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.
2002 Nissan Altima engine complaints
Page 2 of 24: complaints 11 to 40 of 682, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* 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 the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v4855000 (engine). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 133,000.
Tl* 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.
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!
Our car has shut off at any speed without warning for several months. The check engine light has also been on.
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.
Tl* 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.
Tl* 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.
Letter from senator franken on behalf of constituent re a recall 03v‑084 repair that years later seems not to have fixed the problem. *ld 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.
2002 nissan altima. Consumer writes in regards to power valve screw issue. *ld 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.
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 federal safety agency 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.
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.
My car has been having steering problems to wear I got it fix with replacing a steering rack which has not lasted longer then a year. 2015-2016 and I can't seem to get a repair man to figure it out. This has happen driving, and turning. I have had exhaust problem to were the repair men has told that my car could catch of fire due to the heat shield so they remove one. Which still left my car dealing with oil spillage afterwards after driving it anywhere. My oil never touches the ground just sits in exhaust pipe and blow smoke sometimes and it has started back up once again after putting so much repairs into my car. Service engine light has start popping on and off, everytime I get it tested it says crank sensor thats when driving the car or when the car moving. Then some days it will disappear. And it mess with the power of my engine. And sometimes it takes a while to crank the car. Now I have tried replacing another motor in the car but this motor that I have now is giving me the same problem as the first motor. And I think thats because the repair men are not fixing the recalls on the motor of the car, they are just replacing the motor like mines got replaced with another motor of the same year make as my car. But I feel that if these recalls on these year make of my car have been known then the nissan should repair the defects so people want have to keep putting so much money into fixing the car and its not their fault its nissan. I have problems also out of my manifold gasket and the whole part itself all the time that can burn me and my children up while driving. And I'm just so scared something is going to happen while driving my car and there are recalls on my make model car.
The vehicle stalls while driving which could cause an accident. It has happened many times and we have been lucky other drivers are paying attention. The vehicle does start back up. We have found a recall but when we've checked the VIN # it comes up with no recalls. There is a sensor issue recall that describes exactly what the car is doing. It has stalled on off ramps, city streets and suburban roads. I have found the following online: on certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5l enginethe crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interrupion in the signal output. If the interupption of the signal is so brief that the ECM electronic control module dose not have time to diagnose the condition, the vehicle may shut off creating the risk of an accident. The dealer will reprogram the ECM free of charge. The nissan recall # is r0606 nissan is no help the vehicle only has 97,0000 miles and was bought used from a lot in nh who was also no help
" takata recall " . The car has been giving engine problems but I did not know what it was until I searched it online and I am having the same problem as many complaint on the recall website. The engine while on slow drive or when on a full stop it shuts down without any warning. It has happened to me a couple of times once I was on a highway but there was traffic and my car shut down. Another time I was at a regular city road and I was driving slow looking for parking and the car shut down but thankfully the car behind me was far and I turned my blinkers on, but thankfully no crashes as of yet. Many other times it has shut down on red lights, stop signs anywhere that it has been slow motion. Recently after so long of having these troubles, my car will take forever to turn on. It starts but it makes a weird noise from the engine and it shuts down. I am a full time student and it would be great to fix my car and actually drive to school with less worries that my car will shut down in the middle of the highway or regular road and be in a fatal crash. I have also tried malechanics or check the engine with the machines and everyone is saying that the problem is in the engine and I have checked the engine myself, the engine is hot, shakes, makes noises.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter fractured and went into the engine. The contact was repaired per an unknown recall in 2003, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
I have replaced the camshaft/crankshaft sensors in may car and it's still stalling out at times; I have reed other complains of other customers with the same related problem and I need something to be done before, I end up getting killed on the highway driving this car, my car has 162000 miles on it and with keeping up with my maintains this should not be occurring. I have called the nissan dealership in snellville, ga three times and no one has returned my call on this problem. I need help on fixing this problem, I should not have to keep paying for the same repairs three times in a row within a three month period. The problem first arose in december 2015, when I was traveling on the highway I was traveling at speeds of about 70 MPH when the car appeal to be hesitating as if it wanted to cut off and proceed to so when I decided to pull off on the next exit. The check engine light came on, and has remained on since december.
Valve cover gasket leaked oil on the ignition coils causing the engine to not crank. I had car towed to mechanic. The mechanic said the valve cover gasket leaked oil on the ignition coils. I had just replaced all 4 of the ignition coils over the course of the last year and a half due to them going bad one by one. While driving in the city, an ignition coil would go bad, causing the car to sputter and shake badly as if trying to stall in traffic and while stationary. The engine light also was flashing. Very scary for me. This happened 3 separate times as each coil went bad. When the valve cover gasket allowed oil to leak on the ignition coils, an ignition coil had to be replaced again.
My 2002 nissan altima started to have problems with the car engine shutting off without any warning. Just 98000 miles on it dealer charged me $900 for set of sensor and labor. Car would stall in traffic on the highway, no warning, we would lose all power. Went to nissan and they said no one else had this problem.
The pre-catalyst on the exhaust has failed, and caused damage. There is a recall for certain VIN #'s but mine is not coming up. Nhsta campaign 03v084000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. While driving up a ramp at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate and jerk. The rpms increased from 35 to 4,000. The speedometer started to fail and the vehicle lost power and stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. This was a recurring failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 165,000.
