Page 18 of 21 · complaints 851–900 of 1,047

2002 Nissan Altima complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Structure
Filed Feb 2, 2005CA

REQUEST FOR RECALL OF 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA'S BASED ON SERVICE BULLETIN-CLASSIFICATION BT02-017, REFERENCE NTB02-042. *BF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD A SEVERE LEAK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DEFECT CAUSED EXTREME AMOUNTS OF WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 27, 200565,000 milesLA

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY SHORT OUT. DEALER REPLACED HEADLAMPS 8 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 27, 2005NY

THE DRIVER SIDE HALOGEN HEADLIGHT WOULD WORK INTERMITTINGLY BEFORE FINALLY GOING OUT FOR GOOD. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, 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 A NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED THEREFORE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE DEALER OR MY WARRANTY. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND A RECALL NOTICE SHOULD BE ISSUED. IT COST ME OVER $300 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HALOGEN HOUSING UNIT. THE PASSANGER SIDE HEADLAMP BLEW AND WAS REPLACED 6 MONTHS EARLIER. I WAS TOLD THE RE[LACEMENT HALOGEN HOUSING UNIT IS NOW METAL AND WILL NOT MELT. THIS IS NOW THE ELEVENTH COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE BEFORE A RECALL NOTICE IS ISSUED? *AK

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jan 26, 2005PA

NO COLLISION- WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MADE A LARGE NOISE AND SUDDENLY EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND WE HAD CAR TOWED. CAR NEEDS COMPLETE NEW ENGINE. TWO DIFFERENT AUTO SHOPS SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. CAR HAD ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. NISSAN WAS NOTIFIED AND CAME TO TAKE PICTURES OF CAR IN NOVEMBER 2004. HAS BEEN UNDER "LEGAL REVIEW" EVER SINCE AND COMPANY HAS BEEN LESS THAN COOPERATIVE WHEN WE'VE TRIED TO CONTACT THEM NUMEROUS TIMES, SO WE'VE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2005116,000 milesGA

NISSAN'S RECALL DEALS SEVERELY WITH THE MOTOR. HEAT SENSORS WERE NOT INSTALLED ON THE MOTOR ALLOWING THE MOTOR TO REACH EXTREME TEMPERATURES, THUS BURNING OFF THE OXYGEN SENSOR INTO THE PRE-CATALYST CONVERTER CAUSING MY MOTOR TO LOSE 3 QTS. PLUS OF OIL PER DAY. NISSAN KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH I HAVE 117,000 MILES HAVE KEPT UP WITH OIL CHANGES, NISSAN WANTS ME TO PAY 50% OF THE COST TO FIX MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO NISSAN'S 800 NUMBER AND OVER 20 PLUS CALLS WENT UNANSWERED. I THEN DROPPED MY VEHICLE OFF AND LEFT IN ORDER TO GET SOMEONE TO RETURN MY CALL. NISSAN THREATENED ME WITH THE TOWING OF MY VEHICLE OFF THEIR PREMISES AND HAVE DONE SO. I AM NOW OUT OF A VEHICLE AND NISSAN WONT BUDGE OFF OF THEIR 50% SPLIT FOR A MOTOR. THIS WAS NISSAN'S FAULT IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE VEHICLE NOT MINE. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 21, 200538,253 milesNJ

THE HEADLIGHT FAILED ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON THE CAR, AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS OVER 35K MILES. THE CAR ONLY HAS 38K MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 20, 2005LA

I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD BY A TECH FROM BILL HOOD NISSAN THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHTS BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COSTS TO REPAIR IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HEADLIGHTS. I MADE A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 12, 200525,000 milesTX

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM FAILED WITHIN 20 MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND TWO MONTHS LATTER THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM FAILED. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS BY YOURSELF. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (UNDER WARANTY) AND REPLACED LIGHT BULBS AND NOW ONE OF THE HORNS DOESN'T WORK. REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS IS SO DIFFICULT THAT THE DEALER DAMAGED ONE OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBIES AND HAD TO REPLACE IT ALL.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 11, 200547,000 milesVA

WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE HARD TO DEPRESS. THIS WOULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 5, 200557,000 milesCA

WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATES, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO FEEL IT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK DEC 15 DEALER PICKED UP CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF VIBRATION CAR RETURN 12/17 CAN STILL NOT FOUND AND THERE WAS NO PAPER WORK GIVEN ON WHAT WAS DONE. *TT

