9.5
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$3,515.00
Average Mileage:
96,860 miles
Total Complaints:
46 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace engine (23 reports)
- not sure (9 reports)
- replace pre-cat with heat shield and replace engine if bad (7 reports)
- replaced engine and defective catalytic convertor (7 reports)
engine problem
Helpful Websites About 2002 Nissan Altima catalytic convertor failure caused engine damage
2009Oct 01
Altima
- Automatic transmission
- 74,565 miles
i just found out about this web site and this is some serious B.S. I haven't had this car for 2 years yet and its already parked in my drive way unable to be driven. its bad enough that we have to live check to check then we have to be bothered with this. Nissan needs to step up and fix this sh*t. Every morning i had to go outside at least 20mins ahead of time and crank my car up and let it run because the smoke that was coming out of the tail pipe would be so bad that there was no way i could drive it before it did this. the SES light stayed on no matter how many times i took this car to get serviced it never helped. im so frustrated with this because now im having to pay car payments on a car that i cant even drive. Nissan WILL NOT get away with this. i liked the idea of everybody getting together and taking money out of NISSAN"S pocket the same way they have taken it out of ours. im in the process of looking into what can be done leagally about this situation. Nissan has not so much as sent a letter out letting their customers know that others with the same model car has been having the same type problems. but each month they make sure to send me a letter when im late on a car payment. so each month i've been sending them the different material that i've printed off the internet letting them know what kinda B.S. we have to deal with on a daily basis. now that i know about this website im going to post my thoughts weekly if not daily.
2009Sep 19
Altima S 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 136,000 miles
Well another Nissan engine bites the DUST.............I bought this car 2.5 years ago. It has always burnt a quart of oil between every oil change, Well I just heard back from my mechanic today. I need a new motor and catalytic converter. THIS IS ABSOLUTE B.S.. I just paid this car off a month ago now its going to cost me $3600.00 to get it repaired. I really don't know if it's worth putting that kind of money into it from what I've read. Something really does need to be done. WE NEED SOME HELP NISSAN!!!!!!!!!! This is my first Nissan crap and with out a doubt will be my last.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Jun 09
Altima SL 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 101,000 miles
My 2002 is an awful car, too many problems to say. My engine is now ruined because of the cat converter! What a Lemon!
2009Aug 26
Altima 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 102,000 miles
Same as everyone else. The catalytic converter went bad. These should NEVER go bad. Had a 1993 Altima prior to this one and never had a problem with it. The 2002 has had heads replaced, oil leakage issues, and many more problems. This takes the cake though. The car is only worth about $4,000 kelly blue book, and will cost $5,300 to fix. Also called Nissan Corporate. They do not want to take responsibility for this problem, even though it has affected numerous people, I will NEVER buy a Nissan again, and I will make sure to tell everyone I know not to buy one. Horrible consumer affairs.
2009May 11
Altima SE-R 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 87,000 miles
Same old story. SES light on; dealer told me it was a 'loose gas cap' when car was in warranty a year ago. Dealer claimed they performed all recalls. A year and a month later, SES light on again. First told it was failed catalytic converter. SES light came on again. Replaced pre-catalytic converter and exhaust manifold. SES light goes on again. Car stalls after parking and will not start. Have spark plugs changed and mass airflow sensor cleaned. Car stalls in front of hospital while dropping food off for pregnant friend (yes, my life is a black comedy.) Engine is blown due to tiny fragments of pre-cat/screws ruining a cylinder.
Nissan customer service seriously attempted to tell me that "the catalytic converter is not related to the exhaust system" when I mentioned all the recalls that had been 'fixed' incorrectly. Gave me run around, excuses, etc because I was out of warranty. Wanted to go to small claims court but at this point am so tired of dealing with this car headache isn't worth it. This car has caused me to miss so many days/hours of work I've lost track; over $6000 just THIS YEAR in repairs, and all of it is related to a recall that was 'fixed'.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009May 01
Altima Coup 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
My 2002 Nissan Altima has 88,000 miles on it i had bought this car with 36,000 miles
on it ,one day after taking a short drive i had stopped at a gas station to fill it up,when i restarted my car i noticed huge plumes of smoke coming from my exhaust.
2009Jun 01
Altima Coup 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
I have a 2002 Altima that has 88,000 miles on it ,a few weeks back i went for a short ride i needed gas so i stopped to fill it up after restarting my car a huge plume of smoke came from my exhaust the smoke dissipated after a few hundred feet of driving but this really got my attention i drove directly home after experiencing this, so when i arrived home i opened the hood and checked my oil.i couldn't believe it i was at least 2 quarts low plus my antifreeze reserve was empty, this would not have been shocking if i never changed my oil or checked my fluids but i have all of this done every 3000 miles i decided to do some Internet research concerning these issue that's when i realized i bought a lemon i could not and still cant believe all of the people that are experiencing
the same problems that i have .i realize there are a lot of Altimas on the road today but come on ,there is definitely a serious engineering fowl up here .i went to the NHTSA web
page(Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration)and leaned of a investigation made by(ODI)The office of defects investigation because of 3 fire related incidents on the 2002 Altimas the engine compartments caught on fire while driving at highway speeds
A recall campaign was started by the NHTSA recall #03V08400 .ODI investigation opened Oct 18,2002 and closed March 25,2003 here is a brief summary of what Nissan
was suppose to do to correct their defects:components involved are engine and engine cooling;exhaust system:emissions control :catalytic converter. Nissan would remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pin on the Altimas so they could not pick up any debris off the road that could then come in contact with the converter and catch fire they would also add a heat shield over the pre-catalyst and surrounding exhaust tubing.ok.know their is a second part to the recall that affect my situation and probably yours to .Nissan also stated in its defect information report that on 2002 Altimas and sentras that certain operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat,which would
cause catalyst substrate particles to flow into the engine.these particles can score the cylinder walls which results in increased oil consumption that can lead to fire if left unrecognized and fixed.know NHTSA say es Nisson is developing a corrective action to address the pre catalyst.!! now i know this recall was in 2002 and i know that there is 2 parts to this recall and i know when i called Nissan about this recall they told me that the work was completed on this car in Nov,2003and i also know i have a problem stemming from my converter . but what i really want to know what was the corrective action that was taken to stop the overheating converter??? i cant find out anywhere maybe one of you readers are a Nissan mechanic who Knows the answer but i cant find it anywhere.Nissan will tell you they completed the service for this recall but this service was not completed in its entirety if they don't have a answer to the overheating converter that will i mean will rune your car i ever e-mailed NHTSA to find out if they have the answer still waiting for a reply.i would love to take Nissan to court but i don't have that type of cash but i will bet if you got every person who has been taken advantaged of by this situation we can get a dam good lawyer considering there were at least 368000 people affected by these flaws even 50% of them at let say 5 bucks apiece i think 920,000 should get us a pretty good attorney with all these complaints why is this investigation closed it should be reopened or is Nissan to big i dont think so.
