2002 Nissan Altima complaints

MAJOR OIL CONSUMPTION AT 80,000 MILES. *TR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE, HEAD GASKET FAILURE; ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2002 2.5 NISSAN 72K FOUR DAYS AGO. A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE IS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I PUT OIL IN, AND A FEW MILES LATER I NEED TO ADD MORE. I HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING YET, SIMPLY BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT. NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO NEVER BUY A NISSAN. I AM NEVER BUYING A NISSAN AGAIN. I'VE READ NUMEROUS POSTS BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BEGAN AROUND 92K MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD TIMELY OIL CHANGES, SUDDENLY THE CAR WAS LOW ON OIL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SMITHTOWN, NY ON 2/22/07, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ORDERED ON 2/23/07 (THIS WAS BACK-ORDERED). THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED ON 3/13/07, APPROX. $600. NOW THE CAR NEEDS ANOTHER CATALYTIC CONVERTED AND THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING SEVERAL COURTS OF OIL A WEEK. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR THAT HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE ARE OTHER ALTIMA YEARS THAT HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT WERE RECALLED BUT NISSAN HAS NOT DONE THAT FOR THE 2002 MODEL. IT IS WIDELY KNOW THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE OIL RINGS AND THE FAULTY PRE-CATS AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. THIS CAR NEEDS APPROX. $8K IS REPAIRS IN ORDER TO STOP BURNING OIL AND TO CORRECT THE EMISSIONS. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE FAULTY PARTS IN THESE CARS, IN ALL THE YEARS THAT THEY EFFECTED. *TR

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

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

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

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

THIS ISN'T FAIR. 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. 5900 MILES. MAN THIS CAR IS JUNK, NISSAN SHOULD REIMBURSE PEOPLE ABOUT THAT, WORK CAR EVER. AND I NOTICE EVERYONE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR STALL, CAMSHFT PROBLEM.. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE. ITS NOT SAFE WHEN U DRIVING AND CAR DIE ON YOU. *TR

NISSAN ALTIMA '02-05 2.5/3.5 MODELS HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A VALVE CHECK ASSEMBLY IN A BRAKE VACUUM TUBE. WHEN THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME, LIKE THOSE EXPERIENCED THIS PAST WINTER IN IL, THE VALVE FREEZES UP AND PREVENTS PROPER OPERATION OF THE VACUUM AND THUS COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. IT FIXES ITSELF AFTER PUMPING OF THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. IMAGINE ROLLING UP TO A STOP SIGN ONLY TO PUMP YOUR BRAKES TO THE FEELING OF A BRICK STUCK UNDER THEM, NO STOPPING ACTION, HELPLESSLY COASTING RIGHT INTO THE INTERSECTION. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND STUMBLED ON TO A NISSAN ENTHUSIAST FORUM WHERE IT WAS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE TO THEM. THEY SAID THAT NISSAN WON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THIS TO BE AN ISSUE AND TO JUST ORDER THE REDESIGNED PART AND REPLACE IT YOURSELF AS IT WAS A DYE JOB. THE FACTORY PART REPLACEMENT NUMBER IS #47430-8J100 (3.5 MODEL) OR #47430-8J000 (2.5 MODEL). WHY DID NISSAN REDESIGN THE PART IN '06 IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH IT? WHEN I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, SURE ENOUGH THEY WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT PART AND EVEN WENT AS FAR AS TO CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NEVER EVEN ORDERED THAT PART. THEY HAVE EITHER NEVER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE CORRECTLY OR THEY OUTRIGHT LIED TO ME. I CALLED A DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERSHIP, ORDERED THE PART AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF AND HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM DESPITE THE SUBZERO TEMPERATURES

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR STARTED RUNNING SLUGGISH, AND TOTALLY RAN OUT OF OIL! MECHANIC SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I BOUGHT ONE - AND THAT ONE WENT ON THE FRITZ TWO DAYS AFTER FIXING IT. THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST SAID IT WAS AN O2 SENSOR. IT RAN OUT OF OIL. NOW I FIND OUT THE CAR IS A LEMON, AFTER I BOUGHT A NEW ENGINE TO BOOT. TWO ENGINES ARE RUINED IN THIS CAR, AND I STILL DON'T HAVE IT PAID FOR. *TR

