2002 Nissan Altima Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. AS RESULT, CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK THE CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES RELATED TO PROBLEMS WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE (RECALL 03V-455 AND 04V-251). IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE CONSUMER HAD THESES RECALL DONE AND IF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THESE NOTICES BEFORE OF AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAS RETAINED A LAWYER. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO RE-START RIGHT AWAY LEAVING DRIVER IN EMINENT DANGER OF BEEN REAR ENDED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. NO CODES OR LIGHTS TURN ON DASHBOARD SIGNALING A MALFUNCTION OF VEHICLE. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE COOL OFF FOR ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES IT RE-STARTS AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE FAILURE BECAUSE NO LIGHTS ARE COMING UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND WHEN HOOKED TO A SCANNER NO FAILURE CODES WERE PRODUCED. MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS "REPAIRED" UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000( COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ) . THIS RECALL CALLS FOR CAM, CRANK AND VARIABLE TIMING SENSORS TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER ONLY THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43000 WHEN VEHICLE WAS FIRST TAKEN IN FOR RECALL BUT IT IS CURRENTLY FAILING AGAIN AT 160,000 MILES WITH ABOVE SYMPTOMS AND MANUFACTURER WON'T OFFER ASSISTANCE. THEY HAVE ADVICE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AGAIN AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP REPLACING PARTS UNTIL PROBLEM IS "FOUND". DUE TO LACK OF CODES THEIR TECHNICIANS WILL HAVE TO "GUESS" WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ALL THIS AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF DIAGNOSIS, PARTS AND LABOR. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011 A DEALER PERFORMED A RE-PROGRAM OF THE MAIN COMPUTER AS PART OF ANOTHER RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER CONCERNING VEHICLES STALLING. THIS RE-PROGRAM OF THE MAIN COMPUTER DID NOT FIX ANYTHING AND RIGHT AFTER I TOOK VEHICLE OUT OF THE DEALER IT STARTED STALLING AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING AT HIGH SPEEDS (65MP), THERE ARE NO CODES GIVEN OUT AND MANUFACTURER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE. AFRAID I AM GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED AS THE PROBLEM CONTINUES BUT CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COILS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH TIRE EQUIPMENT ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. *MR THE LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A DEFECT HIGH ON THE WALL. THERE WERE NO FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE A TOTAL LOSS OF PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. *PH *JB *SC

THIS IS WRITTEN NOTICE OF A COMPLAINT I HAVE REGARDING MY NEW 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, WHICH IS LEAKING OIL AT THE RATE OF 2 QUARTS EVERY 1,300 MILES. THE NHTSA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS AS 03V084000 UNDER THE 'NOTES' SECTION AS I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT MY PROBLEM IS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 7,000 MILES BUT I HAVE HAD TO TOP THE OIL SINCE I PURCHASED THE 2002 2.5 ALTIMA. *NLM

