2002 Nissan Altima Engine

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. SINCE I'VE HAD IT, IT USES OIL AND HAS A BAD CATALYTIC PROBLEM DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS 2.5S IS UNDER A RECALL. THE ECM WAS REPLACED ON THE CAR TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL PERSISTS. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH ITS NEVER BEEN FIXED......THE RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS 03V084000. *TR

I BEGAN TO BURN ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES THAT I DROVE AT THE BEGINNING OF 2009. THERE WAS ALSO A STRANGE GROWLING NOISE WHEN STARTING MY CAR. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE OIL USAGE ALSO BEGAN TO INCREASE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WERE SOME ENGINE ISSUES THAT WAS BEYOND THEIR CAPABILITIES. THEY RECOMMENDED TAKING IT TO A NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF ON 8/15 AND WITHIN LESS THEN 2 HOURS THEY SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT I NOT ONLY NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT I ALSO NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY DESIGN THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO OVER HEAT. ONCE IT OVERHEATED IT WOULD BREAK DOWN AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO EGR VALVE ON THE CAT THE PARTICLES OF THE CONVERTER WOULD GET SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE WHICH ENDED UP SCORING THE CYLINDER WALLS. THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE RECALL CAMPAIGN # 03V084000 WAS "PERFORMED" AT 13,208 MILES NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER EVEN THOUGH IT IS DIRECLTY RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE PART THAT NISSAN IS ALREADY AWARE OF. THE SERVICE ADVISOR QUOTED ME 4586.OO PLUS TAX FOR MY OUT OF POCKET COST AND THE PARTS AND LABOR WOULD ONLY BE COVERED FOR 12 MONHS OR 12,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE THAT COMES WITH THE CAR WHEN IT IS NEW IS COVERED FOR 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. I AM CURRENTLY FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AND CONSLUTING A LAWYER. *TR

MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 2.5 CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE THAT WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $5000. MY CAR HAD CLOSE TO 90,000 MILES. BUT IN TRACKING DOWN MY REPAIR HISTORY, THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE OCCURRED BETWEEN 70,000 - 90,000 MILES. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (YOUNKER NISSAN IN RENTON WASHINGTON) SEVERAL TIMES DURING A YEAR TO MAINTAIN SO THAT I DON'T RUN INTO ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT APPARENTLY DIDN'T HELP. THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A PROBLEM THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED INTO THE PROBLEM AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN CORP BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TAKING MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO MAINTAIN BUT ONLY TO BE TOLD LATER I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. CORP NISSAN DID NOT WANT TO HELP OUT AND NEITHER DID THE DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND WAS FOUND SO MAY PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL I'VE BEEN NOT BEEN TREATED FAIR BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF MY CAR (THROUGH MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP (YOUNKER NISSAN IN RENTON WASHINGTON)) AND ONLY TO BE TOLD LATER I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULDN'T START, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, LEAKING COOLANT, NOW NISSAN SAYS I NEED A NEW MOTOR. ALUMINUM WAS USED MAKING THESE CARS AND NISSAN NEW THEY COULDN'T WITH STAND THE HEAT. MY SON NEEDS HELP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V08400 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY HAS NOT CORRECTED THE SAFETY DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 101,0000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS KEEP FAILING IN HER VEHICLE. IN 2004, THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT IS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $300 TO REPAIR THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

RECENTLY TRAVELING TO NC AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND WON'T START. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ENGAGED CONSTANTLY AND THE CAR BURNS OIL WITH NO ENGINE LEAKS. I PURCHASED BRAND NEW MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED VERY HARD WHEN PURCHASED AND CLUTCH WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR AFTER 1 MONTH. TOOK CAR TO NISSAN DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE PRESSURE PLATE WAS BAD AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IN AUG. 2006 AT 115K MILES ($850). THEO2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE RECALL, HAD IT REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL, AND IT'S STILL CRAP! TO BOOT, THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY BROKE WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, AND NISSAN RECALLED. THEIR 'FIX' BROKE TOO. I WAS TOLD THAT I'LL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEIR 'RESOLUTION' FIXED BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THAT TIME, BETWEEN 6/08 AND 11/08, I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR, OIL COOLER, ALL MOTOR MOUNTS, FAN BELTS, DRIVER'S AXLE, POWER STEERING BOX, VALVE COVER GASKET ($7K WORTH OF WORK). CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 145K MILES AND I BELIEVE THE CAR IS JUST A LEMON. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN NISSAN, BUT NOW DECLARE IT WILL BE MY LAST ONE. I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER $5K TO PUT IN TO CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, SENSORS OR AN ENGINE. DON'T THINK SO. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES. *TR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT. HEATER CORE WENT OUT, THEREFORE NO HEAT IN THE CAR. *TR

