2002 Nissan Altima Complaint Log

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED...I NOTICED THAT MY OIL LEVEL HAD DROPPED BUT DID NOT EQUATE IT INITIALLY WITH THIS ISSUE. AFTER THE FAILED CONVERTER ( CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE)....I BOUGHT A NEW CONVERTER AND HAD IT REPLACED WITHIN THE WEEK....AS WELL AS AN OIL CHANGE FROM . A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN I AS I WAS CHECKING FLUIDS IN MY CAR I NOTICED MY OIL WAS VERY LOW......ADDING OIL ( SOON AFTER AN OIL CHANGE DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. I WENT TO NISSAN ( DEALER) AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT OTHER CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN DIFFERENT AREAS BUT THEY DECLINED TO FIX THE ENGINE, ONLY STATING THAT I NEEDED TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT BEGAN CONSUMING OIL. PREVIOUS TO HAVING ANY PROBLEMS, NISSAN HAD A RECALL ON THE PRECATALYST WHICH SAID THAT MATERIALS COULD BE CAUSED TO GO INTO THE ENGINE AND INCREASE OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAD THIS RECALL DONE ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER PROBLEMS. NOW, I AND OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING OIL CONSUMPTION. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH HAS NOW MESSED UP MY ENGINE AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE PREVIOUS RECALL, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE LOOK FOR DAMAGE WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE. OBVIOUSLY NOT, SINCE NOW A NUMBER OF ALTIMAS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FORMER ENGINEER THAT SAID THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DESIGN ISSUES WITH THE 2002 MODEL. I HAVE ALSO FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THE CATALYLIC CONVERTER MAY BE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE WHICH IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. SO IF IF THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED, THE PROBLEM CAN START AGAIN. SOME OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT HAVE EVENTUALLY STARTING EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 2002 MODEL YEAR IS NOT THE ONLY MODEL WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 02 ALTIMA FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND HAVE ABOUT 85000 MILES ON IT. AROUND 15000 MILES AGO, THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER, BURN OIL, BURN SPARK PLUGS AND BURN O2 SENSORS. I HAVE SINCE SPENT $1000'S OF DOLLARS TRYING TO PREVENT/REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. NISSAN WON'T TALK TO ME AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE CROOKS WHO HAVE BEEN CHANGING RANDOM PARTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SOON MY ENGINE WILL BLOW JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHERS. BEING IN THE MILITARY, I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO KEEP THIS UP. THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS AND NISSAN IS DODGING A HUGE BULLET. I HAVE NOTIFIED EVERYONE I CAN THINK OF AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM DESPITE THE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! I HAVE TOLD EVERYONE I KNOW ABOUT THE CAR AND THE WAY NISSAN IS ADDRESSING THE SITUATION, NEITHER MYSELF OR ANYONE I KNOW WILL EVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!! *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR TWO DAYS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO THE HEATER DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING.

OIL CONSUMPTION VERY HIGH , ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT.ON HIGHWAY ENGINE STALLED AND BURNED SOME RUBER HOSES ETC..CAR INOPERABBLE.NISSAN STATED IT WAS MY PROBLEM DUE TO MILES ON CAR WERE HIGH..I PAID $7,000.00 IN CANADIAN MONEY FOR REPAIR THAT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT..I AM ANGRY AT NISSAN FOR SAYING IT WAS MY PROBLEM...WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER WARNING , I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS NORMAL...

DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAIS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V455000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, WHICH FALLS UNDER THE ENGINE & COOLING SYSTEM RECALL, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER RECALLS. I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE, HOWEVER, BECAUSE MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DUBLIN NISSAN FOR INSPECTION. THEY NOTED THE RECALL AND APPARENTLY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. AFTER I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN THE EVENING, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE NEXT MORNING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY APPARENTLY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND JUST RESET THE SENSOR FOR THE LIGHT. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THEY DID THEIR JOB AND TO DO AN INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD NEED TO CHARGE ME. AT THIS TIME I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER DEPT. TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO CONSUMING OIL VERY EXCESSIVELY (OF WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF SINCE I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE), THEREFORE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE RADIATOR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE, LICENSED MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. THEY ALSO RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BUT IT STILL CAME BACK ON. AT THIS TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FREMONT NISSAN, WHERE THEY DID DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND 2 OF THE CYLINDERS ARE MISFIRING ON THE TEST. THEY SAID THAT IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINE THE EXACT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NEED TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE AND PHYSICALLY EXAMINE IT INSIDE (COST APPROXIMATELY $900). I AGAIN CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER SERVICES, THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY. THE LADY TOLD ME THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO COMMIT TO ANY REPAIRS, I WOULD NEED TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO EXAMINE THE ENGINE AND IF THEY DEALERSHIP DETERMINES THAT THE PROBLEM IS WARRANTY RELATED THEN NISSAN WOULD LOOK INTO REPAIRING. I SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ARE ALL THOSE DESCRIBED ON THE NISSAN'S WEBSITE. *JB

