QUART LOW .DROVE A FEW MORE DAYS ANOTHER QUART LOW CALLED BACK TO CLINTON TOOK IT BACK IN THEY CHANGED PLUGS AND DID OIL CHANGE TOLD ME TO DRIVE A FEW DAYS AND KEEP A CHECK ON MY OIL I HAVE AND IT IS WORSE STILL SKIPPING AND USING OIL BUT CANNOT SEE A LEAK OF ANY KIND I JUST DO NOT UNDER STAND WHAT HAPPEN TO MY CAR I DID NOT HAVE ANY TROUBLE UNTIL THIS CATALYST CONVERTER I AM SUPPOSE TO TAKE IT BACK TO VESTER SATURDAY. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS CLOSE TO THIS ONE ON THE INTERNET SO MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET MY CAR BACK TO NORMAL AND WHY THIS HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM THAT PART . I ONLY HAVE 81,000 THOUSAND MILES. *TR

1. VEHICLE'S EXHAUST PIPE HANGER CAUGHT BAG OF DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD AND FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS FALLING APART IN THE REAR. DEBRIS WAS REMOVED BY DISCOUNT TIRES AFTER PURCHASING NEW WHEELS AND TIRES. 2. SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. ENGINE HAS REDUCED POWER AND IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING OPERATION, WITH VIBRATING NOISES. NISSAN STATES THAT THE CAM SENSOR WITH CRANK SENSOR IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY IT IS UNDER RECALL AND THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR A RECALLED ITEM. 3. ENGINE LONG BLOCK WAS REPLACED ON 2/14/06 BECAUSE OF CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, AND THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATING AND SLUGGISHNESS. 4. REAR ENGINE MOUNT REPLACED IN 11/03/04 AS RECOMMENDED. NOW, PASSENGER UPPER MOUNT WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE CHANGED ON 3/14/08. 5. AIR CONDITIONING IS BLOWING HOT AIR AND WE REPLACED AIR CONDITIONING HIGH SIDE COMPRESSOR AND OIL RECHARGED SYSTEM IN 6/01/07, AS RECOMMENDED. AS OF TODAY 3/30/08 AIR CONDITIONING IS BLOWING HOT AIR AGAIN. WE PURCHASED NEW WHEELS, TIRES AND BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION IN THE CAR AND STEERING COLUMN WITH LOW SOUNDING NOISE. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN OUR CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE, RECALLS AND ADDITIONAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH VERY MINIMAL RESOLUTIONS. THANK YOU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND STOP THE VEHICLE WAS SPINNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. PRIOR TO THE CRASH SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TODAY STATING THE POTENTIAL DANGER. THE RELATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS 07V527000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

AS I WAS DRIVING THE ROAD AT A GOOD DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE OTHER VEH STOPPED SUDDENLY. I PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKES BUT I SKID TO HIS REAR BUMPER WITH MY FRONT END. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE PASSENAGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEATBELT TIGHTEN, BUT MIND DID NOT. WHICH CAUSED ME TO STRIKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT I'M STILL SUFFERING. WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO MECHANIC , HE STATED MY AIR BAG SENSORS WERE NOT ACTIVATED AND HE STATED THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME NOT TO HAVE THE ACCIDENT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN JULY 2007, BEFORE PURCHASING I HAD FIRESTONE INSPECT THE VEH FOR ANY DEFECTS OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THEY NEVER SAID ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY SENSORS OR THAT I LACKED ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS TO HAVE DONE A SAFETY CHECK ON MY VEHICLE AND I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR AIR BAGS. HAD I KNOWN I WOULD MADE IT WAS FIXED BEFORE PURCHASING AND I WOULD HAVE NOT SUFFERED INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED FROM THAT CRASH ANTHER OTHER VEHICLE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIM HAD A COUPLE DENTS AND SCRATCHES. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED ON 03/17/08 AND I'M STILL GOING TO THE DOCTOR FOR PAIN. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT I GOING TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING IS DONE VERY SOON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE EITHER FAILED OR ARE LOOSE. WHEN SHE DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKS DRAMATICALLY. THE SENSOR IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 80,000 MILES, THE FAILURE WOULD BE COVERED UNDER NISSAN'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS 80,000 MILES AND WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,460. UPDATED 04/21/08 *BF

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR 90,000 MILE MAINTENANCE ON 2/26/08. AT THAT TIME, WE WERE INFORMED THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE ECM. THE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AND THE ECM WAS "REPROGRAMMED" PER THE SERVICE DEPT. 3 DAYS LATER ON 2/29/08, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON WHILE WE WERE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY. WE STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT NOTHING UNUSUAL APPEARED, IE NO LEAKING FLUIDS, NOT OVERHEATING, ENGINE RUNNING SMOOTHLY, ETC. WE CHECKED THE OIL; THE LEVEL WAS AT FULL AND WAS CLEAN AS IT SHOULD BE FROM AN OIL CHANGE 3 DAYS EARLIER. THE NEXT DAY, WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THEY TOLD US THE ERROR CODE INDICATES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 80,000 MILES. LOOKING FOR KEY WORDS "ALTIMA CATALYTIC CONVERTER" ON THE INTERNET TO DO A COST ANALYSIS, WE HAVE FOUND MANY BLOG ENTRIES BY OTHER 2002/2003 ALTIMA DRIVERS DISCUSSING THIS SAME ISSUE. MANY OF THEM INDICATED THAT THE CAT CONVERTER WILL BREAK APART AND BACKFLUSH PARTS INTO THE ENGINE, DAMAGING THE CYLINDERS AND ULTIMATELY REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS HAS APPARENTLY HAPPENED BEFORE AND ALSO AFTER CONVERTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CONVERTER OR ASSOCIATED PARTS APPARENTLY HAVE SERIOUS DESIGN FLAWS THAT CAN ULTIMATELY CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE A DRIVER IS ON THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS DEPENDING ON WHERE AND WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. REPLACEMENT OF OUR CONVERTER IS PENDING; IN THE MEANTIME, THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT FALLS WITHIN NHTSA RECALL # 03V-084 (CAMPAIGN ID# R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016 & R3017). THE RECALL CAMPAIGN (NTB03-070B) WAS DONE IN 2003 WITH APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, SOMETIME BEFORE 95,000 MILES ON THE CAR, A FAILURE OF THE PRE-CAT OCCURRED WITH EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. MATERIAL FROM INSIDE THE PRE-CATALYST ENTERED THE CYLINDERS AND RESULTED IN HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AND NOW NISSAN IS RECOMMENDING A NEW ENGINE. THIS DEMONSTRATES THAT THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OR THE DEALER DID NOT FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES. EVEN WITH A NEW CATALYST THERE IS STILL A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF ANOTHER FAILURE AND POSSIBLE FIRE AS NOTED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. *TR