CAR IS SUCKING UP OIL MAKES NOISE AND ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. *TR

I PURCHASED A NISSAN ALTIMA 02 ON SEPT 08. AFTER THREE DAYS I FOUND OUT THE OIL WAS LOW TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW ENGINE. ONE DAY MY WIFE CAME AND PICK ME UP AT WORK AND THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND THEY STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WITH IT AND I AM SUSPECTING BECAUSE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ONE TIME THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. NISSAN WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH IT AS A MATTER OF FACT MY MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT ALL NISSAN ALTIMA WITH THAT TYPE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY LOOSES OIL 1 1/2 QTS PER 500 MILES REGARDLESS OF HOW OFTEN I CHANGE THE OIL. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL RECALL REPLACEMENTS{CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CRANK SENSOR, CAM SENSOR AFTER VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHT GROUND, AIR BAG SENSOR AS WELL AS OTHERS].VEHICLE HAS ROUGH START EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED. I ALSO HAVE COMPLAINT REGARDING THE HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR WHEN I COME TO A STOP. AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS I FEAR MY VEHICLE IS SOON TO FOLLOW IN REGARDS TO THE ENGINE FAILURE SO MANY HAVE REPORTED.WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND MY TIME CONSTANTLY CHECKING THE OIL TO MAKE IT IS PROPER WHEN THERE ARE NO OIL LEAKS AND VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES AND IS EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED? DUE TO THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF REPORTS AND CLAIMS SHOULDN'T NISSAN MOTOR CORP. ISSUE A RECALL FOR ENGINES THAT HAVE ALREADY INGESTED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MATERIAL DESPITE BEING REPLACED? HASN'T THE DAMAGE ALREADY BEEN DONE? *TR

MY CAR HAS BEEN AT LEBRUNS NISSAN DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES THEY DETECTED THREE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, THE LAST RESORT WAS MY BLOWN HEADGASKET. I HAVE A 2002 WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING A HEADGASKET PROBLEM!! I HAVE RESEARCHED DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS WITH OTHER OWNERS ONLINE AND HAVE COME ACROSS THE SAME PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS CONTAINING OIL CONSUMPTION, ENGINE FAILURE, HEAD GASKETS, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, NOT STARTING, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. NOW TO ME IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MORE THAN A FEW CARS SAME EXACT YEAR AND MODEL THIS IS A DEFECT ON NISSAN AND THEY ARE NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AGAIN AND HAVE GONE FURTHER INTO THIS AND HAVE SPOKEN TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, I WHICH MY SPECIALIST RETURNS MY PHONE CALLS EVERY THREE DAYS, THEY HAVE ACCEPTED TO FIX MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH IS APPRECIATED, BUT THAT STILL DOES NOT FIX MY PROBLEM AS OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN PURCHASED A LEMON VEHICLE AND I AM NOT SATISFIED, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO GO FURTHER UNTIL NISSAN STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKES FAULT ON THERE PRODUCT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE THEN NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ABSORPTION OF OIL FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,200.

WE OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA S 2.5 LITER ENGINE. WE HAD A RECALL DUE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN POSSIBLY IGNITING WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. AFTER THAT WAS DEALT WITH, THE DEALER CHARGING ME $80.81, SAID THE ENGINE NOISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS DUE TO FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONVERSION EFFICIENCY OF THE PRE-CATALYST HAS DETERIORATED AND NOW THE CATALYST HAS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NO HEAT WHEN THE CAR IS AT IDLE AND NOW HAVE INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION, 5 QUARTS EVERY 2 WEEKS. BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE A NEW ENGINE MAY BE IN THE PICTURE. THERE ARE ONLY 85000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW ENGINE OR EVEN CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO GET NISSAN TO FIX THEIR FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER/ENGINE PROBLEM? NISSAN IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT! WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT BUYING A GALLON OF MILK! WE ARE DRIVING A CAR THAT COULD POSSIBLY START ON FIRE WHILE WE ARE IN IT! SEARCH "NISSAN CATALYTIC CONVERTER"; CAR AND DRIVER ALTIMA CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE AND WWW.CANADIANDRIVER.COM/ARTICLES/CC/02-06ALTIMA.HTM THE COMPLAINTS ARE NUMEROUS PLEASE REPLY WITH WHAT RECOURSE WE HAVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A POPPING SOUND. THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LACK OF ENGINE OIL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,250. UPDATED 8/3/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE, IN WHICH A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. THE CONSUMER DAUGHTER HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED. UPDATED 08/10/09.*JB

