2002 Nissan Altima complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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

STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TIGHTENING MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. TURNING BECAME ARDUOUS , SLOW AND SCARY. WE WENT TO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY TOLD US THEY CORRECTED IT. BUT, THE PROBLEM RETURNED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. SO WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD US THAT THE ORIGINAL REPAIR DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM (OBVIOUSLY). THEY NEEDED A NEW STEERING PART. THE AGENCY CALLED THAT THE PART ARRIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED AGAIN AND LEFT ALL DAY ONLY TO LEARN THAT THE PART DELIVERED TO THEM WAS WRONG. THEY 'JERRY-RIGGED' IT AND TOLD US THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE NEW PART ARRIVED. THE STEERING IS OK BUT THEY WARNED US THAT IT NEEDED TO BE CORRECTLY REPAIRED. THE AGENCY HAS NOT YET CALLED BACK . IT IS ODD THAT A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES WOULD HAVE SERIOUS, SEVERE STEERING PROBLEMS. IT IS DISMAYING THAT WE PAID TO REPAIR A PROBLEM ONLY FOR IT TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN. THEN IT IS ANNOYING TO WAIT ALL DAY TO LEARN THAT THE DELIVERED PART WAS THE WRONG PART. AND, I AM SUSPICIOUS THAT MAYBE THE PART WASN'T WRONG, BUT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CORRECTLY FIX THE PROBLEM. IS IT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM ISN'T CORRECTLY FIXED? SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY SEVERAL TIMES FOR A PROBLEM TO BE CORRECTLY FIXED? *JB

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

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

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A PRE-CATALYST THAT HAS BROKEN APART INSIDE AND HAS CAUSED SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. NEVER THE LESS, THIS PRE-CATALYST HAS INDEED FAILED AND THE ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED INCLUDING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, ENGINE NOISE AND A BURNING SMELL. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF FIRE SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER VEHICLES LIKE MINE. I HAVE GONE TO A DEALER AND TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE DONE THE RECALL WORK AND THAT THIS IS NO LONGER THEIR PROBLEM. *NM

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

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

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

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

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

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

DT: THE WIRE TO THE ALTERNATOR LOOSENED TWICE. CONSUMER WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND FIRST SUSPECTED IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND LATER DETERMINED IT WAS THE WIRING TO THE ALTERNATOR. HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. AAA WAS CALLED , AND NOTED THE LOOSE WIRING. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. CONSUMER SIMPLY PLACED/PUSHED WIRE BACK INTO TO PLACE. *AK

(1) I ALLEGEDLY HAD THE ENGINGE CRANK SENSORS REPLACED IN MARCH, AS ACCORDING THE MANDATED RECALL ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS. YET, MY CAR STILL EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES STARTING AND CONTINUED TO CONUMSE LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL. I WAS HAVING TO ADD 2 OR 3 QUARTS IN BETWEEN SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. (2) IF IN FACT THE CRANK SENSORS ON THE ENINGS OF MY VEHICLE WERE REPLACED, THE STARTING DIFFICULTIES PERSISTED. ALSO, THE RECALL INFORMAITON LISTED AND SHOWN ON NISSAN USA'S WEBSITE PROVIDE EXLPICIT AND DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MECHANICAL TROUBLE AND EVENTS WILL OCCUR IF THE SENSORS AND THE CATALYIC (CATALYST) CONVERTER ARE NOT REPLACED SIMULTEANEOUSLY. (3) I HAD MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA TOWED TO PEACHTREE NISSAN ON 7/15/05, AND ON 7/16/05 I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GAINER SMITH (MAINTENANCE MGR.) INFORMED ME THAT MY CATALYIC (PIECES) CONVERTER HAD BEEN SUCKED INTO MY ENGINE AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE AND CRACKED THE PISTONS AND ENGINE BLOCK. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT MY CAR HAD OFTER STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE FREEWAY, FOR UNEXPLAINED REASONS. MY 02 ALTIMA NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR ENGINE OR PART PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE AUTOMOBILE BRAND NEW FROM TRONCALLI NISSAN. PEACHTREE NISSAN INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL NISSAN USA BECAUSE THERE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT AUTHORIZE THEMSELVES TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY CAR. ALSO, A MECHANIC ON DUTY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM THAT DESTROYED THE ENGINE IN MY CAR HAPPENS OFTEN TO 2.5 LITER ENGINE ALTIMAS. HE STATED THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS AT 60,000 MILES AND SINCE

