2002 Nissan Altima

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER THIRTY MINUTES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND AS A RESULT, BECAME CLOGGED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

I HAD PURCHASED MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM A PRIVATE PARTY AND HAD NOTICED IT WAS BURNING AN USUAL AMOUNT OF OIL WHEN I TOOK IT ON ITS FIRST LONG DISTANCE DRIVE A WEEK AFTER I HAD PURCHASED IT. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE PARTY I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HELP RESEARCH THE ISSUE BUT COULD NOT REFUND MY MONEY. WE FOUND THIS PARTICLE MODEL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IF NOT REPAIRED IN TIME COULD AND WOULD DAMAGE THE ENGINE. WE THEN FOUND THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN FIXED AT THE 50,000 MILE RANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM THE PREVIOUS PARTY HAD PURCHASED THE CAR. I CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEED TO PAY TO GET AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST DONE TO ENSURE THAT IS WAS INDEED BURNING OIL. AFTER I PAID A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE THIS DONE THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ( AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE STILL HAD UNDER 90,000 MILES). SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACES ANOTHER CATALYTIC CONVERTER, VALVE COVER, AND NUMEROUS GALLONS OF OIL. MY LAST VISIT TO THE SHOP I WAS TOLD I'M NOW BURN ANTIFREEZE AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *TR

I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON AND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, HE SAID IT WAS MY ENGINE, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER(BURNING OIL AND DEBRIS GOING INTO THE ENGINE) AND I NEEDED TO REBUILD IT. HE REBUILT IT AND AFTER ABOUT 7,000 THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED BURNING OIL CONSUMPTION. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE HE SAID THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE A FIX FOR THIS AND HE ISN'T FIXING THE PROBLEM EITHER. IT'S SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT A FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PRE-CATALYST CONVERTER OVERHEATED AND SHATTERED INTO PIECES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE ENGINE WOULD ALSO EXHIBIT A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RUINED THE ENGINE WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) BUT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A DEALER USED (2ND OWNER) IN 2005 WITH APPROX 37,000 MILES. RAN FINE. DURING THE FIRST YEAR IT WAS NOTICED IT BURNED ALOT OF OIL, HOWEVER HAD NO OIL LEAK. ALSO BEGAN HAVING HEATING ISSUES (WHICH PERSIST)IN THE WAY THAT IT WILL ONLY GIVE OFF HEAT IF CAR IS MOVING AT 2RPMS OR HIGHER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON PROBABLY WITHIN FIRST 6 MONTHS AND HAS ONLY NOT BEEN ON SINCE THEN WHEN A MECHANIC "RESETS" IT--AND THAT LASTS SHORT PERIOD(LIKE WEEK). THIS CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WINTER OF 2009. IT WAS FOUND TO NEED NEW ENGINE. REPLACEMENT WITH USED ENGINE APPROX $4,000.00. THIS ENGINE PROMPTLY DIED IN LESS THAN A MONTH AND YET AGAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A 2005 MOTOR WAS THEN PUT IN MY CAR, BUT GUESS WHAT?? SAME PROBLEM WITH OIL MYSTERIOUSLY VANISHING AND NO LEAKING ON GROUND AND NO LEAK TO BE FOUND. SPRING OF 2010 ALL RECALL WORK DONE, INCLUDING SENSOR 03V084000 WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. NOW FIND OUT CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS BAD. ALSO THROUGH WEB-BROWSING THAT THIS CAN CAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO BE ON ALL THE TIME, IS RELATED TO THE RECALLED SENSOR, AS WELL AS THE NEED FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE COLD AIR ISSUE APPEARS UNRELATED TO THIS AND IS CAUSED BY AIR IN THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM, HOWEVER THIS TOO IS VERY COMMON NISSAN ALTIMA PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NISSAN IS PUTTING BANDAID ON BIGGER ISSUE BY RECALLING ONLY SENSOR AND NOT ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT THIS IS CAUSING BIGGER, MUCH COSTLIER PROBLEMS FOR THE CONSUMER. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND 100'S OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING. I ALSO PERSONALLY KNOW 3 OTHER "02 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS WHO SHARE THIS ISSUE. I HAVE EASILY PUT $8,000 INTO THIS CAR FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE ENGINE ONLY.THIS IS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN A SERIOUS MANNER. THANK YOU. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM A DEALER IN RITTMAN, OHIO, ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2011. CONSUMER REPORTS RATE THIS MODEL AS VERY RELIABLE FOR THE YEARS MANUFACTURED. LESS THAN ONE WEEK LATER, 9-15-11, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO A QUICK CHANGE OIL PLACE ON THE MORNING OF 9-16-11, AND THE WORKER COMMENTED THAT IT ONLY HAD 1 QUART OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. DROVE FOR 2 DAYS AND WAS CHECKING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NOTICE THERE WAS AGAIN NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. ON 9-19-11, TOOK CAR TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEAR THE ENGINE HAD BROKEN INTO PIECES AND BEEN SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN MANSFIELD, OHIO CONFIRMED THIS DIAGNOSIS ON 9-20-2011. ALERTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF A VEHICLE RECALL EXECUTED BY THE NHTSA IN 2003. (CAMPAIGN ID 03V084000) WHILE THE RECALL AFFECTED 338,000 VEHICLES, NISSAN SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED? NISSAN SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE UNWILLING TO ASSIST ME WITH THE COST OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR THAT REASON AND THAT THE MILEAGE WAS TOO GREAT. HOW CAN A CAR THAT EXHIBITS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL DESCRIBES NO MATTER WHAT THE MILEAGE NOT BE INCLUDED IN A SAFETY RECALL? THE NHTSA WEBSITE LISTS 982 COMPLAINTS REGARDING 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS, MANY FOR ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER DESIGN. CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSA HAS NOT OPENED ANOTHER INVESTIGATION TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE? THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CONCERNED THREE VEHICLES. THIS RESEARCH SHOULD SHOW THAT A GREATER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF THESE VEHICLES. I ASK THAT THE NHTSA PLEASE CORRECT THIS PROBLEM FOR MYSELF AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER MOTORISTS AFFECTED BY THIS BORDERLINE CRIMINAL ACT. HAVE SPENT ALMOST AS MUCH MONEY TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO COMPLIANCE ($4600) AS THE PURCHASE PRICE. *TR