NEW 2002 ALTIMA, WELL MAINTAINED, BUYING NISSANS SINCE 1992 RECEIVING MILEAGE OVER 260,000 MILES. LOOKING BACK CAR CONSTANTLY LOW ON OIL W/NO LIGHT REGISTERING THEN LIGHT NEVER CAME BACK ON FOR 3 YEARS, YET OIL WAS ALWAYS LOW. CHECKING OIL EVERY 2 WEEKS AND EVERY OIL CHANGE AT DEALERSHIP-OIL LOW AT TIP OF THE DIP STICK. HAD CAR SERVICED-NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS; SEPTEMBER THE CAR SMELLED HOT; NOT REGISTERING OR SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF IT RUNNING HOT. CAR CONSTANTLY NOT STARTING, STALLING AS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD. GO TO DEALERSHIP, NEED A MOTOR REPLACED, WARPED HEAD GASKET COST $4,000 PLUS DOLLARS. THE DEALERSHIP OWNER ASKED HOW MANY CARS HAS COME IN (ALTIMA 2002) PER MECHANIC SEVERAL HUNDREDS FOR THE MOTOR AND/OR RADIATOR PROBLEMS (REPLACING MOTORS). HE HAS ORDERED A LARGE NUMBER OF NISSAN MOTORS FROM THE COMPANY TO REPLACE THE ENGINES. OWNER WAS SURPRISED OF THIS MOTOR HAVING TO BE REPLACED AND HAS KEPT MY CAR IN STORAGE UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. HE WILL ALSO FOLLOW UP ON A RECALL FOR THE ENGINES WITH THAT MANY CARS BEING REPAIRED. THIS HAS CHANGED MY MIND ON PURCHASING ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT BECAUSE OF THE RUDENESS WHEN REPORTING THE PROBLEMS TO THEIR CUSTOMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE (PER THE REP). THIS NEED TO TAKE SOME PRIORITY WITH THE NUMBER OF ISSUES REPORTED AS COMPLAINTS ON ALL THE WEBSITES. II HAVE FOUND 114 HERE PLUS ONE MORE 115 PLUS I HAVE ABOUT 30 OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THEN THE REPORT THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED OVER 200 CARS. P

NISSAN CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE FIXED THEIR RECALLS BUT CAR STALLED ON A HWY WHERE SPEED LIMIT WAS 70 MY FAMILY & MYSELF COULD HAVE GOT KILLED. I PAID 1100 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON DID OIL CHANGE CAR KEEPS BURNING OIL EVERY DAY I HAVE TO CHECK IT AND ADD OIL THEN THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE HAVE CALLED OVER 50 TIMES & LEFT MESSAGES THEY TELL ME THEY CAN NOT GIVE ME A NEW ENGINE BUT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM & THEY KNOW ABOUT IT. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR & SAME PROBLEM THEY NEED A NEW ENGINE & NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SHOULD GIVE THEM A NEW ENGINE FOR FREE BECAUSE THEY MANUFACTURE THESE CARS WRONG & ARE STILL MANUFACTURING CARS WITH PROBLEMS THEN THEY WONDER WHY PEOPLE AREN'T BUYING THERE CARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ANYONE WHO OWNS THIS CAR & UNTIL PEOPLE START GETTING KILLED THEY WON'T DUE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX THIS LEMON. THEY ALSO TELL YOU THAT YOU NEED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL DEATH PLEASE SOMEONE DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY. ALL MY RECALLS ARE UP TO DATE SO THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD CONSUME ABNORMAL AMOUNTS OF OIL. SHE HAS A 2.5 LITER ENGINE IN HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); THEREFORE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $5,000. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 05/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/08/09.*JB

GAS DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING PROPERLY. IT EVENTUALLY IS VERY CROOKED AND DOES NOT CLOSE AT ALL ANY MORE. I TALKED TO SEVERAL NISSAN ALTIMA OWNER SAME THING HAPPENED. *TR

1. EVENTS- VEHICLE CONSTANTLY MISS-FIRED. 2. FAILURE- SCREWS IN BUTTERFLY VALVE CAME OUT, WERE PASSED THROUGH PISTON, DAMAGED SPARK PLUGS AND CAME TO REST IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. 3. CORRECTION- PART "AIR PLENUM GASKET". LABOR "R&R UPPER AIR PLENUM INTAKE" AND "R&R EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO REMOVE SCREW". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING ENGINE FAILURE. HE NOTICED A SILENT RECALL ON THE NISSAN WEBSITE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, ALTHOUGH HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $3,000, BUT WITH LESS THAN 2,500 MILES, THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND IT WAS BURNING OIL AT RAPID SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,785 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

