2002 Nissan Altima Engine

IF YOU GOOGLE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA PROBLEMS YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING FROM ABOUT 60K TO 100K ABOUT A DESIGN FLAW OF HAVING THE PRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST VALVES. THE PRE-CAT WAS FOUND TO BE A PROBLEM OF BREAKING DOWN THE METALS INSIDE AND CAUSING THEM TO BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE AND RUINING THE PISTON RINGS AND ULTIMATELY BLOWING THE ENGINE. NISSAN HAD SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL BUT LOW AND BEHOLD I EXPERIENCE THE SAME SYMPTOMS. 2 QUARTS A WEEK OIL CONSUMPTION, SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE, NO HEAT UNTIL ABOUT 4K RPM. MANY CALLS AND COMPLAINTS WENT UPON DEAF EARS. WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR THEM TO SEE THAT THEY MISSED SOME ON THIS RECALL. MANY WITH THIS ENGINE LIKE SENTRA'S WITH THE 2.5 ENGINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAVE REPLACED THE PRE-CAT JUST TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN AND RUIN THE ENGINE AFTER REPAIRS. *TR

THIS CAR ALMOST KILLED ME. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED, THERE ARE NO POWER, NO STEERING, NO BRAKE, AND WILL NOT START AGAIN THIS TIME. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN EATING OIL AND COOLANT LIKE CRAZY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AFTER REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. CAR SHAKES AND STALLS. IDLES ROUGHLY AND WILL NOT "GO" UPON ACCELERATION. HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND AND RECENTLY VIEWED RECALLS ONLINE FOR FAULTY ENGINE AND COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND ONLY GOTTEN WORSE FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE RADIATOR AND THE VEHICLE WAS USING ONE QUART OF OIL PER TANK OF FUEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HE COULD SMELL SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, AND WAS MAKING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE WORST. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE EXACT FAILURE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING)THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 85,655 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,100.

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BELOW THRESHOLD LIGHT CAME ON THEN AFTERWARDS IT GOT SUCKED UP INTO ENGINE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BURN OIL RIDICULOUSLY FAST CAUSING ME TO BUY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN OIL AND OIL CHANGES. NOW THE ENGINE DOESN'T RUN RIGHT IT SEEMS AND NEEDS TO REPLACED AMONG WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, SHE HEARD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SPARK PLUGS, BOOTS, AND COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,757.

I HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION PLEASE. SOMEONE IN MY HOME PURCHASED ABOVE MENTIONED CAR RECENTLY FROM DEALER AND WAS NEVER TOLD OF THE RECALL OR THE PROBLEMS THESE CARS HAVE. WHEN MY FRIEND CALLED THE DEALER ASKING WHY THE OIL CONTINUED TO BE EATEN UP, THEY RESPONDED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. TONIGHT THIS INDIVIDUAL DROVE IT HOME FROM WORK, IT ACTED UP, AND HAD "ENGINE OVER TEMP" ACCORDING TO MACHINE THAT GIVES CODES WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS, AND SAID OTHER CODES ABOUT RANDOM MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE. COULD THIS BE RELATED TO THE RECALL YOU ISSUED ON THIS 2002 VEHICLE. ALSO WHAT CAN SHE DO TO ENSURE HER SAFETY. THIS PERSON WAS SOLD THIS WITHOUT BEING TOLD. HOW CAN WE ENSURE THE COMPANY COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL AND "FIXED" SAFETY ISSUES?THE RECALL INFORMATION SOUNDS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSUME OIL RAPIDLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 2002 AND THERE WAS A SERIES OF RECALLS FOR DIFFERENT ITEMS. I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT KEEPING A CLEAN IDLE AFTER ABOUT 69,000 MILES IN 2010 SO I HAD TO HAVE IT COMPUTER TESTED DUE TO MAINTAIN LIGHTS ETC. I GOT P0420 CODE FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE STAR NISSAN DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT, AND THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH THE CAT OR PRE CAT WHICH WAS A LIE! SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE BEEN LOSING ABOUT 2 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT ON ME AND NOW I AM TOLD IT IS A EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO ANSWER AND THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE!!! NISSAN JUST TOLD ME OH WELL!~ IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER CONSUMERS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY. *TR

