2002 Nissan Altima

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AT BOB BELL CHEVROLET NISSAN, 7900 EASTERN AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 21224, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2007. IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICING OF ALL THE VEHICLES' RECALLS, A SOFT GRINDING NOISE THAT COULD BE HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND LOW FREON LEVELS FOR AIR CONDITIONING. ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 3, 2007 AROUND 5PM, I WAS CONTACTED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND STRONGLY ADVISED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE SERVICE DIVISION CLOSED AT 6PM. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT ALL RECALLS AND ISSUES HAD BEEN RESOLVED AND COMPLETED. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AROUND 5:45PM AND PROCEEDED TO TRAVEL HOME. AFTER ONLY FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE PROFUSELY. THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING HARDER AND HARDER AND A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE TEENAGE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VOMIT AND HER EYES STARTED SWELLING DUE TO THE VOLUME OF FUMES EXPELLED FROM THE CARS ENGINE THROUGH THE VENTILATION AND INTO THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER (3700 EASTERN BLVD.) AND RUSHED TO GET HER OUT OF THE SEAT WHERE SHE CONTINUED TO VOMIT ONCE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP NOW DENIES EVER SEEING SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE (SEE ATTACH.), AS WELL AS, DENIED CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAT POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN THE ENGINE SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2007 WITH THE ENGINE RATTLING UNCONTROLLABLY EVEN AFTER BEING RETURNED A SECOND TIME TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DE-ACCELERATE AT A RED LIGHT THE FOLLOWING DAY. UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDS WHETHER THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AGAIN WHILE DE-ACCELERATING PROVING IT HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE, WHETHER THE VEHICLES FIVE RECALLS WHERE ALL PROPERLY ADDRESSED, AND IF THE ENGINE WILL START SMOKING AGAIN. *TR

06/29/07 MY CAR SPUTTERED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF 33RD AND HIGHLAND DRIVE. I THEN PULLED INTO A BAKERY ON 3100 SOUTH AND HIGHLAND DRIVE WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR I WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE SMELL OF GAS. THERE WAS A TRAIL OF GAS BEHIND MY CAR AND A LARGE PUDDLE UNDER MY CAR. AT THIS POINT I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I WAS AFRAID TO START MY CAR SO I ASKED A GENTLEMAN AT BIG O TO COME AND LOOK AT MY CAR TO SEE IF I COULD START IT. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT START IT NOT KNOWING WHERE THE GAS LEAK WAS AT. I THEN CALLED THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY DID NOT SUGGEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE BUT HAVING IT TOWED DOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOW COMPANY PICKED ME AND MY CAR UP AT ABOUT 8:50. THE GENTLEMAN TURNED ON MY CAR AND BACKED IT OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT TO PUT IT UP ON THE TOW TRUCK. THE MOMENT MY CAR WAS TURNED ON IT BEGAN TO LEAK GAS. IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD TURNED ON A WATER FAUCET AND IT CREATED ANOTHER LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS IN THE PARKING LOT. ONCE AT THE DEALER SHIP. I EXPLAINED TO SHANE AND NICK WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY CAR WHEN NICK SAID, " I KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. IT HAPPENED TO ANOTHER CAR THIS WEEK. BUT THAT ONE CAUGHT FIRE" HE TOOK MY CAR BACK INTO THE SHOP AND ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER COME BACK OUT OF THE SHOP AND SHOWED MY GRANDFATHER AND MYSELF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE GAS LINE HAD "FALLEN OFF AND THE GAS WAS SOAKING INTO MY BACK SEAT." IT HAD CREATED A TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE TANK AND ON THE FOAM OF MY SEAT AND THE SEAT WAS SOAKED FROM THE GAS. I LEFT MY CAR WITH THE DEALERSHIP ALL DAY FOR THEM TO ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE SEAT AND GET RID OF THE GAS SMELL. AROUND 6PM THAT SAME NIGHT I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR WITH MY ROOMMATE . WE WERE ABOUT 10 FEET FROM MY CAR WHEN WE BOTH COULD STILL SMELL THE GAS. NEEDLESS TO SAY WITH THE WEATHER TURNING FROM SUMMER TO FALL AND GETTING COLDER THE GAS SMELL IS GETTING WORSE AND THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH HAZARD AND WILL NOT REPLACE MY BACK SEAT. *JB

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

FUEL FILL PIPE CONNECT TO BODY HAS RUSTED ON NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 47K MILES (2002). I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS CURRENTLY IS CAUSING CAR TO FAIL EMISSIONS, HOWEVER I WOULD BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY RISK AS WELL. THIS CAR IS CURRENTLY EARLY PRODUCTION OF REDESIGED ALTIMA, COULD POTENTIALLY BE PART OF FIRST IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUE. IN TRYING TO ORDER THE PART DEALER HAS INDICATED THERE IS A BACKLOG FOR THE PART. WOULD INDICATE THEY ARE HAVING HIGH DEMAND IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *NM

GAS DOOR DID NOT LATCH CLOSED. HAD REPAIRED ON 3/9/06. NOW I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ON 7/7/06 AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS DEFECT WAS NOT IN RECALL STATUS, AND I COULD THEREFORE NOT BE ISSUE A REFUND FOR THE REPAIR. I BEGAN COLLECTING PLATE NUMBERS OF ALTIMAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I'M AT NUMBER SEVEN SO FAR. I BELIEVE THAT THE GAS DOOR NOT CLOSING COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS DEFECT IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO MY CAR. *NM