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, THAT MY HUSBAND PURCHASE FOR MY 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, MAY 2002. IN OCT 2002, IT STARTED WITH LOSE BELTS THAT WASN'T REPAIRED UNTIL DEC 2002. WELL, IN MAR 2003, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. SO, THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TRY TO START IT, NOTHING!! SO, WHEN THE TOW GUY ARRIVED TO TOW TO DEALER, HE TRIED WITH NO SUCCESS. SO, MY CAR WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER FOR 4 DAYS, THE SERVICE DEPT SAID IT STARTED FOR THEM. SO, WHILE I WAS CHECKING OUT AT THE CASHIER, THE SERVICE MANAGER SO HAPPEN TO BE STANDING BY AND OVER HEARD ME TALKING TO THE CASHIER. SO, HE AND I WENT OUT TO MY CAR AND IT STARTED FOR HIM, BUT HE STATED THAT IT'S A DELAYED CRANKING AND THEY'VE GOTTEN A SERVICE COMPLAINT ABOUT THE ALTIMA'S NOT STARTING AND THEY BELIEVE IT'S HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL INJECTION, BUT BEFORE THEY CAN RECALL THE CAR, THEY MUST KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. SO, HE SAID WHENEVER IT DOES IT AGAIN, WHILE CRANKING THE CAR, PUSH DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AND GIVE IT SOME GAS AND IT SHOULD START. WELL, IN APRIL, WHILE IN D.C., ON VACATION, COMING OUT TO START THE CAR, IT DIDN'T START. SO, I DID WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME TO DO AND IT STARTED, BUT I HAD TO END MY VACATION, BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO CHANCE IT FAR FROM HOME. WELL, I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET THE OIL CHANGE AND I DID LET THE SERVICE DEPT KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. WELL, HERE IT IS JUNE 2003, MY CAR STALLED AGAIN AND MY HUSBAND WAS VERY UPSET, BECAUSE HE HAD DRIVEN IT TO WORK AND HE MANAGED TO GET IT BACK TO WORK AND WHEN HE GOT READY TO LEAVE WORK, IT WOULDN'T START AND HE HAD TO PUSH DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AND GIVE IT SOME GAS FOR IT TO START. WELL, I'M TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2003 AND WHO KNOWS WHAT EXCUSE THEY'LL HAVE. AND TO MAKE IT SOO BAD, I'M GOING TO A REUNION, IN FLORIDA AND I WANTED TO DRIVE MY CAR, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL, NOW. WELL, I HOPE THOSE OF YOU GET SOME SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *NLM

RECALL CAMPAIGN, REPLACED EXHAUST CAT SHIELDS AND FRONT PIPE. SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. *BF AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONSUMER EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE NEEDED A LONG BLOCK ENGINE ASSEMBLY, A CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR. *NM

MY VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. AND THE HEAT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL, WHEN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE BAD, I CAN'T SEE OUT THE WINDOW.*AK

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START.*JB

THE TREAD ON THE TIRES IS WEARING DOWN COMPLETELY IN SHORT TIME SPAN, WHICH IS MAKING THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK

DELAYS, OBVIOUS JERKING, FELT DURING ACCELERATION AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPR. IT IS WORSE WHEN CAR STARTS COLD PARTICULARLY IN THE MORNING. JERKING FORWARD DURING DECELERATION (WITHOUT BRAKING) AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPR. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AS THE CAR PUTS ON MORE MILEAGE.

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH SUDDENLY SHUTTING OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING SINCE AROUND FEBRUARY OF 2003. IN APRIL 2003, IT GREW WORSE & STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I MANAGE TO GET IT RESTARTED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BE RESET ONLY TO COME BACK ON WITHIN A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK LATER. THEY STATED IT WAS THE ENGINE SENSOR AND THEY REPLACED THAT BUT THAT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. JUST THIS PAST AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER WHEN I HAD MY CAR TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP & PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WHICH DETERMINED THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD & HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONCE THEY DID THAT THE CAR DROVE WELL FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. TOOK IT TO HAMPTON NISSAN WHICH IS A 45 MIN DRIVE FROM MY HOME TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE CAR. THEY DETERMINED IT MIGHT BE THE INTAKE BUT WASN'T REALLY SURE BUT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CHECK TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS GOING TO COST ME $350. ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BUT LUCKILY IN FRONT OF MY HOME BUT THE CAR HAS NOT RESTARTED SINCE NOV 10, 2005. CALLED NISSAN THEY INFORMED ME TO TAKE TO THE DEALER & THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT MY ENGINE HAS BEEN DAMAGED FROM THE CATALYST CONVERTER & I NEED TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE COST FOR A NEW MOTOR WOULD BE $4,800 & $3,800 FOR A USED MOTOR WITH OVER 24,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT NISSAN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYST CONVERTER DAMAGING ENGINES. I FEEL THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE MY ENGINE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY NISSAN. I HAD SPOKEN TO A REPRESENTATIVE OF NISSAN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT NOW I CAN'T REACH HIM & I HAVE LEFT NUMEROUS MESSAGES. THE DEALER STATES THAT BECAUSE MY CAR HAS OVER 141,000 MILES ON IT THAT THEY CANNOT REPLACE MY ENGINE FOR FREE AS THE MECHANIC STATED THEY WOULD DO IF IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE CATALYST CONVERTER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON HIGHWAY ENGINE STALLED, ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A COLLISION.*AK

