10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,553 miles

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problem #91

Aug 022022

Altima

  • miles
first, I started to notice my car would loose power while driving, over a couple months, it started to stall and/or completely shut off while driving at low speeds or at red lights! When this first stared happening, the car would immediately fire back up when cranked, after about a month of this, I noticed, I could not drive at or above 45mph or it would shut down, or drive for more than 15 minutes and it would shut off-€¦AND NOT START AGAIN! It would crank, but not start, I would have to wait 30 minutes or more and then it would start right up! This is dangerous due to the immediate- no- warning shut off, whenever and wherever! I-€™ve almost caused multi car pile up! Not to mention my kids in the back seat and on the interstate! We could have been slammed into, and pushed down the interstate and over into other lanes! There-€™s a recall on 2002 Nissan Altimas for THIS VERY ISSUE!!! Somehow, my vehicles VIN # does not qualify! INFACT-€¦.. My VIN# NEVER EVER qualifies for ANY recall, but yet, my vehicle has the exact same problems!!

- Roanoke , VA, USA

problem #90

Nov 012019

Altima

  • 251,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine would misfire and the oxygen sensor would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The oxygen sensor was replaced and the oxygen sensor light shut off. The cause of the catalytic converter failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer was not notified of the failures. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 251,000.

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

problem #89

Sep 282019

Altima

  • 95,000 miles
My engine is destroyed because a screw came loose from the throttle body in the plenum, got sucked into an engine cylinder and destroyed that cylinder. This would cost somewhere between $3K to $5K to repair, more than the car is currently worth. In talking to a Nissan mechanic and doing online research, this is apparently not an unheard of problem for Nissan cars. There has been at least one recall for this problem in the past for some Nissan 4 cylinder cars but there was never a recall for 6 cylinder Nissan Altima cars (my car is a 3.5L 6 cylinder model) the car was running fine. I parked it at my gym and when I came out, started it up. I was rewarded with an awful noise and engine vibration all of a sudden. I only lived 1.5 miles away, so I slowly limped the car home. After some mechanical sleuthing and bringing a mechanic to my home, we determined that a screw had come loose and gotten sucked into the engine. I called Nissan usa to explain the problem and see if they would be able to offer any assistance. But all they offered was that they "would take a look " at the problem if I payed to tow the car to a dealership. They would not make any guarantee that they would then help me if the problem turned out to be as I have described. If they didn't agree to fix the problem, then I would be responsible for towing the car back to my house. Here is one url that lists 10 complaints for this problem with Nissan pathfinder autos, which use the same 6 cylinder engine as my car. Https://repairpal.com/loose-screws-inside-intake-manifold-can-cause-internal-damage-if-they-fall-out-448 what makes this so awful is that I had a relatively low mileage older car (2002 with only 95K miles) and this problem makes the whole car a junker now due to no fault of my own with no recourse for me!

- Millbrae, CA, USA

problem #88

Oct 032019

Altima

  • 79,000 miles
While driving on the highway I proceeded to try and reach the speed limit but the car lost power to merge into traffic almost causing an accident. Vehicle cannot go past 55 mph, it loses power during acceleration.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #87

Sep 242019

Altima

  • 115,200 miles
My vehicle equipped with the 2.5L 4 cylinder consumes excessive amounts of oil. I have had to add roughly 1-2 quarts of oil every 200 miles. Engine has no external oil leaks. New valve cover gaskets 500 miles ago, new spark plugs every 10,000 miles due to oil fouling, new PCV valve 500 miles ago. The car does mostly city and country, 55mph driving and under.

- Mount Pleasant, MI, USA

problem #86

May 012018

Altima

  • miles
The car will not start when it is hot outside. The service engine light stays on all the time. The car stops while driving on street and highways. The crank position sensor'(s), camshaft position sensor's and the variable timing control sensor'(s) needs to be replaced. Recall #R3021 and R3022 was listed on the recall from Nissan.

- Clinton, MD, USA

problem #85

Mar 072016

Altima

  • miles
My brakes are going out fast. My heater takes forever to heat up. My fuses keep burning out, car lighter don't work. It runs rough. I think it has a short on some wires.

- Brownfield, TX, USA

problem #84

Apr 032015

Altima

  • 18 miles
Nissan Altima 4 door. My daughter [xxx]. while driving the vehicle ignition switch, oil, cooling, coil pack cause a major crash, totaling a complete wreckage. [xxx] sustained, serious medical attention, taken to the hospital by ambulance. I started a series of complaints which Nissan failed to comment or investigate. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Margate, FL, USA