I WANT TO REPORT A FAILURE IN MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2002. THEY DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING TO MY EVENING WORK AND I WAS CHATTING ON THE PHONE WITH MY SISTER WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME UP. I KEPT ON DRIVING AROUND 10 MORE MILES, AND BY THE TIME I WAS ABOUT TO GET TO THE PARKING LOT OF MY WORK PLACE THE CAR START SHOCKING ON ME LIKE IF IT WAS GOING TO STOP. AT THAT TIME I WAS ALREADY IN THE PARKING LOT AND I PARKED. THEN I SAW A HUGE SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND SINCE I'M A WOMEN THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND MUCH ABOUT CARS, I JUST GOT SCARED AND CALLED MY HUSBAND SO HE COULD PICK ME UP AFTER WORK. WHEN I WAS AT WORK I TALK ABOUT THE INCIDENT TO MY BOSS AND HE WENT TO CHECK THE CAR, AND HE TOLD ME THE RADIATOR PRETTY MUCH BROKE!!, HE TRIED TO PUT WATER, AND THE CAR COULDN'T HOLD IT. IT WAS JUST LEAKING, HE TOLD ME I SHOULD TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD FIX IT, BECAUSE IF I DRIVE IT THE ENGINE WILL DIE AND MY CAR WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BECAUSE IT WILL OVERHEAT. I TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WANTED TO KNOW WHY DID THE RADIATOR BROKE, I WAS THINKING I SHOULD GET A REASONABLE EXPLANATION WHY THAT HAPPEN. THE CAR IS PRETTY NEW, IT JUST HAS 50K MILES. ANYWAYS, THE DEALER WASN'T ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY GOOD REASON. THEY JUST SAID THE RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING AND EVENTUALLY BROKE. EXCUSE ME? SO WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT IN THE NEXT 50K MILES? THE SAME?... I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS SAFE... WHAT IF I DIDN'T GOT LUCKY AND MADE IT TO MY WORK PLACE BEFORE THE CAR DIED ON ME ON A FREEWAY?... I COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT... THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A NISSAN ALTIMA RADIATOR DEFECT.... AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL, I TAKE CARE OF CHANGING OIL AND PUTTING WATER IN THE CAR AS I SHOULD.... SO WHY DO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS?... PLEASE HELP. I HAD TO PAY $1058.00 TO GET MY CAR FIXED. *JB

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE NISSAN 2.5 LITER POWER PLANT HAS ISSUES WITH INTAKE BUTTERFLY VALVE SCREWS THAT HAVE BECAME LOOSE AND ARE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN STALLING AND SEVERE DAMAGE THAT COULD CAUSE GRAVE HARM OR DEATH. I MYSELF HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS HOWEVER THERE IS GREAT KNOWLEDGE AND A CURRENT RECALL FOR SOME OF THE 04-05 NISSAN ALTIMA MODELS. I AM A CURRENT 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNER AND THIS ISSUE HAS ME CONCERNED TO THE POINT THAT FOR MY OWN SAFETY I AM GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THE 8 SCREWS LOCK TIGHTENED SO I CAN FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING. PLEASE SEE THE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM(ONE FOUND >20% HAD MISSING SCREWS): HTTP://WWW.B15SENTRA.NET/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=86248 AND HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=192671 AND HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=192671 PEOPLE HAVE TO USE THESE INSTRUCTIONS TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE THEMSELVES JUST TO FEEL SAFE HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.THEVBOARD.COM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=64780 THEY HAVE A CURRENT RECALL (04-05) WHY NOT OLDER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM? HTTP://WWW.NISSANHELP.COM/OWNERSHIP/BULLETINS/NISSAN/2005/NTB05-058.HTM *NM

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE ENGINE LINE, BATTERY LIGHT AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS INCLUDING HEADLAMPS, AND HAZARD LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ERRATICALLY OR STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. I CALLED FOR A TOW AND ASKED THE TOWER TO CHECK THE BATTERY AND SEE IF A "JUMP" WOULD FIX IT. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AFTER THE JUMP. I HEAD OFF TOWARDS HOME. THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. LUCKILY, I MADE IT HOME AS THE CAR STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. IF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, MY FIANCEE AND I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY SUFFERED AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS SOMEWHAT OF AN UNUSUAL SMELL LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP WAS BURNED THROUGH, BUT THE SOURCE OF THE BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE APPEARED TO BE A SMALL FIRE, JUDGING BY THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING OFF FROM UNDER THE CAR, THAT MAY HAVE STOPPED SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR STALLED. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY VEHICLE STALLED/ LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD THE CONTACT IT WAS AN ALTERNATOR, AND IT WAS REPAIRED. WHEN SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING . SHE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT IF SHE DIDN'T HAVE THIS FIXED THAT IT WOULD BLOW THE PISTONS.*AK