2009Jun 12
Altima 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
After taking care of my car for 7yrs I was told that the catalytic converter was sucked into my engine and ruined it. Of course the warranty on the part was good only for 80K miles. I called Nissan's Consumer Affairs Dept and after looking into the matter they are NOT going to do anything. They told me there was nothing I could have done to prevent this. I only used synthetic oil thinking it would extend the life of my engine. I WILL NEVER buy another Nissan/Infiniti car again. I owned an Infiniti Q45 and that burned oil. My brother bought the same car 3 months after I did and had the same problem. He was told the car was burning oil. We never saw or smelt smoke but he was constantly adding oil. He bought a Toyota and it now has over 100K miles and is in perfect condition. Nissan quality is crap. The dealer told me it would cost $3,500. I'd rather use that money towards a deposit on a new Toyota/Honda.
I was told by the dealer that if I didn't have enough of a history with them and that if I had bought the car from them things might have been different. They were really stupid. Maybe if they had done the right thing I would have become a customer of theirs. It didn't matter that I moved here from out of state and since moving here they were the only dealer that serviced my car. Idiots. Now they will never see me as a customer.
I'm very disappointed with the quality of Nissan cars and the competence of their representatives.
2008Dec 25
Altima LS
- Manual transmission
- 120,000 miles
I used to own a 93 Nissan Altima which went 480k miles before I turned it over to my brother. Never had an engine or transmission problem. I bragged to everyone about how wonderful Nissans are.
Then, I bought my 2002 Nissan Altima 2 years ago. Since then, I've put 2 catalytic converters in it and it needs a third. It has guzzled oil since the day it rolled off the lot (about 1 quart every 500 miles at first, we're up to 2 now).
Nissan Motor company has been less than useless at this point, despite the fact that numerous complaints here and elsewhere demonstrate that this is a clear problem with the design of the vehicle.
I will NEVER EVER buy a Nissan again and I will further encourage everyone who will listen to turn their backs on this company. This has been the worst car experience I have ever had and I bought the car specifically for the reputation of reliability that Nissan brought to the table.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Apr 01
Altima SL 2.5L
- Manual transmission
- 88,000 miles
I OBVIOUSLY DO NOT HAVE TO GO INTO ANY DETAILS ABOUT THIS PIECE OF S%*T THEY CALL A CAR. I JUST WANT ALL THE MONEY BACK I HAD TO PUT IN THIS JUNK BOX , WHICH IS $4,000+..THAT WAS FOR A NEW MOTOR, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NOW AFTER 3,000mi. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON...TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC...NOW I NEED TO DROP ANOTHER $600 SOME DOLLARS FOR A REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTER...WTF?!?!?!?!
ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHERES THE LAWSUIT AT? WE ALL NEED THIS,ESPECIALLY WITH THIS ECONOMY. BEING LAID OFF IS BAD ENOUGH, LET ALONE NOT HAVING A CAR TO GO JOB HUNTING. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS P.O.S. AND MY CREDIT IS SHOT NOW CUZ EVERY PENNY I HAVE MADE GOES INTO THIS PAIN IN MY A$$ THING THEY CALL A CAR.!!! NISSAN NEEDS TO GET HIT HARD AND REIMBURSE ALL OF US! KARMA'S A BIT*H.!! LETS MAKE MOVES. ANYONE CAN CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL..I NEED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, BUT DONT KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO GO ABOUT IT... ANY INFO WOULD BE APPRECIATED...OH YEAH AND THANKS NISSAN, YOU PEICES OF $HIT..THANKS FOR NOTHING!..Tomcils@gmail.com.
2005Feb 15
Altima
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
My 2002 Altima began using oil while still in warranty. I took it to Nissan and they claimed they couldn't find anything wrong with it. The problem continued to get worse and when I took it back to Nissan (out of warranty this time), then they tell me I need a new engine and that it would cost several thousand dollars. Nissan corporate wouldn't pay for anything even though the problem started while under warranty. I think they knew of the issue and said they couldn't find anything while the car was under warranty, then they want me to pay to replace the engine once it's out of warranty. I wasn't about to give them a dime to fix anything. I got a local mechanic to replace my engine with one that had 15,000 miles on it. The mechanic told me that it was a defective catalytic converter that had torn up my engine, so I had to replace that too.
This was my first Nissan, and now it will be my ONLY Nissan because of how I was treated. The local Nissan dealership (Lynn Layton Nissan) and Nissan corporate just kept trying to pass the buck. I used to get a lot of compliments on this car but I will cost Nissan more in business than it would have cost them to do the right thing and replace the engine and converter. I will not recommend this vehicle to anyone.
2008Oct 15
Altima SL V4
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
My engine light came on and I was told that it was nothing at first.Then after it came on again I was told it was the catalytic converter and I would have to have it replaced,which I did for the tune of $800.00.By the way I still owe $5,000.00 on this car.After having this replaced,my check engine light still came on and then my mechanic said the first converter had already caused damage to my engine and I would have to rebuild the engine or get rid of my car!!!!!