AT TWO DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, EL PASO AND LAS CRUCES, THE OIL LEVEL ON THE DIPSTICK OF MY 2002 ALTIMA REGISTERED APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART LOW. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE INFORMATION IN THE MANUALS AS TO THE AMOUNT OF OIL NEEDED MAY BE INCORRECT.

I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH THEN THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDDLE SEEMED STIFF LIKE SOMETHING WAS PREVENTING FROM GOING DOWN. PH

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS...*AK

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY NEW 2002 ALTIMA I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS CLANKING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH I NOTICED ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED NEW MOTOR MOUNTS. AFTER THE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED I STILL HEARD THE NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THE DEALER AND BECAUSE I COULD NOT SIMULATE THE PROBLEM, THE DEALER WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR. I THEN FOUND THAT I COULD SIMULATE THE PROBLEM BY TURING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THEN ACCELERATING. IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WERE ROCKS ROLLING AROUND IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. THE DEALER SAID I HAD A LOOSE WHEEL NUT AND FIXED THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH MANY MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN TO SINCE THEN HAVE SAID THE SYMPTOMS SOUNDED LIKE A BAD CV BOOT. MY CAR IS NOW 18 MONTHS OLD AND ABOUT A WEEK AGO I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING TO MY KEY FOB CORRECTLY AND I HAVE COME OUT TO MY CAR TWICE AND THE FRONT WINDOWS ARE DOWN. ON SATURDAY MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND THAT DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE IT TOWED SINCE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY BUT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR SUNDAY AND AGAIN TODAY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME THE TOW GUY SAID THE CAR SOUNDED FLOODED. HE TURNED THE KEY, PRESSED THE GAS IT AFTER A TON OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST, THE CAR STARTED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER ONLY TO HAVE THEM TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY THE TIMING AND BECAUSE I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO THEM AT 15,000 MILES TO HAVE THE TIMING CHECKED, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPARIS AND TOW CHARGE. I RESEARCHED THIS SITE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON A PART THAT CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO START. IT IS AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW AND THEY HAVE NOT TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO KEEP IT OVER NIGHT.*AK

HOT AIR BLOWING IN VENTS, BURNS 1/2 QT. OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES, NISSAN WANTS TO REPLACE ENGINE.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL NOT CIRCULATE HEAT. ALSO AFTER SERVICE THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEVELS DEPLETES PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE ENGINE COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS COST $1600.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21. THE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A SENSOR WAS SOAKED IN OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TELL THE CONSUMER WHERE THE OIL WAS COMING FROM. SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WHEEL BEARING AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER 2 1/2 YEARS, THE VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS EVAPORATING, BUT THERE WERE NO LEAKS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE COULD SMELL COOLANT COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. UPDATED 02/01/10*JB

THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON DECEMBER 3, 2002 WHEN MY CAR ENGINE CEASED TO FUNCTION ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. ON JANUARY 15, 2003, AGAIN ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT CEASED FUNCTION AND THE ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED AND THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A MALFUNCTION WITH FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP AND GAS TANK ARE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AND PIECES OF METAL WERE FOUND IN THE GAS TANK.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SINCE WATER AND OIL WERE MIXING TOGETHER AND LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO OVER HEAT. THE ENGINE BLOCK ALSO NEEDED TO BE RESEALED. THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