THE FIRST THING WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THEN THE OXYGEN SENSOR AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM. MEXT THERE WAS, AND STILL IS, THE JERKING TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC OR DRIVING ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY, THE TRANS SHIFTS HARD COMMING OUT OF FIRST INTO SECOND. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR INTO SEVERAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND TO THIS DAY, NO ONE HAS FOUND THE PROBLEM. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER ALTIMAS INCLUDING SEVERAL RENTALS WHILE MINE WASIN THE SHOP AND THEY DIDN'T SHIFT LIKE MINE. THE NEXT PROBLEM IS THOSE HEADLIGHTS. THEY HAVE REPLACED ONE OF MY LIGHT ASEMBLIES AN GREAT RIVER NISSAN BUT THE OTHER HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. NEXT, THERE WAS THE HEATER COIL THAT LEAKED AND IT TOOK ALMOST 6 MONTHS TO DETERMINE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T LEAK INSIDE THE CAR. NEXT THERE WAS THE IGNITION COILS THAT WERE REPLACED 2X WITHIN A WEEK AND STILL CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. AFTER THE IGNITION PROBLEM THE MECHANICS AT STERLING MCCALL NISSAN TOLD MY THAT IT WAS MY SPARKPLUGS THAT HAD HUST BEEN CHECKED ABOUT 2 WEEKS PRIOR AT GREAT RIVER NISSAN IN MISSISSIPPI. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INVITED THE SERVICE MAN TO A NICE LONG RIDE. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES, I STOPPED THE CAR AND LE IT SIT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE CAR STARTED AND HE SMILED. HE SAID, "SEE THERE IS NONTHING WRONG." AFTER EXPLAINING THAT HE NEEDED TO LET THE CAR SET FOR A WHILE AND THEN TRY TO START IT, HE SAID THAT IT IS STILL GOING TO START.AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 2 H

I TOO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FRONT HEADLIGHTS IN '02 NISSAN ALTIMA. REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE BULB ONLY ONCE; AND THE PASSENGER SIDE 3 TIMES. LIGHTS WILL WORK FINE FOR AWHILE THEN INTERMITTENTLY; AND THEN NOT AT ALL. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP & WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY & NOT JUST THE BULBS BECAUSE THE HOUSING MELTS. REPLACEMENT OF ASSEMBLY WITHOUT PAYING THE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE DIFFICULT (IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE) BECAUSE IT REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF THE FRONT BUMPER. IF WE COULD REPAIR IT OURSELVES, THE COST FOR THE PART ALONE IS STILL $188. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE IN THE '02'S - NEWER MODELS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED USING METAL TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM; UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS BEEN AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.

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

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

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

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 CYLINDER HAD A RECALL THAT CERTAIN ENGINES MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF THE PARTICLES ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER THEY COULD SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS RESTULTING IN INCREASED OIL COMSUMPTION AND ENGINE FIRE THE PRE-CATALYST WAS TO BE TESTED AND IF THERE IS DAMAGE, A NEW ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN 11/04 TO BE CHECKED. SUPPOSEDLY NOTHING WAS WRONG. LAST MONTH, MY OIL LIGHT FLASHED AND WE CHECKED AND I WAS DOWN 2 QTS OF OIL. I BROUGHT IT IN LAST MONTH AND I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. ONE WEEK LATER, I WAS DOWN ANOTHER 2 QTS AND THEN THEY ADVISED ME THAT I NEED A NEW CATALYST CONVERTER. I BROUGHT IT TO NISSAN AND THEY ARE REQUESTING MY DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL MY OIL CHANGES EVEN THOUGH MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT RUN BEFORE THIS PROBLEM STARTED. AUTOSPA IN MEDFORD, LONG ISLAND WHERE I BRING MY CAR HAD A COMPUTER CRASH AND LOST ALL COCUMENATION AND HAD TO GET NEW COMPUTERS. NISSAN WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I ASKED THEM DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY CAR GOES ON FIRE AND THEY RESPONDED THAT IT WILL BE CHEAPER TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THEN TO CHECK IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. NISSANS VOICE SERVICE EVEN STATES THAT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEFORE 5/20/03 ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED MINE IN 1/02. I FEEL THE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR ARE MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. MY OIL CHANGES SHOULD NOT DETERMINE IF MY CAR SHOULD BE LOOKED AT WHEN THE COMPANY IS ADMITTING TO HAVING PROB

