2002 Nissan Altima complaints

NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO CAR FIRE. DEALERSHIP ADMITTED TO DEFECT IN ENGINE. SEE: HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/1106267/NISSAN/2002-NISSAN-ALTIMA-OIL-DROPPING-AT-108000MILES-I-W/INDEX.HTML. I HAD TO PAY $5,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE ENGINE FINALLY RESTARTED. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGHLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE ONE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

PRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. CONVERTER COMES APART, GETS SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE, AND CAUSES ENGINE DAMAGE. CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD MINE WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IN MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 MODEL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, HE SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEING SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE MIGHT BLOW UP ANY TIME. AND THEY ARE ASKING $6000 FOR FIXING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS TOTALLY SUCKING THE CUSTOMER OF ANYTHING THAT ONE CAN LIVE OFF EVEN. AS A SMALL FAMILY WITH MEAGER EARNINGS, THIS IS GOING TO HIT OUR FAMILY IN A MAJOR WAY AS THIS KIND OF SPEND IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN AFFORD. THIS PROBLEM IS BEING FACED BY THOUSANDS OF OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS ALSO. REQUEST THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP US OUT IMMEDIATELY. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT HAS BEEN GIVING ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS . I HAVE HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED AND NOW IT NEEDS ANOTHER ONE . OIL IS BEING CONSUMED OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THE NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME IN 2006 HE SAID I NEED A MOTOR I HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER TOO MANY TIMES TO THINK THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO CHANGE THINGS EVERY TIME I'D TAKE IT . IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT I DON'T THINK THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM AT FIRST. EITHER THEY DIDN'T KNOW OR THEY DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER MY WARRANTY ENDED TO TELL ME THAT I NEEDED A MOTOR!! I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR. I FEEL THAT I PAID TOO MUCH FOR THIS CAR TO BE TRYING TO PAY OVER $5000 FOR A MOTOR. THE CAR IS NOW 6 YRS OLD AND THAT'S NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR A MOTOR. NISSAN SHOULD FEEL VERY BAD THAT THEY A RESPONSIBLE FOR PEOPLE PAYING TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THAT LEMON OF A CAR. I NEED TRANSPORTATION NOT A NEW CAR NOTE!! *TR

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH IS EXHIBITING THE SYMPTOMS VERY TYPICAL WITH 100'S OF OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS. ONE MONTH AGO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE IS CONSUMING LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL, POWER IS SLUGGISH ESPECIALLY AT STARTUP, COOLANT IS BEING CONSUMED ETC. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAULT CODE WAS FOR FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALER SUGGESTS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF LONG BLOCK. SINCE THE RECALL (NTB03-070C) HAD BEEN DONE ON MY CAR A FEW YEARS AGO, PREVIOUS TO ME OWNING THE CAR, THEY ARE "NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL". SEEMS UNFATHOMABLE THAT SO MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO DEFINITE ACTION IS BEING TAKEN FROM NISSAN OR BEING FORCED TO BE TAKEN FROM THE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT. *TR

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE CAT CONVERTER WAS BAD. CHECKED WEBSITE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND AFTER REPLACING THE CAT CONVERTER, HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE. THE WEBSITE IS HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/1106267/NISSAN/2002-NISSAN-ALTIMA-OIL-DROPPING-AT-108000MILES-I-W/INDEX.HTML. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT OR BE DIRECTED ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. *TR

THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE A DEFECT IN CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH IS DAMAGING MY ENGINE. I HAVE TO GET IT REPLACE, BUT IT COSTS $1500. MY CAR HAS ONLY 84,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO, I TAKE IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT EVERY 3,000 MILES AND FOR REGULAR CHECK UPS. SO I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BELOW ARE THE LINKS TO SOME OF THE WEBSITES WITH COMPLAINTS FROM THE ALTIMA DRIVERS ON THEIR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. 1)HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/2002/ENGINE/CATALYTIC_CONVERTER_FAILURE_CAUSED_ENGINE_DAMAGE.SHTML 2)HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/NISSAN_ALTIMA.HTML 3) HTTP://WWW.ALLWORLDAUTO.COM/COMMENTS/VIEWTHREAD.PHP?CID=638520 4)HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEW_105673.HTML 5)HTTP://WWW.CARAUDIO.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-222455.HTML 6)HTTP://FORUMS.CARANDDRIVER.COM/AUTO/BOARD/MESSAGE?BOARD.ID=NISSAN&THREAD.ID=158 7)HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/1106267/NISSAN/2002-NISSAN-ALTIMA-OIL-DROPPING-AT-108,000 MILES-I-W/INDEX.HTML 8)HTTP://ANSWERS.EDMUNDS.COM/QUESTION-NEGOTIATION-2002-ALTIMA-REPLACEMENT-ENGINE-28642.ASPX 9)HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_84045.HTML 10) HTTP://AUTOREPAIR.ABOUT.COM/B/2008/01/17/ALTIMA-OWNER-THINKS-HES-GETTING-THE-SHAFT.HTM I THINK NISSAN KNOWS THIS PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

FILE #6258697 2002 ALTIMA MY COMPLAINT INVOLVES A QR25DE ENGINE INSTALLED IN MY ALTIMA. I LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON THE ENGINE AND THEN TALK ABOUT MY PROBLEM. THE QR25DE IS IN THE 2002-PRESENT NISSAN ALTMAN 2.5, 2.5S, 2.5SL 175HP, HYBRID 158HP. THE QR25DE SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PROBLEMS IN ITS SHORT LIFETIME. A VARIETY OF MECHANICAL FLAWS HAVE LED TO NUMEROUS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, RECALLS, REPAIRS, AND OUTRIGHT ENGINE REPLACEMENTS. VEHICLES WITH THE QR25DE MAY INGEST MATERIAL FROM A DAMAGED PRE-CATALYST RESULTING IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. THE PRE-CATALYST WAS REPLACED AT 79,000 MILES AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER REALIZE THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING MORE OIL BUT NOTHING THAT SIGNIFICANT. I STARTED TO NOTICE MORE OIL BEING CONSUMED AT 117,000 CALLED NISSAN AND STARTED A FILE THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER AND CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND I HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS GONE AT 118,151 MILES AND IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $825.65. AT THE SAME TIME THEY CHECKED FOR OIL LEAKS AND SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND TOP OFF THE OIL AND TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 1062 MILES BROUGHT IT BACK TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS DOWN 3 QUARTS. THEY FILLED THE OIL BACK UP AND AFTER 261 MILES THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BROUGHT IT BACK TO NISSAN AND FOUND IT TO BE DOWN 4 QUARTS AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS GONE. UNSUSPECTI

NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 2002 IN 2006 MY CAR WAS USING 2 OR 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES. LUCKILY MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NISSAN AND THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WERE VERY RELUCTANT TO PROVIDE HELP. FINALLY AFTER MONTHS OF TESTING, TEN TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, CALLS TO CORPORATE, AND A TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY FATHER, THEY FINALLY REPLACED MY ENGINE. THEY WOULD NOT, HOWEVER, TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WHY THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, I AM FACING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS I NEED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEW O2 SENSOR. ANOTHER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS! AFTER RESEARCHING THIS CAR AND OTHERS WHO ARE FACING THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM CONVINCED NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND A RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATORY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

JUST COMMUTING TO WORK AND USING MY CAR FOR LEISURE; HOWEVER, EVERY OTHER MONTH I HAVE TO PUT OIL INTO MY CAR BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS WITH ME DOING MY QUARTERLY IF NOT EARLIER OIL CHANGES. MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA ONLY HAS 73000 MILES AND IS CONSUMING OIL AND NOW HAS BEGUN SHAKING WHEN AT A STOP AND SHAKES EVEN MORE WHEN THE A/C IS ON. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE OIL HAS TO DO WITH THE ENGINE AND THE SHAKING THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP IN THIS MECHANICAL ERROR. I'VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND I SEE THAT I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS COSTLY SITUATION. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TRUST NISSAN WHEN I FEEL AS IF THEY REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THE CONSUMERS. *TR

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS VERY HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. SEEMS THAT I"M NOT ALONE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE PEOPLE. IS COSTING ME A LOT IN REPLACING ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