IN OCT OF 2002 A INVESTIGATION WAS MADE BY (ODI) CONCERNING 2 POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA( NHTSA)ACTION # PE02078)ACCORDING TO YOUR REPORT NISSAN WOULD REMOVE PORTIONS OF THE EXHAUST PIN AND APPLY A HEAT SHIELD. OVER THE PRECAT. YOU ALSO STATED NISSAN IS DEVELOPING CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO ADDRESS PRECAT FROM OVERHEATING .WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION WERE INTRODUCED TO FIX THIS PRECAT PROBLEM? AFTER READING PAGES OF NISSAN CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE PRECAT DESTROYING THEIR MOTORS I WOULD SAY NISSAN DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM .THESE 2 MANUFACTURER DEFECTS ARE NOT THE SAME AND SHOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY IF YOUR CAR HAD A HEAT SHIELD APPLIED YEARS AGO WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAULTY PRECAT.NOW A FEW YEARS LATER YOUR MOTOR IS SHOT AND NISSAN WILL TELL YOU THEY ALREADY HAD IT IN FOR THE RECALL I ASK ONCE AGAIN WHAT WAS DONE THE FIX THE FAULTY PRECAT?? IF YOU HAVE THE ANSWER PLEASE INCLUDE IT IN CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TAKEN SO MYSELF AND EVERY OTHER DISSATISFIED NISSAN CUSTOMER CAN MAKE SOME SENSE OUT OF THEIR STATEMENT WHEN THEY TELL US THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY PUT A HEAT SHIELD ON IT. *TR

I HAVE A NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 88.000 MILES ON IT THIS CAR IT SHOULD BE JUST GETTING BROKEN IN JUST GOT DONE PAYING THIS CAR OFF IT COST ME AROUND 18,000 DOLLARS IN 2004 PAID IT OFF IN JUNE 2009 THINKING I COULD GET BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN BUT I SEE THAT WONT HAPPEN NOT WITH A BAD DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND A RUINED ENGINE THAT EATS ANTIFREEZE AND DRINKS OIL THAT'S JUST SOME OF THIS CARS ISSUES POOR HEAT OR NO HEAT IN WINTER I CANT BELIEVE WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON ALL OF THE NISSAN SIGHT NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY NHTSA THERE ARE MORE THAN A FEW COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ITS UNREAL AND WHEN YOU NEED HELP THEY TELL YOU YOUR VIN# IS NOT THE CORRECT ONE IF ALL THESE CARS COME OFF ASSEMBLY LINE WITH DIFFERENT CONVERTERS AND MANIFOLD SYSTEM THEN AND PRECAST THAN MAY BE ,BUT NOT THE SAME PARTS WITH THE MANIFOLD AND THE SAME CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE FOWLED PRINTS NOWAY!!!ALL THESE 2002 ALTIMAS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ARE BEING TOLD THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT VIN# WELL LETS SEE THESE VIN # BEFORE WE TELL THEM TO YOU THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR 7 YRS KNOW DOESN'T NHTSA HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINT BY KNOW TO REOPEN IT CASECLAIN #03V084000 I SEE THEY HAVE SHORTENED A LITTLE FROM ITS ORIGINAL CLAIM , FIX WHAT YOU MESSED UP IN THE FIRST PLACE BAD DESIGN PRECAST NEXT TO INTAKE SPEND THE MONEY YOU MADE ON ALL OF US AND DO IT RIGHT THEN YOU MAY GET CUSTOMERS BACK PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID AND WILL NOT FORGET ,THIS CAR IS MY SECOND NISSAN I HAD A PATHFINDER AND AFTER THIS COMPLETE INJUSTICE NEVER AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE A CONCERN INVOLVING MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA IT IS A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND ITS BURNING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL (1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES) I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2004( SECOND HAND)THE CARS BURNING OF OIL WAS STRANGE TO ME BECAUSE I ALWAYS CHANGED MY OIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3000 MILES,SO I STARTED TO DO SOME INVESTIGATING ON THE WEB AND CAME ACROSS A RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2003 ( #03V084000) I READ WERE FIRE MAY BE CAUSED BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OF 3 INSTANCES OF FIRE TO DATE OF CLOSER OF NHTSA REPORT IN 2003. ALSO NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 ALTIMAS CONVERTERS AND ENGINE FAILERS FROM THIS CATALYTIC CON. BEING THAT NHTSA HAS CLOSED THERE REPORT IN 2003 WILL THAT AFFECT NISSAN RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND KNOW FINDING OUT ABOUT POTENTIAL FIRES AND ENGINE FAILURES IS STARTING TO SCARE ME THIS IS A FAMILY CAR AND I DO HAVE CHILDREN CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE ON NEEDED ACTIONS ON MY PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE PARTS DAMAGED HIS ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. DEBRIS FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ENTERED THE ENGINE AND CAUSED MORE DAMAGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 103,000.