I BOUGHT AN '02 NISSAN ALTIMA IN JAN. 2002. IN 2003 I HAD RECALL WORK PERFORMED FOR THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM (CAT CONVERTER DEFECT) AND AT THE TIME I COMPLAINED THAT MY VEHICLE WENT THROUGH EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT MY CAR DID NOT NEED ANY REPAIRS AND THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. AT 97,167 MILES I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND MY WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. ALSO ADVISED THEM THAT I HEARD WATER RUNNING BEHIND THE DASH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT ALL I NEEDED WAS A TUNE-UP DUE TO THE MILEAGE BUT OTHER THAN THAT MY CAR WAS GREAT. AT 100,460 MILES MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND FLOODED SEVERAL TIMES. HAD TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD START THE CAR JUST FINE AND THAT I HAD FLOODED THE VEHICLE. AGAIN RECOMMENDED TUNE-UP AND REPLACING SPARK PLUGS. (I HAD JUST REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS MYSELF) NEXT THING I KNOW...MY CAR WON'T RUN AND SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. HAD TOWED TO INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND ADVISED ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO CAT CONVERTER. I MADE THE DEALERSHIP TOW THE CAR TO THEM AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE SAME AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $5000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THE SERVICE MGR. TOLD ME THAT NISSAN KNOWS THAT THIS WILL OCCUR,AND THAT WHEN THEY CONTACTED THE NISSAN REP THEY DECLINED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THE MILEAGE. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND GOT A TOTAL RUN AROUND AND TOLD ME THAT MY MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH AND THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. BULL!!! NISSAN MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM PAYING FOR A CAR THAT HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP BACK LOT FOR 3 MONTHS!!! I AM CONTACTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MAKING MY VOICE HEARD AND OTHERS NEED TO VOICE AS WELL BECAUSE NISSAN IS TRYING TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE CARPET....NOT ANYMORE. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L. MY CAR RECEIVES REGULAR MAINTENANCE EVERY 3 MONTHS AND/OR 3,000 MILES (DOCUMENTATION CAN BE PROVIDED), IT NEVER SITS LONGER THAN 2 OR 3 DAY, AND IT'S DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR MY WORK COMMUTE. TWICE MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS FIXED, WHICH WAS AROUND APRIL, THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR MY CAR. ONE WAS FOR THE FUEL PUMP SCREEN AND THE ENGINE SENSOR THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO NOT START OR SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING. THIS SECOND TIME (10-24-05), MY LOCAL MECHANIC SHOWED ME A 6-PAGE SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT WAS ISSUED BY ALLDATA FOR MY NON-STARTING PROBLEM. THE DOCUMENT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE STARTER, ADDING A NISSAN BRAND FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AND/OR REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS SECOND REPAIR WILL COST ME ABOUT $500 TO FIX WHEN I PICK UP MY CAR TOMORROW. I THOUGHT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, BUT THOSE REPAIRS PROVED TO ONLY PROVIDE A TEMPORARY FIX, BUT NOT RESOLVE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. SINCE THERE'S A SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN ABOUT MY NON-STARTING ISSUE, 2 RECALLS RELATED TO THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN TWICE, I THINK MY CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. I'M FORTUNATE THAT I WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT STOPPED RUNNING OR THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN TWICE IN 6 MONTHS. IF MY CAR FAILS TO START TWICE IN 6 MONTHS AND THE RECALL REPAIRS DON'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THEN THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I'D HATE TO FIND OUT IN A FEW MONTHS THAT THE $500 START REPLACEMENT WASN'T THE CULPRIT, BECAUSE I'D BE BACK AT SQUARE ONE. PLEASE TELL ME HOW I CAN GET THIS ISSUE ESCALATED TO A RECALL STATUS OR WHAT I CAN DO TO PREVENT A 3RD FAILURE. THANK YOU, JENNY R. BAKER. *JB

DT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM INSIDE TOP ON OCTOBER 1, 2005. HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER AT THIS POINT. THE REAR END HAD BEEN MAKING A ROARING SOUND AT 65 MPH, SLOWED DOWN TO 50 MPH, AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER COULD HEAR THE PLOPPING SOUND. THESE WERE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES, TURANZA EL 42, P215/55R17. THE TIRES WERE SERVICED REGULARLY. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION, AND THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL BULGING IN THE TIRES. *AK

CERTIFIED LTR RE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE NEW NISSAN ALTIMA (MY) 2002 & 2003 INVOLVING ENGINE PROBLEMS, REQUESTING A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *TS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE NOT STARTING AND CUTTING OFF ONCE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY FIXED TO PROBLEM BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THE CONSUMER WAS FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO LOSE POWER WHILE ACCELERATING AND STALL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CYLINDER 2 MISFIRE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY CONVERTER. THE SERVICE TECH ADMITTED THAT THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS INCORRECT BUT THE CONSUMER STILL HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THE CONSUMER VISITED SEVERAL SITES WHICH HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ENGINE AND OTHER ALTIMA COMPONENTS. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS VEHICLE'S REPAIRS. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE A SECOND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM 12/03. I FOLLOWED UP AND HAD IT REPAIRED OR REPLACED , AT THIS POINT I'M UNCERTAIN WHAT HAPPENED. TODAY, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS INOPERABLE AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY 800.00 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A DEVICE THAT IS APART OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST RECALL THAT WAS DONE IN '03. BECAUSE 2 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE RECALL WAS DONE, I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I AM FORCED TO MAKE ANOTHER COSTLY REPAIR. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NUMEROUS RECALLS AND REPAIRS ON THE "NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR!" *NM