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jan 1, 200530,000 milesAZ

CLUTCH WAS NOISY. CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AT 30K MILES. DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. PAID OVER $700 FOR NEW CLUTCH. DISCOVERED THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VEHICLE FOR A REPLACEMENT CLUTCH WITH UPDATED FRICTION MATERIAL. WAS WRONGFULLY ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO POOR DRIVING HABITS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 22, 2004NJ

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

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
Filed Dec 14, 200458,100 milesTX

BOTH FRONT LOW/HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER. UPON INSPECTION, HAS BEEN CAUSED BY FAILURE OF SIMPLE GROUND WIRE (I.E., BURNED OFF). NISSAN SERVICE INSPECTOR STATED THAT IT WAS A BAD, UNSAFE DESIGN. CHANGED DESIGN FOR 2003 BECAUSE OF THIS REASON. SAFETY ISSUE: HEADLIGHTS JUST WENT OUT DURING NORMAL TRAVEL ON ROAD. FILED COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN (REF: 4773934). NO ACTION/RELIEF BY NISSAN. MAJOR EXPENSE TO REPAIR. NISSAN WANTED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT $350 EACH. REQUIRES A SIMPLE GROUND WIRE REPLACEMENT.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Dec 6, 200460,000 milesFL

INTERMITTENTLY IGNITION WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 18, 200435,000 milesMD

ENGINE HAD A CLICKING SOUND. THERE WAS NOISE WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THEN, PEDAL WAS LOOSE, AND ENGINE WAS HARD TO START.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 1, 20049,000 milesNY

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN A HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM THE CONSUMER MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO NOTIFY REPRESENTATIVE. VEHICLE STALLED 4 TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TC

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineCrashFire
Filed Oct 28, 2004NJ

REPORTING 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA ACCIDENT/FIRE; AND REQUESTING ASSISTANCE ON HOW TO GET REIMBURSED FOR AUTO REPAIRS. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH HE RE ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE. THE OTHER VEHICLE DROVE AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT WITH LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 20, 2004GA

PROBLEM WITH HEAD LIGHTS ON/OFF,AS IF A SHORTAGE. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING WAS LOOSE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT. *TC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Oct 19, 2004NY

AT 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP AND 37,000 MILES MY REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY; CALIPERS, PADS, ROTORS, ETC. ALL NEED REPLACEMENT. FRONT BRAKES ARE "OK" FOR NOW AND ONLY HALF AS WORN AS THE REAR BRAKES. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME. OF COURSE, IT IS NOT WARRANTIED SINCE IT IS OVER THE 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO THEM TOO. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN 2002 AND HAVE DRIVEN MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. WHAT, BESIDES DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE FIRST PLACE, WOULD CAUSE THIS KIND OF PARTS FAILURE?*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 17, 200441,000 milesCA

CAR STARTED, BUT AS I WAS SOON TO FIND OUT, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 1000 RPMS. PULLED OUT IN TRAFFIC BEFORE I REALIZED IT WOULD NOT GO. WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM DRIVEWAY AND ALMOST HAS A COLLISION BECAUSE I COULD NOT ACCELERATE TO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. MANAGED TO PULL OVER THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT. TURNED OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE. LATER, WOULD HAPPEN EVERY FEW TIMES I STARTED THE CAR. I HAD TO CHECK IF ENGINE WOULD REV BEFORE DRIVING. IF IT DID REV, PROBLEM WOULD NOT RE-APPEAR UNTIL TURNING ENGINE OFF. MANY TIMES, WOULD NOT START AT ALL, AND WHEN IT WOULD AND WOULD NOT REV. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT RE-STARTING, ENGINE WOULD START AND REV AND BE OK UNTIL TURNED OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. TURNED OUT TO BE THE "THROTTLE CHAMBER." REPLACED UNDER CALIFORNIA'S 50,000 MILE EMISSIONS WARRANTY, BUT ONLY AFTER I POINTED OUT THAT COVERAGE. SERVICE REP AT DEALER MENTIONED TO ME HE WAS SEEING THIS FAILURE ON NISSAN 3.5 LITRE V6S. POSTERS TO INTERNET NEWGROUP ALSO REPORT SEEING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 16, 2004TX