MY NEW CAR WAS PERFORMING AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO AND MAINTENANCE WAS BEING COMPLETED ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE. MY VEHICLE STARTED TO CUT OFF DURING OPERATION IN 2004/5. IT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE DRIVEWAY, EXPRESSWAYS, ETC. IT DIDN'T MATTER. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT MY HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO BLOW A BULB EVERY 2,0000-3,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED IT. THIS OCCURRED IN 2005. MID- JULY TO LATE NOVEMBER 2006 MY CAR BEGAN TO STALL IN COLD/WARM WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. MY CAR STARTED TO CONSUME OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE IN APRIL 2007. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD IT HAD INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE EXTERNAL COMPONENTS. I WAS QUOTED $4,000-$4,200 FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN MY REPAIR WORK AND OIL CHANGES AT NISSAN DEALERS AND NOW WHEN MY EXTENDED WARRANTY IS GONE I AM TOLD I NEED TO BUY AN ENGINE. THIS IS UNFAIR AND COSTLY. I CANNOT USE THE CAR FOR WORK COMMUTES OR TO GET TO SCHOOL. NISSAN HAS BEEN TOLD MANY TIMES ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT FAILURE AND THE MECHANICS BASICALLY ONLY CARE THAT YOU BUY/NOT BUY A MOTOR. I SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR THIS CAR WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A MECHANICAL DESIGN DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED ME SO MUCH TIME, MONEY AND PAIN. I LEFT IT AT MY SISTER'S APARTMENT FOR 3 MONTHS BECAUSE IT WOULD START AND CUT OFF, IF AT ALL. I DROVE THE CAR THE OTHER DAY AFTER TRYING TO GET IT STARTED FOR 2 DAYS. IT DROVE LIKE A DREAM. NOW I CAN'T GET IT STARTED TO EVEN GET TO AND FROM ANYWHERE. I HAVE NUMEROUS REASONS FOR THINKING NISSAN SHOULD BE LIABLE. WHATEVER THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS OKAY BUT THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS OF ENGINES DAMAGED DUE TO THESE RECALL ITEMS THAT WERE NOT HANDLED BY THE DEALERS AND NISSAN PROPERLY. *TR

WENT OUT IN THE MORNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED ALL DAY TO GET IT TO START AND FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEM AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS LONG AS THE CAR STARTED. WE WERE TOLD IT COULD BE THE AIR TEMP., WHICH WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES THE MORNING THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IF WE WOULD HAVE DREAMED OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR WE WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT IT!!

CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO HAD NO SOLUTION. THEY USED A COLD START AND TOLD ME NOT TO LET THE GAS GO BELOW 1/4 TANK AND NOT TO PARK ON AN INCLINE. TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER 2002. IN APRIL 2003, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN AFTER SITTING ONE DAY AND NIGHT. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER NISSAN DEALER WHO GAVE ME THE SAME ANSWER. ANYONE WITH A SIMILIAR PROBLEM? *TT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5L V6. VIN# IS [XXX]. AT 90,000 MILES MY CAR DIES WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SO I GOT IT TOWED TO AUTO ZONE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. A FAILURE CRANKSHAFT SENOR WAS A RESULT. IT HAS A RECALL FOR CAMSHAFT/CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. IT STATES THAT DUE TO THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHILE IN OPERATION RESULTING TO A ACCIDENT/CRASH. SO I BROUGHT INTO NISAAN TO HAVE THIS THESE FIXED ALONG WITH OTHER RECALLS. THEY SAID THAT ONLY THE CAMSHAFT WAS FIXED AND NOT THE CRANKSHAFT. IT WASN'T A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE ACCORDING THE VIN#. I THOUGHT IT RIDICULOUS AND A COINCIDENCE THAT THE SENSOR THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO SHUT OFF WASN'T A RECALL FOR MY CAR. SO I ENDED UP BUYIN THE SENSOR FOR AROUND 80 DOLLARS. BUT AFTER A FEW WEEKS AFTER FIXING, IT MY CARS STALLS OUT AGAIN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH BOTH OF MY LITTLE CHILDREN IN THE CAR ALMOST ENDING UP WHAT WOULD OF BEEN A REAL BAD CRASH. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN THE INSIDE LANE WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC AND ABLE TO QUICKLY PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. MY CAR WOULD STILL BE RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN IN DRIVE. AFTER WAITING FOR A 15 MINS IT WOULD START TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND WHEN I START TO SLOW DOWN IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. THIS WOULD GO ON AND ON UNTIL I FINALLY GOT TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR HELP. MY CAR WAS PUT THROUGH A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT CAME UP TWICE FOR CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER 80 DOLLARS ON A SENSOR THAT WILL FAIL AGAIN. THERE IS ALOT OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE FOR THESE NISSAN ALTIMAS. I AM PAYING TO MUCH FOR THIS CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY AT RISK IN THIS CAR WITH THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECOMES TRAGIC. THANKS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