HAVE A SLOPING DRIVEWAY - WHEN CAR IS PARKED WITH A FULL TANK OF GASOLINE, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS (USUALLY WARM DAYS), GASOLINE DRIPS OUT OF CAR IN THE AREA AROUND THE REAR OF THE FUEL TANK. HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT UNLESS SOLUTION IS FOUND I'M SURE IT WILL RECUR - I WOULD RATE THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD.*JB

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE NISSAN 2.5 LITER POWER PLANT HAS ISSUES WITH INTAKE BUTTERFLY VALVE SCREWS THAT HAVE BECAME LOOSE AND ARE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN STALLING AND SEVERE DAMAGE THAT COULD CAUSE GRAVE HARM OR DEATH. I MYSELF HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS HOWEVER THERE IS GREAT KNOWLEDGE AND A CURRENT RECALL FOR SOME OF THE 04-05 NISSAN ALTIMA MODELS. I AM A CURRENT 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNER AND THIS ISSUE HAS ME CONCERNED TO THE POINT THAT FOR MY OWN SAFETY I AM GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THE 8 SCREWS LOCK TIGHTENED SO I CAN FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING. PLEASE SEE THE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM(ONE FOUND >20% HAD MISSING SCREWS): HTTP://WWW.B15SENTRA.NET/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=86248 AND HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=192671 AND HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=192671 PEOPLE HAVE TO USE THESE INSTRUCTIONS TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE THEMSELVES JUST TO FEEL SAFE HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.THEVBOARD.COM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=64780 THEY HAVE A CURRENT RECALL (04-05) WHY NOT OLDER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM? HTTP://WWW.NISSANHELP.COM/OWNERSHIP/BULLETINS/NISSAN/2005/NTB05-058.HTM *NM

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L. MY CAR RECEIVES REGULAR MAINTENANCE EVERY 3 MONTHS AND/OR 3,000 MILES (DOCUMENTATION CAN BE PROVIDED), IT NEVER SITS LONGER THAN 2 OR 3 DAY, AND IT'S DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR MY WORK COMMUTE. TWICE MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS FIXED, WHICH WAS AROUND APRIL, THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR MY CAR. ONE WAS FOR THE FUEL PUMP SCREEN AND THE ENGINE SENSOR THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO NOT START OR SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING. THIS SECOND TIME (10-24-05), MY LOCAL MECHANIC SHOWED ME A 6-PAGE SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT WAS ISSUED BY ALLDATA FOR MY NON-STARTING PROBLEM. THE DOCUMENT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE STARTER, ADDING A NISSAN BRAND FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AND/OR REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS SECOND REPAIR WILL COST ME ABOUT $500 TO FIX WHEN I PICK UP MY CAR TOMORROW. I THOUGHT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, BUT THOSE REPAIRS PROVED TO ONLY PROVIDE A TEMPORARY FIX, BUT NOT RESOLVE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. SINCE THERE'S A SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN ABOUT MY NON-STARTING ISSUE, 2 RECALLS RELATED TO THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN TWICE, I THINK MY CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. I'M FORTUNATE THAT I WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT STOPPED RUNNING OR THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN TWICE IN 6 MONTHS. IF MY CAR FAILS TO START TWICE IN 6 MONTHS AND THE RECALL REPAIRS DON'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THEN THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I'D HATE TO FIND OUT IN A FEW MONTHS THAT THE $500 START REPLACEMENT WASN'T THE CULPRIT, BECAUSE I'D BE BACK AT SQUARE ONE. PLEASE TELL ME HOW I CAN GET THIS ISSUE ESCALATED TO A RECALL STATUS OR WHAT I CAN DO TO PREVENT A 3RD FAILURE. THANK YOU, JENNY R. BAKER. *JB

I HAD BEEN SMELLING GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR AND OUTSIDE FOR 2 MONTHS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR $160.00. ON MY SERVICE RECEIPT IT SAID THEY FOUND GROSS EVAP LEAK: FUEL TANK SEAL NOT SEALING: REPLACED FUEL SENDER SEAL. I QUESTIONED WHY WOULD A 3 YEAR OLD CAR START LEAKING GAS FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK AND THEY SAID "IT'S JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." I CAN UNDERSTAND WEAR AND TEAR ON TIRES AND BRAKES BUT GIVE ME A BREAK, THE ONLY THING I DO TO A GAS TANK IS FILL IT WITH GAS! MY CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH 46,000 MILES AND THEY SAID THAT THE WORK WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I EVEN SPENT $900.00 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY FIANCE IS A SMOKER AND I WAS WORRIED FOR HIS SAFETY IN THE CAR SO I TOLD HIM NOT TO SMOKE IN THE CAR FOR FEARS OF SOMETHING HAPPENING IF THE FUMES WOULD IGNITE SOMEHOW. I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND GOT NOWHERE. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL NISSAN'S CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND STILL AFTER AT LEAST 5 CALLS THEY WILL DO NOTHING. I SWEAR THEY ARE JUST THERE TO "HEAR" COMPLAINTS AND WORK YOU DOWN UNTIL YOU JUST FORGET ABOUT IT. I WILL NOT GIVE UP. ALSO, THE CLEAR COAT ON MY PAINT IS STARTING TO CHIP ON THE FRONT BUMPER AND PLASTIC GRILL> GUESS WHAT THEY SAID? NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I AN FED UP WITH NISSAN AND WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SWAY PEOPLE AWAY FROM BUYING ANY NISSAN OR INFINITI. *JB