This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
This is pertaining to an existing campaign (#03V084000). I bought a used 2002 Nissan Sentra ser spec-V in May 2007. Shortly after my purchase (June 2007), I had this outstanding recall, including several others performed. The above recall states that the pre-catalyst could overheat and disintegrate, blowing particulate into the combustion chamber, scoring the cylinder walls, and cause excessive oil consumption and possible engine damage, requiring engine replacement. There was approx. 65,000 miles on the car at this point. Last February, I was driving along the highway when I suddenly lost power. I pulled over to the side of the road and found the engine would barely run and would not rev over 2000 RPM. I had this car towed 20 miles to my local Nissan dealership. Upon inspecting the vehicle they told me that the pre-catalyst that I had already had replaced on the recall, had disintegrated, plugging my exhaust, blowing chunks of debris into my engine, therefore destroying the engine. I was told I'd need to replace the entire engine at a cost of $4300. This car only had another 50,000 miles on it after the initial recall work was done. Since what happened to this vehicle was exactly what the original recall was supposed to prevent, I went to Nissan, requesting that they stand behind this obvious design defect and at the very least assist me in replacing this engine. I was given several different stories ranging from accusation that I did not maintain this vehicle (even though I do so religiously at Nissan dealerships) to stating the dealer I had the work performed at was at fault and I should pursue restitution from them, to the fact the car was no longer under warranty and I was sol and this was 'normal' wear and tear. Now, I can understand normal wear and tear but no catalytic converter should be designed so that it will destroy an engine if it fails and this was supposedly addressed in the above campaign.
Catalytic converter deposits go back into engine scoring the cylinder walls. Engine burning oil, potential fire and engine seizure. Nissan says NHTSA campaign 03V084000 was performed. Recent diagnosis shows code po 420, problem not fixed. NHTSA needs to issue another recall.
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that all the fluids leaked out through the tail pipe. The dealer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired according to NHTSA campaign id number 03V084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe); however, the contact has no knowledge of this repair. The failure is currently worse than ever. The manufacturer will be notified. The failure mileage was 136,981.
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R. the service engine light began illuminating on the instrument panel and the exhaust began smoking. The muffler was replaced. The contact was notified of NHTSA campaign id number 03V084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system: Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). The dealer stated that because the muffler was repaired by another shop, they could not repair the engine. The vehicle was experiencing increased oil consumption, excessive smoking, and made a knocking sound. The current and failure mileages were 64,439.
When I went to get my oil changed the mechanic went to pull the dipstick out and since it is plastic and is located next to the manifold it dried out and broke. Now the metal part of the dipstick is stuck in the tube.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fargo, ND, USA