Steady Check Engine light came on April 25, 2023. Just had oil change/filter done day before. Had tune-up done May 25, 2023. Had mechanic who replaced my catalytic converter and (2) O2 sensors a year ago check my car. Found that the inside of the catalytic converter was melted. They checked for a fuel leak in engine, none found. Replaced catalytic converter and front O2 sensor. As of today, no Steady Check Engine light has come back on. I think a Flashing Check Engine light should have displayed for something as serious as a fuel leak. What if my car caught fire while driving? Also, I was told several years ago by a local Nissan dealer that my driver side airbag would need replacing - that indicator light never came back on the dash board either. Faulty sensors? I notified Nissan in TN by mail.
Nissan Altima fuel leak problems
20 of the 15,497 owner complaints about the Nissan Altima describe fuel leak, most of them for the 2002 model year.
- owner complaints
- 20
- worst model year
- 2002
- typical mileage
- 47,200
By model year
- 20161
- 20131
- 20091
- 20081
- 20071
- 20051
- 20033
- 20027
- 19961
- 19952
- 19941
Often reported together
Fuel smell 3Fire or smoke 3Won't start 2Wipers 1Stalling 1Overheating 1Fuel pump 1Engine failure 1
What owners say
The fuel tank was supposedly punctured and had a fuel leak. This according to the mechanics, never happens and sounds oddly like the recall this vehicle had in 2015/2016. I’ve checked my vin and says no recalls, but my entire fuel tank needs replacing now.
My wife drives our 2009 nissan altima 2.5s to work on 3rd shift and on her lunch break goes to her car and takes a nap with the car running and was complaining to me for a month or more that she has this smell in her car like a "gas smell" and also was complaining of being tired and nauseous when I spoke with her about it. I noticed her car was abnormally louder when she started it at home and it had not been run that day. I have determined that this is from a cracked exhaust manifold and my wife and I are very lucky she was not killed from the carbon monoxide poisoning she was receiving while sitting in her car while it was idling on her break. The exhaust fumes were being brought into the cab of her car from the cracked exhaust manifold, thru the vents from the outside HVAC air ducts under the hood in the engine compartment. I never could smell a "gas smell" which I assumed she meant gasoline or possibly a coolant smell from a leaking heater core and so I blew it off until I myself had to use the car and I quickly realized it was an exhaust gas smell she was smelling and it nearly caused me to become unconscious while driving at which time I immediately pulled over and returned home with the car. I researched this same exhaust gas leak with this car and it is not uncommon but has yet to trigger a recall . Most likely due to no one being killed from the carbon monoxide poisoning and thank god my wife was not the first. I will be ordering a complete exhaust system new for repairs as to not miss any unseen issues with the car having 101,000 miles . I do expect complete reimbursement for the bill from nissan .
Fuel pump leaking gas very dangerous situation
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, there was a loud noise heard from under the vehicle. After stopping to inspect the noise, he noticed a fuel leak. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who advised that there was a hole in the fuel tank, which needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was also notified who advised the contact to notify the federal safety agency to file a complaint and offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 29,000.
Driver smelled gasoline at startup. Was only faint at first, but grew stronger over the next few days. Odor became so overpowering that driver had to drive with windows open to vent fumes. Driver identified gas dripping from fuel pressure regulator visible on driver's side of engine. Dealer confirmed fuel pressure regulator leak, ordered replacement part, and returned vehicle to owner stating that it's still safe to drive. Driver concerned over possible engine fire since gas drips onto engine while it's running. Driver has discontinued using vehicle until repair is made.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 nissan altima. While driving 60 MPH, the contact struck debris on the roadway. As a result, a piece of metal became lodged in the fuel tank and was hanging down. The failure caused a fuel leak. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they are replacing the fuel tank. The dealer stated that whatever he struck caused gasoline to leak from the fuel tank. The contact stated that the location and lack of protection of the fuel tank a safety issue. The failure mileage was 15000. Updated 04-28-09 cw the drivers side track seat was slow at moving. Updated 04/30/09.
06/29/07 my car sputtered through the intersection of 33rd and highland drive. I then pulled into a bakery on 3100 south and highland drive when I got out of my car I was overwhelmed by the smell of gas. There was a trail of gas behind my car and a large puddle under my car. At this point I did not know what to do, I was afraid to start my car so I asked a gentleman at big o to come and look at my car to see if I could start it. They said they would not start it not knowing where the gas leak was at. I then called the dealer ship and they did not suggest driving the vehicle but having it towed down to the dealership. The tow company picked me and my car up at about 8:50. The gentleman turned on my car and backed it out of the parking spot to put it up on the tow truck. The moment my car was turned on it began to leak gas. It looked like someone had turned on a water faucet and it created another large puddle of gas in the parking lot. Once at the dealer ship. I explained to shane and nick what was going on with my car when nick said, " I know what is wrong with it. It happened to another car this week. But that one caught fire" he took my car back into the shop and about 20 minutes later come back out of the shop and showed my grandfather and myself what had happened. The gas line had "fallen off and the gas was soaking into my back seat." it had created a tar like substance on the tank and on the foam of my seat and the seat was soaked from the gas. I left my car with the dealership all day for them to attempt to clean the seat and get rid of the gas smell. Around 6pm that same night I went to pick up my car with my roommate . We were about 10 feet from my car when we both could still smell the gas. Needless to say with the weather turning from summer to fall and getting colder the gas smell is getting worse and the dealership does not care about the health hazard and will not replace my back seat.
Car was losing coolant. Dealer said I needed a new engine because the head gasket was leaking. They refused to replace the catalytic converter and blamed the engine overheat problem on the leaking gasket. Engine is working fine. I do not want them to replace the head gasket because I can get it done by an ase certified mechanic for half the price and I do not trust them since they told me I needed a new engine. The catalytic converter is supposed to be covered by warranty up to 80k miles. I have 71k miles on the car.
Dt*: the contact stated the engine shut down while driving 35 MPH as well as when idling. The dealer replaced the crank position censor due to fuel leaking on the censor. The service dealer stated this was due to normal wear and tear on the vehicle. Updated 08/14/08
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Altima vehicles equipped with front wheel drive (FWD) and 2.5 liter engines. The fuel pump lock ring may not be fully engaged, possibly causing fuel to leak. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly. If the lock ring is disengaged, dealers will tighten the ring to specification. If the lock ring is detached, dealers will replace the fuel pump. Both remedies will be completed free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑867‑7669.
Recall number 19V316000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Nissan North America, Inc (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Altima vehicles. The retainer clip connecting the low pressure fuel tube to the high pressure fuel pump may not have been locked into position.
- Risk
- If the retainer clip is unlocked, the fuel tube may shift and cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire. If the fuel tube fully disconnects, the engine can stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan has notified owners, and dealers will route the fuel hose into the holding clip and lock the retainer clip into place, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑867‑7669.
Recall number 18V922000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline
- What is wrong
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015 as well as the vehicles covered by the July 31, 2015 notification. In the affected vehicles, due to an improperly installed o-ring that may not have been seated correctly at the time of assembly, fuel may leak during a crash from the area where the fuel sending unit attaches to the fuel tank.
- Risk
- If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 15V486000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, connecticut, iowa, idaho, illinois, indiana, kansas, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, north dakota, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. At extremely cold temperatures, moisture in the fuel tank could freeze and form ice crystals. These ice crystals may obstruct the suction opening of the fuel pump.
- Risk
- This can prevent the supply of fuel to the engine and cause the engine to stop, which could result in a crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a screen at the suction opening of the fuel pump to prevent ice crystals from blocking the opening. Owner notification began on august 18, 2003. Owners should contact nissan at 1‑800‑333‑0829.
Recall number 03V251000 · Recall details
Questions about the Nissan Altima fuel leak
Which Nissan Altima years have fuel leak problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2002 (7 complaints), 2003 (3 complaints) and 1995 (2 complaints).
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