2002 Nissan Altima Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THE OIL RINGS AND THE CYLINDER WALL HAVE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL# 03V084000 , ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND BY THE TIME HE ARRIVED BACK HOME (WITHIN 300 MILES) THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF MORE OIL. THE LOW ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PLACED MORE OIL INTO THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC VERIFIED THE LOW OIL LEVEL IN THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE ANYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND OVER 700 COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 178,000.

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, 2.5L ENGINE. I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. THE CAR HAS STOPPED ON ME TWO TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR OR TWO. IT CAME TO A HALT IN SEPTEMBER 2007 IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO WAIT OVER AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. AT THAT TIME I HAD THE SENSOR DETECTOR REPLACED BY A NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE. ON LAST TUESDAY, THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN AND WOULD NOT MOVE BUT I HAPPENED TO BE IN PARKING LOT AND WAITED 3 HOURS TO GET MY CAR MOVED. THIS TIME THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY A NISSAN DEALER AND THE SENSOR DETECTORS WERE AGAIN REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE WAS COMING APART INTERNALLY BIT BY BIT AND I WOULD NEED THE ENGINE REPLACED OR RUN THE RISK OF HAVING THE ENGINE STOP ON ME AT ANY TIME. I HAVE CHANGED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, HAVE AN OIL LEAK AND SOME GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I PUT OIL IN MY CAR EVERY WEEK BECAUSE THE LEAK WAS NOT REPAIRED. I NEVER SEEN ANY OIL ON MY DRIVEWAY AND DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS LEAKING. WHEN I CHECKED TO SEE IF I COULD FIND AN ENGINE FOR LESS THAN WHAT THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME, I FOUND 400 COMPLAINTS ON ONE WEBSITE AND 99 ON ANOTHER WEBSITE COMPLAINING OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A 2.5L ENGINE OF WHICH I AM COMPLAINING. MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ARE REPORTING ENGINE FAILURE OR BREAKDOWN. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING AND I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY NISSAN AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BEGAN AROUND 92K MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD TIMELY OIL CHANGES, SUDDENLY THE CAR WAS LOW ON OIL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SMITHTOWN, NY ON 2/22/07, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ORDERED ON 2/23/07 (THIS WAS BACK-ORDERED). THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED ON 3/13/07, APPROX. $600. NOW THE CAR NEEDS ANOTHER CATALYTIC CONVERTED AND THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING SEVERAL COURTS OF OIL A WEEK. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR THAT HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE ARE OTHER ALTIMA YEARS THAT HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT WERE RECALLED BUT NISSAN HAS NOT DONE THAT FOR THE 2002 MODEL. IT IS WIDELY KNOW THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE OIL RINGS AND THE FAULTY PRE-CATS AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. THIS CAR NEEDS APPROX. $8K IS REPAIRS IN ORDER TO STOP BURNING OIL AND TO CORRECT THE EMISSIONS. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE FAULTY PARTS IN THESE CARS, IN ALL THE YEARS THAT THEY EFFECTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 05/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/08/09.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. HE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). HOWEVER HE WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL ENDED IN DECEMBER 2009 AND WAS NOT AN "ACTUAL RECALL". THE REPRESENTATIVE ADDED THAT IF HE HAD BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS, THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED THE ENTIRE COSTS. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO SPLIT THE COSTS OF THE REPAIRS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 77,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR IN TO GARAGE AND CODE READS CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, DROVE CAR HOME AND ENGINE WAS MAKING A TICKING NOISE. BROUGHT CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEPT. 30, 2009. DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED NEW TIMING CHAIN TO GET THE NOISE IN ENGINE TO STOP. TIMING CHAIN REPLACED, AND SAME NOISE STILL EXISTED. DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND IN THE END THEY SAID THEY CALLED A TECHNICAL SERVICE LINE FOR HELP AND AN REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY HAD REPORTS OF A SIMILAR NOISE AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THIS DIAGNOSES WAS MADE OVER THE PHONE FROM A DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY THE TECHNICIAN TO THE SERVICE REP. ON THE PHONE. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO EXPLAIN THIS AND WAS ASSIGNED A REP. WHOM DIDN'T GET IN CONTACT WITH ME FOR 10 DAYS. HE SAID HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HE EXPLAINED THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT ENGINE SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED THAT THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS SAID THAT THERE COULD BE PARTICLES IN THE CYLINDER AND THAT IS AN ENGINE DEFECT. THE REP ONLY OFFERED A MASTER TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE CAR AND WAS NOT SURE WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN. I INVESTIGATED A RECALL THAT SHOWS WAS COMPLETED ON MY CAR, BUT IT DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING WITH MY ENGINE. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE MY ENGINE AS THE FAULTY ENGINE ISSUE WAS LISTED IN AN ENGINE CAMPAIGN RECALL. I AM IN NO WAY TO BLAME FOR PARTICLES ENTERING INTO THE CYLINDER OR A SCREW AS THE TECH'S DESCRIBED AS A POSSIBILITY. I SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF A VEHICLE DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT WAS LISTED IN AN ENGINE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY RECOURSE IS IN THIS SITUATION TO GET MY ENGINE ISSUE COVERED UNDER THE CAMPAIGN OR HAVE NISSAN PLACE A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IN MY VEHICLE. IT IS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL CAUSING THE CONVERTER TO OVERHEAT WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. JUST AS IT DESCRIBES IN THE RECALL INFORMATION #3V084000. *TR