BOUGHT MY 2002 ALTIMA NEW IN MAY \'02. THE CAR HAS RECEIVED ALL MAJOR AND MINOR SERVICES, OIL CHANGES, AND RECALLS THROUGH A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. RECENTLY THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS AN ONGOING HEAD GASKET LEAK THAT HAD GONE UNDETECTED PAIRED WITH A SOUND FROM THE TIMING CHAIN THAT INDICATED IT WAS SOON TO GO. RECOMMENDATION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MIND YOU, THE CAR WAS IN THIS NISSAN DEALERSHIP A MONTH PRIOR FOR A ROUTINE MINOR SERVICE AND 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS \"DIAGNOSIS\" FOR A RECALL. NOTHING WAS INDICATED ON EITHER OCCASION. AFTER PLEADING, THE DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED TO NISSAN A PROPOSAL FOR THEM TO COVER THE COST (WHICH WAS DENIED BY NISSAN HEAD QUARTERS) THEN NISSAN APPROVED A 50/50 COMPENSATION (ME PAYING 1/2 AND NISSAN PAYING 1/2) I THEN OPENED A CLAIM WITH NISSAN\'S REGIONAL OFFICE IN THE HOPES THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE COST BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE 50/50 OFFER WAS THE BEST THEY COULD DO.. DAMAGE RESULTING = A NEW ENGINE WAS QUOTED AT APPROX: 3500.00. I ENDED UP PAYING 1700 PRE-TAXED OUT OF MY POCKET. *TR

NISSAN (WOODFIELD NISSAN, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL) IS NOT FORTHRIGHT IN ACKNOWLEDGING RECALL # NTB03-070C AND IS NOT WILLING REPAIRING THIS KNOW HAZARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENTIRE EMISSION SYSTEM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THE CONVERTER WAS NOT REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER WOULD NOT DO IT FOR FREE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,323.

CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH A MISFIRE#4 IN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG,COIL, AND INJECTOR. SAME PROBLEM. ALSO NOTICED A HIGH VOLUME OF OIL CONSUMPTION. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SHAKES DURING A COLD OUR HOT START. SMOOTHES OUT THEN THE CAR RUNS FINE. DEALER IS SAYING IT PASSED THE PRESSURE TEST BUT IS SAYING I NEED A NEW MOTOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING MORE OIL AT A RAPID PACE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL ON HER VEHICLE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND PARTIALLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE ENTIRE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ECM SOFTWARE WAS UP-TO-DATE AND DID NOT NEED THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO AN ENGINE FIRE AND THAT SHE NEEDED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. SHE REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE), WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PARTIALLY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE HANGER PIN WAS REPLACED, BUT NO HEAT SHIELDS WERE INCORPORATED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. SHE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN TO OPEN A CASE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

MY NISSAN ALTIMA HAS GONE THROUGH 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTS AND IS BURNING 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 100 MILES. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S MODEL, THE CAR STARTED TO USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND COOLANT. TOOK CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE AND WITHOUT HAVING THE SERVICE DEPT. DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE THEY CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT THE FAILURE OF IS. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 98K ON IT AND IS AND WAS TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. I'VE HEARD OF OTHERS WHO OWN NISSAN ALTIMAS HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEMS. THE NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY OR NISSAN OF AMERICA CAN OR WILL DO. I KNOW THAT NISSAN HAS HAD PROBLEMS AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5SL WITH 119K MILES, PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM DEALERSHIP, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR POOR EMISSION/ENGINE CONSTRUCTION. APPEARS WE NEED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO CONVERTER BREAKING DOWN AND BEING SUCKED INTO ENGINE. *TR

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AT 83,000 MILES. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, I FOUND AND NISSAN IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE MATTER. ENGINES THAT ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF SHOULD NOT DIE AT 83,000 MILES. THIS ALL STARTED IN JUNE WHEN MY CAR STARTED BECOMING DIFFICULT TO START. I BROUGHT MY NISSAN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SOME RECALL ITEMS AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE HARD START WHILE IT WAS IN THERE. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SUGGESTED A FUEL SYSTEM TUNE UP (WHICH I DID) AND IF THAT DIDN'T WORK I MIGHT NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP. THIS WORKED WELL FOR A WHILE BUT THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. I PAID FOR NEW SPARK PLUGS, OIL CHANGES, AIR FILTERS, ALL SEEMED TO HELP FOR A DAY AND THE HARD START WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. SUDDENLY THE COMPUTER FINALLY GOT A READ OF O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING BEFORE THE 80,000 MILE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND IT WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT UNLESS I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER, WHICH I DID. WHEN I GOT THERE THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE ON TOP OF THE O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AND THAT NISSAN DENIED MY REQUEST TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. *TR