DT: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE WOULD START THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. SHE WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. SHE STATED IT WOULD HAPPEN SOMETIMES AT LUNCH TIME, AND WHEN SHE WENT HOME FROM WORK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THIS TIME. THIS STARTED ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2005. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY FOUND A RECALL. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED BY MECHANIC. SHE CALLED NISSAN OF CLOVIS, AND TOOK VEHICLE THERE, AND THEY FOUND THE VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THEY FOUND IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. SHE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. THE NEXT MORNING IT STARTED AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER TO BRING IT BACK IN. THIS TIME IT WAS THE ECM COMPUTER. IT WAS ALSO REPLACED. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 THE VEHICLE DID IT AGAIN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005, AND THEY FOUND THE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER; THE HEAD GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN COMING IN WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT AT 80,000 MILES.*AK

MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL SHOP. THEY LET ME KNOW THAT THE CAM/CRANK SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT HAD BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN. I TOOK THE CAR AND PAPER WORK ON THE RECALL TO NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT RECALLED ON MY CAR. I TOLD THEM TO FIT IT ANYWAY AND WAS QUOTED $385. I RETURNED HOME AND CALLED NISSAN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANK SENSOR HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED ON MY CAR. I DO NOT RECALL HAVING THES DONE. I EXPLAINED THAT IF IT WAS DONE, IT WAS DONE IMPROPERLY BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AGAIN. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND GAVE ME A FILE NUMBER AND SAID THAT I SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING BACK WITHIN 24 HOURS. *JB

2 SEPARATE NISSAN DEALERS TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE PRE CAT THAT WAS SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE. THE CAT WAS A RECALL THAT NISSAN REPLACED BUT PARTS OF THE CAT WERE ALREADY SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE. THE SECOND CAT THEY INSTALLED FAILED AGAIN AND IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THEY ENGINE FAILURE WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF NISSAN'S FAILURE TO REPAIR MY ENGINE THE FIRST TIME. *NM

NISSAN ALTIMA 2002, 6 RECALLS ISSUES WITH 3 WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT HAS BURST INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTS? COMPANY HONORED WARRANTY FOR CONVERTER, BUT DENIED TO STAND BEHIND THE ENGINE. SERVICE LOCATION IN LIBERTYVILLE, IL IS AWARE ALSO SPOKE TO EXECUTIVE OFFICE IN CA. *NM

DT: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SENSOR FAILED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON BEFORE THIS. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SHE WAS NINE MONTHS PREGNANT, AND HER 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AND WAS NOT HURT. ALSO, THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE NOT INJURED. *AK *JB

DT: THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED TWO ACCIDENTS IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02I001000; AIR BAGS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. NOW, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN. THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

AT 25,000 MILES THE 2002 ALTIMA REAR BRAKES FROZE UP AND DISCONTINUED OPERATING. I WAS TOLD BY A NISSAN SERVICE MGR. THAT THIS WAS DUE TO NISSAN USING FAULTY MATERIAL. I HAD THEM REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF THIS. BRAKES NOT DESIGNED FOR NORTHERN WEATHER. *NM

THE CAR HAD BEEN USING A LITTLE OIL PRIOR TO THE EVENT. ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW THE ENGINE

(1) I ALLEGEDLY HAD THE ENGINGE CRANK SENSORS REPLACED IN MARCH, AS ACCORDING THE MANDATED RECALL ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS. YET, MY CAR STILL EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES STARTING AND CONTINUED TO CONUMSE LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL. I WAS HAVING TO ADD 2 OR 3 QUARTS IN BETWEEN SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. (2) IF IN FACT THE CRANK SENSORS ON THE ENINGS OF MY VEHICLE WERE REPLACED, THE STARTING DIFFICULTIES PERSISTED. ALSO, THE RECALL INFORMAITON LISTED AND SHOWN ON NISSAN USA'S WEBSITE PROVIDE EXLPICIT AND DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MECHANICAL TROUBLE AND EVENTS WILL OCCUR IF THE SENSORS AND THE CATALYIC (CATALYST) CONVERTER ARE NOT REPLACED SIMULTEANEOUSLY. (3) I HAD MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA TOWED TO PEACHTREE NISSAN ON 7/15/05, AND ON 7/16/05 I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GAINER SMITH (MAINTENANCE MGR.) INFORMED ME THAT MY CATALYIC (PIECES) CONVERTER HAD BEEN SUCKED INTO MY ENGINE AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE AND CRACKED THE PISTONS AND ENGINE BLOCK. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT MY CAR HAD OFTER STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE FREEWAY, FOR UNEXPLAINED REASONS. MY 02 ALTIMA NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR ENGINE OR PART PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE AUTOMOBILE BRAND NEW FROM TRONCALLI NISSAN. PEACHTREE NISSAN INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL NISSAN USA BECAUSE THERE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT AUTHORIZE THEMSELVES TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY CAR. ALSO, A MECHANIC ON DUTY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM THAT DESTROYED THE ENGINE IN MY CAR HAPPENS OFTEN TO 2.5 LITER ENGINE ALTIMAS. HE STATED THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS AT 60,000 MILES AND SINCE MY CAR HAS 103,000 MILES AND NO WARRANTY THEY WOULDNT IMMEDIATELY TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR REPLACING MY ENGINE. LASTLY, MY ENGINE DID NOT MALFUNCTION BECAUSE I ABUSED MY CAR. I CHANGED THE OIL AND KEPT COOLANT IN THE COMPARTMENT AT ALL TIMES. MY CAR IS NOT WORKING BECAUSE WHEN MY CAR WAS AT PEACHTREE NISSAN IN MARCH THE DEALER FAILED TO PROPERLY COMPLETE THE RECALL PORTION ON MY EXHASUT/HANGER PIN AND PRE-CATALYST (CONVERTER). A FAULTY EXHAUST SHOULD NEVER CAUSE AN ENGINE TO BE DESTROYED.

