47 complaints reported

2000 Nissan Altima Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
47
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2008

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AROUND CYLINDER #4 FAILED 2-3 YEARS AGO (~65,000 MILES), CAUSING ROUGH IDLE/STALLING AS WELL AS POOR GAS MILEAGE AND TRIGGERING FAULT CODE P0304. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GASKET FOR ~$650. WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS (~85,000 MILES), THE SYMPTOMS HAVE RETURNED, ACCOMPANIED BY THE SAME FAULT CODE. SPRAYING CARB CLEANER AROUND THE GASKET AREA CAUSE A SMOOTHING OUT OF THE IDLE WHEN APPLIED NEAR CYLINDER #4, INDICATING A RECURRING FAILURE OF THE GASKET. SEARCHING THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE PARTICULAR TO THIS ENGINE MODEL, LEADING TO RECURRING EXPENSE TO OWNERS DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING. THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THIS FAILURE SEEMS TO BE THE ROUTING OF THE EGR GAS LINES TOO CLOSE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING PREMATURE DEGRADATION OF THE SEAL. A LIKELY, AND COST EFFECTIVE FIX WOULD SEEM TO BE THE ADDITION OF A HEAT SHIELD IN THE AFFECTED AREA BETWEEN THE EGR GAS LINES AND THE MANIFOLD. THE HIGH INCIDENCE RATE OF THIS FAILURE AND THE CAUSE OF POOR ENGINEERING, WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE A RECALL ISSUE TO FIX THE POOR FUEL ECONOMY AND EXCESSIVE EMISSIONS IT CAUSES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2008
Mar 2008

HAVE A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA GLE THAT IS RUNNING POORLY AT IDLE AND WILL STALL. SPENT 450 DOLLARS ON TUNE UP PARTS TO FIND OUT LATER THAT IT IS THE MANIFOLD GASKET. WAS TOLD ALL NISSAN ALTIMAS ARE EXPERIENCING ISSUES OF SAME NATURE IN THE 1999-2000 MODEL AND THAT THEY ARE PREMATURELY FAILING AND THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND IS REFUSING TO RECALL THE VEHICLES T FIX THEM. ESTIMATED REPAIR 800.00-1000.00 DOLLARS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2008
Feb 2008

AT 46,000 MILES THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING AND STALLING AT LOW SPEEDS, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET & IT WAS REPAIRED. NOW 25,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AND AGAIN IT IS DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILING. WE HAVE ESTIMATES TO REPAIR IT RANGING FROM $600-$1,000.00. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHO RECENTLY REPAIRED IT WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, THERE IS NO WAY THAT GASKET SHOULD FAIL IN 25,000 MILES. I HAVE TALKED TO A SERVICE MANAGER AT A LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP(NOT THE ONE WHO REPAIRED IT THE FIRST TIME) AND HE SAID THERE IS NO WAY THAT PART SHOULD FAIL IN 25,000 MILES AND STATED IT SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 60,000 MILES. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SERVICE SHOP WHO GAVE US THE ESTIMATE SAID THE GASKET IS FALLING APART LIKE PIECES OF AN EGGSHELL. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2008
Feb 2008

CAR WOULD IDLE VERY ROUGH AND NEARLY DIE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED ($900.00). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2008
Jan 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED ONCE. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE PART BE REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE IT CAN BECOME A DANGER AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED RECENT FAILURES. THE CONTACT WILL NOT HAVE THE COMPONENT REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 57,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,223. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AGAIN, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2005
Jan 2008

ON 6/11/05 THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AS EVIDENCED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON AND DIAGNOSIS BY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE FAILURE HAD NO CONSEQUENCES AS I HAD THE GASKET REPLACED IMMEDIATELY; HOWEVER, THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AS OF 12/27/07 AND NISSAN CORPORATION IS NOT WILLING TO HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE DECIDED TO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE CONDITION DETERIORATES MUCH FURTHER. FROM I AM TOLD THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, WHICH IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I CAN BE REAR ENDED IN THE EVENT IT DOES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2005
Nov 2007

OXYGEN SENSOR ... CAUSE MY ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT TO GO ON AND OFF ... IT SELF . WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON MY CAR BURN TONS OF GAS ... CONSUMPTION DOUBLED ... *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN NISSAN, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2007
Aug 2006

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. CAR CONSTANTLY JERKS WHEN IDLING AND SOMETIMES CUTS OUT. SPENT $65 ON A SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TEST. INTAKE VALVE GASKET FAILURE. NISSAN DEALER WANTS OVER $600 TO FIX ISSUE. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2000 ALTIMA'S. WHY ISN'T NISSAN TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS? *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2006
Aug 2006

IN MAY OF 2006 I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THE SEL LIGHT CAME ON, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED THE GAS CAP AND IT WAS TIGHT. I CALLED NISSAN AND MENTIONED THIS AND THEY TOLD ME TO CHECK THE CAP AGAIN. AFTER A WEEK I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE THAT REVEALED THE EGR SENSOR WAS BAD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE EGR CLEANED AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS. THIS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW AND I THINK THAT NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE THIS AT NO CHARGE. I CALLED NISSAN IN NASHVILLE TN AND THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACING A LOT OF EGR SENSORS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2006
Jul 2006