AT 78K MILES, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND SOON AFTER, IT STARTED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION FOLLOWED BY A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN POWER, ESPECIALLY IN TAKE-OFF SPEED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED TO CHANGE THE ENGINE FOR CLOSE TO $5000. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AFTER I DID A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS FAILURE MODE SEEMS TO BE THE SAME AS WELL AS ATTESTED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE PROBLEM. CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT WAS ODDLY DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE THERMALLY WEARS AND SENDS CHIPS INTO THE ENGINE WHERE BY SCORCHING THE CYLINDER. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. MY CAR HAS 140K MILES AND I HAVE AN IMPECCABLE SERVICE RECORD AND HAVE ALL OF MY RECEIPTS FROM EVERY OIL CHANGE AND SERVICE I HAVE EVER DONE--ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AT NISSAN DEALERS. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THAT MY CAR BEGAN BURNING OIL VERY QUICKLY. IT WAS NOT LEAKING OIL AT ALL, I JUST STARTED GOING THROUGH A QUART OF OIL EVERY WEEK. THE ENGINE ALSO BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH SOMETIMES. SO I BROUGHT IT IN TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER TO BE FIXED. I PAID $1200 AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM (REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ETC). HOWEVER, THE CAR STILL USED A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF OIL (BUT DOES NOT LEAK OIL) AND RUNS ROUGH. IT NOW ALSO RUNS AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE (MAXED OUT ON THE THERMOSTAT) AND I GET NO HOT AIR OUT OF MY VENTS. SO I BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO THE SAME NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THIS TIME, THEY TELL ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DECIDED TO LOOK ONLINE FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE LITERALLY FOUND HUNDREDS (IF NOT THOUSANDS) OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH 2002 NISSAN ALITMA 2.5 ENGINES WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S THAT CAUSES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FAIL AND THEN TEAR APART THE ENGINE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 AND HAS HAPPENED TO MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR CAR AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINES FOR ALL PEOPLE WH

ENGINE LIGHT. SEE SERVICE BULLETON 06009. NHTSA# 100119613. CANNOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, THEN WANTED TO REPLACE IPDM. HAD CAR CHECKED BY AAA CERTIFIED SHOP. CANNOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH NOW I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH HOW CAR RUNS. AM AFRAID CAR WILL STALL ON HIGH WAY. SEVERAL MECHANICS STATED THAT THEY BELIEVE THE DEALER IS GUESSING ON THE DIAGNOSIS. NO CODES EXCEPT U1000 AND U1001 ARE BEING STORED IN COMPUTER. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. THIS AFFECT ALL 2002-2006 NISSAN. CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS THE SAME AS ABOUT 50 OTHER COMPLAINTS I FOUND ON THIS SITE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERT FAILED AND THE ENGINE INGESTED PARTICLES THAT SCORED THE CYLINDER HEADS. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP DIFFER THE COST OF THE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PAST THE 80,000 MI. WARRANTY PERIOD AND WE DID NOT BUY ENOUGH NISSAN VEHICLES IN THE PAST TO WARRANT ANY GOOD WILL. IN FACT THE REGION NISSAN REP REFUSED TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SHE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF THIS SAME PROBLEM EVERY YEAR. IN READING RECALLS LIKE 03V084000, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT NISSAN HAS AGREED TO REPAIR VOLUNTARILY, BUT IS NOW NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR AGREEMENT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO PERSUADE NISSAN TO HELP OUT. ALSO, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS OF THE 03V455000 RECALL BUT THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. EVEN THE DEALERS OWN DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWS THE P0335 CKP SENSOR CIRCUIT ERROR CODE IS STILL A PROBLEM. CAN A RECALL BE PERFORMED TWICE IF A FAILURE OCCURS AGAIN? THE INFO PROVIDE IN YOUR DESCRIPTION OF THE REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARDS INSTALLED UNDER THE PREVIOUS RECALL 01V357 WERE STILL DEFECTIVE. WHAT SHOUL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BECAUSE HIS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE ALREADY FAILED, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ECM AT THE COST OF $500. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,359.

