2002 Nissan Altima: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Apr 3, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · VA

I've owned my 2002 Nissan for about 6 months now the previous owner informed me prior to purchase about issues she was having and the reason she was selling the car, explain to me that her friend who has worked on cars 20+ yrs felt if cause could be found it was repairable but seems luck she had is now the luck I'm having. I have a couple ppl look over the car under hood and run diagnostics but nothing can be found.. I can't afford to junk the car my income budget is tight and doesn't allow much wiggle room to purchase a new ride a friend told me about the federal safety agency website so we went exploring entering my VIN number comes back no recalls but looking over the recalls for saying make and model and year of my vehicle there's 12 to 15 recalls on it from headlights which I'm is an issue to engine stalls to catalyst issues but yet I'm told that no because we're done on my vehicle I know I'm not the first owner it's a vehicle that I just purchased but I want to speak to someone that can clarify or help me with finding out if my vehicle is actually supposed to be in recalls of these certain things because they were fitted the descriptions of what can take place fit what I'm experiencing and what the previous owner is experienced perfectly please contact me thank you for your time

Filed Feb 12, 2017 · Lights · 115,000 miles · VA

Headlights was so fogged up couldnt see 25 feet in front of you with them on bright bad safty hazzard.

Filed Jul 30, 2014 · Lights · 60,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact stated that there was a haze covering the headlights on the vehicle. An independent mechanic cleaned the headlights, but the failure recurred multiple times. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Jan 12, 2010 · Engine · 170,000 miles · MS

The latest problem with my nissan altima occurred yesterday. It would not start after extreme cold. This is the last in an ongoing saga of problems with this vehicle. We fail to get notifications of recalls from the manufacturer. If something fails to work, it is always our financial responsibility unless it is a very minor repair. The day after the sale there was no beam for a headlight. Now we see headlights fall under the recall. Maybe we should have known we had a lemon. We had a sensor go out as I was driving 70 miles an hour on an interstate. I had to pay because the vendor said at 8,000 miles it was just outside of warranty. I later find out that sensors fell under a recall. Yet to get my money back I had to produce documents that I could not get the repairing dealership to fax to me. I wrote, called, etc. Still the end was I paid and they did not return my money. We have had to have the air compressor replaced not once but 3 different times to get air conditioning in the car. Now today the call I get says this, the "engine is shot" expect to pay in excess of $4900 to get it fixed. This car and many other nissan altimas I have found out have had the same series of problems. I want my car fixed at no cost to me or I want a replacement at an extremely reduced cost. I want the vendor to be required to notify car owners of recalls and to not merely have to report that there is a recall. My permanent address has not changed since the purchase. They could have let me know that. Even now there are recalls that are due this car but conveniently not on the parts that now need to be replaced. Please help or put me in contact with someone who can.!! I spoke with brandon at your office by phone this a.m. Because I feel I was not able to effectively get my point heard by him, I have chosen to file this written complaint in the hopes of receiving attention and assistance. Deep down I want a manufacturer that stands behind what they sell and that replaces what is defective.

Filed Jul 18, 2009 · Engine · 75,779 miles · FL

Vehicle continuously looses oil 1 1/2 qts per 500 miles regardless of how often I change the oil. I have had my vehicle in the dealership for several recall replacements{catalytic converter, crank sensor, cam sensor after vehicle shut off while driving, headlight ground, air bag sensor as well as others].vehicle has rough start every time vehicle is started. I also have complaint regarding the heater blowing cold air when I come to a stop. After reading hundreds of complaints and reports I fear my vehicle is soon to follow in regards to the engine failure so many have reported.why should I have to spend my time constantly checking the oil to make it is proper when there are no oil leaks and vehicle has less than 80,000 miles and is extremely well maintained? Due to the immense amount of reports and claims shouldn't nissan motor corp. Issue a recall for engines that have already ingested the catalytic converter material despite being replaced? Hasn't the damage already been done?

Filed Jan 15, 2009 · Engine · 72,000 miles · TX

I have a 2002 altima 2.5 standard. I bought the car in july 2007 with 72,000 miles and had a misfire reading from the time I bought it till I replaced the head gasket and got some head work done on the car. Mileage now totals at nearly around 110,000 miles. Nissan looked at my car all the way for any problems and I had a few recalls done on it including replacing the headlamps. Little did I know when I had my mechanic (non-nissan mechanic later on from my dealer visit) replace the head gasket ( w/valve guides and oil rings) for $1600 that my front engine fan was unplugged near the headlamps which had caused some really bad overheating issues. My cat is bad (via a engine code) which I have yet to replace as I see no need to at this point... Also my car has been eating up more than 1 quart of oil per week as I drive over 460 miles a week as a commuter to dallas, tx. At this point the option would be to either re..re-build the engine or replace with a new very expensive engine nothing that I have already spent too much money on this car.

Filed May 9, 2008 · Lights, Seat belts · 95,000 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. Initially, the rear seat belts on both sides of the vehicle would not release on an intermittent basis. Currently, they do not work at all. The dealer has not yet been notified. The front driver and passenger side headlamps dim on their own; however, the instrument control panel show them as being activated. The federal safety agency campaign id number 073054000 (exterior lighting:headlights) was referenced. The contact received a ticket due to the headlamp failure. The current mileage was 96,791 and failure mileage was 95,000.

Filed Apr 16, 2008 · Engine · 100,000 miles · OK

Massive oil loss which causes numerous problems, c02 censor, catalytic converter goes out, head lights went out, car shakes and rattles. Plug wires, spark plugs all needed to be replaced.

Filed Aug 16, 2007 · Lights · 50,000 miles · TX

Defective headlamps. Clip melts from high heat, bulb loses contact. Requires replacement of entire assembly, or if not, removal of front bumper just to replace bulb. First time occurred at night on a highway -- went to auto parts store but could not access to change the bulb. Dealer charged two hours to pull front bumper -- only took one hour. Cost of replacing bulb about $260. Bulb by itself is less than $30.

Filed Aug 4, 2007 · Lights · FL

Continual failure of low beam headlamps on 2002 nissan altima se. Have replaced lamp numerous times. Bad ground contact. Due to failure of lamp, have had to drive at night either with one headlamp, or with high beams on.

Filed May 3, 2007 · Engine, Lights · 30,000 miles · PA

2002 nissan atlima customer states since 30,000 miles the check engine light has been on**cc the consumer was unable to defrost the windows, due to the defroster being inoperative. The consumer stated the vehicle would lose power, so he would have to take his foot off the gas and eventually it would gain speed. The consumer had various repairs made on the vehicle. The catalytic converter was deteriorating, the valve cover gasket was replaced, the headlight was replaced 3 times, the tail light assembly needed to replaced the consumer was told the vehicle needed a new engine after experiencing the stalling and no start problems.

Filed Mar 23, 2006 · Airbags, Engine · 84,000 miles · TN

Dt*: the contact stated the air bag light on the dash flashed constantly. There is a safety improvement campaign, # 02i001000, regarding the air bag. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the safety improvement campaign; however it is not included in the safety improvement campaign due to the VIN. Updated 4/17/2006 - the vehicle was taken to a dealer who indicated that eh air bag was defective. The dealer refused any assistance because the vehicle was 2000 mile out of warranty. The check engine light illuminated. The dealer found antifreeze leaking into the cylinders. The driver's side low beam headlamp was inop. The tech replaced the right side headlight bulb. Radiator leaked coolant. The heater blew out cool air when the vehicle was stopped. The tech found an air pocket in the coolant system. Replaced clutch assembly. Cylinder head gasket was replaced.