573 complaints reported

2002 Nissan Altima Engine

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

Reports
573
Crashes
5
Fires
15
Injuries
5

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle hesitated to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V455000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2022
Dec 2019

MY ENGINE IS DESTROYED BECAUSE A SCREW CAME LOOSE FROM THE THROTTLE BODY IN THE PLENUM, GOT SUCKED INTO AN ENGINE CYLINDER AND DESTROYED THAT CYLINDER. THIS WOULD COST SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $3K TO $5K TO REPAIR, MORE THAN THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WORTH. IN TALKING TO A NISSAN MECHANIC AND DOING ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS APPARENTLY NOT AN UNHEARD OF PROBLEM FOR NISSAN CARS. THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST ONE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST FOR SOME NISSAN 4 CYLINDER CARS BUT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR 6 CYLINDER NISSAN ALTIMA CARS (MY CAR IS A 3.5L 6 CYLINDER MODEL) THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. I PARKED IT AT MY GYM AND WHEN I CAME OUT, STARTED IT UP. I WAS REWARDED WITH AN AWFUL NOISE AND ENGINE VIBRATION ALL OF A SUDDEN. I ONLY LIVED 1.5 MILES AWAY, SO I SLOWLY LIMPED THE CAR HOME. AFTER SOME MECHANICAL SLEUTHING AND BRINGING A MECHANIC TO MY HOME, WE DETERMINED THAT A SCREW HAD COME LOOSE AND GOTTEN SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. I CALLED NISSAN USA TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM AND SEE IF THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. BUT ALL THEY OFFERED WAS THAT THEY "WOULD TAKE A LOOK " AT THE PROBLEM IF I PAYED TO TOW THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY WOULD NOT MAKE ANY GUARANTEE THAT THEY WOULD THEN HELP ME IF THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE AS I HAVE DESCRIBED. IF THEY DIDN'T AGREE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TOWING THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE. HERE IS ONE URL THAT LISTS 10 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH NISSAN PATHFINDER AUTOS, WHICH USE THE SAME 6 CYLINDER ENGINE AS MY CAR. HTTPS://REPAIRPAL.COM/LOOSE-SCREWS-INSIDE-INTAKE-MANIFOLD-CAN-CAUSE-INTERNAL-DAMAGE-IF-THEY-FALL-OUT-448 WHAT MAKES THIS SO AWFUL IS THAT I HAD A RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE OLDER CAR (2002 WITH ONLY 95K MILES) AND THIS PROBLEM MAKES THE WHOLE CAR A JUNKER NOW DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN WITH NO RECOURSE FOR ME!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2019
Sep 2019

MY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5L 4 CYLINDER CONSUMES EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I HAVE HAD TO ADD ROUGHLY 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 200 MILES. ENGINE HAS NO EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS. NEW VALVE COVER GASKETS 500 MILES AGO, NEW SPARK PLUGS EVERY 10,000 MILES DUE TO OIL FOULING, NEW PCV VALVE 500 MILES AGO. THE CAR DOES MOSTLY CITY AND COUNTRY, 55MPH DRIVING AND UNDER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2019
Jul 2018

THE CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THE CAR STOPS WHILE DRIVING ON STREET AND HIGHWAYS. THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR'(S), CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR'S AND THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR'(S) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. RECALL #R3021 AND R3022 WAS LISTED ON THE RECALL FROM NISSAN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2018
Oct 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND BUCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE LATER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE LOCAL DEALER (SUMERIAN NISSAN IN FORT MYERS FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V4855000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2017
Oct 2017