I LOVED THE CAR UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER. MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY HEATER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE MAY BE BUBBLES IN THE COOLANT LINE. THEY BLED THE LINE, REFILLED IT AND IT WAS FINE FOR AWHILE. I HAVE NO HEAT AGAIN. THEY CHECKED AND COULD FIND NO EXTERNAL LEAKS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE PAST YEAR, AND EVERY FEW MONTHS I NEED MY COOLANT REPLACED AND BLED. I'VE GONE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND NOBODY CAN FIND THE LEAK. I'VE SEARCHED MANY SITES AND FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR MY TYPE OF CAR. THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING BECAUSE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING, THE CAR IDLES ROUGH AND IS DRIVING W/ HIGHER RPMS THAN IT USED. *TR

I LOVED THE CAR UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER. MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY HEATER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE MAY BE BUBBLES IN THE COOLANT LINE. THEY BLED THE LINE, REFILLED IT AND IT WAS FINE FOR AWHILE. I HAVE NO HEAT AGAIN. THEY CHECKED AND COULD FIND NO EXTERNAL LEAKS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE PAST YEAR, AND EVERY FEW MONTHS I NEED MY COOLANT REPLACED AND BLED. I'VE GONE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND NOBODY CAN FIND THE LEAK. I'VE SEARCHED MANY SITES AND FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR MY TYPE OF CAR. THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING BECAUSE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING, THE CAR IDLES ROUGH AND IS DRIVING W/ HIGHER RPMS THAN IT USED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

I BOUGHT A USED 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL 2 MONTHS AGO. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN SERVICE CENTER 2 TIMES FOR IN 2 MONTHS FOR OIL CHANGE. LAST TIME I GOT "ENGINE CHECK SOON " ICON SO I ASKED TO DO DIAGNOSTIC ENGINE CHECK AND REQUIRED REPAIR. THEY DID IT AND SAID COOLANT LEVEL IS LOW AND ENGINE CAP IS LEAKING PRESSURE SO NEED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR CAP. AFTER 1 MONTH I HAD A MECHANICAL FAILURE PROBLEM ON HIGHWAY SUDDENLY AND A ROD THREW FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE OUT AND MADE A WHOLE ON ENGINE. THIS ENGINE WAS CALLED FOR A RECALL IN MARCH 2008 AND IT WAS DONE. BUT NOW I GOT THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND NOW TURNED OUT TO BE A BIG PROBLEM TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE. I'M A STUDENT AND I CAN'T PAY $4500 FOR THIS. NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND BARE THE COST. THIS CAR'S WARRANTY PERIOD IS ALSO OVER. BUT AS NISSAN SERVICERS KNOW THAT WHEN ENGINE CHECK SOON PROBLEM OCCURS IN THESE VEHICLES IT IS GOING TO CRASH BUT THEY DON'T TELL THIS. NISSAN MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY LOSSES. *TR

TOO MANY ISSUES TO REMEMBER THAN ALL BUT I'LL TRY: - EXCESSIVE OIL USE - EXCESSIVE COOLANT USE - OVERHEATING TO THE AFOREMENTIONED ISSUES - INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION ISSUES - FAILING AIRBAG - ELECTRICAL ISSUES - BROKEN SENSORS - CATALYTIC CONVERTERS GONE BAD - OXYGEN SENSORS GONE BAD - INTERMITTENT FAILURE TO START - INTERMITTENT CAR SHAKING AND SO ON. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5L OIL CONSUMPTION! I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 18 MILES, I HAVE DONE OIL CHANGES EVERY 3K. I LOSE ALMOST A QUART EVERY 1K MILES. I HAVE SEEN MANY ISSUES WITH THE VQ AND STILL NO RECALL. PLEASE HELP! *TR