MANUAL TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN BACKING UP A STEEP INCLINE. DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. DURING THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS. THE FIRST OCCURRANCE WAS ABOUT SEPT. 2002. *JB

NO COLLISION-NO WARNING LIGHTS UNTIL ENGINE EXPLODED AND BURST INTO FLAMES-AUTO UNDFRWENT 7500 MILE SERVICE AT TOURELLE'S 12 DAYS PRIOR.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD, INDICATING THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND AS IF IT WERE COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE OIL LIGHT, AND THE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *CC

WE WENT TO START UP THE VEHICLE, AND IT DID START UP, BUT WHEN WE TRIED TO ACCELERATE WE WENT NOWHERE, AND COULD NOT GET ANY RPM'S. WE COASTED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WITH A VEHICLE THAT WOULD NOT GET UP OVER 5 MPH, FOR ABOUT 3 MILES. WE WE GOT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED US THAT THE THROTTLE SWITCH HAD GONE, AND THE PART THAT WAS NEEDED WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER, AND WE COULD BE WAITING 3 DAYS, 3 WEEKS, OR 3 MONTHS UNTIL OUR VEHICLE IS REPAIRED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 68MPH AND WITH NO WARNING ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. THEN,VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITH OUT ANY NOTICE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEWOUT AT 70MPH ON I-85 IN ATLANTA , GA ON JULY 26, 2002, AT APPROX 4:30PM. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY, AS I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. A CONTINENTAL TIRE DEALER EXAMINED THE TIRE AND SAID THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A PUNCTURE OR DAMAGE FROM ROAD HAZARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE TIRE FAILED. THE FAILUR WAS A SEPERATION OF THE TREAD FROM THE SIDE WALLS. THE DEALER CONTACTED CONTINENTAL AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRE AT NO CHARGE.*AK

AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND APPLYING GAS VEHICLE DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE, IT DOESN'T EVEN REV UP.CONTACTED DEALER. CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE WILL LOSE ENGINE POWER VERY BREIFLY. DEALER AND MAUFACTURER CONTACTED. *MR

CAR SHIFTED IN PARK AND KEYS REMOVED. CAR FAILED TO START UNTIL REINSERTED TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. DT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE WAS PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I STOPPED AT THE FIRST STORE I CAME TO AND PUT OIL IN THE CAR. BEFORE THIS I HAD NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR BURNING OIL. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE CAR WAS BURNING OIL AT A HIGH RATE, ABOUT A QUART A WEEK. I HAD A TECHNICIAN LOOK AT MY CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SOME KIND OF ENGINE FAILURE. AT THIS POINT I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAD A PROBLEM THAT CREATED EXCESS OIL BURN AND ENGINE DAMAGE. ON MAY 23RD I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WHO DID NOT RESPOND. ON MAY 30TH I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AGAIN AND THEY REFERRED ME TO A LOCAL DEALER. ON THE 30TH I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED MY OIL ($36.32) IN ORDER TO DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ON MY CAR. ONE WEEK LATER I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND AFTER DRIVING 70 MILES THE CAR HAD BURNED 4 QUARTS OF OIL. WHEN PICKING UP MY CAR, I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE MY BROTHER WAS THE FIRST OWNER OF THE CAR AND NOT ME EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 ALTIMA ENGINES. THEY ALSO QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $3,792.70 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. ON THURSDAY, JULY 10TH THE ENGINE FAILED AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NISSAN HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT WHAT EVER THEY DID DID NOT WORK. *TR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT VISIBLE ENOUGH FOR CONSUMER TO QUICKLY AND SAFELY CHECK THE GAUGES WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE IN DAYLIGHT. A GLANCE AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOULD BE ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO CHECK THE GAUGES. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN DANGER IF ONE HAS TO STARE LONGER THAN A BRIEF MOMMENT IN CHECKING THE GAUGE TEMPERATURES. *JG