THE CAR HAD DARK OIL ON THE CAR LOT AND WE JUST ASKED TO HAVE OIL CHANGED, WE HAVE MENTIONED THIS WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR FOR RECALLS, ALWAYS HAVING TO ADD OIL AND NOW LOSING ANTI FREEZE. NO ONE COULD FIND OUT WHERE THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE WERE GOING-NOT ON THE DRIVEWAY OR ANYWHERE. A MYSTERY. EVEN THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT SHOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. LEFT THE CAR ALL NIGHT TO TEST IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND WE WANTED TO FIND THE CAUSE BECAUSE WE HAD A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY UP UNTIL JULY OF 2009. LAST WEEK WE TOOK IT AGAIN TO HAVE IT CHECKED, BECAUSE IT IS GETTING WORSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON- FINALLY THIS REPAIR CENTER FOUND THE REASON-WE NEED AN HEAD GASKET, A BAD HEAD, ETC. SO NOW I AM RESEARCHING AND I FIND A WEB SITE-CAR COMPLAINTS.COM AND BOY ARE THERE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. IT IS NOT RIGHT WHAT NISSAN IS GETTING AWAY WITH. MY CAR WOULD PROBABLY BE WORSE IF I WAS NOT ALWAYS CHECKING IT FROM THE BEGINNING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. PLEASE READ THE LETTER AND I AM SURE IF I GO TO OTHER WEBSITES I WILL FIND ALOT MORE OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT I ASSURE YOU I WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE THINK NISSAN IS AN HONEST COMPANY. ALL THE LETTERS I READ TELL ME THEY ARE NOT. THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING TO MY CAR SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT ON 7/07/03. IT HAD 17,766 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE AND SO WOULD SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT WEBSITE. THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TIRED OF BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. THIS IS NOT FAIR AND THE MEDIA NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS TOO. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR

ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A TIME CHAIN AND OTHER ENGINE PARTS BEING DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 91,000 MILES. *TR