2008Nov 20
Altima 2.5s V4
- Manual transmission
- 100,000 miles
So yeah...Just as everyone else mentioned...my wife and I are in the same place as everyone else.
We had purchased the extended warranty ($3500 for it) to extend the warranty to 100,000 miles just in case we had any issues with it...we would be covered. Little did we know! :|
So the oil consumption started doing it's thing and then the cat. conv. did it's thing and destroyed the piston rings, etc. We also had the blown head gasket fail and then we also had the radiator fluid leak into the fuel injector and cause mis-fires. IF YOU CAN'T TELL...we have had all of the problems that are listed below and MORE.
Bottom line; I called Nissan Consumer Affairs and of course they want nothing to do with fixing or solving the problem. To make things even worse; "Hot Wife" and I have had to give up many things to keep a roof over the kids heads and food in their bellies so as a result; our credit has taken hits that are going to take time to bounce back from. This Nissan Altima is the only car we have and it was/is our WORKHORSE. Without it; work doesn't take place and hence we have no $$$ to pay bills; so on; and so on.
So; every mechanic we have talked to say that this is a perfect Class Action Law Suit; only thing is the car will be in the junk yard by then and we will have let it go on our credit. Nissan knowingly dismissed an engineering design flaw. WE ALL HAVE TO SUE the pants off of them at all costs!
This is going to take years and millions of dollars and many attorneys; however it can be done if everyone comes together and sticks together through the hard times.
So contact me and let's touch base: LET'S GET THIS THING ROLLING! What is everyone waiting for???
My Email Address:
emailadmun21@yahoo.com
Alan
Update from Nov 13, 2009: OKAY...UPDATE:
I have contacted a very prominent attorney who has ACTUAL experience with and has ACTUALLY sued Nissan. The gentleman even knows the freaking NISSAN COUNSEL! How awesome is that. At very least, he can get a recall issued. This is GREAT NEWS. He says that it certainly has legs.
This is what EVERYONE needs to do that has this issue. FIRST STEP (VERY IMPORTANT!) contact Nissan and file a consumer complaint. When you do that MAKE sure that you mention to the person taking your complaint, that you want NISSAN to replace your engine. (It will come back denied) Then once you have the complaint number, Please post it in your postings here and on any other blogs you have posted on. (I have posted here as well: http://www.carcomplaints.com/Nissan/Altima/2002/engine/catalytic_convertor_failure_caused_engine_damage.shtml ) Look for #30 on the list. That is my post.
It is very important that you follow step one.
Step Two: Contact me with a simple, "Hello...add me to list..." I will keep a running list of people interested in getting in on this class action.
As for what is happening next, the attorney had a meeting with a group of investors on Thursday, November 12th, to discuss whether or not they could move forward and just to generally throw the idea out there to his firm.
LETS DO THIS PEOPLE! Time to make Nissan accountable for their shotty engineering and poor customer relations. Hey...if it were you and I...we would be held accountable.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Mar 18
Altima S 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 88,212 miles
First I am going to say what we all feel"WHAT A PIECE OF S#&%!!!!!"I am very very dissapointed.I am an auto mechanic and an all around car guy.This is my first Nissan(and my last).I have owned European cars(volvos,benzs). I have been told that Nissans are the best all around car builders. WHAT A PACK OF LIES.My older euro cars are so much better built,designed and better quality.I bought this car from a coworker(he had is since it was new).He has taken care of the car.I have taken care of it also. I use mobil 1 oil( $6.00 a quart).This car burns oil and coolant.Nissan should be ashamed of themselves.Can anyone please pass on the info on the class action law suit.I am NEVER NEVER buying a nissan(or any other japanese car again).
2007Apr 10
Altima SE 3.5L V6
- Manual transmission
- 113,000 miles
Canadian Altima Owners PLEASE send me your contact info. I am willing to take it to many peoples attention and even Media if I can, but I need your help to do so.
This is a safety issue and needs to be taken into consideration by Nissan Corp. really seriously.
Blown engine and vehicle catching on fire without any warning system is life threatening.
Please do not close your eyes on this horrible problem.
2008May 14
Altima S 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 100,000 miles
Wow!!!!!!! I bought this car used at 80,000 miles. Had the oil changed regularly and took good car of it. Over the span of about a year and a half I've had nothing but problems from if. First, the engine light came on so I took it to the dealer they put it on a machine and didn't tell me anything useful. So I leave with the car it was still driving fine then a month or so later the engine started making a horrible noise so I took it to a local mechanic who happens to be a friend of mine and he fixed it. I think he replaced a gasket and did something to the manifold. So it ran ok for a few months. It started using oil. Then I started having problems with it cranking. I'd be out somewhere go back to get in my car to leave and it wouldn't crank. I'd sit there for a while an it would eventually crank. I think it had something do with the engine cooling off before it would crank back up. Never had that fixed so I don't know exactly what that problem was. Not long after that started my car went into what the dealership called safe mode. It wouldn't go faster than 30 miles per hour thank God I only live about 3 miles from the dealership. So I took it to them they told me that it was problems with the catalytic converter and I needed a new engine. They said it would cost about $6,000. So I took the car to my mechanic and he did something with the catalytic converter. That made it run better but it still didn't want to shift right or get enough gas. It was kinda weird. Anyway I parked it one day and when I went to get back in it the car hasn't ran since. I took it to my mechanic and he said it need a whole new engine.
So it's been about a year and I still haven't got the car fixed. I was on the computer looking for used motors when I ran across this web site. I didn't realize other people were out there having the same problems I was. I'm a college student and it has been a struggle getting back and forth to school and work.
