2002 Nissan Altima Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO BIG HOLES IN EITHER SIDE OF THE FLOOR BOARDS. THE HOLES WERE DISCOVERED DURING A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. WE HAVE 12 DAYS TO REPAIR THE HOLES AT A LARGE COST. UNEXPECTED AND DISAPPOINTING ISSUE.
THE FLOORBOARDS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE ROTTED THROUGH AND YOU CAN SEE THE ROADWAY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT IS COSTING $1000. TO FIX THE PASSENGER SIDE. I JUST DISCOVERED THE DRIVERS SIDE.
THE FLOORBOARDS UNDER WHERE THE PASSENGER'S FEET ARE PLACED RUSTED OUT AND A FOOTBALL SIZED CHUNK OF METAL FLEW OFF FROM UNDER THE CAR WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TODAY. IT WAS A DEFINITE HAZARD TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DRIVING BEHIND ME AND THEY HAD TO QUICKLY SWITCH LANES SO AS TO AVOID IT. NO THERE IS NOTHING BUT INTERIOR CARPET BETWEEN THE PASSENGER'S FEET AND THE ROAD BELOW THEM. IT APPEARS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE A HOLE RUSTED OUT RIGHT THERE. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PARKED ON A DRIVEWAY AND WASHED AFTER EVERY SNOW/SALTING OF THE ROADS. THERE IS VERY MINIMAL RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN THAT LOCATION.
AFTER HEARING A SCRAPING NOISE, WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A 6-INCH SECTION (APPROX.) OF METAL WAS HANGING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER LOOKING AT THE AREA, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE FLOOR PAN UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED/RUSTED/ROTTED. AFTER CALLING MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP, I WAS DIRECTED TO NISSAN CORPORATE, WHO THEN PASSED ME ALONG TO A REGIONAL CONSUMER AFFAIRS REP. THE BULLETIN NUMBER PROVIDED BY THAT REP WAS NTB15-059 (FLOOR PAN REPAIR). I WAS TOLD THAT THEY KNEW OF OTHERS ALSO HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT I SHOULD CALL AROUND FOR REPAIR ESTIMATES. AFTER GETTING SEVERAL ESTIMATES, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FLOOR PAN UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS EVEN MORE ROTTED OUT THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT CARPETING IN MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SLIGHTLY DAMP, DUE TO THE HOLES IN THE FLOOR PAN AND THAT THERE MAY BE A FUTURE ISSUE WITH MOLD. FLAKES OF RUSTED METAL CONTINUE TO FALL FROM UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE. ONE AUTOBODY SHOP EVEN STATED THAT THEY HAD ALREADY FIXED APPROXIMATELY 2 DOZEN OTHER 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORBOARD WAS COMPLETELY CORODDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOORBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
AS OTHERS HAVE STATED.. THE FRONT FLOOR PAN ON MY 2002 NISAN ALTIMA COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $746.60.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR PAN UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CREATED HOLES IN THE FLOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE FLOOR PANS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 09/30/16*LJ *TR
WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, NOTICED A SOFT-MATERIAL FLAP HAD DISLODGED FROM UNDERNEATH PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, NOTICED EXCESSIVE RUST THAT HAS LEFT A HOLE THAT GOES THROUGH AND REACHES THE INTERIOR CARPET. THE SURROUNDING AREA IS VERY SOFT AND BRITTLE, SAME ON DRIVERS SIDE. CONCERNED ABOUT WEAKENING STRUCTURE OVERALL ESPECIALLY SEAT PLACEMENT, AND POSSIBLE INJURIES CAUSED BY NOT HAVING A PROTECTIVE SURFACE FROM THE OUTSIDE ROAD.
FRONT FLOOR BOARDS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. DIDNT NOT NOTICE UNTIL AN INSPECTION WAS DONE. FIND THIS VERY ALARMING AS IT CAN BE UNRECOGNIZED WHEN STEPPING ON IT FROM INSIDE, AS THE CARPET HIDES AND SUPPORTS THE PARTIAL BODY WEIGHT WHEN STEPPING INTO THE VEHICLE. EXTREMRELY DANGEROUS FOR ANYBODY IN FRONT SEATS.
MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS VERY BADLY RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM STARTED BACK IN APPROXIMATELY 2010. I WAS WALKING AWAY FROM THE CAR AN LOOKED BACK AND SAW SOMETHING HANGING BELOW THE CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT APPEARED TO BE A SURFACE SHEET OF METAL SO I WASN'T TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT AND FIGURED I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAPPENED TO GET A BAD CAR. BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE. THERE ARE LARGE HOLES THAT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD. I HEARD ABOUT THE NEWS STORY ON NBC AND WANTED TO BE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AND HOW MANY PEOPLE CARS ARE AFFECTED. I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING UPDATED IF THERE IS ANY NEWS ON THIS APPARENTLY COMMON PROBLEM OR HOW I CAN RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR
I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2013 AS A USED 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THIS PAST JUNE OF 2015, MY MECHANIC NOTICED LARGE RUSTED OUT AREAS BEHIND EACH FRONT TIRE ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT ONE COULD EASILY TAKE CHUNKS OF RUSTED UNDERCARRIAGE OFF. I QUICKLY NOTICED A LARGE HOLE, REALIZING THAT WITHOUT CARPET BENEATH MY FEET I WOULD HAVE HAD MY LEFT FOOD THROUGH TO THE GROUND. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ALL TOO FREQUENT OCCURANCE IN NISSAN ALTIMAS MADE IN 2002-2006, AND NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND/OR PAY FOR DAMAGES. WITH THESE FACTS IN MIND, ONE CAN SEE THAT THIS IS CLEARLY NOT AN ISSUE OF POOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE BY THE OWNER, NOR CAN IT BE BLAMED ON SALT AND CHEMICALS ON THE ROAD IN SNOWY AREAS. THIS ISSUE WAS UNSAFE TO MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS. IF THE RUST HAD SPREAD, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR, RISKING PERMANENT DAMAGE, AN UNSAFE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, AND CAUSING POTENTIAL HARM TO MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF. THE REPAIR FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE DID NOT COME AT A LOW PRICE, AND THE SCENARIO IS ETERNALLY FRUSTRATING. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN ALTIMA AGAIN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WARN FRIENDS AND FAMILY AGAINST PURCHASING NISSANS.
MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK HALF MY DRIVERS FLOOR WAS ON THE FLOOR SO I GO CHECK MY PASSENGER SIDE AND IT IS ALSO COMPLETELY RUSTED BUT DIDN'T FALL YET. *TR
I WAS TURNING MY CAR ON THE CORNER OF MY BLOCK. MY PASSENGER WHO WAS ABOUT TO GET OUT THE CAR STEPPED ONE FOOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE OTHER FOOT WENT THROUGH THE CARPET AND LANDED OUTSIDE OF MY CAR UNDERNEATH. I GOT OUT THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE UNDERNEATH WAS RUSTED AND HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT. I THAN LOOKED ON MY DRIVER SIDE AND SEEN THAT SIDE WAS THE SAME BUT NOT AS BAD. I WENT TO GET AN ESTIMATE AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD BE $800 TO FIX MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET MY CAR FIXED. I TRIED TO SELL IT BUT NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN BUYING DUE TO THE HOLES. RIDING AROUND IN THE WINTER WAS VERY COLD AND WHEN IT RAINED IT WOULD SOAK UP THE CARPET THAT'S HANGING AND FELT LIKE IT MADE MY CAR RIDE HEAVY. I WOULD HOPE THAT NISSAN COULD LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM AND SEE HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO DRIVE A CAR WITH HOLES IN THE BOTTOM. *TR
GOT IN MY CAR AND MY BOOT LITERALLY WENT THREW THE FLOOR IN MY DRIVEWAY NOT ON OR ANYTHING !! THIS IS DANGEROUS NISSAN HAS A BULLETIN NUMBER NTB15-059 BUT WILL NOT PAY TO FIX THE ISSUE THEY CAUSED ??? INSANE A CAR SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS ANYMORE WHERE NOT IN THE 80S THE METAL SHOULDN'T BE ROTTED AND SO THIN THAT IN 10 YEARS ITS SHOT LIKE AN 80S TRUCK. IF THIS HAPPENED IN THE BACK SEATS WITH MY DAUGHTER WHAT WOULD THE PROBLEM BE THEN MY CHILD GETTING CUT ON RUST AND HAVING POSSIBLE HEALTH ISSUES !!! THIS IS DANGEROUS AND IF I WAS DRIVING I WOULD HAVE LOST MY FOOT .. PLEASE MAKE NISSAN FIX THIS ISSUE ITS GETTING WAY OUT OF HAND AND SORRY NOT ALL OF US CAN AFFORD NEW CARS TO REPLACE THIS ISSUE.
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT BOTH FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER FLOOR BOARDS WERE ROTTED OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 4/7/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BODY WAS RUSTING UNDER THE SEATS. UPDATED 04/14/15
FLOOR PANELS RUSTING OUT. HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS MAJOR RUST IN THE FLOOR BOARDS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED SOON. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED DAILY SINCE IT WAS PURPOSED NEW AT JEFF WYLER NISSAN, CINCINNATI AREA. NOT A LOT OF ROAD SALT USED IN THIS AREA. UNDERSTAND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS IN PLACE.
I HAVE NOTICED THERE IS EXTENSIVE RUST AT THE FLOORBOARD AT THE DRIVERS SEAT. THAT IS VERY LOCALIZED AND APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT RETAINS WATER THERE. I ALSO FEEL THIS COULD BE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM.
PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANEL WAS NOTED TO BE RUSTED THROUGH UPON INSPECTION AFTER SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS TO HAVE RUSTED FROM INSIDE THE PANEL OUT AS THE BULGING OF THE RUSTED PANEL DOWNWARD TOWARD THE GROUND SUGGESTS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS INSPECTED BUT FROM WHAT HAS BEEN SHARED THUS FAR, NISSAN HAS NOT ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY (YET) FOR REPAIRS. I AM HOPING NISSAN WILL VOLUNTARILY INSPECT THIS MODEL TO DETERMINE A SUITABLE REMEDY, OTHERWISE THIS WILL BE THE LAST NISSAN I CHOOSE TO OWN.
2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR PANEL RUST EATING AWAY AT FLOOR BOARDS. *SMD UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 12/06/2017*CN
THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING MULTIPLE LARGE WHOLES IN THE FLOOR UNDER BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WHERE YOU WOULD NORMALLY PLACE YOUR FEET. AT THIS POINT THE CAR CANNOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION.
I DISCOVERED AROUND THIS DATE THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS ARE RUSTED OUT AND ALMOST HAVE HOLES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD.
THE FLOOR BOARDS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT HAVE RUSTED THROUGH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FLOORBOARDS ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WERE ROTTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
WAS DOING WORK UNDER MY CAR AND NOTICED THE FLOORBOARD ON MY CAR ROTTED OUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND CRUMBLED IN MY HAND. HAD TO CUT OUT THE BAD SECTION THAT HAD RUST ON IT AND RIVET IN A PIECE OF GALVANIZED SHEET METAL TO REPLACE IT. WOULD LIKE TO SEE NISSAN HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MORE AND MORE COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE DRIVERS WHO AREN'T AWARE OF THIS OR HAVE THE MEANS TO FIX IT THEMSELVES. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2002 Nissan Altima has 119 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.