I HAVE AN 02 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT IS CONSUMING MY OIL AND ANITFREEZE. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND A NEW CAT. MY CAR RANDOMLY DIES AND WILL NOT START MOST OF THE TIME. *TR

POWER VALVE SCREWS FELL INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLATE ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 NISSIAN ALTIMA 2.5 STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR HAD BEEN IDLING VERY ROUGH AND ENGINE VIBRATION AS WELL AS INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS 24 HOURS PRIOR TO ISSUE. TOOK IT TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE PVC VALUE SCREW FELL INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS WAS ALSO CONFIRMED BY NISSAN. HOWEVER IT WAS ONLY RECALLED ON THE 2004-2006 MODELS. IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT NISSAN HAD TO REPLACE MY ENGINE ON MY VEHICLE IN 2004, THEREFORE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT BECAUSE MY CALL IS 02 NISSAN WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM. 2002 MODELS NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED AND SHATTERED. THE SHATTERED PIECES ENTERED INTO THE MOTOR, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY FAIL. THE ONLY REMEDY WOULD BE TO INSTALL A NEW ENGINE AND A NEW EXHAUST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REASON FOR THE DEFECT WAS DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT WAS MANUFACTURED INTO THE VEHICLE BY NISSAN. SHE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST AROUND THE FUEL TANK. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE KNOCKING NOISE ORIGINATED FROM THE OVERHEAD CAM COMPONENT OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT MAINTAINED REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE RECALLS THAT DESCRIBED THE SAME FAILURES HE EXPERIENCED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 03V455000 AND 03V455000). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,600.

MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON ALTHOUGH VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALER PROPERLY. ENGINE RATTLES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALTHOUGH PREVIOUS RECALLS WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM HAVE BEEN HONORED NISSAN FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MANY CONSUMERS HAVE COMPLAINED. *TR

WELL MAINTAINED 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA.... FOLLOWED ALL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES, HAD ALL RECALLS PERFORMED ALL WORK PERFORMED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS. HAS HAD CONTINUAL OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES, HAD HEAT ISSUES, CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE LEADING TO FULL ENGINE FAILURE. NISSAN DENIES ANY WRONG DOING AND WILL NOT HELP DUE TO MILEAGE ON THE CAR. HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM STARTED WELL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE DEALERSHIP(S) DID NOT DO LET US KNOW ABOUT A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN (CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN FRONT OF THE EXHAUST). THERE ARE 1000 OF CONSUMERS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, SHE NOTICED THAT HER VEHICLE BEGAN CONSUMING AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF OIL AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $900. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 02-11-09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST. UPDATED 02/12/09. *JB

ON EXTREMELY COLD DAYS (5 DEGREES F OR LOWER) I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST DRIVEN. THE CAUSE IS DUE TO APPARENT MALFUNCTION OF A CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM LINE TO POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. THE PEDAL REMAINS HARD (I.E. - THE PEDAL DOES NOT GO TO THE FLOOR). USUALLY AFTER A FEW SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE, THE BOOST FUNCTION RETURNS AND THE BRAKES FUNCTION NORMALLY. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2002-2006-NISSAN-ALTIMA-DISCUSSION-2-5-3-5/256153-COLD-WEATHER-BRAKING-ISSUE.HTMLINE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT IS ONLY BY LUCK THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE IT HAS RESULTED IN BEING UNABLE TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF NISSAN TO REPAIR AS A SAFETY RECALL. NISSAN HAS REDESIGNED THE PART AND IT IS VERY INEXPENSIVE (ABOUT $28) AND THE NEW HOSE/CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY CAN BE REPLACED IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE REDESIGNED VACUUM HOSE/CHECK VALVE IS 47430-L31002 FOR THE 3.5L V6 ENGINE. FOR THE 2.5L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THE PART NUMBER IS 47430-L31001. IT'S CALLED A "TUBE-VACUUM". I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED THE PART MYSELF. SOME PEOPLE REPORTED THAT SOME DEALERS MISTAKENLY THINK THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER ITSELF IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE REPLACED IT AT A COST OF UP TO $500 (AND DID NOT REPLACE THE HOSE) ONLY TO HAVE THE OWNER CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE BRAKE FAILURE ON THE NEXT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND HESITATE TO START. SHE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL AND HESITATE. THE CONTACT FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE AND WAS CONCERNED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 85,000.