2009Feb 20
Altima 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 180,000 miles
I have a V6 3.5L 2002 Altima. I have been having problems with oil consumption and was told the oil sending unit needs to be replaced. Today my "service engine soon" light came on. I went to have the code read and was told its a cat converter problem. I am afraid that I am going to be in the same boat as everyone here. Does anyone know if anything is happening with the class action lawsuit that I have read about? If so please let me know. Thanks pocahontas049@yahoo.com
2009Feb 11
Altima 2.5S 2.5L
- Manual transmission
- 100,000 miles
I just encountered the same problem as so many of you on here. Catalytic converter damages, which was never recalled by Nissan, caused small pieces to damage the engine and now the Nissan dealer says a new engine and cat. converter at LEAST are needed totalling upwards of 6k.This problem also caused excessive oil consumption which is another common problem for 2002 Altima owners. I had an oil change last week and this week the dipstick had nothing on it. The Check Engine Soon light also just came on, as well as some rattling noise up front, but it's too late as the damage has already been done. If you experience anything at all like this for your car, you should get it checked out ASAP. Now, I don't know if its worth it to pay 6k to fix this car, when I still have about 5k to pay off. For a car that is 100k miles, I don't know if this is a smart option. Needless to say, I'll never buy from Nissan again as they ignore their loyal customers.
2009Jan 10
Altima SL 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 97,000 miles
It appears that I have the same problem as a few hundred 2002 2.5SL Nissan Altima owners.
It appears that there should have been a recall by Nissan to address a faulty catalitic converter on the 2002 Altima, but it never happened. Nissan's poor judgment to not repair this problem has resulted in many Nissan customers having to change the entire engine prematurely. No way in hell should you need to change your engine at 98,000 miles if you've done standard maintainence on the car. My car looked mint but it sounded as if the engine was going to blow up. I was driving to work one morning going 55 miles per hour when I heard my exhaust system get a little louder than usual. No engine light ever came on, however the car began to lose power and starting decelerating. I pulled off the highway and stopped at a gas station. I added a quart of oil to the engine to see if this would help, because I also experienced that the car began burning excessive oil. The car was only able to go to 25 mph after leaving the service station.
I brought the car to a Nissan delaer who informed me that the catalytic converter was damaged and that its small parts broke off into the engine. They said I needed a catalytic converter and a new engine costing $4,700.
Shame on Nissan for not living up to its reputation as a honorable company. They have ignored loyal consumers.
I have lost total faith in Nissan and will proudly say that I will never buy another Nissan automobile ever again. I will definitely let everyone that I know how badly nissan has handled this problem. I can't wait until a class action lawsuit is filed so that everyone who has suffered can get justice and resolution. I recently purchased a house and can't afford to purchase another car right now.
There was no reason that I should have these types of problems with a 2002 Nissan Altima.
2008Dec 19
Altima ES 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 97,000 miles
This is the worst car that i have ever owned. The service engine light came on after the first three months of owning the vehicle and never went out after having it checked. The vehicle kept stalling at a slow speed. The car kept burning oil and coolant every other day. Then the car kept smoking and everything went down hill since then. Nissan needs to step up and accept the responsibility about these frequent issues with this vehicle. The cost of $3500 to have repaired is outrageous and i will never purchase another nissan again.
2008Dec 14
Altima SE
- Automatic transmission
- 94,000 miles
Just to add to all the other complaints on here, but I have had the same exact problem as everyone else!!!! Excessive oil consumption! I have had the problem for a couple years now, I took it in originally before my warranty was up and they told me there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, which they made me pay $95 just to look at the stupid car. Anyways a year later I noticed that my car was making funny clanking noises and when I checked the oil it was low, and noticed that every 1500 miles or so I would have to refill my oil cause it would literally be bone dry. I took it in to get it looked at and after 2 oil consumption tests the dealership did nothing for me. So now another year later, (i just dealt with the issue by adding oil) I was driving 100 highway miles and my engine was burning 3 qts of oil bone dry!!!! It finally crapped out on me and started making a really rough engine sound and then it wouldn't let me drive any faster than about 45MPH. I took it in to a Dealership...and what do you know, i need a new catalytic converter (sp?) How did i know they were going to tell me that?? Cause luckily I have done some research and found that many people have had the same problem. They told me that they cant diagnose the engine until I Fix that problem. But that wont even guarantee it will fix the engine issue. I am trying to go to Nissan about this issue but it doesn't look like anyone has gotten anywhere with them. I tell you my whole family works for FORD and has given me grief for buying a Nissan, let me tell you I have learned my lesson the hard way and will NEVER buy nissan again. Especially if they choose to ignore the issue that's obviously a manufacturers defect.
2008Sep 06
Altima 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 87,000 miles
I CANNOT believe that Nissan is refusing to pay any attention to this problem. One that was caused by their awful design of the engine. I like everyone else had a blown engine due to the fact that the cat. broke apart on the inside and was suckef into the engine, killing the pistons. It started with huge puffs of white smke that lingered and stunk. That was all the oil my car was burning. Then it quickly progressed into stalling at every light or every time I came to a complete stop. When I brought it into the shop I was told all about the problems and the damage the cat did to the whole engine. My service contract that I purchased with the car refused to pay for any of the labor and parts because the cat was the cause of all the problems. Not only did I pay for a warranty to NOT cover the freakin problem but I had to pay $600 just for them to tell me what was wrong-NOT even fixing anything. Now the car is sitting there because I now have to come up with the money to fix it (right before the holidays) :( I have written to join the list for the class action lawsuit, but if anyone has more info on how to make Nissan pay, please send me a comment. I will NEVER buy another Nissan again and I will NEVER buy another car without first looking on this website.
2007Dec 01
Altima 2.5 4 Cyc
- Automatic transmission
- 92,000 miles
I just need to say that for those whose CAT is broken - it has a US Federal warranty of I think 80,000 miles. Have you car checked before that expiration so that Nissan can at least pay for that replacement part (about $600.00). I discovered that after my CAT had completely ruined my engine and I had it rebuilt. I had an indentured slave, my son, do the rebuild and I am now facing a rebuild of at least the top part of the engine due to his inexperience with the task. I should have just had a rebuilt engine dropped in back in Dec 07 instead. Live and learn.