I PURCHASED MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA S 2.5 IN NOV. 2001. 1) AFTER A FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED A SHIMMING OR VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING. IT FEELS AS IF WERE COMING UP FROM THE FRONT TIRES THROUGH THE SUSPENSION. HOWEVER, THOUGH IT IS USUALLY PRESENT, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T VIBRATE FOR A WHILE, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN! I HAVE CHANGED THE TIRES (THOUGH USED THE SAME BRAND), HAD THE TIRES BALANCED, ROTATED AND THE WHEELS ALIGNED, YET THE VIBRATION CONTINUES. IN ADDITION, AT THE LAST ALIGNMENT, THE MECHANIC HAD PROBLEMS ALIGNING THE REAR SUSPENSION IN PARTICULAR. THE CAR HAS ALSO SHOWN ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED THE CONSUMER'S COMMENTS SECTION OF EDMUNDS.COM, A CAR-BASED WEBSITE, AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE NOTED THIS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *LA

ON 06-09-02 AND 09-23-02 ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. MR

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

BATTERY BLEW UP WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND ENGINE. THERE WAS 600 DOLLARS IN ENGINE DAMAGE. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK JLG

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY. IT IS AN UNEASY FEELING TO HEAR THE GAS TANK SLUSHING AROUND, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. WHEN I FIRST REPORTED TO CARMAX, ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS DROVE WITH ME AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECT ALSO. CARMAX REPLACED THE GAS TANK, AND YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE GAS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY TEST DROVE BOTH THE V6 AND V4 ENGINE CARS AND THEY BOTH DID THE SAME THING. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY [XXX]. *JB PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****762556

REAR SHOCKS WENT BAD, EVERYTIME CONSUMER WOULD GO OVER A BUMP THERE USED TO BE A NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE SHOCKS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S HAS HAD THREE SETS OF TIRES REPLACED (FOUR TOTAL SETS INCLUDING ORIGINAL TIRES) AND THREE 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENTS IN LESS THAN 6000 MILES. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT DETERMINED ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM. SYMPTOMS ARE EXCESSIVE TIRE VIBRATION AND INTERIOIR NOISE FROM REAR AXLE AND VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT IMPLEMENTED ANY TSBS TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE. TIRE ROTATION AND RE-BALANCING EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM.

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PARTS ON THIS ALTIMA ARE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT THE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. BUT THE ACTUAL DEFECT CAUSED BY THE LIGHTS BEING TOO HOT AND THEN MELTING THE PLASTIC WAS NOT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION UNTIL EXPENSES HAD BEEN INCURRED ON REPLACEMENT OF THE LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES. WHENTHE LEFT SIDE WAS PROPERLY DIAGNOSED FINALLY, THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER DENIED REPLACEMENT AND REFUSED TO ATTEMPT ANY SOLUTION. DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE LIGHTS AND THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY PART, I HAD TO WAIT TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE. THE PARTS COMPONENTS FOLKS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. MORE IMPORTANTLY NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. SEVERAL MECHANICS INCLUDING ONE SERVICE PERSON AT THE NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL ALTIMAS WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT UNTIL THERE WAS A RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER. SEAT BELT GIVES NO SUPPORT WHEN WORN. WHEN SUDDEN BRAKING TENSION ON BELTS FAILS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *NLM

THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND FUSE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE LEFT FRONT SEAT WAS LOOSE AND THE WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB