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2002 Nissan Altima transmission problems

39 complaints (4% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 80,000. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
39
of this car's complaints
4%
typical mileage
80,000
crashes
1
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Automatic transmission
    10
  • Clutch assembly
    6
  • Manual transmission
    4
  • Driveline
    2
  • Clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
    2
  • Manual transmission: floor shift assembly
    1
  • Driveline: driveshaft
    1
  • Automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Nissan Altima transmission problems in other years

19931995200020052010201520202025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Nissan Altima transmission

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Hesitation 22Jerking 16

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2002 Nissan Altima owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

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 8, 2021 · Electrical, Transmission · 134,500 miles · IA

Doors are locked shut all but one, cannot get them to unlock and when I get them unlocked, they won't latch closed. Will not unlock them even when I attempted manually... I need a solution.

Filed Jan 11, 2017 · Engine, Transmission · 11,519 miles · CA

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.

Filed Jun 26, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 119,500 miles · NY

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..

Filed Jun 2, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 205,176 miles · NC

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.

Filed Feb 18, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 172,300 miles · VA

The first issue I have are the oxygen senor are bad no speed when getting pass 35 feel like your driving in 25. The major issue and it is very unsafe. I was driving down the street with my under age children in the car and when the gears was in drive it stop and went backwards then I put it all the way in park and it stop and took off and speed went to 60 then back down to it normal speed. Just the other day on 2/16/15 it was placed in drive it automatic went into reverse instead of drive but the gear was in drive.

Filed Feb 10, 2015 · Acceleration, Transmission · 120,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle independently decreased in speed and would not accelerate over 5 MPH. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed May 14, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 125,000 miles · CO

Nissan altima 2.5 auto transmission. Nearly killed me. Car suddenly went to 20 MPH on the interstate in heavy traffic with 18-wheel 30 ton vehicle behind me. Burns oil like crazy. Put in better synthetic oil, burns faster. Had the car die on the interstate at 75mph right in front of an 18-wheeler. Could have died. Could have been killed by the nissan corporation. Know any good lawyers? This is really dangerous, nissan should recall and replace this engine. Replaced catalytic converter, o2 sensor, pre-catalytic converter, spark plugs, some other related stuff. Burns oil even faster than before. Completely ran out of oil in 300 miles. I am trying 10-40 oil to see if the oil burning problem will slow down. Car only has 125000 miles on it. Complete pos. Never buy a nissan, I never will again. This was my first, only 125k on it. I am used to selling perfectly good ford and vws at 250k miles. On the internet most people fail the pre-cat and catalytic converter by 95000 miles, then overheat and blow the entire engine. Cars stopping suddenly at 75 miles an hour are going to kill people. Since nissan is well aware, this is pre-meditated murder. Other symptoms: no power, no acceleration, no response by nissan dealer. Nissan "service" is a joke. Never take a car to nissan for repairs. Unrelated sign of really really bad engineering: paint is falling off car. Never had that happen to a car before, I have a 14 year old ford with 240k and the original paint job, even though it is not garaged.

Filed Jul 16, 2012 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · CA

Was driving and the clutch sank to the floor. Couldn't get into gear so I had to pull over. Once I parked my car, the clutch was completely to the floor. Couldn't drive it because the clutch would not get into gear. Waited about 20 mins and it came up 1/4 of the way and was able to get into gear. This only happens in the summer and it happens about once or twice every other week and if it happens while it's parked, the car is inoperable.

Filed Nov 18, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 80,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle would not restart and was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine and there were no signs of an engine leak. The mechanic was unable to determine where the oil was escaping to. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were 80,000. Updated 12/22/11*lj the consumer stated the engine and transmission were replaced.

Questions about the 2002 Nissan Altima transmission

Does the 2002 Nissan Altima have transmission problems?

Owners have filed 39 complaints about the transmission of the 2002 Nissan Altima, 4% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2002 Nissan Altima transmission problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 80,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2002 Nissan Altima transmission?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Nissan Altima have bad transmission?

The Nissan Altima model years with the most transmission complaints are 2013 (506 complaints), 2016 (235 complaints) and 2014 (209 complaints).

Other 2002 Nissan Altima problems

Engine 682Body 128Electrical 77Fuel system 56Lights 42Airbags 34Brakes 29Acceleration 20Steering 15Suspension 14Tires 14Visibility 13Driver assistance 9Seat belts 6Locks 5Seats 3Wheels 3

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