CarComplaints.com Notes: Here's a disturbing trend for the 2002 Nissan Altima: the engine starts burning oil like crazy, the catalytic converter goes bad, the head gasket blows and eventually the entire engine needs replacement. Sound familiar? Like a script from a horror film, these Altimas seem doomed to fail around 95k miles.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,250 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2002 Nissan Altima body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2002 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #12

Feb 072014

Altima

  • 189,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was turning my car on the corner of my block. My passenger who was about to get out the car stepped one foot out of the car and the other foot went through the carpet and landed outside of my car underneath. I got out the car and noticed that my passenger side underneath was rusted and had a big hole in it. I than looked on my driver side and seen that side was the same but not as bad. I went to get an estimate and the mechanic said it would be $800 to fix my 2002 Nissan Altima. I can not afford to get my car fixed. I tried to sell it but no one was interested in buying due to the holes. Riding around in the winter was very cold and when it rained it would soak up the carpet that's hanging and felt like it made my car ride heavy. I would hope that Nissan could look at this problem and see how dangerous it is to drive a car with holes in the bottom.

- Philadelphia , PA, USA

problem #11

Feb 182015

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
Rust problem underneath driver & passenger side. Floorboards are rusting out. Nissan is aware and is doing nothing. I am 61 years old and don't have the money to get this problem fix. I'm driving every day praying nothing will happen to me or my grand kids. NHTSA needs to look into this before someone is hurt or die from this problem that Nissan knows about. I found this out just by accident-went on website see if my car was on the list for recall on the air bags issues. Over 400 complaints on Nissan website under complaints.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #10

Jan 152014

Altima 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that there was rust underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 4/7/15 the consumer stated the body was rusting under the seats. Updated 04/14/15

- Alton, IL, USA

problem #9

Aug 062013

Altima 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2002 Nissan Altima 3.5 I bought new. It has 83000 miles. Like others, my floor pans on both the driver and passenger side have rusted out. I found this out on 8/6/14. It has been garage kept all these yrs. I was also told it was probably from the harsh winter and salt on the road. If this was true all the car's in NJ this year should have the same problem. I was told by a Nissan rep. They wouldn't fix it because, there are no recalls on it, it was too far out of warranty, and I live in an area that has a lot of snow and salt. I think Nissan needs to read their complaints on their web site and stop saying they don't know about this problem and do something about it. My estimate to repair this is $2800. I am also scared to drive it because of the safety hazard. When I step into the car it feels like I am going to end up on the ground. I was also told if I get in an accident it could be bad because normal floor pans help protect you. Please help all Nissan owners with this problem.

- Hillsdale, NJ, USA

problem #8

Jul 082014

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
I brought my car in 2002 from Nissan. I have had this car now for 12 years and Nissan is the only place I take it to always have it serviced. My mileage on it is very low as I don't do a lot of driving. I love my Altima and haven't had any major problems or concerns with it. On July 8 2014, I took my car in to have it service while waiting for it the receptionist came and asked me had I considered buying another vehicle, I said no I'm not able to and my car I don't have any problems at all with it. She said follow me I need to show you something. Lord and behold my car was up on the lift and what did they show me but these two heavily rotted areas on my driver and passenger side floor. All I could say when I seen it was that is definitely a safety hazard for not only me but also a passenger that sits in my front seat. Yet Nissan don't want to take any fault for this and the many other 2002 Nissan Altima that this is and has happen to with these vehicles. I live on a limited income and feel they should be the one to repair the rotted floorings on the many vehicles that have rotted flooring. Thank you for allowing me to send a report on my 2002 Nissan Altima heavily rotted floor that they had never informed me of until it is now heavily rotted and my foot or a passenger foot can now end up at any given time going right through the floor when I am sure that they knew much earlier that my floor was rusting out and they just waited till now when it is heavily rotted. Feeling disgusted and very disappointed with Nissan.