RECALL CAMPAIGN R3022 / 03V455000 DUE TO DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER CRANKSHAFT / CAMSHAFT SENSOR, THIS CAUSED MY ENGINE TO COMPLETELY STALL AT 65 MPH ON THE CALIFORNIA 57 SOUTH FREEWAY. EXTREME DANGEROUS DRIVING EXPERIENCE HAD OCCURRED AND CAUSED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR THE SURROUNDING VEHICLES. VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING AND BRAKING WHICH LUCKILY AVOIDED ANY ACCIDENT. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS CONDUCTED ALONG WITH OTHER RECALLS IN THE PAST, BUT WHEN INSPECTED, THE CRANKSHAFT AND 2 CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE NEVER REPLACED UNDER THE SAID RECALL. HOPEFULLY THE NHTSA CAN CONTACT NISSAN ON MY BEHALF TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ON WHY THE ORIGINAL SENSORS DEEMED DEFECTIVE IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS NOT PROPERLY REPLACED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2017
Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (ANKER NISSAN IN NORTH SMIETFIELD, RHODE ISLAND) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,605.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2017
Apr 2017

LETTER FROM SENATOR FRANKEN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE A RECALL 03V-084 REPAIR THAT YEARS LATER SEEMS NOT TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL, #03V-084, WAS PERFORMED ON OR ABOUT 01/15/04 BUT, WAS NOT EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING ENGINE DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR THE VEHICLE TO REPAIRED AGAIN UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONSUMED ABOUT ONE QUART OF OIL PER TANK FULL OF GAS. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2017
Feb 2017 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER LANE AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,440.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2017
Jan 2017

TOOK OUR 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA IN TO NISSAN FOR A RECALL REPAIR (2003 RECALL FOR EXHAUST / CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES) - RECALL STATES IF ENGINE IS DAMAGED, THAT IT WILL BE REPLACED. ENGINE HAS BEEN DESTROYED DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. NISSAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECALL AND DAMAGE AND INDICATED THE ENGINE WOULD BE REPLACED. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED LAT YEAR BY MY DAUGHTER, WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL INCREASING OIL CONSUMPTION BECAME EXTREME. I CONTACTED STEVEN'S CREEK NISSAN AND THEY CONFIRMED THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NEVER BEEN COMPLETED. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR THE REPAIRS. I WAS VERY EXPLICIT IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION AS WELL AS METALLIC RESIDUE ON COMPONENTS - (I HAD REPLACED THE CAM / CRANK POSITION SENSORS WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH - THEY BOTH HAD A GREY PASTE RESIDUE ON THEM). NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE ENGINE WAS INDEED DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR NEARLY 2 MONTHS, I RECEIVED A CALL ADVISING THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS ANYMORE AND WOULD NEED TO USE AFTERMARKET PARTS. THEY GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, WHO AUTHORIZED THE AFTERMARKET PARTS. MULTIPLE TIMES, NISSAN CALLED TO SAY THEY HAD THE PARTS AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE NEXT WEEK. THIS NEVER HAPPENED. AFTER ANOTHER MONTH PASSED, NISSAN CALLED TO SAY THEY DIDNT HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I WENT TO NISSAN AND OBSERVED THE CAR HAD NOT MOVED OR HAD ANY WORK DONE AT ALL SINCE IT WAS DROPPED OFF IN JUNE. NISSAN HAS CALLED BACK AGAIN AND ADVISED THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO THE REPAIR AND THAT I SHOULD COME PICK THE CAR UP AS IS AND TRY SOME OTHER DEALERSHIP. NISSAN HAS HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 06/09/17. NISSAN HAS HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND HAS NOT BEGUN THE RECALL REPAIR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2017
Jul 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FRACTURED AND WENT INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL IN 2003, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2016
Feb 2016

I HAVE REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT/CRANKSHAFT SENSORS IN MAY CAR AND IT'S STILL STALLING OUT AT TIMES; I HAVE REED OTHER COMPLAINS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME RELATED PROBLEM AND I NEED SOMETHING TO BE DONE BEFORE, I END UP GETTING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING THIS CAR, MY CAR HAS 162000 MILES ON IT AND WITH KEEPING UP WITH MY MAINTAINS THIS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING. I HAVE CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SNELLVILLE, GA THREE TIMES AND NO ONE HAS RETURNED MY CALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I NEED HELP ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR THE SAME REPAIRS THREE TIMES IN A ROW WITHIN A THREE MONTH PERIOD. THE PROBLEM FIRST AROSE IN DECEMBER 2015, WHEN I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE CAR APPEAL TO BE HESITATING AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF AND PROCEED TO SO WHEN I DECIDED TO PULL OFF ON THE NEXT EXIT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND HAS REMAINED ON SINCE DECEMBER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2015
Dec 2015

VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ON THE IGNITION COILS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO NOT CRANK. I HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC SAID THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ON THE IGNITION COILS. I HAD JUST REPLACED ALL 4 OF THE IGNITION COILS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF DUE TO THEM GOING BAD ONE BY ONE. WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, AN IGNITION COIL WOULD GO BAD, CAUSING THE CAR TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE BADLY AS IF TRYING TO STALL IN TRAFFIC AND WHILE STATIONARY. THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO WAS FLASHING. VERY SCARY FOR ME. THIS HAPPENED 3 SEPARATE TIMES AS EACH COIL WENT BAD. WHEN THE VALVE COVER GASKET ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK ON THE IGNITION COILS, AN IGNITION COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2015
Nov 2015 Crash Fire

FIRST THERE WAS A RANDOM MISFIRE WHEN I FIRST STARTED IT THAT MORNING. EVENTUALLY GOT IT TO START, ALLOWED IT TO RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. ONCE I PUT IT IN DRIVE IN AND MOVED A FEW MILES THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. GOT IT BACK HOME, CHANGED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE NEAR THE SENSOR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2015
Jul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER HAVING REPLENISHED THE ENGINE WITH OIL, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2015
Jul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT DEBRIS ENTERED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN 2005. THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2015
Jul 2015

I BOUGHT THIS 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA ($4500 AT RANDY MARION DEALERSHIP IN HICKORY, NC) FOR MY WIFE ON JANUARY 20TH, 2015. THE CAR HAD 123,000 MILES ON IT. JUST 5 OR 6 DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WHEN YOU CRANK IT UP AFTER IT HAD SAT FOR A WHILE. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT NEEDED A QUART OF OIL, SO I ADDED A QUART. THE NOISE CAME BACK AFTER 2 DAYS. THIS IMMEDIATELY BECAME A MANDATORY ISSUE TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AND ADD MORE OIL EVERY 2 TO 3 DAYS. IT IS NOW AUGUST 7TH AND I HAVE TO CHECK AND REFILL THE OIL EVERY DAY! I STARTED MY RESEARCH FOR COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE ALONG WITH RECALLS FOR REPLACING THE ECM, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND/OR ENGINE. THE ECM RECALL APPLIED TO THIS CAR, SO I HAD THAT DONE ON JULY 30TH ALONG WITH AN OIL CHANGE. ON TOP OF THAT, I JUST SPENT $1006.62 TO GET THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED YESTERDAY ALONG WITH A QUART OF OIL. GOT THE KNOCKING SOUND AGAIN THIS MORNING. I TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. MY WIFE AND I ARE SO UPSET NOW. WE FEEL LIKE WE WERE SOLD SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM (CERTIFIED LEMON) FROM A DEALERSHIP THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE RESOLD IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. HOW MUCH MORE COMPLAINTS IS GOING TO BE NEEDED FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE NISSAN FIX THIS PROBLEM???

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2015
Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,900.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2015
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,573.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2015
Jan 2015

THE PRE-CATALYST ON THE EXHAUST HAS FAILED, AND CAUSED DAMAGE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN VIN #'S BUT MINE IS NOT COMING UP. NHSTA CAMPAIGN 03V084000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2015
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE SERVICES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2011
Dec 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,027.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2012
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ANTI FREEZE AND OIL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, EIGHT MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE CODES WHICH CAUSED THE PISTONS TO FREEZE AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2009
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE DEALER SUSPECTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS PROBABLY ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2014
Oct 2014

THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT BUT A MANUFACTURER FAULT. THE ENGINE IS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL TO THE TUNE OF 1 QT PER 200 MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2014

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2002 Nissan Altima has 573 Engine complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.