I bought this 2002 nissan altima ($4500 at randy marion dealership in hickory, nc) for my wife on january 20th, 2015. The car had 123,000 miles on it. Just 5 or 6 days later, the engine light came on engine started making a loud knocking sound when you crank it up after it had sat for a while. I checked the oil level and it needed a quart of oil, so I added a quart. The noise came back after 2 days. This immediately became a mandatory issue to check the oil level and add more oil every 2 to 3 days. It is now august 7th and I have to check and refill the oil every day! I started my research for complaints on this vehicle and found thousands of complaints on the same issue along with recalls for replacing the ECM, catalytic converter and/or engine. The ECM recall applied to this car, so I had that done on july 30th along with an oil change. On top of that, I just spent $1006.62 to get the catalytic converter replaced yesterday along with a quart of oil. Got the knocking sound again this morning. I took it to the closest dealership this morning and they said it needs a new engine. My wife and I are so upset now. We feel like we were sold someone else's problem (certified lemon) from a dealership that should not have resold it in the first place. How much more complaints is going to be needed for someone to make nissan fix this problem???
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. When the vehicle was started, the contact heard a loud abnormal noise. The contact mentioned that after having replenished the engine with oil, the engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle consumed excessive amounts of oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic informed the contact that debris entered the catalytic converter and damaged the engine. The mechanic referred the contact to the authorized dealer for further assistance. The dealer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling) in 2005. The recall remedy did not correct the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Purchased vehicle pre-owned,seller appeared honest & truthful about the vehicle,however after about 2 weeks of ownership I noticed high oil consumption,probably about a quart a week,,didnt think much about it,except that I probably have bad rings,or leaking intake valves/seals and would require costly engine repair.my daughter came home one day and mentioned the car wouldnt go over 15 MPH,so I took it for a ride & as she said,intermittantly the vehicle would only go 15-20 MPH,rendering the car unsafe to drive,,when I got back with the car I opened the hood only to see the front catalytic converter was glowing bright orange and no exhaust exiting the tailpipe,,,I know enough about cars to know that can only mean the converter is clogged solid,,,,inquired at a local nissan dealer what the warranty was on the the cat and they said it was 8 yrs,80k miles,,,did some research on the web and find out theres a recall on it,the cat coming apart & pieces of it getting sucked up into the intake causing catastrophic engine damage,,,nissan was replacing the cats,installing heat shields,and replacing engines to to the defect of the cat,,,,,dealer says he cant help me,,,,,check the web,its an ongoing problem with the altimas as well as the sentras,,,this is something that nissan knows is an issue and should take care of this..
Car would not start. Towed to mechanic and found out it was crank shaft positioning sensor. After repair was made I found the recall on this website. According to nissan service dept. Looking in nissan database this repair was made at 28k miles before I bought the car. I had to have the same thing repaired and nissan will not reimburse me for the repairs. According to the safety information posted about this recall the sensor can overheat and cause loss of power to the engine and cut off the engine completely. This happened to me a couple of years ago and luckily I was in a parking lot driving at a slow speed, but prior to that I was out on a country road and it was getting dark. If it had happened then I may have been hit by another car. Since this part is still defective or not redesigned it is putting other nissan owner's at risk of this happening again. There should be a second recall to replace this part again. This is not a simple "sensor" that causes your car to not start, this is life threatening! I am afraid to drive any distance for fear of this happening further from home and either causing me to get into an accident or having a huge towing bill. Nissan was very uncooperative in number one, not willing to reimburse me because I took it to my mechanic and not a dealer, I'm psychic like that, and two, not issuing another recall when the nissan service rep told me that these have been repaired more than once after the recall. I hope the federal safety agency department can see the urgency of this complaint to issue a second recall. Thank you.
Power valve screws in their 2003 nissan altima 2.5s. There is currently a recall on 2004 and 2005 altimas with the 2.5s engine with vins starting with 1n4al11. The recall campaign id for this problem is p5202. However, the same problem affects the 2003 altima with the 2.5s engine, but nissan north america has not added the 2003 year model to the recall. Both the 2003s and the 2004s have the exact same engine and I am a case in point of someone experiencing the exact same issue. However, nissan has of yet not stated whether they will add the 2003 to the recall campaign. I wanted to first let other 2003 altima owners with the 2.5s engine become aware of this issue. Secondly don't pay to have the problem fixed, it needs to be reported to nissan north america that the 2003 models are affected by this power valve screw issue. Here is the kicker: more than half the current value of the car. Please be sure and not let this happen to you. I have been on the phone with nissan north america and my dealership. My dealership has been extremely honest with me and is working with me to get nissan north america to add the 2003-year models to the recall campaign. If you have had a similar problem and had to pay for it, or if you are experiencing power loss, hearing engine rattle, unusual engine vibration, or hear a motorcycle engine type noise or muffler type sound coming from the engine, than you may be experiencing problems with the power valve. I hope this information saves someone out there both money and time. If you have already experienced this issue than please let me know. We are currently mounting evidence related to this issue in an attempt to make nissan north america aware of the issue and add the 2003 model to the recall campaign as well as address the damage. If not we will need to file a class action lawsuit related to this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v251000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the service engine warning lamp remained illuminated. The contact also stated that the oil was constantly low and had to be refilled. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who replaced the 02 sensor, but the failure recurred. While traveling, the vehicle hesitated and the contact had to apply the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal to keep the vehicle from stalling. The contact was not able to get the vehicle to restart after exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the authorized dealer who diagnosed that the pre-catalyst overheated, which caused the catalyst substrate particles to flow into the engine. The mechanic also diagnosed that the cylinder walls failed causing oil consumption, which leaked into the spark plugs causing damages. The engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and would not provide a remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. Updated 8/19/15*cn updated 10/06/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and the check engine warning indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the crank shaft sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,900.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. While driving at approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the services light illuminated. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the throttle motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 153,000.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2002 Nissan Altima?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history