Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 594 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports28 fire reports23 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

594 reports

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5,000 miles · Jul 19, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10083247

38,000 miles · Jun 28, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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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

NHTSA ODI #10078959

57,500 miles · Jun 25, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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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

NHTSA ODI #10078821

33,186 miles · Jun 14, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10076206

45,000 miles · Jun 7, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10075771

30,000 miles · Jun 2, 2004

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

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

NHTSA ODI #10075560

25,000 miles · May 26, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10074286

7,575 miles · May 21, 2004

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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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 PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEMS WILL REOCCUR AND I WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY NEXT TIME. I AM PURSING THIS WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S LEMOM LAW ARBITRATION BOARD. THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND ALL OTHER ON THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072936

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10073862

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10073761

Official recalls

07V527000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 14, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

03V455000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 17, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

03V251000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jul 14, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SCREEN AT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP TO PREVENT ICE CRYSTALS FROM BLOCKING THE OPENING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-333-0829.

03V084000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Mar 11, 2003

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. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS 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 BEGAN ON JULY 28, 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. NISSAN RECALL NOS. R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, R3017. 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. THE PRE-CATALYST WILL BE TESTED TO ENSURE IT IS WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND INSIDE THE PRE-CATALYST, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

03V061000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Feb 27, 2003

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY COME LOOSE. IF THE CONNECTOR COMES LOOSE, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CLOCK SPRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 21, 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE02078 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Oct 18, 2002 · Closed Mar 25, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON OCTOBER 18, 2002 BASED ON THREE REPORTS INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.ONE NON-BURN RELATED INJURY WAS REPORTED AS A RESULT OF THE COMPLAINANT EXITING THE VEHICLE IN HASTE AFTER IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE.NISSAN DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE HANGER PINS WHICH HOLDS EXHAUST PIPE IN PLACE MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD.IF THE DEBRIS WERE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST, A FIRE COULD RESULT.THIS CONDITION IS ALSO PRESENT IN MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES BUILT THRU FEBRUARY 18, 2003.NISSAN ALSO STATED IN ITS DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT THAT ON MY 2002 ALTIMAS AND SENTRAS (EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5-LITER ENGINE) THAT CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT, WHICH WOULD CAUSE CATALYST SUBSTRATE PARTICLES TO FLOW INTO THE ENGINE.THESE PARTICLES CAN SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS WHICH RESULTS IN INCREASE OIL CONSUMPTION.IF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL IS LOW, ENGINE NOISE AND DAMAGE CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.THE RECALL INCLUDES 268,000 MY 2002-2003 ALTIMAS AND 2002 SENTRAS EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5-LITER ENGINE.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION NISSAN WILL REMOVE THE PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIN ON THE ALTIMAS.NISSAN IS DEVELOPING A CORRECTIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE PRE-CATALYST.IN ADDITION TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, NISSAN WILL INSTALL HEAT SHIELDS ON THE PRE-CATALYST AND THE SURROUNDING EXHAUST TUBING.NISSAN WILL BEGIN OWNER NOTIFICATION IN MAY OF 2003.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System

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