WITHOUT NOTICE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER & THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $80+ TAX TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I JUST HAPPENED TO CHECK FOR RECALLS AND THE RECALL HAS STATED THAT MY ISSUE IS DUE TO A DEFECT AND IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED NISSAN WHO, OF COURSE, IS NO HELP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT A PART OF THAT RECALL. THEY COULDN'T EVEN TELL ME WHERE MY RECALLS WERE EVEN REPAIRED. I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD LET THE NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS & ADVISE ANYONE YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH NOT TO BUY A NISSAN. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!! *NM

I HAD BEEN SMELLING GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR AND OUTSIDE FOR 2 MONTHS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR $160.00. ON MY SERVICE RECEIPT IT SAID THEY FOUND GROSS EVAP LEAK: FUEL TANK SEAL NOT SEALING: REPLACED FUEL SENDER SEAL. I QUESTIONED WHY WOULD A 3 YEAR OLD CAR START LEAKING GAS FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK AND THEY SAID "IT'S JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." I CAN UNDERSTAND WEAR AND TEAR ON TIRES AND BRAKES BUT GIVE ME A BREAK, THE ONLY THING I DO TO A GAS TANK IS FILL IT WITH GAS! MY CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH 46,000 MILES AND THEY SAID THAT THE WORK WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I EVEN SPENT $900.00 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY FIANCE IS A SMOKER AND I WAS WORRIED FOR HIS SAFETY IN THE CAR SO I TOLD HIM NOT TO SMOKE IN THE CAR FOR FEARS OF SOMETHING HAPPENING IF THE FUMES WOULD IGNITE SOMEHOW. I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND GOT NOWHERE. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL NISSAN'S CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND STILL AFTER AT LEAST 5 CALLS THEY WILL DO NOTHING. I SWEAR THEY ARE JUST THERE TO "HEAR" COMPLAINTS AND WORK YOU DOWN UNTIL YOU JUST FORGET ABOUT IT. I WILL NOT GIVE UP. ALSO, THE CLEAR COAT ON MY PAINT IS STARTING TO CHIP ON THE FRONT BUMPER AND PLASTIC GRILL> GUESS WHAT THEY SAID? NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I AN FED UP WITH NISSAN AND WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SWAY PEOPLE AWAY FROM BUYING ANY NISSAN OR INFINITI. *JB

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN HOT WEATHER AFTER BEING IN CITY TRAFFIC MY CLUTCH WOULD ONLY COME UP APPROX. 1/4 WAY FROM THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO CAREFULLY SHIFT GEARS, BUT FELT I MAY NOT HAVE THE CONTROL TO SHIFT NEXT TIME. AFTER THE CAR COOLED BY DRIVING OUTSIDE THE CITY, THE CLUTCH WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. THE DEALER FAILED TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH FLUID WAS THE ORIGINAL. I HAD THE CLUTCH FLUID DRAINED AND FILLED, ONLY TO STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT AIR FLOW WAS RESTRICTED WHEN A RECALL RESULTED IN A HEAT SHIELD BEING INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE THAT REDIRECTED MORE HEAT TO THE CLUTCH LINES/CYLINDERS. FORTUNATELY, THIS ONLY HAPPENS A FEW TIMES EACH SUMMER. *TR

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE FAILED WITH ONLY 15,589 MILES. CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THERE WAS NO BAD CONSEQUENCES DUE TO THIS FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE, ROTOR, AND PADS, BUT SAID PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NOT DRIVING CAR ENOUGH. HE CONVEYED THAT MILEAGE WAS TOO LOW FOR 3-YEAR OLD CAR. I DON'T THINK SO.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WAS BURNING OIL AT A RATE OF 5 QUARTS PER 1000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS PROVIDED WITH THE PROPER OIL SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

2002 ALTIMA WITH 54 THOUSAND MILES ON IT JUST DIED TODAY WITH A BATTERY LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH. DEALER IS ACTING LIKE THEY DONT COVER THIS...BUT I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2003....THIS IS STILL A NEW CAR AND I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF IT!