AFTER REPLACING THE OXYGEN SENSOR VARIOUS TIMES, I BEGAN TO GET HUGE AMOUNTS OF OIL CONSUMPTION WHERE I HAD TO ADD EVERY WEEK. AS A RESULT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS SHOT, AND ALSO RUINED THE ENGINE. DURING THAT PERIOD, MY 2002 ALTIMA HAD SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE OPERATING ON CITY ROADS AND INTERSTATE FREEWAYS. DESPITE HAVING PERFECT MAINTENANCE AND COMPLETING ALL RECALLS (SEE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 03V084000 OR NISSAN RECALL R3007), I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE DESIGN IS COMPLETELY FLAWED AND NO RECALL WILL CORRECT THIS BAD DESIGN. *TR

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER PRECATALYST SUCKED INTO ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED NISSAN TO DECLARE MY ENGINE WAS SHOT. THIS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN. HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED IT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED BY NISSAN AND ENGINES REPLACED FOR FREE. *TR

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L. I HAD MY CAR LOOKED AT IN EARLY 2008 BECAUSE MY HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. THE MECHANIC SAID THE COOLANT WAS LOW BUT COULD FIND NO PROBLEM SO HE TOPPED IT OFF AND TOLD ME TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 I NOTICED IT WAS GOING THROUGH COOLANT AGAIN. IT WOULD ALSO SHUDDER WHEN FIRST STARTED AND A FOUL BLACK SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS OUT. SO HE IS REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET. HE JUST ORDERED THE PARTS AND HIS SUPPLIER SAID THEY WERE SENDING OUT ABOUT ONE A MONTH, WHICH IS A LOT. THEY ALSO HAVE A DIFFERENT NUMBER, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THE HEAD GASKET. INITIAL COSTS PUT IT AROUND $1500. I DID INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR STARTING AROUND 87,000 MILES. THE INTERNET ALSO MENTIONED PROBLEM WITH THE PRE-CAT AND OXYGEN SENSORS. I FEEL THAT A CAR ONLY 6 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS. I LOVED THE CAR UNTIL I STARTED HAVING SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH IT. *TR

AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD AN ISSUE WHERE THE COOLANT STARTED LEAKING INTO TO COMBUSTION CHAMBER, HAD TO HAVE THE HEADS RESURFACED, AND CAT CONVERTERS REPLACED. NOW THE CAR BURNS OIL, HAS TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT 1000 MILES (COMPLETELY EMPTY IF I LET IT GO TO 1500 MILES). THE CAR NOW STOPS WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT DIES WHILE DRIVING. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA - ENGINE IS GOING THROUGH 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 100 MILES. I HAVE DONE SOME SIMPLE RESEARCH ON THIS AND FIND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY NISSAN IS AWARE OF IT YET CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THE BASICS OF THE ISSUE ARE THAT AN INTERNAL PART OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS GETTING SUCKED BACK UP INTO THE ENGINE SCORING THE CYLINDER. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR HAS ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT HOWEVER THERE ARE COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT ON VARIOUS BLOGS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING AS SOON AS 50-60,000 MILES. HER CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. THE COST OF REPLACING THE ENGINE IS $5,000. I HAVE READ STORIES OF ENGINES HAVING BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES ON THE SAME CAR. DOES NISSAN HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS OR CAN THEY JUST BLOW OFF THE CUSTOMER AND PRETEND THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE MOTOR, CONVERTER ETC? *TR

OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA; REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER 6/2005 @ 71K MILES. IT FELL UNDER FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY. 7/2008 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN AND SEEM TO BE BURNING THROUGH OIL. TOOK INTO BALISE NISSAN - CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, NEEDS MORE EXPENSIVE TESTS TO DIAGNOSE OIL ISSUE. GOOGLED 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA PROBLEMS, CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE HAD POST AFTER POST OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS I'VE HAD/HAVING. ULTIMATE FIX, NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE. ONE MAN REPLACED ENGINE TWICE AND CAR IS STILL NOT CORRECT. CALLED NISSAN HEADQUARTERS, THE REGIONAL REP, CATHERINE, WHO WAS EXTREMELY RUDE AS THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING TERRIBLE, SAID SHE REVIEWED MY COMPLAINT AND THERE IS NOTHING NISSAN WILL DO BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RECALLS PENDING AND THE CAR IS A 2002 AND NOW HAS 126K ON IT AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. I TOLD HER THE INITIAL PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND OBVIOUSLY THAT HAD TO BE A PROBLEM ALSO BECAUSE A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE SHOULD NOT BURN THROUGH 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN 6 YEARS AND ALSO NEED A NEW ENGINE. I ALSO TRIED TO BRING HER ATTENTION TO THE COUNTLESS OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, SHE DID NOT WANT TO DISCUSS IT. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES...PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR DRIVEN. THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,764.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, A ROD FAILED AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE NISSAN DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