Also, Nissan Corp, while denying any capability due to poor engine design, also holds owners hostage when buying replacement parts - you have to get the big ticket items like the CATdirectly from them - no aftermarket that I've found. Still, I love my Altima but based on the dealer's lack of concern and help with my problem, it will be a cold day in you can guess where before I buy another Nissan product. Anyway,
2008Jul 01
Altima 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 110,000 miles
Unbelievable...what a piece of...?@#? same problems listed by everyone else; burning oil, stalling, bad cat caused engine damage so it needs to be replaced. Is there an existing law suit? I will buy American from now on!!!!
2008Sep 01
Altima S 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 87,000 miles
Here's Nissan's Scam with the oil consumption. It's an absolutely know problem. In fact, it's Recall #NTB03-070c.
The problem is that they check for this problem once, and if they don't see it, they avoid allowing you to have it checked again. That's why they looked for this ASAP. They want to check it before the part fails.
Don't let them beat you. Go to this link: http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/Knowledgebase/links
In here you will find the recall and the critical numbers needed to fight. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this and are looking into why people are being told differently from Nissan.
2008Oct 01
Altima SL 3.5L
- Manual transmission
- 65,000 miles
THis is the second engine replacement Nissan has said I needed. First engine also went bad with about 65,000 miles on it. Nissan fully covered the first engine, but now wants $4500 for replacement of the second one. I will never buy another Nissan car as this seems to be an on going problem with their engines which the refuse to address.
2008Aug 04
Altima SL 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 117,000 miles
Purchased brand new 2002 Altima 2.5SL. Have kept up on all maintenance and oil changes and recalls. Car started to use more oil but thought it was due to the car getting older. Check engine light came on, car missing for the first minute or so when driving, gas mileage dropped from 28 mpg to about 24mpg, excessive gas smell. Called Nissan and was told there was a recall for a software upgrade and it would take care of the problem Took car in to local Nissan dealer and was told the Service Engine Soon light came on due to "Engine misfire" diagnostic code. I called Nissan and filed a complaint. Was called back by a Regional Specialist and was told because of the number of miles on our car, Nissan will not work with us and that is their FINAL DECISION.
2008Sep 01
Altima SL 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 98,000 miles
Same problem as everyone else. Cat went bad, broken pieces end up in the engine and killed a piston. help
2008Aug 20
Altima
- Automatic transmission
- 125,000 miles
Ok, by reading the complaints of this Altima (used with 106,000 miles for 8,000), I've had nothing but sure "joy" of voicing my own problems and frustration of this car from day one. I purchased this car from a dealership that a friend of mine was working back in August 2007 in KY (which the name of this dealership WILL not be named...but you can fill in the blanks here S_ _ K A _ _ _ M_ _ L!). At the time I was in serious need of a new car because my 94 Pontiac Sunbird was smoking more than a Jackie Gleason fine cigar. I saw the Altima, test drove it, did a Carfax report on it and everything appeared to be OK but noticed that the engine oil was black and the check engine light was on. So I had him/the dealership to check on this problem so they changed the oil, and APPARENTLY fixed the problem (the oxygen sensor malfunctioned). Got the car and everything was cool. Well, a week later the check engine light came on again...took it back to the dealership and they told me that the other oxygen senor malfunctioned...so they repaired it and I was on my way. Well, about 3 weeks went by the guess what? The CE light came on again...now need I remind you that I did have an extended warranty on this car so supposedly, everything would be taken care off. Not so! The "ignant" service department told me that the cat. converter is bad and the part will cost 775.00, and with the labor...over 1,000. Now, I was just starting grad school and NO WAY I could afford a cost like that. I have books to pay you know?!?!?! Apparently, the dealership never bothered to throughly check the car for its mishaps or if they did, they didn't check it properly!
So I drove without it until it went out on me back in December of last year...bought a new part (300.00) and had another mechanic to put it in...worked fine after that. Well, in April it went out on me again but this time the part, the mechanic told me was different...still the cat. converter but the part that connected to the manifold went out. So I spent another 500.00 to get the car repaired on a dealer specified part...no parts from Kool Aid point driven whole sale companies. This mechanic put the part on with no trouble and I'm driving good.
At this time, my car had about 115,000 miles on it, and after a a tuneup (90.00), two new tires (275.00), ignition control motor (104.00), fuel filter (75.00) the car officially went dead! I was driving to TN one day for a job interview and what do you know? The car went out on me...but this time NO CE light came on. So I'm sitting on the side of the road, sweating b/c it was hot as HELL that day calling a tower to get my ride to a nearest mechanic. The only one that was nearby was Firestone. So the good men at Firestone tells me that my cat converter blew AGAIN...WTH?!?!?! So needless to say, It was either pay 300.00 to get my car towed back to KY, call the interview off, or have the good men at Firestone repair the car...and guess what I did? Repaired the car. They got another converter b/c TN is were Nissan HQ is now. Repaired and I was on my way. I DID make it to my interview! But GUESS WHAT?!?!?!?! I driving back to KY and the damn thing was loosing power, losing oil, with an oil leak, and then I'm smelling a foul odor of rotten eggs (Man! I thought I farted or something you know?). With it acting up as much as it was doing, I finally decided to take it to a Nissan dealer to have them look at it. Well, once I told them the symptoms, I already knew what had happened. New engine time! OH HELL NO! Yes I was pissed but there wasn't much I could do. I've invested too much already and wasn't about to do it again!! No engine for that car...so I sold it and bought a 06 Hyundai Sonata...so far so good!
Sometime Carfax doesn't help much. If I wouldn't visited this site before I bought it, it would've saved me alot of time, money and headache. And oh, the "friend" that sold me the Altima...haven't spoken to him since that day!
Good luck with all that are doing these lawsuits, etc! More power to you!