VIN#[XXX] MILES: 50,372 ON 15 MAY 2002, HE LOW BEAM LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WENT OUT. AFTER TRYING A COUPLE OF TIMES, LOW BEAM CAME BACK ON.(SOMETIMES IT WORKED, OTHER TIMES IT DIDN'T) A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM WAS OUT AS WELL. THE ADVANCE AUTO STORE CLERK TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLACE THE BULB FOR ME BECAUSE THE PARTS HAD TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO THE BULB. A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT I BRING THE CAR IN AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $45 EA. HEADLIGHT. HE ADVISED ME OF AN ONGOING DEFECT WITH THE 02 NISSAN ALTIMA HEADLIGHT THAT INVOLVED THE HEAT FROM THE BULB MELTING THE PANEL AROUND IT. HE SAID THAT IF THIS WAS THE CASE, THEN THE ADDITIONAL PART WOULD BE $85 PLUS. THIS PART WOULD PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER, I RECEIVED A CALL BACK ADVISING ME THAT THE DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE HEAT WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. HE THEN GAVE ME A QUOTE OF OVER $700. (BEYOND BELIEF) I QUESTIONED AS TO WHY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL? HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER SO IMMEDIATELY I CALLED NISSANUSA AT 800-647-7261.TAMMY TOOK MY COMPLAINT, AND SHE GAVE ME A REFERENCE NUMBER [XXX]. SHE ASSURED ME THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK IN REFERENCE MY ISSUE BY COB 31 MAY 05. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CALL, HOWEVER, I COULD NOT GET THROUGH TO TALK WITH SOMEONE ABOUT THIS MATTER. MY CAR IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD AND NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE B

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE CONSUMER STATED A NEW ENGINE WAS PLACED IN THE CAR IN NOVEMBER, THEN TWO MONTHS LATER, IT NEEDED A NEW DRIVESHAFT, AND CURRENTLY NEEDS MOTOR MOUNTS. THERE WAS A MOVING SENSATION WHEN FIRST TAKING OFF. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE. THE CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE OWNERSHIP. *AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V455000 CRANK SHAFT FAILURE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS RECALL REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED FOR THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. UPON RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER THE PERFORMANCE CHANGED. THEN, VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE REAR. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK CONSUMER KEPT OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES, ENGINE FAILURE. *BF

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

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

I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A 2002 OFFSET TO DRIVER SIDE OF CAR AT AN ESTIMATED 30-40MPH. DRIVERS SEAT IN ALTIMA IS 8-WAY ELECTRIC AND DURING IMPACT, THE SEAT TILTED BACK ALL THE WAY. THE IMPACT DROVE MY CAR INTO THE BACK OF A 1982 DODGE RAM CHARGER WHICH WAS ALSO OFFSET IMPACT ON FRONT SIMILAR TO REAR. THE DODGE WAS THEN DRIVEN INTO THE BACK OF A SUZUKI GRAND VATARA. I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AS WAS THE DODGE IN FRONT OF ME. DURING IMPACT FROM REAR, DRIVER SEATBACK FAILED AND ALLOWED SEAT TO TILT ALL THE WAY BACK AND IT REMAINED THERE. WHEN I IMPACTED THE DODGE IN FRONT OF ME, I SUBMARINE'D UNDER THE SEATBELT UNTIL IT CAUGHT ME IN THE RIBS. MY ALTIMA WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE. NONE OF THE 6 AIRBAGS IN THE CAR DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED LOW BACK INJURIES, THAT I FEEL SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THE SEAT FAILURE. I DID DO SOME DIGGING AROUND AND FOUND THIS ALARMINGLY COMMON. TO ME THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, FOR IF IMPACT HAD BEEN MORE SEVERE THE CHANCES OF SPINAL INJURY WOULD BE EVEN GREATER.*AK

