2002 Nissan Altima complaints

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD TAKE AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME. THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT BLACK SMOKE BLEW FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *JB

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON SEVEN TIMES. THE ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON FOUR TIMES. TOTAL THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE NINE TIMES. TWO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ONE FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF) AND NOW ONE REGARDING GAS TANK ICE CRYSTALS (RECEIVED MY NOTIFICATION 5/20/04). BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE A "CRASH WITHOUT WARNING." I HAVE WORKED WITH THE BBB AUTOLINE, HOWEVER SINCE THE CAR HAS NOT SHUT OFF SINCE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED THE ARBITRATOR BELIEVES THAT THE "MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM" HAS BEEN REMEDIED AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHILE "BEING A CHRONIC PROBLEM, DOES NOT SUBSTANTIALLY AFFECT THE USE, SAFETY, OR VALUE OF THE VEHICLE." I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THE VEHICLE 14,711 MILES IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, THUS USE HAS BEEN AFFECTED. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE'S PROBLEMS, THIS SAFETY HAS BEEN AFFECTED. CARFAX IS SHOWING SIX NEGATIVE REPORTS ON MY VIN NUMBER, (THE SERVICE THAT CAR DEALERS USE TO HELP DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS SUCH AS MAJOR ACCIDENTS, LEMON LAW VEHICLE, ETC.), THEREFORE, NO ONE WOULD EVEN BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING MY VEHICLE, SO VALUE HAS BEEN AFFECTED. EVEN AFTER THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED THE CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON FOUR MORE TIMES. NISSAN IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE/REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO GIVE ME A REFUND ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN IN TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THESE

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO DRIFT OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WELD RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

CONSUMER STATED BRAKE PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED BADLY, AND THAT ROTORS WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CHECKED AGAIN, AND FOUND THAT VEHICLE NEEDED ROTORS. CONSUMER RESEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. THERE WERE 40,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *NM

VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 68,400 MILES ON IT. REAR ROTORS AND PADS FAILED AT 33,200 MILES AND 68,400 MILES AND WERE REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AND FRONT PADS REPLACED AT 68,400 MILES WHICH IS NOT UNEXPECTED.

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

SCHEDULED RECALL WORK ON CAR ON FRIDAY, WAS NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY THREE RECALLS ON MY CAR (WHICH I HAVE OWNED FOR ABOUT A YEAR, PURCHASED USED) THET NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THAT I NEED MY 30,000 MILE SERVICE DONE. $476 AND LATER THAT AFTERNOON, IGOT MY CAR BACK. I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKED SEEM A LITTLE TIGHT, BUT FIGURED THAT WAS PART OF THE SERVICE. THE NEXT DAY, SATURDAY, WHILE MERGING FROM ONE FREEWAY TO ANOTHER AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR, CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT CAUGHT A PIECE OF THIN METAL UNDER FRONT RIGHT QUADRANT OF CAR, AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS NOISE STOPPED AND NOTHING IN ROAD BEHIND ME. I NOTICE MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES, I REALIZE I HAD LOST THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION, THE BRAKES LAD LOOSENED UP (BUT FUNCTIONING) AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOW BLOWING HOT AIR. I REALIZE I HAD NO IDEA WHERE THE HAZZARD LIGHTS SWITCH WAS AND NIETHER I NOR MY PASSANGE COULD FIND IT. AFTER 2 MORE MINUTES PASSES GOING UP A SLOW INCLINE, THE CAR STARTED JERKING AT ROUND 55 MPH. AT THIS POINT THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, AS WELL AS, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON". WELL NO KIDDING, SERVICE ENGINE SOON! PULLED INTO THE EMERGANCY LANE AND DROPPED MY SPEED TO BELOW 25 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR STOPPED JERKING. FORTUNANTLY, I WAS JUST ONE MILE FROM HOME AT THIS POINT. LIMPED HOME AND CALL DEALERSHIP. THE CAR HAD BEEN TOWED TO CROWN NISSAN IN BIRMINGHAM. I WAS ANNOYED THAT THE SERVICE MAN THAT TOOK MY CALL SHOWED NO EMPATHY WHEN I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FASTEST

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH MOTOR LOST POWER. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO, CONSUMER WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CHECKED THE FLUIDS. AFTER EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OKAY, HE THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND HE TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. ALSO, CONSUMER CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. HE WAS TOLD TO REPORT IT TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE MOTOR, AND THEY REFUSED. *AK