I HAVE A 2002 ALTIMA 2.5 STANDARD. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY 2007 WITH 72,000 MILES AND HAD A MISFIRE READING FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT TILL I REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND GOT SOME HEAD WORK DONE ON THE CAR. MILEAGE NOW TOTALS AT NEARLY AROUND 110,000 MILES. NISSAN LOOKED AT MY CAR ALL THE WAY FOR ANY PROBLEMS AND I HAD A FEW RECALLS DONE ON IT INCLUDING REPLACING THE HEADLAMPS. LITTLE DID I KNOW WHEN I HAD MY MECHANIC (NON-NISSAN MECHANIC LATER ON FROM MY DEALER VISIT) REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET ( W/VALVE GUIDES AND OIL RINGS) FOR $1600 THAT MY FRONT ENGINE FAN WAS UNPLUGGED NEAR THE HEADLAMPS WHICH HAD CAUSED SOME REALLY BAD OVERHEATING ISSUES. MY CAT IS BAD (VIA A ENGINE CODE) WHICH I HAVE YET TO REPLACE AS I SEE NO NEED TO AT THIS POINT... ALSO MY CAR HAS BEEN EATING UP MORE THAN 1 QUART OF OIL PER WEEK AS I DRIVE OVER 460 MILES A WEEK AS A COMMUTER TO DALLAS, TX. AT THIS POINT THE OPTION WOULD BE TO EITHER RE..RE-BUILD THE ENGINE OR REPLACE WITH A NEW VERY EXPENSIVE ENGINE NOTHING THAT I HAVE ALREADY SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR. *TR

SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS 5 MPH FASTER THAN CAR IS ACTUALLY DRIVING AT. I HAVE VERIFIED THIS WITH A GPS SYSTEM, ALONG WITH A POLICE RADAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GAS STATION FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO A DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST THREE QUARTS OF OIL AFTER 630 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 103,000. UPDATED 3/19/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. MATERIAL FROM THE DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS DAMAGED THE ENGINE CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. UPDATED 03/26/09.*JB

ODOMETER ERROR 5% FASTER, SPEEDOMETER ERROR 5% FASTER. *TR

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

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA , I HAVE TO PUT A QUART OF OIL IN THIS CAR EVERY 50 MILES, FROM WHA T I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM , THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT AND REFUSES TO ADMIT TO THE PUBLIC THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MOTOR, THAT THE RECALL WILL COST THE COMPANY TO MUCH IN REPAIRS. WE ARE A FAMILY ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD THE $6000.00 FOR REPAIRS ON THIS CAR. NISSAN ASKS SO MUCH FOR THESE CARS THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND REPAIR THIS DEFECT!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT EXHAUST ASSEMBLY, FRONT 02 SENSOR, AND CLEARED THE SYSTEM CODES. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,065 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW THE SEVERITY. THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE RECALL WAS ACTUALLY FROM 2003, AND THAT THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS ENGINE DAMAGE AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS SYPTOM WAS ALSO STATED ON THE RECALL NOTICE (THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH IS WHY HE NEVER TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. HE ALSO COMPLETED A CLAIM WITH NISSAN, BUT HE RECEIVED A DENIAL LETTER FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 02/10/09 *BF UPDATED 02/11/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND WENT INTO THE WALL OF THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CRACK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $6,000. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE RECALL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND IF ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,197.