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

I OWNED THIS NISSAN ALTIMA FOR THREE MONTHS, AND DID NOT ENCOUNTER ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. OVEMBER 25, 2004 DROVE OVER 200 MILES TO MARYLAND. TRAFFIC WAS NOT BACKED-UP AT ALL. WEATHER WAS PERFECT. *AK NOVEMBER 28, 2004, APPROXIMATELY 4AM, I WAS DRIVING, AND A FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME (DRIVING), ON A WELL PAVED, TWO LANE (ONE LANE FOR EACH DIRECTION) ROAD WITH NO SIDEWALKS AND ABSOLUTELY ZERO POTHOLES. AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 1 (ONE) MILE, THE ROAD BEGAN TO BEND TO THE LEFT. FOLLOWING THE ROAD AS IT WAS BENDING TO THE LEFT, I FELT A SLIGHT DROP/BUMP, THEN PROCEEDED TO SPIN AROUND, MORE THAN 360 DEGREES, TO THE LEFT. AS I STARTED TO SPIN, I HIT A MAILBOX ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET (LUCKILY THERE WASN?T ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC) IN THE FRONT OF A HOUSE, WHICH CAUSED MINIMAL DAMAGE ON MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, THEN CONTINUED TO SPIN AND STOP IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO THE MAILBOX I HIT. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS LAYING ALMOST PARALLEL TO THE GROUND. TWO TOW TRUCK DRIVERS CAME AT SEPARATE TIMES. THE FIRST TOW TRUCK DRIVER DID NOT SEE THE ROAD I TRAVELED AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, OR WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SECOND TOW TRUCK DRIVER DID SEE EXACTLY WHERE I DROVE (HE TOWED THE CAR BACK TO WHERE I LEFT FROM), AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOLD ME THE SUSPENSION BROKE DUE TO ME HITTING A POT HOLE OR A CURB. THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING ON DID

NISSAN ALTIMA 2002, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS A LATENT DESIGN DEFECT. *BF THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED WHICH WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL POWER SURGES. *JB

THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE DAY ONE, IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIP FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER, IT STARTED WITH THE CAR RUNNING HARD, DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I HAVE BROKE THE CAR IN AND NOW THIS IS HOW THEY RUN, TOOK IT BACK AGAIN 3 TO 4 MORE TIMES WITH SAME PROBLEM,TOLD THEM CAR IDLES HIGH, SHIFTS BAD, RUNS BAD, THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG, I DO ALOT OF HIGHWAY MILES AND AS SOON AS I WAS OVER THE MILES AND OUT OF THE WARRENTY THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE GONE ONLY 800 TO GET FIXED, I WAS THEN HIT BY A CAR HEAD ON AND REALLY HURT I SUFFERED MAJOR BACK PROBLEMS , COME TO FIND OUT I PROBABY COULD HAVE PREVENTED SOME OF THE DAMAGE TO MY SELF IF I HAD A SAVER CAR, MY AIR BAGS DIDN;T DEPLOY. I HAVE HAD EVERY RECALL TO THIS CAR , THE SERVICE MEN AT THE DEALSERSHIPS ARE THE RUDEST MEN I HAVE EVER DELT WITH. I WAS RIGHT THE WHOLE TIME !!!!! I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WITH THE LIGHTS COST AROUND 800 TO FOX KEPT CHANGING THE LIGHTS NOT TO MENTIONS THE TICKETS I RECIEVED FROM THE COPS , I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT, THEY ARE LIKE THIS IS A 02 THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, IF THEY ONLY KNEW!!! I AM REALLY TIRED OF THIS CAR , NOW I WAS JUST TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS ANOTHER PROBLEM, IT OVER HEATS THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE THE THEROSTAT BUT THEY DON'T KNOW. HOW MUCH MONEY WILL THAT COST ME??? I AM ONE ANGRY PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO THIS CAR!!!!!!!*AK

PASSENGER LOW/BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT-TOOK IT TO RACEWAY NISSAN-WAS TOLD THE GROUND WIRE CLIP THAT HOLDS THE BULB MELTED,CREATED THE BULB TO BURN OUT-WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WOUD COST $296.00. I HAD SOMEONE ELSE FIX THE PROBLEM FOR JUST $40.00!-IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HOUSING UNIT THAT CAUSES THE LIGHT TO BURN OUT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL - NISSAN REFUSES TO AKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I LIVE IN A VERY DARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND I REALLY NEED BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO WORK FOR SAFETY ISSUES. NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FACTORY DEFECT HEADLAMP HOUSING UNIT - THAT IS THE 'REASON' WHY NISSAN CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLAMP HOUSING UNIT FOR IN 2003. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR NISSAN TO PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THESE COMPLAINTS? I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM NISSAN EVER AGAIN!!, I SHOULD HAVE STAYED WITH HONDA. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DRIVER WAS INFORMED BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT, AND THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ,AND REPLACED. THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THEN, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO THE BULB TO REPLACE IT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE BACKSIDE HOUSING HAD MELTED AND I NEEDED A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE LIGHT/BULB REFLECTS OFF OF THE BACK OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SHINES OUT. APPARENTLY, THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHT/BULB HAD GOTTEN SO HOT IT MELTED THE BACKSIDE HOUSING (WHERE IT IS GROUNDED). THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THIS WILL HAPPEN TO MY OTHER HEADLIGHT, WHETHER IT WILL HAPPEN TO MY NEW HEADLIGHT, OR IF IT WILL HAPPEN TO BOTH LIGHTS. IN MY MIND, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO, I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO (ACCORDING TO TWO DEALERS). I AM CONCERNED THAT THE BULB COULD GET SO HOT AS TO MELT SOMETHING ELSE IN THE CAR. I DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT HOW CARS ARE ASSEMBLED AND ABOUT CAR ENGINES, BUT WHAT IF THE HEAT FROM THE BULB COULD MELT FURTHER INTO THE CAR, OR EVEN START A FIRE? THE CHANCE OF MORE DAMAGE TO A CAR OCCURRING FROM A HOT LIGHT BULB SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. IT SEEMS THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE LIGHT OR OF THE MATERIALS USED. I THINK THE 2002 AND 2003 ALTIMAS HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND NISSAN CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS IN LATER MODELS. I NO LONGER LEAVE MY AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON FOR FEAR OF THE BULB GETTING TOO HOT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND, IF THERE IS A FLAW, GET NISSAN TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. *AK

LOST OF HEAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,HEAT BOX,TERMOSTAT'S, FLUSHED COOLING SYSTEM & STILL I LOSE HEAT. THEY HAVE CONTACTED THE ENGINEERS IN CALIF. AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WRONG EITHER. ONE SHOULD BE HERE IN DETROIT BY MARCH 22,2005 TO TRY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR IS BURNING OIL, WHIN IN A WEEK I HAVE TO REPLACE OIL IN THE CAR BECAUSE ALL THE OIL IS GONE AND IT'S NOT LEAKING. *AK

I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUTS OF MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. EVERYTIME I DRIVE OVER A WASHBOARD OR SPEEDING BUMP, THE STRUTS MAKE A POPPING SOUND AS IF A HAMMER IS HITTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ANY SORT OF IRREGULARITIES FROM THE ROAD CAUSES SUCH NOISES. IF YOU TAKE TIME TO GO TO 3RD GENERATION ALTIMA FORUMS, YOU WILL REALIZE TONS OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH MY SAME SITUATION. PLEASE, IF ANYONE FROM NISSAN IS READING THIS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE ALTIMA HAS IT'S FAULTS, FIX THEM!!!!!

ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER BREAKING UP INTO PIECES AND THIS PIECES GOING INTO THE ENGINE. *JB

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BULB WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BULB WAS REPLACED. THE BULB REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE AT A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP TO AVOID DRIVING IN THE DARK WITHOUT A HEADLIGHT. HE CHARGED ME $70 TO REPLACE EACH LIGHT VERSUS $145 THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO CHARGE FOR EACH LIGHT. ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER THE LAST REPLACEMENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT FIXTURES WERE DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, SOMETHING WAS MELTING THE BASE OF THE LIGHT BULB CAUSING THEM ONLY TO LAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE GOING OUT AGAIN. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES (OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL) HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE COVERED THE EXPENSES UNDER 60,000 MILES, WHICH I THINK WAS IRRELEVANT IF THIS WAS HAPPENING ON OTHER VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I TRAVEL A LOT, AND I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A UNFAMILIAR AREA AT NIGHT WITH NO HEADLIGHTS!! *AK

I BROUGHT MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA TO WOODBURY NISSAN TO HAVE THE DRIVERS-SIDE HEADLIGHT REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY AROUND THE HEADLIGHT BECAUSE IT MELTED. THE TOTAL COST IS $305. I WILL HAVE MY CAR 3 YEARS AT THE END OF THIS MONTH BUT I AM OVER MY MILEAGE. MY CAR HAS 43,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY JOSH HILL AT WOODBURY NISSAN THAT IT NOW COMES WITH A METAL PART TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *JB