problem #83

Jun 092017

Altima

  • 100,000 miles
Took our 2002 Nissan Altima in to Nissan for a recall repair (2003 recall for exhaust / catalytic converter issues) - recall states if engine is damaged, that it will be replaced. Engine has been destroyed due to catalytic converter failure. Nissan has acknowledged the recall and damage and indicated the engine would be replaced. This car was purchased lat year by my daughter, we were unaware of the recall until increasing oil consumption became extreme. I contacted steven's creek Nissan and they confirmed the recall repairs had never been completed. I was told to bring the car in for the repairs. I was very explicit in the description of the oil consumption as well as metallic residue on components - (I had replaced the cam / crank position sensors when the engine began to run rough - they both had a grey paste residue on them). Nissan acknowledged the engine was indeed damaged and needed to be replaced. After having the car for nearly 2 months, I received a call advising they did not have the parts anymore and would need to use aftermarket parts. They gave me a phone number to the Nissan Consumer Affairs, who authorized the aftermarket parts. Multiple times, Nissan called to say they had the parts and the repair would be complete by the end of the next week. This never happened. After another month passed, Nissan called to say they didnt have the proper tools to replace the engine. I went to Nissan and observed the car had not moved or had any work done at all since it was dropped off in June. Nissan has called back again and advised they are unable to do the repair and that I should come pick the car up as is and try some other dealership. Nissan has had this vehicle since 06/09/17. Nissan has had this car for 5 months and has not begun the recall repair.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #82

Oct 012017

Altima

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. While operating the vehicle, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle hesitated and bucked. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the camshaft sensor malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The sensor was replaced, but the vehicle later experienced difficulty starting. The local dealer (sumerian Nissan in fort myers fl) and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 03V4855000 (engine). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 133,000.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #81

Sep 012017

Altima

  • 183,605 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the crank shaft cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer (anker Nissan in North smietfield, Rhode Island) where it was diagnosed that the crank shaft and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 183,605.

- Lincoln, RI, USA

problem #80

Jun 032017

Altima

  • 167,850 miles
I have a 2002 Altima but I only purchased it about 8 months ago. Somewhere around 2 months ago my check engine light came on. So I had it looked at and they said it was a crank sensor code, so I had it replaced. Didn't fix the problem for long. The light came back on, throwing the same code. Well then a week later my car completely shut off while I'm driving down the road. When I begin to restart it, nothing. It takes several attempts before it will start. Since that incident I've had this happen several times. I'm very concerned that I or my children will be in an accident due to the vehicle shutting off while driving. Please someone help!

- Ramseur, NC, USA

problem #79

Jun 262017

Altima

  • miles
Our car has shut off at any speed without warning for several months. The check engine light has also been on.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #78

May 022016

Altima

  • 132,000 miles
I have recently discovered that there was a recall on my Nissan Altima 2002 model. I have tried to contact the dealer locally but no results. I also contacted the manufacturer and they gave me run around saying that they needed the software which they will make it available and soon as it's available they will contact me. I have contacted them several times but I get the same run around. It's been over a year and half since I had contacted them. But it hasn't been fixed.

- Morgantown, WV, USA

problem #77

May 292017

Altima

  • 213,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. On several occasions, while driving, the engine stalled. The contact had to restart the vehicle while the accelerator pedal was applied. Also, while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle would hesitate to gain speed and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 213,000.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #76

Apr 302017

Altima

  • 225,440 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. While driving 55 mph, the contact heard a loud noise and the vehicle began to decelerate. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder lane and caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,440.

- Covington, GA, USA

problem #75

Mar 072017

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
Letter from senator franken on behalf of constituent re a recall 03V-084 repair that years later seems not to have fixed the problem. The consumer stated the recall, #03V-084, was performed on or about 01/15/04 but, was not effective in preventing engine damage. The consumer would like for the vehicle to repaired again under the recall. The consumer stated the vehicle consumed about one quart of oil per tank full of gas.

- Rosemount, MN, USA

problem #74

Mar 012017

Altima

  • miles
2002 Nissan Altima. Consumer writes in regards to power valve screw issue. The consumer stated he was quoted a price of $1,000 for a catalytic converter and $5200 for a new engine with less than 90,000.

- San Ramon, CA, USA

problem #73

Mar 092017

Altima

  • 138,000 miles
Recall campaign R3022 / 03V455000 due to defective original manufacturer crankshaft / camshaft sensor, this caused my engine to completely stall at 65 mph on the California 57 South freeway. Extreme dangerous driving experience had occurred and caused unsafe driving condition for the surrounding vehicles. Vehicle had difficulty steering and braking which luckily avoided any accident. The recall campaign was conducted along with other recalls in the past, but when inspected, the crankshaft and 2 camshaft sensors were never replaced under the said recall. Hopefully the NHTSA can contact Nissan on my behalf to conduct an investigation on why the original sensors deemed defective in the recall campaign was not properly replaced.

- Covina, CA, USA

problem #72

Dec 102016

Altima

  • 11,519 miles
I received a letter from the sapir your court of the state of California I am unable to find out what is going on with my car for what may happen with my car but this letter is telling me that I may have engine damage because if I lose power valves girl and that my car is unsafe to drive no one won't give me any true information or everyone is telling me they do not know what I am talking about please help me I drive this car I do not want to kill anyone or to die it will stop right in the middle of the freeway or wherever I am.

- Covina, CA, USA

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