MY DOORS WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE KEY IS IN OR OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE CAN BE RUNNING AT TIMES. OR IF I UNLOCK MY CAR USING THE KEY FOB, AND I DON'T OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT THEN, THEY RELOCK THEMSELVES AUTOMATICALLY. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A SERVICE AND I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE CHECKED OUT FINE WHEN THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. BUT MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STILL LOCK IT SELF. *NM

I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON BUT I REALLY RHOUGHT THAT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THOSE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. I HAVE CHANGED MY PASSENGER SIDE BULB 10 TIMES AND THE DRIVER SIDE 5 TIMES. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET TO AND IT IS VERY TIME CONSUMING. FROM READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE DEALERSHIP WONT TAKE CARE OF REPAIRING THE PROBLEM SINCE MY CAR HAS 64000 MILES ON THERE. I AM FRUSTRATED AND I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF MONEY IN CHANGING THESE STUPID BLUBS, NOT TO MENTION TIME. ON THE 15 OF THIS MONTH WILL MAKE IT THE 11TH TIME THAT I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE PASSENGER BULB. ON THE 6 OF JUNE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OUT. I AM WONDERING IF IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT IN MY 2002 ALTIMA WENT OUT AND NOW THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE BULB HAS SOMEHOW MELTED THE ASSEMBLY AROUND IT. AS I HAVE SEEN IN PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM TO FIX WHEN ALL THE WHILE IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT NISSAN PLANS TO DO ABOUT THIS CONTINUING PROBLEM, IF ANYTHING. *NM

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD SPARKS PLUGS CHANGED AS A MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED SERVICE. AFTER I PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE IT FOR SOME TIME I WOULD PERIODICALLY SMELL GAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. LATER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CEASED WORKING AND I AM TOLD THE CAR HAS TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BEFORE THE 60,000 MILE MARK. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT MY CAR'S ENGINE WAS ALSO USING EXCESSIVE OIL AS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE MEDIA. I AM TOLD BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS PASSED, THERE IS NOTHING THAT NISSAN WILL DO. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY CLAIM THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE CAR. I HAVE READ IN THE NEWS REPORTS THAT NISSAN WILL RECALL ALL ALTIMA'S BACK TO THE 2003 MODEL YEAR. I HAVE THE 2002 MODEL WHICH WAS THE FIRST LINE PUT OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. I AM WONDERING WHAT RIGHTS I HAVE. IF NISSAN DOES RECALL ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2002, HOW CAN MY CAR BE REPAIRED IF THE ENGINE HAS ALREADY FAILED? I WOULD LIKE TO SEND IN ALL OF MY DOCUMENTATION SO MY CASE CAN BE STUDIED AND I CAN KNOW WHERE I STAND. *JB

VIN#[XXX] MILES: 50,372 ON 15 MAY 2002, HE LOW BEAM LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WENT OUT. AFTER TRYING A COUPLE OF TIMES, LOW BEAM CAME BACK ON.(SOMETIMES IT WORKED, OTHER TIMES IT DIDN'T) A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM WAS OUT AS WELL. THE ADVANCE AUTO STORE CLERK TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLACE THE BULB FOR ME BECAUSE THE PARTS HAD TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO THE BULB. A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT I BRING THE CAR IN AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $45 EA. HEADLIGHT. HE ADVISED ME OF AN ONGOING DEFECT WITH THE 02 NISSAN ALTIMA HEADLIGHT THAT INVOLVED THE HEAT FROM THE BULB MELTING THE PANEL AROUND IT. HE SAID THAT IF THIS WAS THE CASE, THEN THE ADDITIONAL PART WOULD BE $85 PLUS. THIS PART WOULD PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER, I RECEIVED A CALL BACK ADVISING ME THAT THE DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE HEAT WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. HE THEN GAVE ME A QUOTE OF OVER $700. (BEYOND BELIEF) I QUESTIONED AS TO WHY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL? HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER SO IMMEDIATELY I CALLED NISSANUSA AT 800-647-7261.TAMMY TOOK MY COMPLAINT, AND SHE GAVE ME A REFERENCE NUMBER [XXX]. SHE ASSURED ME THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK IN REFERENCE MY ISSUE BY COB 31 MAY 05. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CALL, HOWEVER, I COULD NOT GET THROUGH TO TALK WITH SOMEONE ABOUT THIS MATTER. MY CAR IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD AND NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL IN GETTING ALL OF MY SERVICES AS REQUIRED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS WASN'T TOLD TO ME WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD TO PAY THE UNEXPECTED DISCOUNTED $617.71 THAT WAS ORIGINALLY QUOTED AT $45 EACH. THIS PAYMENT WAS INDEED A HARDSHIP. ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU CAN GRANT ME IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *MR THE HEAT FROM THE HEADLIGHT MELTED THE TERMINALS WHICH CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION OF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

I AM VERY UPSET. JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN, I STARTED HEARING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE REPAIR STORE FOR NEW TIRES AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK OUT THE NOISE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA'S AND THAT IT WAS A VERY SERIOUS, DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE 02 VALVE BACKED OUT OF THE CATALITIC CONVERTER AND BECAUSE THE CATALITIC CONVERTER AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WERE ONE PIECE, THEY ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY ADIVSED ME THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE ADVISORY OUT ON THIS AND IT WAS VERY SERIOUS. IT COST ME $900.00 TO GET THIS FIXED AS I WAS IN FEAR OF MY LIFE TO DRIVE THIS ANY LONGER. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE WAS NOT RECALL ON THIS AND I AM REQUESTING MY MONEY BE REFUNDED. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING FOR A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. IF I DO NOT RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF CONTACT ON THIS COMPLAINT, I PLAN TO CONTACT THE BBB AND POSSIBLY AN ATTORNEY. IF THIS PROBLEM WARRANTED A SERVICE ADVISORY, IT CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE WARRANTED A RECALL.