MY CAR WAS UNATTENDED WHEN IT WAS STRUCK, MORE LIKE SIDESWIPED. THERE WAS A CREASE APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE WAY OF THE LENGTH OF THE CAR. I AM NOT SURE HOW IT HAPPENED BUT THE ANGLE THE CAR WAS HIT, PERHAPS AT THE WHEELWELL SENT THE CAR ONTO THE SIDEWALK. I EQUATE THE "INCIDENT" WITH HITTING A POTHOLE. AFTER THE POLICE LEFT AND I TRIED TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE SIDEWALK POSITION AND PARK IT I HAD NO STEERING WHATSOEVER. THE STEERING WHEEL JUST WENT AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND. I LEARNED THAT A KNUCKLE WAS BROKEN, A BEARING WAS BROKEN AND THE AXEL WAS BROKEN. HOW? I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR. WHAT IF I HIT A POTHOLE, WILL THE CAR LOOSE ITS STEERING AGAIN? *LA

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN, ALTIMA THAT CAME WITH CONTINENTIAL TIRES. THE TIRES SIZE IS 200/65-16'S. THEY HAVE 28K WEAR ON THEM . I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. AFTER AN ALIGNMENT, THE CAR IS PULLING TO THE LEFT. NOW THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT ITS MY TIRES, THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE 2 FRONT TIRES BECAUSE OF WEAR. THIS SEEMS OUT OF LINE TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER HAD TIRES WEAR TO THE POINT THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACE TO PUT MY CAR IN ALIGNMENT. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES SHOULD WEAR (THEY GET NORMAL HIGHWAY AND NEIGHBORHOOD USE) FOR AT LEAST 45K-50K BEFORE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?*AK

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO RECALL THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED BY NISSAN. *AK

THE 2002 ALTIMA STARTED TO STALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAR HAD 3 RECALLS ON IT AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED A YEAR IN A HALF BEFORE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK 3 TIMES AND ON THE THIRD TIME I WAS ADIVSED THAT THE CAR WOULD NEED A NEW MOTOR. THAT WAS ON MAR 15,2004. I CALLED APRIL 24,2004 AT 3 PM AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MANAGER HANDLING THE CAR THAT NISSAN APPROVED THEN DISAPPROVE THE REPLACEMENT ORDER THEN REAPPROVED IT AGAIN. HE ADIVSED ME HE WOULD CALL ME WITH FURTHER. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR THE PASSED 6 WEEKS AND THE CAR IS NO LONGER WORKING BUT I'M PAYING FOR IT.*AK

THE VEHICLE'S TIRES HYDROPLANE FREQUENTLY ON WET SURFACES. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE TREAD WAS NOT DESIGNED TO DISBURSE WATER. *NM *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF, FORCING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHT WIRING MELTED. *AK

CONSUMER UNABLE TO GET RECALL WORK DONE ON HER VEHICLE. *PH THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *SC RECALL 03V455000. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED HER THIRD RECALL NOTICE SINCE OWNERSHIP. *PH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE SENSOR KIT AND THE ECU CASE HOLDER FOAM RECALLS WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED COMPENSATION FOR ONE MONTH'S CAR PAYMENT. RECALL #03V455000. *SC *JB

MAJOR GAS LEAKS. *AK

VEHICLE KEEPS LOSING POWER AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER BELIEVES VEHICLE MAY BE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED HEADLIGHTS FAILED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ONTO A RAMP AT 15 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER, HE DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF. *AK *JB

I WAS DRIVING FROM MI TO IL ON THE DAY BEFORE MY STARTING MY NEW JOB IN ILLINOIS. THIRTY MILES OUT FROM MY DESTINATION, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND WAIT OVER TWO HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALER CLAIMS THE MASS AIR FLOW (MAF) SENSOR WAS AT FAULT. ALTHOUGH THE MAF SENSOR WAS REPLACED, I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE COMPONENT THAT DISABLED THE VEHICLE ON THIS DATE. THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT FIRST GOING INTO "LIMP" MODE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (CPS). AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE CPS. I DID NOT HAVE IT REPLACED PRIOR TO MY DRIVE BECAUSE I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION. THE CPS WAS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE MAF. WHAT PROMPTS THIS COMPLAINT IS THE MAF SENSOR. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ON THE THIRD MAF. THE FIRST ONE WAS REPLACED ON 8/2003. THE SECOND MAF WAS REPLACED ON 1/14/2004, WHICH LASTED LESS THAN SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MODE FOR THE FIRST MAF SENSOR ALLOWED WARNING: THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF, BUT INSTEAD LIMITED THE ENGINE SPEED TO 2500RPM. FORTUNATELY, BOTH MAF SENSORS WERE COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN ADDITION TO MAF SENSORS AND OPEN RECALLS, MY VEHICLE HAS A NEW ECM AND THROTTLE BODY (IACS). MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS SINCE EXPIRED, AND I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH NISSAN IN GETTING A NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY OUT OF GOODWILL FOR THESE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED IN THE LESS THAN TWO YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS NISSAN.