2008Jul 28
Altima S 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 126,797 miles
purchased '02 Altima brand new. 8/4/2004 crank angle censors & crankshaft position recall work done. 6/24/2005 check engine light on, brought in for service, Catalytic converter burnt out, needed to replace it. 9/2/2006 crank shaft censors & cam positioning again - paid out of pocket to get this fixed. 7/28/2008 check engine light on and I'm burning oil, brought in for service, catalytic converter needs to be replaced yet again. can't determine the oil issue without performing a $369 test.
Went on to consumer affairs and there is complaint after complaint of owners with identical problem - ultimately the engine needs to be replaced as well.
I contacted Nissan Headquarters, the regional specialist, Catherine, was extremely rude to me, as though I was putting them out with a complaint. after "reviewing" my complaint she said Nissan is not willing to assist.
I am locating every website and media outlet I can to bring attention to this matter.
I am not made out of $$ and thought purchasing a new vehicle would be less expensive than "buying someone elses' problems" and also a safety issue for my toddler. Little did I know that large investment would be dead in less than 7 years.
This is not right that Nissan is able to stiff loyal consumers as they are. This is an obvious problem and needs to be fixed.
2008May 14
Altima S 3.5L
- Manual transmission
- 77,000 miles
Purchased this P.O.S. because we heard good things about Nissan. After replacing pre-cat and then the rear cat, motor blew after about 100 miles. Had dealership tear down motor and they stated that rod went through the block due to engine starving for oil...We just had the oil changed! They went on to say, due to the cat. failing, the debris from the Cat. was ingested into the motor sending debris throughout the motor scoring rings, piston and clogging up oil pump. I am still waiting to find out the results...It is BS that if the Cat. fails you have to replace the motor.
2008Aug 01
Altima 2.5S 2.5L I4
- Automatic transmission
- 47,000 miles
F*ck these motherf*ckers! 47,000 miles on this piece of sh*t and it needs an engine! Oil changed every 6000 miles, I drive like my grandma who is dead, and NISSAN f*cks up a recall, then tells me I have to pay for this ECM reprogram and a f*cking heat shield? I am pissed as you can tell. This car is nice, but if Nissan can't be reasonable and pay the $6000 for an engine, then they're f*cked.
This is a DESIGN DEFECT that these f*ckers refuse to be accountable for. Class action?
2008Jul 01
Altima SL 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 56,000 miles
Same problem as every one else. Cat failed and took out the engine. Nissan wont help. If any one know about a class action suit please contact me!
2008Jun 30
Altima S 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
I have had nothing but problems with this car since the day I got it. I took it back within 30 days of purchase to complain it was running rough, they told me it was fine. A couple months after buying the car I need a new cat. A Cat?!? What the hell is that? Its brand new! Don't worry its under warranty under 8 years and 80,000 miles. Ok I was happy! Then I noticed that my headlights were always pointed at the stop signs and not toward the ground, I was always replacing them. Buying better bulbs everytime. Telling myself that maybe it was just a cheap bulb. After awhile I just started buying the cheapest bulb because now I'm just wasting on bulb after bulb. I get a recall in the mail for my rear subframe. When I take the car in for that they tell me that my headlights have been recalled also. Leave the car overnight and the next day I pick up my car I'm very happy. Very short lived when I get a call from my husband saying my car just died in the middle off the road. EXCUSE ME? MY CAR DID WHAT? Take it back to Nissan they tell me I need an alternator. How do I need an alternator, when my car cools down it starts right back up? If I need an alternator my car wouldn't start at all! I quit that dealership, I respectfully decline the work. I drive my car from Philadelphia to Charleston SC on that alternator. Crazy! I take it to place after place everybody says it doesn't sound like an alternator, but we don't know what it is either! Whatever I don't care its not doing it anyway! I forget about it until about april.When I get a recall on ECM, which may cause you car shut down while traveling at high speeds.WOW THAT MAKES SENSE! I also have my check eninge light on which is I know is my Cat again. I take it in for my new cat(which at this point I know what it is) and my ECM reprogramming and an 100 point inspection that Nissan is offering for free! This is great maybe my car will finally be back to what its supposed to be! OK get the car back its not quite right. Can't quite figure out what is wrong but somethings isn't right! Burning oil like crazy and gas more often. I think that might me driving more and maybe the guy who did my oil change last didn't do it right! Screw that I'm never taking my car back there again. Fill it with oil get my oil changed at the dealership to make sure its right! (That's a laugh now) At my 100 point inspection, they told that I should get my throttle body cleaned and adjusted and my fuel injectors flushed.I happened to be talking about to my friend who was at the time working on my husbands car( acura with 250,000 miles on it). He told me he would do it for 70 bucks instead of 300 the dealer wanted. Great take it in get a phone call saying your car is idling crazy we put a idle speed sensor, a new throttle body and its still crazy. He told me take it back to the dealer because there is something wrong with the computer and since they just reprogrammed it they should be responsible. They reprogram the computer again(at my expense$400.00). Hey this is good now finally I can have my car back great!(yeah Right) A week later its acting up again. Take it back like I have been saying for three weeks I needed a new computer! Great I get the new computer.I pick it up on Thursday I'm driving home could it be I finally have my car back? NO! Friday I'm going to drive to work and I turn the car on and the car is vibrating! Like a dog who is trying to dry off after a bath! I turn the car on and off a couple times and it stops. I do this for a week, CAUSE THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I WANT TO LEAVE MY CAR AGAIN! I call I tell them my problems and I don't want to leave the car, he was super nice bring it in. I'll have my most senior tech look at it, I drive all the way there. I was told there is nothing that they could do because its not happening now and if you LEAVE IT we can look at it, and get it fixed for you. NO YOU CAN'T HAVE IT AGAIN! I finally cave after my car just don't want to start at all! After alot of trying I get it on, I figure I better just give in and take it back to the dealer. I leave it the next day I get a call I need a engine. I call Nissan NA, I am still waiting for a return call. To see if they will give me a engine. An engine that is rebuilt from somebody else who was already broken that probably had 200,000 miles. I have contacted a lawyer. If anybody else wants in contact me back!