1.THE YEAR 2004 THANKSGIVING I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM LA, BATON ROUGE WHEN MY HEAT WOULDN'T COME ON. I GOT IT FIXED BUT WAS THE KNOB TO THE CONTROL WOULD ONLY TURN 3/4 OF THE WAY OR IT WOULDN'T WORK. THEN WHEN THE SPRING CAME AND I USED MY A/C IT DIDN'T WORK. I TOOK IT IN AND WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT ON MAX IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK PROPERLY. 2. AS OF 2006 TO CURRENT MY CAR JERKS AND RUNS OUT OF OIL OFTEN AND NOW I NEED TO PUT AT LEAST 4 QUARTS EVERY WEEK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT LEASE ONCE A WEEK. 3. I TAKE IT INTO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND DOESN'T SEE A LEAK, BURNING OIL IT JUST CONSUMES IT. I GET ALL THE NECESSARY CAR "MEDICAL" CHECK UP'S AND THE CAR STILL EATS OIL, JERKS AND CONTINUES TO GIVE ME PANIC ATTACKS AS I DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK. MY MECHANIC AND I HAVE DETAILED LOGS OF HOW MANY TIMES THEY'VE PUT IN OIL OR I HAVE PURCHASED AND PUT IT IN MYSELF ALONG WITH ANY ADDITIONAL WORK. *TR

NISSAN NA MADE SOME PREVENTIVE CHANGES TO THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AS REQUESTED TO BY LAW. HOWEVER THE CHANGES NISSAN NA MADE WERE NOT SUFFICIENT NOR SUCCESSFUL. IT APPEARS THAT THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE NISSAN PROVIDED HAS ONLY PROLONGED THE OUTCOME. THOUSANDS OF 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS WITH A DIRECT RELATION TO A FAILURE IN THE CATALYST CONVERTER. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE CATALYST CONVERTER NOTICEABLE CHUCKS OF THE CATALYST CONVERTER ARE MISSING. NISSAN NA IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SELECTIVELY FIXING SOME CONSUMERS VEHICLES. IF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THEIR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY NISSAN NA REFUSES TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER WITH FIXING THE PROBLEM. SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO A PERCENTAGE OF MILES OR TO A PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I PURCHASED WITH 57,000 MILES (2ND OWNER). IN DECEMBER 2006 WITH ABOUT 68,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BLEW UP. I HAD THIS REPLACED AND AT 76,000 MILES I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE OIL/COOLANT AND METALLIC NOISE FROM ENGINE. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, AT 86,000 THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR SINCE THERE WERE PARTICLES THAT HAD BEEN SUCKED IN FROM THE CAT, THEY WANTED $5,900 TO REPLACE. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO REPRESENTATIVES OF NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND LODGED A COMPLAINT, AFTER ABOUT A WEEK I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM STATING THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR OR HELP WITH COSTS. I WAS FORCED TO FIND AN ALTERNATE REPAIR OPTION AND PURCHASED A REBUILT MOTOR, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WAS AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED SMOGGING THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO, I FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN, I HAD THE CAT REPLACED AGAIN ($750) AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT SMOGGED. THIS WAS ONLY 3-4 WEEKS AGO AND ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RATTLING/GRINDING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AGAIN!! PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS, I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THE 2002-06 ALTIMA/SENTRA WITH THE 2.5L MOTORS IS A "FACTORY DEFECT"!! THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS ON NUMEROUS SITES.

ON TUESDAY 11/25/08 I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA TO WORK AND THE CAR TURNED OFF IN MID DRIVE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL (#03V455000) ON THIS WEBSITE. IT MATCHED EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM OF THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SAME PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (CRANK POSITION SENSORS, AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS) BUT MY CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL AND THEREFORE I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR. MY VEHICLE MATCHES THE RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE 100% IE: " 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA...ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS...THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN CRASH...DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS, CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS, AND IN SOME CASES THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSORS." AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NEGLECTED TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A VALID RECALL. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, IT STALLED AGAIN APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 119,000.

2002 ALTIMA BEGAN STALLING DURING LOW SPEEDS TRIGGERING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ACCOMPANIED BY REDUCED ENGINE POWER. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED PROBLEM WITH CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH WAS CLEARLY LISTED UNDER RECALL. NISSAN WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RECALL STATING THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE TO ECM REPROGRAMMED WHICH WOULD NOT FIX STALLING PROBLEM BUT WOULD MAKE THE ECM MORE SENSITIVE TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE CSP SENSOR. NISSAN WOULD NOT PERFORM THE ECM REPROGRAM WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. NISSAN WANTED TO RUN A $90 DIAGNOSTICS TEST FIRST. I TOOK CAR TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC THE HAVE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED WITH UPDATED FACTORY MODEL. THE SENSOR THAT WAS REMOVED WAS CLEARLY THE OLDER FLAWED MODEL WHICH WAS UNDER RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A SLOW STOP AND THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 81,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE ALSO HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE, WHICH WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO AN OXYGEN SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE); HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,286 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD EXCESSIVE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,721.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SMELLS BURNING OIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

