NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
594 reportsClear category filter6,000 miles · Mar 27, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS IS WRITTEN NOTICE OF A COMPLAINT I HAVE REGARDING MY NEW 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, WHICH IS LEAKING OIL AT THE RATE OF 2 QUARTS EVERY 1,300 MILES. THE NHTSA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS AS 03V084000 UNDER THE 'NOTES' SECTION AS I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT MY PROBLEM IS. THE CAR ONLY HAS…
Read full complaint
THIS IS WRITTEN NOTICE OF A COMPLAINT I HAVE REGARDING MY NEW 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, WHICH IS LEAKING OIL AT THE RATE OF 2 QUARTS EVERY 1,300 MILES. THE NHTSA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS AS 03V084000 UNDER THE 'NOTES' SECTION AS I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT MY PROBLEM IS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 7,000 MILES BUT I HAVE HAD TO TOP THE OIL SINCE I PURCHASED THE 2002 2.5 ALTIMA. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10011093
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10008922
5,000 miles · Jan 31, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON HIGHWAY ENGINE STALLED, ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A COLLISION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10006119
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
AT TWO DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, EL PASO AND LAS CRUCES, THE OIL LEVEL ON THE DIPSTICK OF MY 2002 ALTIMA REGISTERED APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART LOW. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE INFORMATION IN THE MANUALS AS TO THE AMOUNT OF OIL NEEDED MAY BE INCORRECT.
NHTSA ODI #10003291
Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT INTERMITTENLY WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. CHECKED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT CAR IS READING A "VAPOR LEAK" CODE. DEALER HAS REPLACED GAS CAP TWICE, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023264
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE WILL LOSE ENGINE POWER VERY BREIFLY. DEALER AND MAUFACTURER CONTACTED. *MR
NHTSA ODI #8019691
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE WAS PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8018641
7,800 miles · Sep 3, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingStructureFireInjury
WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD, INDICATING THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND AS IF IT WERE COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE OIL LIGHT, AND T…
Read full complaint
WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD, INDICATING THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND AS IF IT WERE COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE OIL LIGHT, AND THE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *CC
NHTSA ODI #8017813
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury
NO COLLISION-NO WARNING LIGHTS UNTIL ENGINE EXPLODED AND BURST INTO FLAMES-AUTO UNDFRWENT 7500 MILE SERVICE AT TOURELLE'S 12 DAYS PRIOR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #766610
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITH OUT ANY NOTICE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8015824
Official recalls
5Nov 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ↗