2002 Nissan Altima

OVERTHE PAST TWO MONTHS BOTH THE CAM SENSOR & CRANK SENSOR FAILED ON MY 2002 ALTIMA. THE CAM SENSOR FAILURE TURNED ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HOWEVER THE CRANK SENSOR FAILURE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC MAKING FOR A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. JUST LAST WEEK I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER OF A RECALL FOR THE CRANK SENSOR, TWO WEEKS AFTER IT FAILED. WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED SOONER IS BEYOND ME. I CONTACTED THE DEALER & WAS GIVEN A 800 TO CALL FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MY EXPENSES. LOOKING OVER THIS SITE IT APPEARS THE CRANK SENSOR RECALL IS A FEW YEAR'S BACK- WHY DID I JUST RECEIVE THE CALL ABOUT THIS RECALL? I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE ARE CAM SENSOR FAILURE COMPLAINTS. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM INITIATED? *TR

DESIGN FLAW CAUSED CATALYTIC CONVERTER BREAKDOWN WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE DESPITE PROPER MAINTENANCE. CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 85,000 MILES WHEN PROBLEMS BEGAN AND 90,500 WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED AT NO FAULT OF MY OWN AND DESPITE PROPER CAR OF VEHICLE. NINETY THOUSAND MILES IS TOO SOON FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN AND PRE CATALYST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A MONTH AFTER THE RECALL WAS HONORED A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 1,000 MILES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,444. *AK

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP SCREEN WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL, AND THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT TO REMAIN ON. DURING THE DIAGNOSIS THEY FOUND A SERVICE ENGINE CODE PERTAINING TO THE CATALYST. HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CALLED NISSAN, WHO INFORM HIM THAT THE DEALER WOULD FIX IT, BUT NISSAN CALLED BACK REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 , AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.*AK THE MANIFOLD EXHAUST WAS REPLACED, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE, IT WOULD SURGE. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/22/07. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S IN DECEMBER 2001 AND CURRENTLY HAVE 113,000 HIGHWAY MILES AND HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR WITH OIL CHANGES AND RECOMMENDED SERVICES. THOUGH I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, I HAVE DONE ALL RECALLS WHEN THE SERVICE DEPT ADVISED THAT THERE ONE ON IT. ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH NISSAN SERVICE DEPT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE INTO PIECES AND WENT INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO FAIL ($5,000). AFTER PAYING THE $550 FEE FOR NISSAN BASICALLY TELLING ME THAT I HAD A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH CAUSE THE DAMAGE, I WENT HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH. I FIND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FRUSTRATED ALTIMA OWNERS. I CALLED NISSANS HEADQUARTERS TO ADVISE THEM OF MY SITUATION. I WAS CONTACTED BY NISSAN 48 HRS LATER BASICALLY TELLING ME THAT MY CAR HAD TO MANY MILES ON IT AND PAST THE WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS AWARE OF THE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND CAN'T BELIEVE THAT NISSAN IS CHOOSING TO IGNORE THAT THEY HAVE MADE THIS CAR WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. I ALSO CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE CHOOSING TO RISK PEOPLE LIVES AND IGNORING THE MANY CUSTOMERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEIR EXCUSE IS THAT THE CAR IS PAST THE 80,000 MILE WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH I'M SURE THEY WILL COME UP WITH SOME OTHER POOR EXCUSE. THE MESSAGE I GOT FROM NISSAN IS THAT THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT ONLY UNTIL THE WARRANTY AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE MADE THEIR CARS WITH A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART, BASICALLY IT IS THE CONSUMERS PROBLEM FOR PUTTING THEIR FAITH INTO SUPPOSEDLY A COMPANY THAT STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I'M CURRENTLY AWAITING WORD FROM THE LOCAL DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE AS A GOODWILL. ALTHOUGH I DOUBT THIS WILL HAPPEN. MAYBE NISSAN WILL FINALLY DO SOMETHING WHEN UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE REALLY GET HURT OR LOSE THEIR LIFE! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ALSO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND CONTINUE TO CLOSE THEIR EYES. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY. SPARK PLUGS DIED. TOOK CAR TO SHOP. REPAIRED AND OTHER ISSUES APPEARED: CATALYTIC CONVERTER-FAIL (IN PIECES) REPAIRED FOR $800. ONE WEEK OF DRIVING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY, OIL EXTREMELY LOW, COOLANT LOW TOOK BACK TO SHOP NOW ENGINE GASKET BLOWN, ENGINE DAMAGED AND NEEDS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. THIS NISSAN NA MADE SOME PREVENTIVE CHANGES TO THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AS REQUESTED TO BY LAW. HOWEVER THE CHANGES NISSAN NA MADE WERE NOT SUFFICIENT NOR SUCCESSFUL. IT APPEARS THAT THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE NISSAN PROVIDED HAS ONLY PROLONGED THE OUTCOME. THOUSANDS OF 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS WITH A DIRECT RELATION TO A FAILURE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOTICEABLE CHUCKS OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ARE MISSING. NISSAN NA IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SELECTIVELY FIXING SOME CONSUMERS VEHICLES. IF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THEIR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY NISSAN NA REFUSES TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER IS FIXING THE PROBLEM. SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO A PERCENTAGE OF MILES OR TO A PERIOD OF TIME. *JB

MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LITE BECAME ILLUMINATED JUST PRIOR TO AND RITE AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE SERVICED. I BECAME ALARMED WHEN, "I NOTICED IT WOULD NOT GO OUT". I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE MY FUEL CAP WAS TIGHTLY SECURED. I THEN DROVE MY VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MILES TO RESET THE SENSOR. WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK, I CALLED NISSAN SERVICE DEPT IN VICTORVILLE, CALIF. TO ASK WHAT ELSE IF ANY COULD BE WRONG WITH MY VEH. THE ANSWER I RECEIVED FROM THE SERV. MANAGER WAS ONE I COULD EXCEPT. HAVING TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OF THE PROBLEM. JUST TO BE TOLD THAT MY "PRE CATALYST CONVERTER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE DUE TO SERVER ENGINE DAMAGE THAT COULD RESULT FROM DEBRIS BEING SUCKED INTO THE CONVERTER. NOW IF THE "PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIN WAS REMOVED", AND HEAT SHIELDS INSTALLED ON THE PRE CATALYST AND SURROUNDING EXHAUST TUBING WAS DONE TO CORRECT OR PREVENT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. WHY WOULD THE PRE CATALYST CONVERTOR FAIL IF PROPER CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS PERFORMED CORRECTLY IN A VEHICLE NOT 5YRS OLD. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $1092.00 DOLLARS FOR FAULTY MANUFACTURER DEFECTIVE PARTS/EQUIPMENT. *JB

SINCE I PURCHASED THIS 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5, I'VE CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCED COLD STARTS. I'VE ALSO TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CLICKING SOUND THAT APPEARS TO BE IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AREA. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM..I STILL HAVE THE CLICKING NOISE.*AK ON MARCH 20, 2007 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THE CAR. AFTER 6 OR 7 ATTEMPTS THE CAR STARTS. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THE CAR WAS PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WHEREBY AIR POCKETS WERE FOUND IN THE RADIATOR SYSTEM. THEY ALSO FOUND THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS IN MY FIRST AND THIRD CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED AN ENGINE. I MUST SAY THAT I'M TRULY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR. I'VE EXPERIENCED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASEDIT NEW. NOW IT IS FIVE YEARS OLD AND NEEDING AN ENGINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH ENDED AT 100,000 MILES AND I HAVE 101,000. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE WHEN NISSAN KNOWS THAT IS PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE 2002 MODELS. THE SALES AGENT AT THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I WILL BE CONTACTING NISSAN TO GET FURTHER COMPENSATION FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY ENGINE. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED? THANKS...

MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED THE 2002 ALTIMA, 64,000 MI, OCTOBER 2007, HER FIRST CAR. IN DECEMBER THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER NEAR TO THE POINT OF ENGINE STALL. PER MECHANIC THE COMPUTER REGISTERED AN O2 SENSOR FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR. SAME DAY WE PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE MECHANIC THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THE CAR TO MECHANIC. THE COMPUTER NOW REGISTERED A MISFIRE PROBLEM. PER MECHANIC RECOMMENDATIONS WE REPLACED ALL SPARK PLUS AND LEADS. MECHANIC REPORTED OIL ON ONE SPARK PLUG. WITHIN 2 DAYS OF PICKING UP CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. IN FEBRUARY WE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC ,AND ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT WE WERE LOSING CONSIDERABLE OIL, AT LEAST 1 - 1.5 QUARTS EVERY 2 WEEKS, ROUGHLY EVERY 800 MILES. COMPUTER NOW REPORTED CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. MECHANIC ADVISED TO TAKE CAR TO NISSAN DEALER AS CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY , CAR AT 68,000 MILES. DEALER INFORMED US THAT PREVIOUS OWNER HAD CAR IN THEIR SHOP SEPTEMBER 15, 2007 AND THEY HAD ADVISED TO REPLACE ENGINE. STATED THAT ENGINE COOLANT AND OIL WAS GETTING INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM AND FOULING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. STATED THAT NATURE OF PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER 80,000 MI CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARRANTY. NO MENTION OF NISSAN RECALL REGARDING O2 SENSOR FAILURE, HIGH OIL LOSS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA DESCRIBING EXACTLY OUR SAME PROBLEM AND NISSAN'S RELUCTANCE TO RESOLVE PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING HOW TO MAKE THE DEALER AND NISSAN OWN UP TO THIS PATTERN OF FAULTY DESIGN AND RELUCTANCE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.*AK