2006Jan 04
Altima 2.5s
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
I am really pissed about this 2002 Nissan Altima. I have had nothing but problems since I brought this damn car. The first problem was the engine light came on and when I had a diagnostic done on it, they told me that I needed to replace the catalytic converter which cost me $1200.00. The very next day the engine light came back on. I took it back to Tristate Nissan in Winchester, VA and told them what was going on they tried to tell me that I needed to do a diagnostic on the car. I told them they must be crazy because I just had one done and they stated it was the catalytic converter and I was not going to pay another $95.00 to have another one done. They told me that they would do it for free. That is when they came back and said that it was a cylinder misfire and that there was a head gasket blown. And that I needed to replace the head gasket. I asked them why didn't the dignostic pick up on it, and they had the nerve to tell me that "sometimes you have to fix one thing in order to find out what else is wrong with it". I told them they have lost their mind. I then asked them if the head gasket is blown how do I know the engine is not messed up. They had the nerve to tell me that they would have to take the engine apart in order to see if it is messed up. So they wanted me to replace the head gasket and to pay them for taking the engine apart to see if it was bad. I told them absolutely NO. I ended up getting a used engine put in the car for $1500.00 for the used engine and another $500 to put it in. Which I had the work done somewhere else. Now it seems like the transmission is going, which I am getting ready to have that checked. I think we should all get together and get a law suit started regarding these 2002 Nissan Altima's. I had contacted the Nissan Consumer Complaint, and needless to say it was a waste of my time. They were no help at all. Nissan does not look after their customers. I guess they are only concerned with people buying their piece of junk cars. They have the WORST customer service.
2008Mar 25
Altima ES
- Automatic transmission
- 115,000 miles
Purchased the car in 2005 with 52,000 miles. Spent $2,000 last year to replace cat, gaskets, etc. 5000 miles later, the cat went bad again and engine needed replacing, another $4,800.00. Complaints to Nissan Corporate and the dealership went unanswered. From what I've read, there are hundreds if not thousands who have had or are having the same problems. We are all screwed as there are no recalls or pending recalls that address these issues. If you see white smoke, this is the beginning of your steps to Altima Hell.
2008May 05
Altima SL 2.5L
- Manual transmission
- 88,000 miles
NISSAN WILL BE BUYING ME A NEW ENGINE FOR THIS B.S!.--THIS WAS NOT MY, OR ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEMS FAULT, SO THEREFORE WE SHOULDN'T BE THE ONES SUFFERING FOR IT! THIS IS FREAKIN RIDICULOUS! A NEW ENGINE??? A WHOLE NEW ENGINE??!! A WHOLE NEW ENGINNNNNNNNE???????????????????? ARE YOU SERIOUS NISSAN????????!!!?
2007Dec 21
Altima 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 67,000 miles
There is hope, Nissan replaced my pre-cat and my engine free of charge, with absolutely no hassle, believe it or not. I was totally amazed myself.
2007Oct 23
Altima S 4 Cy
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
Altima 2002 The PROBLEM CAR
Purchased used 07-2006 with 50,000 miles. Taken to Nissan dealer in my town and gone over to repair, fix, replace everything and anything that was needed for the next year of so. No word from the dealer on any recalls or tech news reports that needed to be addressed.
I pulled up all dealer recalls in Oct.2006 and brought the car in for the replacements of known problems. Car runs super, plenty of power, great gas mileage, not a hitch. THEN
10/23/2007 LOSS OF POWER IN 2002 ALTIMA WITH 85,000 MILES
10/29/2007 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. AUTO LEFT ME STRANDED, WOULD NOT START.
11/02/2007 MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED AT AUTO REPAIR SHOP RUSSELLVILLE, KY.(NO NISSAN DEALERSHIP CLOSE) AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR
ANY DISTANCE. ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON AFTER REPAIR.
11/02/2007 CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT RUSSELLVILLE, KY.
SAME REPAIR SHOP.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON ( REPAIR SHOP DID
NOT KNOW HOW TO RESET CODE SYSTEM. AUTO PARKED AT 88651 MILES.
11/21/2007 OIL CHANGED AND NOTICED OIL LEVEL LOW. CONTINUED TO
CHECK OIL AND ADD 1-2 QUARTS FOR 700-1000 MILES.
12/25/2007 HOME FOR HOLIDAYS. 12/27/2007 STARTED RESEARCH ON AUTO RECALLS AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS.
12/27/2007 CONTACTED NISSAN FOR INSTRUCTION AND DIRECTION.
COMPLAINT FILED.
12/28/2007 APPOINTMENT MADE WITH NISSAN DEALERSHIP, PARIS, TN.
FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR ON 01/02/2008.
01/03/2008 I CONTACTED DEALER FOR VERDICT OF PROBLEMS
(SPOKE WITH CHUCK). TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS NOT REPLACED
AND THE DASH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CODED TO THE CONVERTER.
BUT ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND EXHAUST PIPE HANGER WERE
ON RECALL AND BOTH REPLACED BUT DASH LIGHT WAS STILL ON.NEEDED NEW CONVERTER, AT MY COST. INSTRUCTED TO CHECK VOLUNTARY
RECALL CAMPAIGN FROM NISSAN FOR SERVICE TECHNICIANS DATED 03/18/2003.
01/03/2008 CONTACTED NISSAN FOR DIRECTION. NO RETURN PHONE CALLS UNTIL 01/09/2008 (HAVE CALLED DAILY). AUTO AT PARIS, TN.
DEALERSHIP.
01/11/2008 PICKED UP CAR, PAID MY BILL, AND LEFT DEALERSHIP. DROVE HOME, CHECKED THE OIL, AND PARKED IT. NISSAN HAS BEEN CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR ORIGINAL DECISION
OF THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM.
I am now looking for an attorney to pick these cases up as a class action against Nissan. They already have 2 other class actions against them for other major issues.
