2002 Nissan Altima steering problems

Filed Aug 26, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · VA

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.

Filed Jun 16, 2015 · Driver assistance, Engine · 134,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Nov 19, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 118,000 miles · CA

My car won't accelerate beyond 20 MPH, then engine would stall while in drive gear. Took it to my mechanic who turned off the engine service light which allowed me to accelerate to normal speed. However, the engine keeps stalling while I'm driving. I nearly had several accidents while driving on the street and exiting the freeway. Luckily I can notice the engine failing before it completely shut down so I hit my hazard lights each time to avoid accident and notify motorists behind me something is wrong. Several times car had to swerved suddenly around me to avoid rear ending my car. Then yesterday when my engine stalled while pulling out of a parking lot my engine stalled again and the steering wheels locked which almost caused my car to roll straight into a brick wall. I had to quickly turn off the engine put my gear to park then turn back on the engine to get power to steer away from the brick wall just in time. I took my car back to my mechanic today who ran diagnostic and said the car's crankshaft and crankshaft need to be replaced. I searched online and read about the recall for similar incidents with my make and model. However, when I contact the local nissan dealer they say my VIN is not included in the recall. Something is wrong here if so many 2002 nissan altima have this same problem but only a selected vehicle are included in the recall. Please investigate and fine nissan for this faulty parts endangering public safety and the drivers.

Filed Mar 20, 2013 · Steering · 35,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The failure recurred intermittently while the contact was driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the steering column would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a second repair was performed to the steering column. Additionally, the steering wheel became loose while the contact was driving on a separate occasion. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Apr 26, 2011 · Steering · 135,000 miles · IL

Steering problem with nissan altima 2002 the steering coupling in the steering column corroded making the steering very difficult. Power assist was not available as fault was in column. Steering control was lost while driving creating a very dangerous situation.

Filed Aug 10, 2009 · Steering · 156,000 miles · TN

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. While the contact was turning the vehicle to the right at an unknown speed, she noticed that there was no power steering ability. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the entire rack and pinion system needed to be replaced. Prior to the failure, the contact experienced difficulty steering the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 156,000.

Filed Aug 9, 2009 · Steering · TX

Steering wheel loose, comes out of steering column. The steering wheel is not bolted into the column and therefore the tilt doesn't stay locked and grinds. This is a daily problem that results in either the steering getting stiff or the steering wheel coming out for the column. This is a definite safety issue and nissan needs to do something about it.

Filed Aug 27, 2007 · Steering · 00

Driving along country road and the steering wheel suddenly changed position, I.e., I was driving on a straight road when the steering wheel suddenly turned 30 degrees but the car continued straight. I was subsequently able to return the steering wheel to the proper position but the occurrences continued until the steering wheel was replaced (not under warranty) by the dealer.

Filed Oct 4, 2005 · Steering · 35,000 miles · NY

Steering wheel began tightening making it extremely difficult to move. Turning became arduous , slow and scary. We went to the nissan dealer for service. They told us they corrected it. But, the problem returned shortly thereafter. So we returned the vehicle for repair. They told us that the original repair didn't solve the problem (obviously). They needed a new steering part. The agency called that the part arrived. The vehicle was returned again and left all day only to learn that the part delivered to them was wrong. They 'jerry-rigged' it and told us they would call when the new part arrived. The steering is ok but they warned us that it needed to be correctly repaired. The agency has not yet called back . It is odd that a vehicle with only 35,000 miles would have serious, severe steering problems. It is dismaying that we paid to repair a problem only for it to immediately return. Then it is annoying to wait all day to learn that the delivered part was the wrong part. And, I am suspicious that maybe the part wasn't wrong, but that they didn't know how to correctly fix the problem. Is it enough for them to tell me that the problem isn't correctly fixed? Should I have to pay several times for a problem to be correctly fixed?

Filed Sep 10, 2004 · Steering · 10,000 miles · NY

Vehicle would bottom out when driving over small bumps in the road, and lost steering control. Dealer was notified.