SIMPLE ENGINE HEAT APPEARS TO DISINTEGRATE THE PRE-CATALYTIC CONVERTER PART ON A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L ENGINE. THE ENGINE SUCKS IN THE BROKEN PARTS, WHICH THEN DAMAGE THE ENGINE, REQUIRING THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER BREAKING UP AND PIECES DESTROYING THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS STARTED BURNING OIL WITH LOUD NOISES. WAS TOLD CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BY DEALER WITH NO EXPLANATION ON WHY. CAR HAS ONLY 97, 000 MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS TOLD TO SEND ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS. AFTER THEY REVIEWED ALL MY RECORDS I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. AFTER CONFRONTING THEM WITH THE FACT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THAT MODEL CAR THEY STILL INSISTED THEY CANNOT HELP US. IF ENGINE SEIZES WHILE DRIVING IT WILL MOSTLY LIKE CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY NISSAN TO RESOLVE THIS DEFECT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA IN NOVEMBER 2005. THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE VEHICLE INCLUDING, JERKING, STALLING ON HIGHWAY, OVER HEATING AND SMOKING. I HAVE A THE OC SENSORS REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, CADILLAC CONVERTS, COILS...THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. I NOTICED MY OIL LIGHT ALWAYS COMING ON AND THE NEED TO ALWAYS REFILL THE OIL BUT I COULD NOT SEE WHERE IT WAS LEAKING FROM. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS WITH THE COOLANT---I KEPT POURING IT IN THE PLACE FOR COOLANT AND IN 2 DAYS IT WOULD BE GONE.AT THE END OF AUGUST MY INFANT AND I WERE IN THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN JERKING AND CUT OFF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO PICK UP THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND THE ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING IT LOOKS AS IF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH SEVERAL NISSAN ALTIMA'S. I JUST WANT MY ENGINE AND CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED THE NISSAN CORP TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PRE-CAT AND IT WAS REPLACED...IN THE RECALL IT STATES THAT IF THE PRE-CAT IS REPLACED THEN THE ENGINE HAS TO BE ALSO BUT IT WAS NOT. MY ENGINE BURNS 2QTS OF OIL A WEEK AND MAKES A WEIRD NOISE. I WANT THIS TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

AT APPROX 100K MILES, MY ALTIMA WAS CONSUMING ALOT OF OIL, RUNNING POOR, EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE FAILED, HAD ENGINE REPAIRED, BEGAN SAME OIL BURNING PROBLEM AGAIN, HAD CAT CONVERTER HALLOWED OUT, ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL # 03V084000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE). SEVERAL YEARS AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE ERROR CODE WAS RESET. SOON AFTERWARD THE ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106500.

I HAVE A NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 MODEL .I HAVE BEEN CALLING 1-800-333-0829 FOR NISSAN RECALL CAMPAIGN FROM LAST TWO AND HALF WEEKS. I HAVE A REFERENCE NUMBER FOR MY CASE . THIS RECALL IS WITH REFERENCE TO CAMPAIGN I.D. # R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, & R3017. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO GREAT NECK NISSAN DEALER, NEW YORK FOR ROUTINE SERVICING. I CAME TO KNOW THAT PRE-CATALYST WAS DAMAGED AND THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME ABOUT THE CHANCES THAT THE PARTICLES FROM THE CATALYST CONVERTER MIGHT HAVE ALREADY ENTERED THE ENGINE. I WENT THROUGH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED BY NISSAN. NISSAN HAS ALSO TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAME AND HENCE RELEASED THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. HOWEVER, NISSAN ARE DECLINING MY CASE BASED ON THREE REASONS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT 1ST THEY SAID I AM NOT A LOYAL CUSTOMER , HOWEVER WHEN I INSISTED THEN THEY SAID MY VIN NO. DOES NOT FALL IN THE CATEGORY AND THEN ON THE 3RD CALL AFTER TOO MUCH OF PERSEVERANCE THEY SAID THEY DECLINE BECAUSE I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND I DO NOT HAVE MAINTENANCE RECORD FROM THE FIRST OWNER. AS A PROOF OF MAINTENANCE I HAVE ALREADY FAXED THEM THE CAR FAX REPORT WHICH SHOWS THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. HOWEVER, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAKE AND MODEL WILL NOT CHANGE WITH THE OWNERSHIP MY CONCERN IS THAT EVEN IF I CHANGE THE CATALYST CONVERTER AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE THEN THERE ARE CHANCES THAT IF MY ENGINE CATCHES ANY PARTICLES DUE TO PRECATALYST DAMAGE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT MY ENGINE WILL CATCH FIRE AND I MIGHT BE BLOWN OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NISSAN AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSE TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER IN WRITING. I HAVE TRIED TO GO ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM WHERE I HAVE SEARCHED NISSAN 2002 CATALYST CONVERTER . MY SEARCH HIT FOUND TOO MANY PEOPLE OWNING NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

