2002 Nissan Altima

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I PURCHASED WITH 57,000 MILES (2ND OWNER). IN DECEMBER 2006 WITH ABOUT 68,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BLEW UP. I HAD THIS REPLACED AND AT 76,000 MILES I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE OIL/COOLANT AND METALLIC NOISE FROM ENGINE. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, AT 86,000 THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR SINCE THERE WERE PARTICLES THAT HAD BEEN SUCKED IN FROM THE CAT, THEY WANTED $5,900 TO REPLACE. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO REPRESENTATIVES OF NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND LODGED A COMPLAINT, AFTER ABOUT A WEEK I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM STATING THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR OR HELP WITH COSTS. I WAS FORCED TO FIND AN ALTERNATE REPAIR OPTION AND PURCHASED A REBUILT MOTOR, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WAS AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED SMOGGING THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO, I FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN, I HAD THE CAT REPLACED AGAIN ($750) AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT SMOGGED. THIS WAS ONLY 3-4 WEEKS AGO AND ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RATTLING/GRINDING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AGAIN!! PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS, I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THE 2002-06 ALTIMA/SENTRA WITH THE 2.5L MOTORS IS A "FACTORY DEFECT"!! THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS ON NUMEROUS SITES. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT. I NOW HAVE A VEHICLE THAT I PAY $300 A MONTH FOR THAT I HAVE PUT AN ENGINE & 2 CAT'S IN, AND NOW IT NEEDS ANOTHER MOTOR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR COMPANY TO SELL VEHICLES AND NOT STAND BEHIND WHAT THEY MAKE. *TR