ATTEMPTED TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE DONE BY WAL-MART. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER AUTHORIZED TO CHANGE THE OIL ON THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLE DUE TO THE DIP STICKS BREAKING OFF IN MANY OF THE CARS THEY HAVE SERVICED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 15, 2004FL

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 11, 200449,037 milesTX

PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING ON 2002 ALTIMA. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BULB WAS MELTING THE FIXTURE AND THE ENTIRE FIXTURE NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $300. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AT LEAST 6 OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. *NM

Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut
Filed Sep 28, 200416,000 milesNY

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STRUTS PROBLEM. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT CONSUMER HAD TO SAY REGARDING THE DEFECT OF THIS NEW VEHICLE. STRUTS WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. IT SEEMED THAT THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED EVERY 10,000 MILES. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Sep 10, 200410,000 milesNY

VEHICLE WOULD BOTTOM OUT WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD, AND LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 8, 200488,155 milesMS

LOW BEAM BULB INOPERATIVE DUE TO DEFECTIVE GROUND PLATE INSIDE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I REPLACED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ON AUG 15, 2004. ON SEPT 4, 2004, THE RIGHT LOW BEAM LIGHT BULB QUIT WORKING. I TOOK THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY OUT AND NOTICED THE GROUND WIRE GOING TO THE LOW BEAM BULB HAD "MELTED". THE OLD HEADLIGHT THAT I REPLACED ALSO HAD A "MELTED" GROUND WIRE. THIS IS A POSSILBE FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND WAS GIVEN TECHNICAL BULLETIN, CLASSIFICATION: EL03-008A, REFERENCE: NTB03-089A, DATED: OCTOBER 2, 2003. THE GROUND PLATE COSTS AROUND $11.00 IF YOU PUT IT IN. THIS IS A DEFECT ON NISSAN'S PART. THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT THEIR COST. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 3, 200485,000 milesAZ

DUE TO THE BURNED WIRES FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Sep 2, 200423,400 milesMA

REAR BRAKES ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WORE PREMATURELY AND WORE BEFORE FRONT BRAKES. I THINK IT IS ODD THAT REAR BRAKES WOULD WEAR BEFORE FRONT BRAKES. ALSO, I HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AT 18,000 MILES AND THEY WERE FINE. JUST 5,000 MILES LATER MY ROTORS WERE SHOT AND CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. TOOK CAR TO PETERS AUTO CENTER IN NASHUA (A NISSAN DEALER), THEY TOLD ME THE FOLLOWING: 1) REAR BRAKES WERE WORN AND ROTORS TORN APART. AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME THE CAUSE WAS POSSIBLY SOMETHING GOT STUCK IN THERE. LATER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MORE LIKELY CORROSION. CALIPERS TESTED OK. 2) FRONT BRAKES HAVE CORROSION AND WERE NOT BEING USED PROPERLY. THE RECOMMENDED REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. AFTER HAVING PETERS AUTO FIX REAR BRAKES ONLY, I KEPT THE PARTS AND TOOK MY CAR TO FROST NISSAN. THEY TOLD ME THE FOLLOWING: 1) IT LOOKED LIKE REAR BRAKES WORE NATURALLY. CALIPERS TESTED OK. THEY COULD GIVE ME NO REASON WHY WHEN THEY EXAMINED MY BRAKES JUST A FEW MONTHS EARLIER AND THEY LOOKED FINE. 2) FRONT BRAKES ARE FINE, SHOULD LAST ANOTHER 3 OIL CHANGES. IS 3 WEEKS TOO LONG TO LET A CAR SIT? COULD CORROSION CAUSE MY BRAKES TO FAIL THIS QUICKLY? I NEVER HEARD OF ROTORS RUSTING IN 3 WEEKS! AND RECENTLY, AT 18,811 MILES, FROST NISSAN OF NEWTON, MA PERFORMED BRAKE SYSTEM INSPECT AND ADJUST. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I FIND IT TROUBLING THAT MY REAR BRAKES ARE NOW SHOT, AND THAT MY REAR BRAKES HAVE CONSIDERABLY MORE WEAR THAN MY FRONT BRAKES. NEITHER GARAGE COULD GIVE ME ANY EXPLANATION WHY REAR BRAKES WOULD WE

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 30, 200414,200 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 26, 200475,500 milesTX