All the people with a problem need to get a consolidated effort going to force a
positive conclusion to this problem. It is not fair to consumers to know about the problems and let the public take the fall. They have the #1 selling car on the roads today.What will happen to the Nissan dealers in the next years with this kind of
press when word gets out? You reap what you sow!
2008Jan 25
Altima S 4 cyl. 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 132,000 miles
SES light was on and had fuel tank and filter all replaced, light went off for about a week.
Light was back on, had oil changed and after 2 weeks, had no oil in the engine...did not understand. Added 4 quarts and then 2 more quarts a week later. The engine never hesitated or ran rough or any clue that they was a major problem..Took the car to the dealer last week,...engine is blown...catalytic converter was sucked into the engine and now it will cost $5000.00 to fix it. My husband who is a mechanic said I was mistaken - the catalytic converter is on the exhaust system, not the engine. He called the service manager and was told same thing, my husband said that must be a design fault. The manager
said to take it up with 1 800 USA NISSAN...I WILL FOLLOW THRU WITH NISSAN
2007Apr 03
Altima 2.5 4 cyl
- Manual transmission
- 110,000 miles
I've had the same problem that hundreds of other Nissan Altima owner's have suffered through. Catalytic converter failed, caused excessive oil consumption and eventual engine failure (on the highway at 60mph!). However, my case is a little more extreme. At around 60,000 miles I had this happen to me and had the engine replaced thinking the problem was fixed. Now at a 110,000 miles THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN!!!. I don't' understand how Nissan is allowing this continue on. With as much competition as there is in the auto market all automakers have is service and reliability. If someone on national news runs this story will get as much press as all of the Chinese toy makers. If the executives at Nissan were smart they would come in and try to settle this issue before it hits class action status and destroys their reputation for having reliable cars. Just think why Toyota is so successful.
2005Jun 17
Altima SL 2..5
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
Same problem as everyone else. Catalytic Converter gone bad. SES light has been
on since 06/2005. Purchased this car NEW in 2002/Feb. 2007/March bad catalytic
converter plus other problems. Extended warranty, but this was not covered. Now
I am trying to take care of the 2007 recall and Nissan (StateLine) in Kansas City,
MO says they can't perform the recall without me taking care of the catalytic
converter. What kind of crap is that? Evidently, there is some type of problem that
so many people are having the same problem. Please include me in the class
action suit. My email address is syd02syn06@hotmail.com. If this situation is not
resolved, I will never purchase another NISSAN and let everyone know how unfairly
they treat their customers!
2007Nov 13
Altima 2.5 S 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 111,000 miles
I was told to contact Nissan Consumer Affairs so they could assist with paying for the problems because it is a factory defect. They informed me because it would be about $7,000.00 and my mileage was at 111,000 they would not, should it have happen at 85,000 miles they would have! That is nice! I have bought 4 cars from Nissan spending well over $90,000 to $100,000 with their company and this is the treatment I receive! I have had on going problems since the day I purchased the vehicle! They said oh well it is your problems now and I still owe $4,500 for a car that doesn't run properly!
2007Jun 29
Altima 2.5
- Automatic transmission
- 100,000 miles
Since I bought the car in 2003, I've had nothing but problems. I didn't care because
I trusted Nissan and I was under warranty. I've had radiator's repaired had it flushed. I even had one catlytic converter repaired. The heat has never worked properly, NEVER. Now the killer is that in June of 2007. They told me my engine sucked up my catalytic converter and it would 5,000.00 to fix. I think this is some kind of scam Nissan is running, because I am the 20th person i've heard this happening too, "Remeber the Headlights scam" a couple of years ago, Nissan had to pay dearly for that one. In any case Nissan has been less than cooperative in resolving the issue. Next step class action suit and media attenion. If I get enough people to jump on board, I'll get this story out. I promise I will. So if you have the same problems with Nissan, the problem being Engine replacing, please get in contact wtih me and I will add your name to the list. It might not happen over night but I am going to pursue it and Never, NEVER, EVER buy another Nissan again.
2007Oct 17
(reported on)Altima SE 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
I bought my car last year a 2002 Nissan Altima for $13,000 cash. In September I noticed smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. I took it to the Nissan dealership to have it checked out, they told me it would be $75 to put it on the rack to check it out. well when i went to get my car they told me the problem was fixed and that it was only steam and it was fixed no charge. I had not made it home and noticed smoke still coming from the exhaust pipe i took it back the next day they told me it would be $75 to put it on the rack which was suppose to have taken place that same day it was smoking but they said it was only steam. The next day when i went to go pick my car up they told me i had major problems and it would cost me $11,000 that's right not $1,000 but $11,000 for a car that i have not had but a year. I called Nissan 20 times but to no avail they refused to fix it i bought it as-is, no warranty. I called my local attorney general office and they told me there was nothing they could do since i bought it as-is, called the lemon law no help also bought it as-is. I have a car that i paid $13,000 cash for had 1 year and nobody will help me, i am mad as hell. Nissan will not return any more of my calls. The Nissan dealership in my home town told me that it was a factory defect but they still refuse to help. I have a car that I drove for year and nothing is being done about it.
I want to be in on the class action lawsuit please don't leave me out this is a major case and if an attorney sees this it should not be hard to find an attorney.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Aug 19
Altima S 2,5
I bought this car off my daughter as she went to Japan, I have never had any problems. Then the crankshaft sensor went out and after I had that fixed (at a Nissan Dealer) it started using oil like crazy and the SE lights came back on.. I called them and they gave me this song and dance about the catalytic converter and the engine but I did not believe them. I took it to another automotive place and in the end came to find out there had been a recall involving this but ai never received it and besides the car is out of warranty. In my mind if there is a problem this big, it should not matter how many miles the car has. I live on a very small income and could not afford to stock $5000 in this car and then maybe not really solve the problem. I traded it in and received virtually nothing for this car. I wish there was some way to sue these people over this.
Sandy B.
Batesville, IN, USA
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