MY CAR STARTED STALLING AND GOT HARDER AND HARDER TO START. PREMIER NISSAN (METAIRIE, LA) SAID A POWER VALVE SCREW CAME LOOSE, FELL INTO THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE WAS RUINED, AND I NEEDED TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. I GOOGLED THE MATTER. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS FOR SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR (2002). (THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN THE 2003 MODEL ALSO.) AND THIS WAS EXACTLY THE SUBJECT OF A NISSAN RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2004 AND 2005 ALTIMAS (NISSAN #: P5202; NTB05-058B). *TR

I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM CITY FORD LINCOLN MERCURY LOCATED IN BRONX, NY.. ON 4/11/2009.. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR IT STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISES. I CALLED AND INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE SITUATION. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN TO THEIR REPAIR SHOP.. THEY NEVER FIXED THE CAR AND THEY'RE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. THEY EXPECT TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND THE ENGINE IS SMOKING AND MAKING LOUD NOISES WORSE THEN IT WAS WHEN I HAD IT.. I NEED HELP ON HOW I GO ABOUT GETTING THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE CAR.. THEY'VE OFFERED ME TO GET ANOTHER CAR & HAVE IT FINANCED RATHER FOR THEM TO FIX THE CAR OR PROVIDE ME WITH A REFUND. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OIL AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOW. HE PLACED 11/2 QUARTS OF OIL INTO THE VEHICLE AND HAD A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CHANGE THE FILTER AT THE COST OF $42.68. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOSING A QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. EACH WEEK, HE WOULD ADD A QUART TO REFILL THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AT THE COST OF $28.96; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND ERROR CODE PO420 WAS PRODUCED, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CRANK CASE PRESSURE WERE FAILING. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $4,500. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IF HE COULD NOT PRODUCE MAINTENANCE RECORDS STATING THAT THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A LACK OF MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY COMPENSATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT EVEN WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD STILL FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,158 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,400.

PURCHASED A NEW NISSAN ALTIMA IN SEPT. 2002 AND WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE AN EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE RECORD. BROUGHT THE CAR IN LAST MONTH FOR A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN THE ENGINE BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY "COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG." THEN THE ENGINE STARTED A RACING NOISE AND I IMMEDIATELY DROPPED IT OFF. NOW I AM TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE AT THE TUNE OF $4,700.00. I ONLY HAVE 94,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT AND AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. I HAVE HAD ALL OF THE NUMEROUS RECALLS FIXED OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO START. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS FAULTY AND A RECALL WAS PENDING FROM 2004 FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL IN 2004; THEREFORE, THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HE IS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500.

A MONTH OR SO AGO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. MY CAR IS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S, 104,000 MILES AND THE MECHANIC STATED IT NEEDS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND POSSIBLY A NEW ENGINE . THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) IN 2004, BUT THAT RECALL HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. THIS IS RIDICULOUS- THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF EXACT FAILURES AND NO RECALL??? NISSAN SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR NOT REPAIRING THE MATTER. THE SMALL FIX IN 2004 DID NOTHING TO AVERT THE LONG TERM ISSUE. THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO THIS CAR ARE IMPECCABLE. OIL CHANGES DOCUMENTS EVERY 3000-5000 MILES USING TOP GRADE SYNTHETIC SYNPOWER MOTOR OIL. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ASIDE FROM DESIGN FLAWS. *TR