(1) MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA SHUTTERS AND DIES WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT LOW RPMS. I.E.(HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT). (2) IT SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN IN MOTION. (3) I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED LAST WEEK, FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND IT'S BACK AT THE SHOP AGAIN TODAY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL ISSUE, BUT KEVIN AT URBAN NISSAN IN DUNCANVILLE TOLD ME THAT ACCORDING TO HIS SYSTEM, THERE WERE NO RECALL ISSUES FOR MY CAR. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Aug 23, 200475,000 milesFL

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR( 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA) THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND A ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I DROVE MY CAR TO THE DEALER MIKE SHAD NISSAN IN JACKSONVILLE ,FLORIDA AND THEY CHECK MY CAR AND ADVICE ME THAT THEY FOUND THE NUMBER ONE SPARK PLUG CLOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A POORLY MANUFACTURER CATALYST CONVERTER BY NISSAN AND ADVICE ME THAT MY ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THIS IS THE THIRD ENGINE ON THIS CAR THIS CAR STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAPPEN TO ME TWICE AND RESENTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE I WAS EXECUTING A TURN THESE CARS 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS WITH THE 2.5 4 CYL ENGINES MUST BE RECALL OR HAVE THE DEALERS ADVICE THE OWNERS TO BRIGN THEIR CARS IN FOR CHECK, BEFORE SOMEONES GEST KILLED AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE NISSAN MAKE ME PAY THE DEALER $498 TO HAVE MY MOTOR LOOK AT .WHY SHOULD I PAY MIKE SHAD NISSAN $498 TO TAKE MY ENGINE APART TO FIND A PROBLEM THAT THE NISSAN CORPORATION KNOWS THAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR CARS THE FAILURE OF MY ENGINE WAS CAUSE BY A FAULTY DESIGN PART. THE 2002 ALTIMAS ARE PLAGUE WITH PROBLEMS.*AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 17, 2004MS

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

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Aug 9, 200426,000 milesSC

REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARDS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE. THE SUN ROOF OPENED. WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS COOL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Aug 9, 2004GA

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE LOST POWER BETWEEN 10 TO 15 SECONDS. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY DIDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS ON FRIDAY AUGUST 7, 2004, AND TECHNICIAN INDICATED THEY WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2004CT

BOUGHT CAR USED IN MARCH 2003 WITH 28451 MILES FROM DECORMIER NISSAN IN MANCHESTER, CT 06040. SINCE I HAVE HAD CAR THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. NO STARTING, CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION COILS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, CAM POSITION SENSOR REPLACED (TWICE), 5 RECALLS, BRAKES REDONE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORRISION, AFTER BRAKES REDONE NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WARPED ROTORS, RADIATOR REPLACED AFTER BOTTOM SEAM BLEW OUT. LATEST PROBLEM IS WHAT I FEEL IS EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF ENGINE OIL. CAR ORIGINALLY DID NOT USE OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (3000 MILES). CAR IS CURRENTLY USING JUST OVER 1 QUART PER 3000 MILES. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER WITH 52,281 MILES TO PERFORM OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. BROUGHT CAR BACK WITH 53,924 MILES. IN 1,643 MILES CAR CONSUMED 0.6 QUART OF OIL. DEALER SAID THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. HAVE SINCE CONTACTED NISSAN OF AMERICA (1-800-NISSAN1) TO START CASE #4630040. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT RECALL FOR PRE-CATALYST (DONE ON 9/23/03) BECAUSE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PRE-CATALYST. MATERIAL FROM A DAMAGED PRE-CATALYST COULD ENTER THE ENGINE AND RESULT IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PRE-CATALYST AND THERE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS. PRE-CATALYST RECALL IS ON THE NISSAN OF AMERICA WEB SITE THEN WHY IS THE DEALER NOT AWARE OF THIS?*AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jul 23, 200437,123 milesPA

DURING A ROUTINE BRAKE JOB AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IT WAS NOTICED THAT I HAD A REAR CRACKED CROSS MEMBER (FRAME). THE FRAME OF THE BODY WAS CRACKED. NISSAN WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP THEY HAD RECOMMENDED SINCE THEY WOULD NOT QUOTE ME A PRICE. I HAD IT FIXED FOR $888.71. THEY REPLACED THE REAR CROSSMEMBER. I DO HAVE THE OLD CROSS MEMBER IN MY GARAGE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 19, 20045,000 milesNY