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING IDLE TO FLUCTUATE, INTERMITTENT STALLING 2000 ALTIMA WITH 57000 MILES, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT DUE TO THE EGR PIPE RUNNING TO CLOSE TO CYLINDER 4 AREA OF THE MANIFOLD. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL ALTIMAS 1998-2001. NISSAN SHOULD REPAIR AS RECALL, THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALLING. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2006
Dec 2005

2000 NISSAN-ALTIMA INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS FAILED AT 44500 MILES. REPAIRS ARE EST. AT $850.00. ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN ADVISOR THE LIFETIME OF THE GASKET SHOULD EXCEED 100000 MILES. NISSAN HAS A PROGRAM TO CORRECT ANY UNUSUAL DEFECTS AFTER THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THEIR AGREEMENT. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2005
Nov 2004

NORMAL DRIVING HE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. HE VEHICLE IS RUNNING POORLY, POOR GAS MILEAGE. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2004
Jul 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2004
Jul 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE FAILED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2004
Mar 2004

CAR HESITATION AND RUNNING ROUGH. SERVICE ENGINE CAME ON AND CAR DROPPED OFF AT NISSAN DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER CALLED AND SAID THE (6)COILS NEED REPLACING. THE CAR HAS 68000 MILES ON IT NOW. THE COILS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 2001 WHEN THE CAR HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT. I READ THERE SERVICE BOOKLET AND NO WHERE DOES IT SAY TO HAVE THE COILS REPLACED EVERY 30,000MILES. WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE COILS AT 30,000MILES HE SAID THAT NISSAN HAD SOME DEFECTIVE COILS AND THEY DID THE UNDER WARRANTY BUT THIS TIME IT COSTS ME $611.65 AS THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER. AFTER CHECKING EDMUNDS WEB SITE AND SEVERAL OTHERS IT APPEARS EVERY 2000 MAXIMA HAS TO HAVE THE COILS REPLACED EVERY 30,000MILES OR SO AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN NISSAN, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2004
Jun 2003

CONSUMERS STATED THAT CAR CUTS OFF WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2002
May 2003

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ENGINE, PROBLEM REOCURRED. *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2003
Jan 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2002
May 2002

PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY NEW INFO ON MY CAR BEFORE ITS TOO LATE THANKS!!!!!!!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2002
Jul 2001

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 AT SPEED OF 75 MPH VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER LOCATION WHEREBY SERVICE DEPT. INDICATED THE OVERHEATING WAS CAUSED BY DRIVING IN FLOODED CONDITION WHEN IN TRUE FACT THERE WAS NOT MORE THAN 1" OF WATER ON THE HIGHWAY THAT AFTERNOON. SERVICE DEPT. ANALYSIS WAS DIAGONISED AS DRIVING IN FLOODED CONDITIONS HENCE CAUSING AT 75 MPH THE RADIATOR FAN BLADE TO BE PUSHED BACK OVER 3-4" TOWARDS THE RADIATOR CAUSING THE PLASTIC FAN BLADE TO PENETRATE THE RADIATOIR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THIS DASSUMPTION BY THE SERVICE TECHNICANS MAKES NO LOGICAL SENSE AS THE FORCES REQUIRED TO CAUSE SUCH DAMAGE IS NOT LOGICAL. THE FAN BLADE SITS AT LEAST 3-4" BEHIND THE RADIATOR AND WOULD REQUIRE GREAT FORCES TO MOVE IT FORWARD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO SUSTAIN SUCH AN INCIDENT, THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC BLADE. DEALER AND NISSAN REFUSES TO ACCEPT WARRANTY AND AS SUCH I HAVE HAD TO INVOLVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2001
Oct 2000

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND RESULTING IN THE DRIVER FEELING ILL (HEADACHE, ASTHMA ATTACKS). NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Aug 2000

THE FAILURE HAPPENED TWICE TODAY. I DROVE MY NISSAN ALTIMA GXE IN NEW YORK, NY ON AUG. 19, 2000 AT ABOUT 6:30PM. WHEN I WAS APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT SPEED ABOUT 15-20 MPH THE ENGINE DIED AND EMERGENCY LIGHTS WENT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND RESTART MY CAR. 10-15 MINUTES LATER, WHILE MOVING IN SLOW TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 15 MPH THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN AND AT THIS TIME BOTH EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SOUND ALARM WENT OFF. I WAS LUCKY ONCE MORE TO STOP SAFELY. I TURNED OFF THE ALARM USING ALARM KEY ON THE IGNITION KEY-CHAIN AND RESTARTED CAR AGAIN. I USED ORIGINAL NISSAN IGNITION KEY WITH "SMART CHIP". GAS TANK WAS 1/4 FULL. ON JULY 22, 2000 MY CAR HAD RECOMENDED BY NISSAN 7500 MILE INTERVAL SERVICE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2000

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2000 Nissan Altima has 47 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.