CONSUMER SMELLED A BAD ODOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP. *AK *MR

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT CONTINENTAL TIRES ON HER 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. *PH THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A TRACTION PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES REGARDLESS OF THE ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS. *JB

MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURES. *PH EVEN WITH A NEW ENGINE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE SERVICE MANAGER REPLACED PLUGS, AND GAVE CONSUMER A LOANER VEHICLE. ALSO, A NEW COMPUTER WAS INSTALLED AND STILL PROBLEM EXISTED. *LA *JB

NISSAN REPLACED THE RADIATOR/PARTS THREE TIMES BUT THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO SMELL ANTIFREEZE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *PH SEVERAL ATTEMPT BY DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALER HAVE BEEN MADE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. *NM

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH RECALL SERVICE WORK NOT CORRECTING THE MALFUNCTION THE RECALL IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT. SPECIFICALLY OF CONCERN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS : 03V455000 & 03V084000 & 03V251000. NOT RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES BY MANUFACTURER OR BEING INFORMED BY NISSAN SERVICE DEPT. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED NISSAN CORP CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT RECEIVED NO RESOLUTION OR SUGGESTIONS. PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE PERFORMANCE, EXCESSIVE EXHAUST, AND STRONG BURNING SMELL ARE STILL PRESENT ALONG WITH SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT REMAINING ON. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER 6 VISITS IN LAST 5 MONTHS - VEHICLE IS STILL AT SERVICE DEPT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE OVER THESE PAST MONTHS WHILE THESE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. I ASKED FOR A LOANER VEHICLE OR TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS DECLINED ANY HELP - EVEN THOUGH ID # 03V084000 NISSAN RECALL NOTICE STATES IT SHOULD BE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE IF CUSTOMER MAKES THIS REQUEST. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. MY LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE DEPT (PINE BELT NISSAN AUTOMOTIVE) AND NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS NOT ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS AND HAVE FAILED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED FOR MONTHS. VEHICLE HAS HAD REDUCED POWER, HESITATION, PULLING AND VIBRATION, EXCESSIVE EXHAUST AND AN INCREASINGLY STRONG BURNING SMELL FROM ENGINE SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART, BUT WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WELL, I FILED A COMPLAINT ON MARCH 12, 2003 REGARDING MY ENGINE ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WELL, I'VE NOTED SINCE 2002-2004, MY CAR HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. WELL, HERE IT IS 2004, I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING AND THE AIR BAG HAD A DEFAULT. IT WAS TOWED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND ONCE AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CENSOR FOR THE COMPUTER AND THE STARTER WENT OUT AS WELL. I'VE HAD IT AND I'M ABOUT TO SEEK A LAWYER. ALSO, EVERYTIME MY CAR DOESN'T START, IT'S ALWAYS BECAUSE OF A RECALL. EACH TIME I ASK WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS RECALLS, THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER CLAIMS NISSAN DOESN'T SEND OUT LETTERS. WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO BELIEVE. NOW I'M RIDING AROUND IN A 4 DOOR NISSAN SENTRA THAT IS LOANED TO ME BY THE DEALER. I WANT TO KNOW, DOES NISSAN SEND OUT RECALL LETTERS OR IS IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEALERS? I'M JUST FED UP WITH NISSAN AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THEIR MAIN OFFICE A CALL ABOUT THIS. PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS. THANKS. *AK

AT ANY SPEED, MY SPEEDOMETER SHOWS A DIFFERENT SPEED THAN MY ACTUAL SPEED. MY ACTUAL SPEED HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY RADAR, GPS, MILE MARKERS AND TRAVELING ALONG SIDE ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH AN ACCURATE SPEEDOMETER (BASED ON GPS AND RADAR). WHERE MY SPEEDOMETER IS SHOWING LESS THAN MY ACTUAL SPEED, I AM SUBJECT TO MAKE MENTAL ADJUSTMENTS TO INCREASE MY SPEED TO ACTUALLY TRAVEL THE DESIRED SPEED. WHEN I GET IN ANOTHER CAR THAT HAS AN ACCURATE SPEEDOMETER, BY HABIT, I TEND TO INCREASE MY SPEED IN THAT CAR, SUBJECTING ME TO POSSIBLE FINES FOR SPEEDING. NOTE: THE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND THIS PROBLEM EXISTED FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THIS CAR. I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT AS LONG AS THE SPEEDOMETER IS ACCURATE TO WITHIN 10%, IT'S WITHIN SPECS. THAT IMPLIES THAT IF MY SPEEDOMETER READS 70 MPH AND MY ACTUAL SPEED IS 77, NISSAN IS FINE WITH THAT! :( PLEASE INCREMENT THE INCIDENT COUNT FOR COMPLAINT # 10000521, AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM/TREATMENT. I HAVE APPROACHED MANY ALTIMA OWNERS AND FOUND THIS TO BE A PERSISTENT PROBLEM.*JB

REPAIRS REQUIRED FOR 3 RECALLS, REPLACEMENT OR RADIATOR AND MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER IS WILLING TO PAY REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR, BUT WON'T PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. *LA *MR

AFTER T RECALL 03V08400 REPAIRS WERE DONE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO LET THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA 03V251000 AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP. CONSUMER RECEIVED THIS RECALL LETTER IN NOVEMBER 2003. DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

I EXPERIENCED WARPED ROTORS ON MY 2002 ALTIMA AFTER DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 18 MONTHS. THIS WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE. PADS WERE ALSO REPLACED.*AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (NHTSA 03-V-251-000) FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, HOWEVER THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE RECALL. *NM

OCCASIONALLY WHEN IT RAINS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ALSO, AT ANY GIVEN TIME (DAY OR NIGHT) THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES NOT EVEN COMING ON AT ALL. THIS IS MY SECOND NISSAN ALTIMA PURCHASE. I WAS SO PLEASED WITH MY FIRST PURCHASE I DECIDED TO GET ANOTHER ONE. I FEEL THAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THAT I MADE. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CARE TO ANOTHER CONSUMER. WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS THE LACK OF CONCERN THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED THEREFORE, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES. *JB

THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE OXYGEN SENSOR, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *SC *JB

REF. INVESTIGATION PE 02-078 THE 'CHECK OIL' LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA ON 1-16-2004. I STOPPED TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AND FOUND THE DIPSTICK TO BE BONE DRY. I FILLED THE OIL RESERVOIR ON THIS DATE AND HAVE CHECKED THE OIL DAILY SINCE. THE OIL LEVEL HAS STEADILY DROPPED. IT APPEARS THAT THE DESCRIPTION OF POTENTIAL ENGINE DAMAGE DESCRIBED IN ODI RESUME FOR INVESTIGATION PE 02-078 (I.E. SCORING OF THE CYLINDER WALLS) HAS OCCURRED AND NOW MY ENGINE IS CONSUMING MOTOR OIL AT A RAPID PACE. *LA

ENGINE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. CAR RESTARTED AND SMAE THING HAPPENED. I HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR AS PART OF A RECLAA (R3022). *AK

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS HIT GOING ABOUT 35 MPH IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CORNER AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

CUTCH PEDAL DID NOT RETURN WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE THIRD DAY I PURCHASED. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER (WONDRIES NISSAN IN CITY OF ALHAMBRA)TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS (FOUR TIMES). THEY KEPT SAYING THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. ONE DAY THE CLUTCH STARTED HAVING SOME SORT OF NOISE EVERYTIME I STEPPED ON IT AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO WONDRIES NISSAN AND THEY FINALLY FIXED IT AFTER FOUR FIVE MONTHS I GOT THE VEHICLE.

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS CORRODED AND FAILED TO PERFORM PROPERLY. CALIPERS SEIZED IN AN APPLIED BRAKE FASHION (CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE ROTORS). BOTH REAR BRAKES HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS NO MORE PAD ON THE BRAKES, ONLY METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE PAD BASE AND THE ROTORS. THE PADS, SHIMS, AND ROTORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS ONLY 1.5 YRS OLD, WITH 35,000 HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE CLOSE TO THE SAME CONDITION. DEALER/NISSAN HAVE INDICATED THAT A $200 MAINTENANCE VISIT EVERY 15,OOO MILES IS REQUIRED TO PREVENT THIS. IN 150K+, AND 190K+ ,MILES ON 2 OF MY OLD HONDAS (I OWNED THEM FROM DAY 1) I NEVER HAD TO PERFORM THIS KIND OF MAINTENANCE, AND NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF FAILURE. SAME GOES FOR MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (60K+ MILES AND NO PROBLEMS WITH FRONT CALIPERS)