RECALL 03V084000 CONCERNING ENGINE COOLANT. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT VEHICLE CONSUMED TOO MUCH OIL. DEALER CLAIMED THAT VEHICLE SHOULD NOT USE MORE THAN 1 QUART OF OIL PER 5000 MILES, EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS DONE. CONSUMER FELT THAT VEHICLE WAS STILL USING TOO MUCH OIL. AK

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Jul 6, 200423,000 milesNY

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

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 6, 200457,990 milesFL

ON 6/20/04 BOTH HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2002 ALTIMA BURNT OUT AT NIGHT. THE BULBS BECAME SO HOT THEY BURNT THROUGH THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. EVEN THOUGH NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTIMA THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. YOU MUST BUY A LIGHT KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 28, 200438,000 milesMI

I PURCHASED A 2002 NISAAN ALTIMA AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE. IT HAS BEEN IN TWICE ALREADY FOR THE HEATER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT BLOWS COLD AIR WHEN CAR IS AT IDLE BELOW 2500 RPM. IT WAS TAKEN IN TWICE AND TEMPORALILY FIXED. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. ALSO THE ENIGINE WOULD RUN ROUGH AND SOMETIMES STALL, THIS WAS INITIALLY RECALLED AS A BAD ENGINE CRANK SENSOR. I HAD IT IN A SECOND TIME WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR AGAIN. THE SAME EVEINING WHEN I GOT HOME THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I CONTACTED THE SERVICE AGENT TWICE WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. NOW THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. IN ADDITION TO THESE REPETIATIVE PROBLEMS THE CAR NOW SMOKES WHEN IT IS STARTED, IT ALSO IS ROUGH STARTING. AT THE LAST OIL CHANGE THE VEHICLE WAS DOWN 2 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL. THE OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON A REGULAR BASIS BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 MILES EVERY TIME. THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN START APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO, I HAD TO TAKE OUT THE SPARK PLUGS AND CLEAN THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE SO FOULED OUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE CAR HAS JUST OVER 43000 MILES AND THE LAST INCIDENTS THAT ARE THIRD TIME OFFENDERS ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS BEING FOULED HAVE TRANSPIRED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED OF COURSE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Jun 25, 200457,500 milesCA

CAR FAILED TO START... CHARGED BATTERY, NO RESULTS...NEXT PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY.TWO DAYS LATER CAR FAILED TO START WITH NEW BATTERY...CHARGE BATTERY FOR AN HOUR...CAR THEN STARTED... WHILE CAR WAS STANDING STILL IN DRIVEWAY WITH MOTOR START CAR OVERHEAD AND CRACK THE RADIATOR HEAD ...CAR TOW TO DEALER ...NISSIAN OF NORTH AMERICA REFUSED TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR......QUESTION HOW DO YOU CRACK THE HEAD OF A RADIATOR AT ZERO MILE PER HOUR IN IDLE WITH NOTHING RUNNING ACCEPT THE MOTOR ON A COOL MORNING ABOUT 70 DEGREE.*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 17, 2004CA

PROBLEMS WITH 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS NOT LISTED AS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AS THE DEALER DID NOT CHANGE THE NAME. THE CONSUMER CANNOT GET ASSISTED WITH THE RECALLS ISSUED FOR HER VEHICLE. *SC *JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Jun 16, 2004NJ

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. ONE MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Jun 14, 200420,000 milesCA

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

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator ModuleCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 14, 200416,343 milesGA

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE VEHICLE NOSED DIVED INTO A DITCH AND LANDED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONSUMER WAS PINNED IN THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 14, 200433,186 milesAL

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD HEAVILY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Jun 9, 200420,000 milesMA

MY CAR STALLED ON RT 9 AT A LIGHT AND DID NOT START RIGHT BACK UP. 6 WEEKS LATER IT STALLED ON THE MASS PIKE GOING 70 MPH HR. BOTH TIMES I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WHO HAS TOLD ME THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILY (MY INFANT) AND I. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED! THEY BUILT THIS CAR THEY REALLY SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT ITS MECHANICS!*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 7, 200445,000 milesGA

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM TWICE, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Jun 4, 200460,000 milesNJ

THE DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR THE VEHICLE'S RECALL (RECALL NO. 03V061000) REGARDING ON DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS INFLATOR MODULE. DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED FIRST. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA *SC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail PipeFire
Filed Jun 2, 200430,000 milesNJ

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED ON MAY 17 2004 FOR THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED DUE TO THE ENGINE BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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