I'M THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED WITH THE DESIGN AND QUALITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WITHIN 6 MONTHS I'VE NOW SPENT $600 ($300 EACH INCLUDING LABOR) TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY AUTO ALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE A $6 BULB. THERE IS A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW AND SHOWS LACK OF QUALITY PRODUCED BY NISSAN. APPARENTLY NISSAN IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCT AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ONCE THE PAPERWORK IS SIGNED AND THE DEAL IS DONE ON THE SALE OF THEIR AUTOS. I PLAN TO RETURN TO TOYOTA FOR MY NEXT AUTO PURCHASE.

ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AT 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY. CAR WAS RESTARTED BUT QUICKLY SHUTDOWN AGAIN WHEN TRYING TO RETURN TO HIGHWAY SPEED. MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO PARK THE TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK IN REVERSE AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER MOVE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER AND IS BEING LOOKED AT. CAR HAS A RECENT HISTORY OF STALLING 1 SECOND AFTER COLD START, INCLUDING AT LEAST ONCE WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AS IT STALLED WHILE STILL IN PARK. PRIOT TO THIS SHUTDOWN, THE DEALER WAS NOT VERY COOPERATIVE AND HAD ONLY FOUND TWO SETTINGS OUT OF SPEC IN THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND RESET THEM (TWICE, 2 DAYS APART).

CONTACT STATED: REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTED, AND THE BUCKLE WAS NOT VISIBLE. HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER YET.*AK

I ALWAYS USE MY KEY CHAIN WHEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING MY VEHICLE. ON THIS DAY MY DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT ON FIRST TRY SO I HIT THE UNLOCK BUTTON AGAIN AND IT CLOSED. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I LEFT FOR WORK, DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE NOR OUTSIDE THE CAR. TIRED UNLOCKING KEYLESS AND MANUALLY AND IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. TOOK TO NISSAN SERVICE TO HAVE REPAIRED, THEY HAD TO REMOVE DR SEAT, INSIDE PANNEL (IF DAMAGED WHILE REMOVING WOULD BE AT MY COST $400.00). AFTER A FEW HOURS THEY FINIALLY GOT THE DOOR OPEN TO TELL ME THAT THE DOOR LOCKED HAD GOTTEN JAMMED. THE REPAIRS OF THEM REMOVING MY DOOR PANNEL FROM A CLOSED DOOR FROM WITHIN THE CAR AND TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LOCKING SYSTEM IS ESTIMATING ME $250.00. THIS IS NOT A OPERATOR ERROR THAT CAUSED THIS ISSUE JUST A MALFUNCTION, YET CUSTOMER HAS TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE INCURRED BECAUSE NISSAN HAS BUILT A LOCK SYSTEM THAT IS IRREPARABLE! IF IT HAD DECIDED TO "JAM" UP IN A AUTO ACCINEDT INVOLVING FIRE, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TYPING TODAY.

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A LOUD BANG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED IT AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. AS THEY ACCELERATED SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS WALKING AWAY FROM IT TO CALL FOR HELP WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. *NM

BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE HALOGEN HEADLIGHT WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY BEFORE FINALLY GOING OUT FOR GOOD. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER (HERB GORDON NISSAN), I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BACK OF THE HALOGEN HEADLAMP WAS PLASTIC HAD THE HEADLAMP OVERHEATED WHICH MELTED THE PLASTIC BACK TO THE HEADLAMP CAUSING THE LAMP TO BLOW. I WAS TOLD THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED THEREFORE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE DEALER. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND A RECALL NOTICE SHOULD BE ISSUED. IT COST ME OVER $700 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HALOGEN HOUSING UNITS. I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT HALOGEN HOUSING UNIT IS NOW METAL AND WILL NOT MELT. THIS IS NOW THE TWENTIETH COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE BEFORE A RECALL NOTICE IS ISSUED? *JB

CAR WOULD NOT START. EXTREMELY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN CAR. LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER CAR. GAS LINE CAME OFF GAS TANK. FITTING HAD VIBRATED LOOSE. REPLACED FITTING AND RECONNECTED GAS LINE. LUCKILY NO FIRE AND THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME. FRIENDS WITH SAME YEAR AND MODEL CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING.

IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL 2005 THE ENGINE LIGHT IN MY NISSAN ALTIMA CAME ON - SINCE I WAS TOLD UNLESS THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING IT IS OKAY TO DRIVE - I CALLED FOR THE NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH NEMITH NISSAN. ON THE DAYS PRIOR TO TAKING MY CAR IN I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. I NO LONGER DROVE THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO NEMITH NISSAN. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR A T NEMITH THEY STATED THAT THE PRE-CATALYST HAD FAILED ( A RECALLED PART NEVER REPLACED ONLY INSPECTED) AND EXHAUST HAD BLOWN INTO THE ENGINE SCORING THE CYLINDERS. ANSWER: NEW ENGINE $4573.45. CAR HAD 87,000 MILES BUT WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF - OIL CHANGES REGULARLY - REG. MAINTENANCE ETC.. NEMITH SUGGESTED WE CONTACT NISSAN DIRECT - FILED A CASE - NO SATISFACTION - COMPLETELY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. CAR HAS SINCE BEEN FIXED - MECHANIC CLEARLY STATES PRE-CATALYST CAUSE OF PROBLEM - THIS PART WAS RECALLED AND ONLY INSPECTED BY NEMITH - NEVER REPLACED! HAD I DRIVEN THIS CAR ANY FURTHER CAR WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!. *JB

MY CAR HEATING SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THEN MY CAR HAD OVERHEATED. MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO OVERHEAT CAUSING A CRACK IN MY ENGINE. CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH 75,781 MILES.

ON MARCH 27,05 MY ALTIMA BEGAN TO STUTTER WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE VERY BADLY. I DECIDED TO RETURN HOME TO SWITCH CARS, AND IT BEGAN TO STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT SLOWER SPEEDS (GLAD IT DID NOT STALL WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE). I TOOK IT TO NISSAN THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY SAID THAT BOTH OF THE SCREWS BACKED OUT OF ONE OF THE BUTTERFLY VALVE PLATES IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE PLATE ITSELF AND THE SCREWS HAD FALLEN INTO THE ENGINE, THUS CAUSING SEVERE MISFIRING AND BANGING INTO THE SPARK PLUGS AND DESTROYING THEM AND ALSO SCORING ALL THE WALLS OF THE ENGINE. NISSAN SAID I WOULD NEED TO BUY A NEW ENGINE BUT I REFUSED AND TOWED IT ANOTHER NISSAN DEALER AFTER TALKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE AND HE SAID HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP MORE. IT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE EVER SINCE BECAUSE I REFUSE TO PAY. THE SERVICE TECH SAID THAT ALL 8 OF THE SCREWS HOLDING THE BUTTERFLY PLATES IN WERE ALL LOOSE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO APPLY THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF LOCTITE TO THE SCREWS SO THEY DON'T ENCOUNTER THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN OBVIOUSLY TAKES THE BLAME ACCORDING TO RECALL P5202 BUT IT ONLY APPLIES TO 04'S AND 05'S EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ENGINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE 02'S AND 03'S. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BECAUSE IF I HAD BEEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND THE ALTIMA HAD STALLED ONCOMING TRAFFIC COULD HAVE KILLED ME. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A SMALL PROBLEM AND NISSAN NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. I HAVE TAKEN SOME OTHER STEPS ALREADY ON MY END TO GET NISSAN TO ACCEPT FAULT, BUT PLEASE FOR MY SAKE AND OTHER OWNERS SAKE THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE PLENTY OF PRINTOUTS OF HOW COMMON THE PROBLEM IS WITH OTHER OWNERS AND CAN EMAIL TO ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED. THE SAME ENGINE (QR25DE) IS IN THE 02 AND UP NISSAN SENTRA SPEC-V SO PLEASE CHECK THOSE COMPLAINTS FOR SIMILAR ISSUES SINCE THAT IS WHERE MOST OF THE FIRST COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND CAME FROM.*JB

FIRST WAS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF. THEN I NOTICED AS I ACCELERATE THERE WAS A STRANGE NOISE, WHICH WAS GETTING MORE PRONOUNCED DAILY, FINALLY THE LAST TWO DAYS AS I WAS TRAVELING AND ACCELERATED TO GO FASTER IT WAS ALMOST LIKE IT WAS SLOWING DOWN INSTEAD OF INCREASING IN SPEED. THE NOISE ALSO IS OBVIOUS IN PARK NOW. I WENT ON-LINE AND NOTICED A RECALL (03V455000) FOR THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS SO I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD "NO THAT DOES NOT INCUDE YOUR VIN #, WE GO BY VIN#'S AND YOURS ISN'T LISTED. I SAID"BUT THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR AND IT SAYS IT CAN STALL AT HIGH SPPEDS AND CRASH". SHE SAID SHE COULD CHARGE ME $85 TO HOOK IT UP AND CHECK IT OUT BUT IT IS NOT UNDER A RECALL NOR WARRANTY. PERHAPS THEIR RECALL IS NOT BROAD ENOUGH AND SHOULD INCLUDE MORE VIN#'S... NOT SURE WHAT TO DO FROM HERE, AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, AND THE DEALER IS 50+ MILES AWAY. ANOTHER RECALL (03V061000) IS FOR DRIVER AIR BAG INTERMITTENT WHICH IS ALSO WHATS GOING ON IN MY CAR. *AK