MY CAR KEEPS CONSUMING OIL 2QTS EVERY COUPLE HUNDRED MILES. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND THE VEHICLE I HAVE. NOT ONLY THIS BUT ALSO MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED!!! PLEASE HELP!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S HAS AROUND 70K MILES ON IT AND SO FAR HAD BEEN RUNNING VERY WELL UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON LAST WEEKEND. WITHIN A DAY OR TWO, THE CAR STARTED RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH. A FEW DAYS AGO THE CAR SHOWED LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD. WHEN I CHECKED FOR THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL, THERE WAS BARELY ANY OIL LEFT. I IMMEDIATELY PUT 5 QTS OF MOBILE FULL SYNTHETIC OIL AND TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN DENVILLE, NJ. THERE I GOT A SHOCKER THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR OF MY CAR GOT SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE AND FURTHERMORE SOME OF THAT MATERIAL WAS BRACING AGAINST THE CYLINDER WALLS. IT WAS THE REASON WHY MY CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH SOMETIMES AND BURNING OIL. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT THE ONLY FIX TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE BOTH THE ENGINE AS WELL AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. JOB COST WAS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $6000 TO $6500. THE DEALERSHIP FURTHERMORE WARNED ME ABOUT THE FIRE HAZARD OR ENGINE SEIZURE DUE TO OVERHEATING. WITH SOME INVESTIGATION I FOUND A NHSTA RECALL ON MY GENERATION OF ALTIMAS-NHTSA CAMPAIGN# 03V084000. IN ORDER TO SEEK FURTHER HELP IN THIS REGARDS, I OPENED UP A CASE WITH NISSAN MOTORS USA- CASE # 12257145. I GOT A CALLBACK FROM THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ON THURSDAY- 10/10/2013 WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL WHICH HAD BEEN ISSUED BY NISSAN EARLIER. I ASKED HER ABOUT THE NHSTA CAMPAIGN FOR MY CAR, FOR WHICH SHE ASKED ME TO HOLD ON TO THE CAR FOR A FEW MORE DAYS, BEFORE THEY COULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE. ON, 10/14/2013 I GOT A CALL FROM THE SAME REPRESENTATIVE AND THIS TIME I WAS GIVEN A DIFFERENT ANSWER STATING THAT ALTHOUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR HAS A WARRANTY OF 80,000 MILES BUT IT IS FOR ONLY 8 YRS. I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE WARRANTY, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I DROVE VERY LESS, BUT STILL MY CAR IS 10+YRS OLD. SHE FURTHER TOLD ME THAT NISSAN WILL NOT BARE ANY EXPENSE ON MY CAR. *TR

SPARK PLUG BENTING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A STRANGE NOISE AS SMOKE BEGAN TO BELLOW FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT BITS AND PIECES OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE BECOMING CAUGHT IN THE ENGINE. HE WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) BUT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,316.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE FINALLY STARTED BUT IDLED ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

THE VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT GOES BAD VERY QUICKLY WHICH RESULTS INTO JUNK BEING SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE GETS BLOWN OR BURNS OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. EVERYONE WITH THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS THIS PROBLEM AND NISSAN REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE A RECALL. NISSAN SIMPLY CHARGES US THOUSANDS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES WHICH OF COURSES DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO ADD TWO QUARTS OF OIL TO THE ENGINE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 09/06/13*LJ

MY CAR IS USING 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL ABOUT EVERY 200 TO 300 MILES. I'VE BEEN PUTTING THE BEST OIL IN IT ALONG WITH GETTING THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY. *TR

CAR WAS PURCHASED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, USED. IT DROVE WELL AND ANY MAINTENANCE SHOWED THE CAR IN GREAT SHAPE UNTIL RECENTLY. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO FIND THAT THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY LOW ON OIL, WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE AND OIL CHANGES DONE ON SCHEDULE. THE CAR NOW GOES THROUGH ABOUT ONE QUART OF OIL PER TWO WEEKS. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED WHILE DRIVING TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE OR THE LOW OIL. *TR

AFTER ONE OF MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES I NOTICED THAT MY OIL LIGHT FLICKERED. CHECKED THE DIP AND NOTICED I WAS EXTREMELY LOW IN OIL. IT HAD BEEN ABOUT 400MILES SINCE THE LAST OIL CHANGE. A QUART EVERY 100 MILES. NO SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, NO LEAK WHEN PARKED SO I BRING IT TO A MECHANIC. NOTIFIED ME THAT ITS POSSIBLY MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WILL COST $2K SINCE THIS MODEL HAS 2 OR IT COULD BE THE ENGINE RUNNING A TOTAL OF $3K TO $6K FOR THE ENGINE AND INSTALL PLUS THE $2K FOR THE CONVERTERS MAKING THE GRAND TOTAL OF $5K TO $8K. DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT IS LOOKING LIKE THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THE CONVERTERS AND ULTIMATELY THE DEMISE TO THE ENGINE. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL. COLLEGE AND BROKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WOULD OFTEN HESITATE TO START WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT AND THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THE CAR HAS AN UNUSUAL OIL CONSUMPTION RELATED TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEMS SEEMS LIKE. IT IS TOO MANY OWNERS OF THIS CAR HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND BASE ON THEIR INFORMATION THERE IS NOT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM NISSAN. THIS ISSUE MUST BE INVESTIGATED BY THE AUTHORITIES AND ENFORCE THE QUALITY MATERIAL FROM NISSAN FOR THESE CAR PARTS (CATALYTIC AND ENGINE). THIS COULD BE A HAZARD ISSUE FOR POSSIBLE FIRE OR UNDESIRED GASES ON LUNGS AND/OR ENVIRONMENT. NISSAN MUST ACCEPT THEIR WRONG DOING AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS POOR QUALITY MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY SELL BY THEM IN OUR COUNTRY. WE MUST BE PROTECT FROM THIS CHEAP COMPANIES PRODUCTS WITHOUT ANY WORK ETHICAL. IF YOU CHECK WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM YOU CAN FIND OVER 200 COMPLAINTS ABOUT NISSAN ABUSING PEOPLE FOR THE SAME MATTER. YOU ALSO CAN SEE HOW IN CANADA THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION WHO PROTECTED THE CONSUMER AND WAS ABLE TO GET A FULLY REFUND OF THE CUSTOMER MONEY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND LET JUSTICE REINS. *TR