OIL IS CONSUMED AT A RATE OF APPROX. 1 QUART EVERY 200 MILES, MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THERE ARE NO NOTICABLE LEAKS. AROUND THE 80,000 MILE MARK OIL BEGAN TO RUN LOW BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INCREASING. *TR

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE FAILURE IN DECEMBER OF 2007. IT STARTED WITH AN ENGINE CODE . REFERRED TO THE CATALYST CONVERTER. I HAD BEGUN SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE OF A BIGGER PROBLEM PRIOR TO TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT FORUMS DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS FOR THE SAME CAR. NOT IRONIC, DISTURBING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED REGULARLY. I ALSO HAD HARD TO START PROBLEMS . RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE NISSAN DEALER BECAUSE I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I KEPT LOOSING COOLANT AND OIL AND I DID NOT HAVE ANY WITNESS MARKS ON MY DRIVEWAY TO PROVE THAT IT WAS LEAKING. AT TIMES YOU CAN SMELL THE SWEET ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER NISSAN SERVICE VISIT, THE SERVICE REP SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE..CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE UP AND WAS SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE. HERE IS WHAT THE INVOICE READS. INVOICE: ECM RECALL COULD NOT PERFORM RECALL VEH HAS E-LIGHTS THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED?MULTI POINT VISUAL INSPECTION ONLY?INSPECTION PERFORMED REC ENGINE ASSY AND CAT RELATED PARTS A/C LOW PRESSURE HOSE?CUST STATES VEH LOSING COOLANT AND HAS A MISS CK DIAG AND CHCK OUT TIME ONLY?CUST STATES VEH HAS COOLANT LEAK AND MISS1.00 INSPECTION VEH FOR COOLANT LEAK BUT FOUND NO VISIBLE LEAK. MISFIRE FOUND INSPECTED PLUGS AND FOUND THEY'RE FOULED OUT AND HAVE CORROSION TYPE SUBSTANCE ON THEM?VEH POSS BURNING COOLANT. INSPECTED CAT AND FOUND IS COMING APA

I WENT THROUGH INSPECTIONS IN DELAWARE AND THE CAR FAILED FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ENGINE MAKES A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE OIL IS TOO LOW. I THINK THE CAR DEALER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? *TR

LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 OWNERS, NISSAN HAS LEFT EVERY ONE OF US HANGING OUT THERE AND ALL THEY CAN RECOMMEND IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. NISSAN CREATED THIS PROBLEM AND IS VERY AWARE OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION, CATALYTIC CONVERTER BREAK UP AND OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. THEN THERE IS THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE HARD STARTING AND FAILURE TO START. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN AND IT DISGUSTS ME THAT NISSAN IS WASHING ITS HANDS OF THESE ISSUES. I COULD UNDERSTAND THEIR RELUCTANCE TO LOOK ANY FURTHER IF THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND WE ARE ALL FED UP WITH THE WAY NISSAN HAS HANDLED THE ISSUES. THEY KNEW AFTER THEY ROLLED OUT THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, IT HAD ISSUES BUT THEY HAVE BURIED THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND. WHENEVER YOU CALL NISSAN DIRECT, THEY JUST BLOW YOU OFF AND ALL THE DEALERSHIPS CAN RECOMMEND IS A NEW ENGINE. THEY ARE TREATING THEIR CUSTOMERS AS IF THEY ARE STUPID. IT ANNOYS ME THE FACADE NISSAN IS PUTTING ON AND TREATING ANY NISSAN ALTIMA CUSTOMER AS IF THEY ARE THE ONLY ONE WITH A "LEMON" WHICH NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. MY NISSAN HAS DONE 145,000 MILES AND SHOULD NOT NEED A NEW ENGINE AFTER YEARS OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL IN DEC 2006 WHEN I THINK THEY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSORS AT THAT TIME. THEY JUST CHECKED THEM. IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE REPORTS LIKE THIS GO TO WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM, WHICH IS WHERE I GOT THE LINK TO SEND