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

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, TWICE I LOST CONTROL OF CAR AND MIRACULOUSLY AVOIDED A CRASH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED THE SECOND TIME HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE PLACING MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP, I'M SURPRISED THE GOVERNMENT (LEMON LAW) REQUIRES A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES SAME OCCURRENCE,REPORT AFTER THE THIRD TIME, THEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS ANOTHER SHOT OF REPAIR #4, ONLY THEN, THEY WILL CONSIDER REPLACEMENT OR BUY BACK , AFTER 5TH TIME OF ENGINE FAILURE. THIS TO ME IS RUSSIAN ROULETTE, THE WORSE PART IS , I'M PAYING FOR IT (CAR PYMT.)WHO IS IT THAT ACTUALLY CHOSE THE CRITERIIA FOR THE LEMON LAWS? AND WHOSE FAVOR ARE THEY IN ? THE CONSUMER AND THEIR FAMILIES AT RISK, OR THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR CAR MANUFACTURERS? I WANT A SAFE CAR!!!! AND I WANT TO BE TREATED LIKE THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN MATTER AND WE'RE NOT JUST ANOTHER NUMBER. WOULD MR. GHOSN (NISSAN CEO), DRIVE HIS CHILDREN IN A CAR THAT HAS TOTAL POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL?? DO I PAINT BIG LEMONS ON THE SIDE OF MY CAR,WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET SOMEONE'S ATTENTION, A DEATH??? FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME [email protected] *LA

HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BULB BURNING OUT THE ASSEMBLY BOARD, PER THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

2ND PROBLEM W/ CONTINENTAL BRAND TIRES ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. ORIGINAL SET WAS REPLACED (50/50% PAYED) BETWEEN NISSAN CORPORATION & CONTINENTAL CORPORATION AT APPROX. 18,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.*AK REPLACEMENT SET SHOWING/DISPLAYING SAME PROBLEMS....PRE-MATURE WEAR, CRACKS IN TREADS, FLAT SPOTS. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT SUGGESTED MANUFACTURER INTERVALS, AND I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS TO VERIFY AGAIN.

WHILE DRIVING IN SEVERE WIND GUSTS, WE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE FRONT, LEFT POST AREA. SOMETIMES THE SOURCE WAS THE RIGHT FRONT. THE NOISE ERUPTED AS THE WIND GUSTED AT SHARP ANGLES AND THE CAR STEERED INTO OR AWAY FROM THE GUSTS. THE NOISE WAS HIGHLY PRONOUNCED. I RULED OUT ANYTHING MECHANICAL BECAUSE WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME NOISE WHENEVER THE GUSTS INCREASED AND THE CAR WAS THROWN LEFT OR RIGHT. TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO CUT RIGHT INTO THE GUSTS AND THE SOUND WAS SO INTENSE THAT WE THOUGHT IT RESEMBLED A BUZZSAW TRYING TO CUT ITS WAY INTO THE WINDSHIELD/POST AREA. WE MENTIONED THIS PHENOMENON TO OUR CAR DEALER (HARBOR NISSAN, PORT CHARLOTTE, FL). THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US HE HAS HAD THIS COMPLAINT FROM OTHER NISSAN OWNERS AND THAT HE, TOO, THOUGHT IT WAS THE WIND REACTING AGAINST THE CONFIGURATION OF THE VEHICLE. OUR VEHICLE IS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE NOISE LASTS ONLY A SPLIT SECOND, SOMETIMES AS LONG AS A SECOND. BUT IT IS PERSISTENT IN HIGH GUSTS. WE LEASED THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2002 AND HAD NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. WE HAD NOT ENCOUNTERED SUCH HIGH GUSTS UNTIL THE PERIOD I REPORT HERE. WE WERE ON AN EXTENDED TRIP AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED OUTBOUND AND INBOUND. I'M CONFIDENT THERE IS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM. BUT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OF SORTS. *LA

LEFT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY - DEFECT- LIGHT BULB CONTINUES TO BLOW OUT WHEN TURNED ON. *LA

WAS DRIVING 40-MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER HAD MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALERSHIP HAD REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR TWICE. DRIVER DON'T FEEL SAFE ANY MORE TO DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *PH

I PURCHASED A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA IN NOVEMBER OF 2001. TWICE WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I WAS STRANDED WHEN MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER TURNING IT OFF. BOTH TIMES THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE TOLD ME THAT SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME MY VEHICLE FAILED WAS THIS WEEK, AND IT PUT MY BABY DAUGHTER AND I IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. AS WE TRAVELED DOWN I-10 AT THE RATE OF 70 MPH MY CAR STALLED. I LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. COME TO FIND OUT, NISSAN KNOWS OF A FAULTY SENSOR THAT EXISTS IN SOME OF THEIR LATER MODEL VEHICLES, AND IS WAITING UNTIL DECEMBER TO LAUNCH A RECALL CAMPAIGN. I FIND THIS TO BE HIGHLY UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IN THE MEANTIME DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE AT GREAT RISK. *LA