CAR USES EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF ENGINE OIL AND LOW OIL LIGHT NEVER COMES ON TO WARN DRIVER, CAN ONLY DETERMINE THAT IT IS LOW BY ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE.AVERAGE OIL CONSUMPTION ABOUT 1 - 2 QUARTS EVERY 300 MILES ALSO HEATER DOES NOT WORK WHEN CAR IS IDLELING ONLY WORKS WHEN DRIVING.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON CODE STATES CAT CONVERTER BAD.CONTINOUS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE CAR HAD ABOUT OUT 90,000 MILES.CAR ALSO TURNS OFF AFTER RUNNING AND WILL CRANK BUT DOES NOT START AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES. *TT

MY VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BELOW RECALL AS MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AND RECOMMENDED I BRING TO NISSAN TO FIX. BUT PER THERE RECALL MY CAR VIN IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH BE AS CAMPAIGN # 03V084000. PLEASE SEE CAMPIAGN NOTICE BELOW TO REFERENCE. WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE NISSAN DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX UNDER RECALL. RECALL NUMBER: 03V084000 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. CONSEQUENCE: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN. IN ADDITION TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE IN THE EVENT OF POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN OIL SPILLAGE, HEAT SHIELD(S) WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE PRE-CATALYST AND EXHAUST TUBE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. NOTES: ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF SUBSTRATE PARTICLES ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THEY COULD SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS, RESULTING IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. IF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL IS NOT CHECKED ON A PERIODIC BASIS AND DROPS BELOW THE LOW LEVEL, AND THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IGNORING NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. NISSAN IS STILL DEVELOPING A REMEDY FOR THE PRE-CATALYST PROBLEM. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *TR