RECENTLY THE CAR WOULD BE ROUGH TO START. AND WHEN IT DID START IT WOULD SPUTTER AND SHAKE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO A NISSAN SERVICE FACILITY. AFTER THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS SHOT. ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE RESERVOIR. THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON SO I HAD NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 105,000 MILES. I HAVE NO OIL LEAKS, SMOKE COMING OUT WHEN I DRIVE BUT MY CAR IS CONSUMING A QUART OR MORE A WEEK. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. BUT ON CAR COMPLAINTS THERE ARE SEVERAL. I AM AFRAID MY ENGINE WOULD BLOW WHEN I AM DRIVING. *TR

2002 ALTIMA 2.5 ENGINE- BEGAN USING OIL, A LITTLE BETWEEN CHANGES, INCREASED TO USING 4 QUARTS FOR A 16 MILE ROUND TRIP. CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE , BECOMING A HAZARD TO OPERATE, DUE TO THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE SCREEN. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC , NISSAN HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN, BUT NOT RECALL ON PROBLEM OF CAT. CONVERTER FAILURE, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL AROUND 100K. *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 03V084000. THIS RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA BACK IN 6/2004. IT WAS NOT PERFORMED COMPLETELY. PRECAT WAS FOUND DAMAGED AND REPLACED BUT ENGINE WAS NOT. PRECAT FAILED AGAIN IN 5/2008 AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ENGINE WAS NOT REPLACED A SECOND TIME. ENGINE IS NOW USING EXCESSIVE OIL AND IS A FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND I AM RECEIVING RESISTANCE FROM THEM ON REPLACING ENGINE. *TR

MY CAR HAS A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE. I TOOK TIME OFF FROM WORK TO GO AND GET MY CAR SERVICED. THE SAME DAY OF THE SERVICE, MY CAR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD POOR PERFORMANCE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION, AND THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IN. I TOLD THEM I NEEDED A LOANER CAR SO I COULD GO TO WORK. THEY INSISTED THAT THEY DO NOT ISSUE LOANERS ANYMORE, SO I PROCEEDED TO OBTAIN ANOTHER WAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO LET THEM KNOW IT WAS A PROBLEM GETTING MY CAR IN WITHOUT THE COURTESY OF A LOANER. IN JUNE 2008, I TRIED TO OBTAIN MY LICENSE BUT THE CAR FAILED THE EMISSION TEST. I CONTACTED THE NISSAN HEADQUARTERS WITH MY COMPLAINT MAKING SEVERAL CALLS AND LEAVING MESSAGES. A REGIONAL MANAGER ASSISTANT CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THE MANAGER WILL CALL ME WITHIN 3 DAYS. SHE DID NOT CONTACT ME LIKE SHE PROMISED, SO I KEPT CALLING UNTIL FINALLY I REQUESTED SOMEONE CALL ME ASAP. I RECEIVED A CALL ON THURSDAY, 7/31/08 FROM THE REGIONAL SPECIALIST STATING THAT THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EMISSION TEST FAILURE AND ADDED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SHE REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STATED SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR DECISION. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICEMAN STATED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN TO THE REGIONAL SPECIALIST AND WHEN I BRING THE CAR IN I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC COSTS AND REPAIR SERVICES, BECAUSE IT IS PROBABLY NOT THEIR PROBLEM. AS OF NOW, THE PR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN TOLD MY CAR IS NOT FIT FOR THE ROAD AND AS THE MECHANIC AND SALES PERSON TOLD ME, IS A "TICKING TIME BOMB". THE CAR WAS VOLUNTARILY RECALLED IN 2003 BY NISSAN AND I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY HEAT UP AND BREAK DOWN THE CATALYST CAUSING IT TO SPRAY PIECES BACK INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE REPRESENTATIVE AT NISSAN TELLS ME HE IS "AWARE OF THE ISSUE" BUT MY CAR IS NOW OUTSIDE OF THE 80,000 MILE WARRANTY AND IT DOESN'T MATTER( I JUST TURNED OVER 100,000). NISSAN REFUSES TO ADDRESS THAT I DID TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL AND MANY TIMES AFTER WHEN THE SENSORS WENT OFF AND THE MECHANICS NEVER MENTIONED THIS ISSUE OR OFFERED TO CORRECT IT WITH THE "REPLACEMENT ENGINE" THAT NISSAN CLAIMS THEY WOULD GIVE THE CUSTOMERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INSTANCES WHEN MY CAR'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD BREAK INTO PIECES AND SPRAY THROUGHOUT MY ENGINE? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN? I HAD A 90,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER MAINTENANCE AND THEY CHARGED US AROUND $400 AND NEVER MENTIONED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. PLEASE HELP! I HAVEN'T HAD A CAR TO DRIVE IN THREE WEEKS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY NEXT MOVE SHOULD BE. STACY OLEXY, READING, PA. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S IN JUNE 2008 WITH 69,000 MILES AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER (UNIVERSAL NISSAN) WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER PERFORMED WORK ON SEVERAL RECALLS INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ENGINE USES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 50 MILES SO THE DEALER DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE FAILED THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, THAT THE ENGINE IS BAD AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND REQUESTED THAT THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER GOING BAD AND ALLOWING MATERIAL FROM THE DAMAGED PRE-CATALYST TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND RESULT IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION PER THEIR RECALL # NTB03-070C, DATED NOVEMBER 17, 2006. WE HAVE BEEN DENIED OUR REQUEST FOR NISSAN TO PAY FOR AND TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE WITH A NEW ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR

BOUGHT USED 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3/07 TOOK CAR TO DAVE SOLON NISSAN, PUEBLO CO 12/07. I COMMUTED EVERY OTHER WEEK TO COLORADO SPRINGS ON THOSE WEEKS I WAS PUTTING 3 QUARTS OF OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAK OIL WAS GONE. NISSAN COULDN'T TELL ME WHERE OIL WAS GOING THEY CONTACTED WARRANT & THEY DECIDED ON A REFURBISHED ENGINE. GOT MY CAR BACK END OF DECEMBER. JAN, FEB & MARCH ONLY DROVE CAR EVERY OTHER WEEK TO SPRINGS. NOTICED AT END OF FEB I WAS PUTTING ABOUT 8 QUARTS OIL A WEEK. TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN IN BEGINNING OF MARCH THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO FIND RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES, TOLD THEM I WASN'T SURE I COULD FIND THEM. BUT QUESTIONED THAT IT OIL WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED WHEN THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR AFTER A TWO DAYS. A WEEK LATER HUSBAND STARTED BACK TO WORK HE TOOK NISSAN TO COLO SPRINGS FOR WORK ON HIS WAY HOME IT JUST DIED OUT GOOD THING FOR US ON OUR NOT SO BUSY STREET AND ONLY A COUPLE OF HOUSES FROM OURS. SO THERE IT STOOD FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOT HAVING MONEY TO GET IT TOWED OR EVEN LOOKED AT. IN MAY WE FOUND A MECHANIC A MILE FROM OUR HOME WHO WOULD COME AND TOW IT TO HIS SHOP. HE LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND WE NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PAID $800 FOR IT. WHEN HE WENT TO PUT IT IN HE FOUND WHERE OUR OIL WAS GOING. HE SAID 3 OF OUR 4 CYLINDERS WERE COVERED IN OIL WHICH MADE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER EXPLODE. HE TOLD USE TO CALL NISSAN WHICH I DID THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR UNLESS WE GIVE THEM RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AGAIN WHY TRIED AGAIN TO FIND THEM OF COURS

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR THE ROAD. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CONSUMER IS OVER THE 80,000 WARRANTY. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH COULD CAUSE HEAT BUILD-UP AND BREAK DOWN THE CATALYST WHICH COULD CAUSE PIECES TO SPRAY BACK INTO THE ENGINE.*JB

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