- Springfield, MA, USA

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problem #7

Dec 302011

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
While my mechanic was reattaching the bumper guard that had come loose, he noticed the rust on the floor pans under both front seats. My mechanic was able to flake off large pieces of rust. He pulled back the carpet and it was rusted all the way through. He said he hadn't seen this kind of rust on vehicles that are double the age of mine. The remainder of the undercarriage was rust free. I took the car into the Nissan dealer where I bought it, and the manager said it was caused by the salt/chemicals used on the roads in different parts of the country (apparently he was not including Nebraska). The manager stated that it must have been in an area of the country that uses corrosive materials on the roads. The funny thing is that when I purchased this car, the same man said he knew the previous owners and they took excellent care of the vehicle, always spotless and in for every maintenance check!! which time was he lying!!! come to find out, the car was purchased at a Nissan dealer here in omaha, and stayed in omaha the entire time. The Nissan dealer said they could not fix it, and they gave me a business card for a body shop!!! it would cost about $300, he told me, but I have found it would be closer to $2000. At that time, I hadn't even had the car a year. The dealership had to know about the rust when they sold it to me, which makes me very angry!! this is a severe safety issue! I am afraid that one day I will be driving down the highway, I'll fall through the floor, and of course, I will be killed, no doubt about it!! also, exhaust fumes could be getting into the passenger compartment. Please issue a recall before my car becomes a "flintstone" car and/or I am killed. Nissan is responsible for this safety issue, and they should take responsibility!!

- La Vista, NE, USA

problem #6

Aug 302012

Altima 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Like other customers, my 2002 Nissan Altima V6 developed a rusted floor board in both the front areas with metals flaking off even at an early time. I didn't realize there were a lot of us having this problem with this model.. this is the only part of the car that is very badly rusted, all of the other parts have barely any rust. I think this is something that really needs investigation.

- Colonia, NJ, USA

problem #5

Jul 212012

Altima 4-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
I own a 2002 Nissan Altima that has 98,000 miles upon lifting the car the floor board on the passenger side was showing rust on both the driver`S and passenger`S side. It is an excellent car but it is basically trash now. Nissan is so irresponsible this is a factory defect and they should recall all Altima`S with this problem. Toyota is way more responsible when their car`S have a problem they are quick to recall, it is ridiculous. Nissan is ridiculous!!!!!

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #4

May 182012

Altima 4-cyl Diesel

  • 129,000 miles
I had my oil changed and the mechanic told me both front side floor panels are rusted through. After doing research, I have found that many other consumers who drive Nissan Altima's have the same issue. I spoke with Nissan Consumer Affairs and they are unwilling to help cover the cost to have the car fixed. After reading numerous boards of information I was advised to contact the NHTSA. I feel this is definitely a manufacturer defect on the car and there should be a recall. There are too many cases of rusted out floor boards and it is a safety hazard. I am hoping you can help me work with Nissan in covering the costs of the repairs which can be expensive. Thank you for you time.

- Collingswood, NJ, USA

problem #3

Feb 042012

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
I own a 2002 Nissan Altima which just failed inspection due to rusted holes under the front floor of the driver and passenger sides. I have read many other complaints of this exact same problem on the Nissan Altima's. I expect Nissan to stand by their vehicles and cover the expense of repairing these holes. There needs to be a recall for this issue by Nissan. This is a major defect in the manufacturing of these vehicles.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #2

Dec 262011

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
Bought car in 2009, from a dealership, in 2010 upon obtaining a inspection, was advised that it failed because the floor boards rotting out!!! on passenger side. Now drivers side. Is Nissan doing anything about this"??"

- Biddeford, ME, USA

problem #1

Apr 112003

(reported on)

Altima 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
The heat shield was installed improperly, which caused the vehicle to stall, and other components to fail. (exhaust manifold, A/C, 02 sensor) the manufacturer was aware of the problem. Mr scc

- Woodland Hills, CA, USA

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