INTERNAL OIL LEAK IN 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA - ENGINE DEFECT. THE ENGINE NEARLY CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE THE OIL WAS BURNING SO MUCH THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AFTER A FEW MILES! FIRST THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATING/COOLING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE. HAD EACH PROBLEM ADDRESSED AT MECHANIC BUT PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED BECAUSE THE SOURCE WAS IN THE ENGINE ITSELF - A NISSAN DEFECT. NOW I "NEED A NEW ENGINE" BECAUSE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN 2 OTHER 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND IT IS DANGEROUS IF YOU DO NOT CATCH IT AND REPLACE THE ENGINE, DUE TO SUCH FAST OIL LOSS AND AN OVERHEATED ENGINE! SCARY! THE CAR ONLY HAS 100K MILES!! THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE NOW AND I AM SEEING HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME NATURE ONLINE WITH SOME FIRES ALREADY STARTED. YIKES! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER. THE TECHNICIAN REINSTALLED NEW SPARK PLUGS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO DETECTED MISSING SCREWS FROM THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,681 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,964.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A 2.5 LITER ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY IN MARCH OF 2006 AND AGAIN IN MAY OF 2009. SHE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH HER VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IN 2006, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED AND CHARGED $1,000 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. A RECALL NOTICE IN 2002 DID NOT STATE THAT IT WAS RELATED TO A VIN AT THAT TIME. THE RECALL WAS LATER AMENDED IN 2006 AND 2008 TO PERTAIN TO A SPECIFIC VIN. IN MAY OF 2009, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND BLACK SMOKE AND OIL POURED OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD CONSUMED OIL. THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN AS LONG AS THE OIL DOES NOT LEAK. AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED THIS FREQUENTLY. THE FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE RECENT FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/02/09.*JB

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. LOSING POWER AND NOT REACHING SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. READ SEVERAL REVIEWS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH ENGINES GOING BAD AND STARTED OUT WITH THE SAME ISSUES AND PROBLEMS WITH HARD CRANK, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER GOING BAD AND CAUSING ENGINES TO GO BAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GAS STATION FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO A DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST THREE QUARTS OF OIL AFTER 630 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 103,000. UPDATED 3/19/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. MATERIAL FROM THE DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS DAMAGED THE ENGINE CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. UPDATED 03/26/09.*JB

AS I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL, I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. INSTANTLY I NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOOT UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I PARKED MY CAR AND JUST FIGURED THAT IT HAD OVERHEATED. I ADDED MORE WATER TO THE RADIATOR AND KEPT DRIVING. 2 MINUTES LATER IT WAS ALL THE WAY HOT AGAIN. I HAD MY CAR TOWED HOME AT WHICH POINT I INSPECTED THE RADIATOR AND DISCOVERED A 4 INCH HORIZONTAL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC HEAD OF THE RADIATOR DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE HOSE MOUNT. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT PLASTIC COULD CRACK LIKE THIS. I HAVE SEEN CRACKS IN PLASTIC ALONG SEAMS, BUT THERE WAS NO SEAM HERE. I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CRACK COULD HAPPEN THIS WAY. THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF A DEFECT BECAUSE THIS WAS UNBELIEVABLE. I WENT ON TO PURCHASE A NEW RADIATOR PLUS HOSES AND ANTIFREEZE FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORE FOR A TOTAL OF $250, PLUS I WILL NOW HAVE TO TAKE 3 HOURS OUT OF MY DAY TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. I DO ALL MY OWN WORK ON THE CAR AND TAKE GREAT CARE OF IT. I FIX ANY SMALL PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY TO PREVENT LARGER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THIS ONE, FROM HAPPENING. *TR

DESIGN FLAW WITH ENGINE CAUSES EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE BURNING OIL THEN MAKES THE CONVERTER START TO FALL APART AND BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. THIS MADE THE ENGINE STALL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS FLAW THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET. CONTACTED NISSAN I THEY SAID TO BAD. DEALER STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT I SELL THE CAR SINCE IT WOULD ONLY GET WORSE DUE TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45MPH ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR