Problems with 2002 Nissan Altima ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle experienced difficulty starting and consumed large amounts of oil and coolant. the dealer changed the spark plugs, but the failures still persist. the failures began six months ago. the vin was unknown. the current mileage was 70,400 and failure mileage was 60,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle is experiencing extreme oil consumption and loss of coolant. nissan stated that the vehicle was not under recall. the current mileage is 70,000 and failure mileage was 69,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. on july 23, 2007, the check engine light illuminated. the contact noticed massive oil consumption and smoke coming from the tail pipe. the catalytic converter had to be replaced at 50,000 miles and currently must be replaced again at 110,000 miles. he stated that the failure has caused engine damage. nhtsa recall number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) was referenced. the current mileage was 110,000 and failure mileage was 109,800.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle is burning oil after every 3,000 miles. the dealer diagnosed the failure as excessive oil consumption, but would not sell the contact a warranty. the vin, engine size, and dealer information were unavailable. the current mileage was 87,000 and failure mileage was 29,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the service engine warning indicator light illuminated. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter was sucked into the engine and a new engine was needed. the catalytic converter was replaced in august of 2005. the failure mileage was 99,000 and current mileage was 101,000. updated 01-11-08. *kb the consumer discovered a recall had been issued for the very same problem. the consumer was told the problem had been fixed, but obviously it wasn't fixed properly and the consumer had to pay for the repairs. the consumer stated the part has since failed. updated 12/31/07. *jb

2002 nissan altima 2.5 began to chug violently while being driven at highway speeds. drove the vehicle to the next exit, but was unable to determine what was wrong with it. shut off the car, and restarted to examine the engine while idling, noticing an intermittent shuddering of the engine. drove the car a few miles to my destination, and it stalled several times. after the last stall o the check engine light finally came on. had it towed the next morning to the nearest nissan dealership. after running the code, they immediately went to work on the power valve. both screws had come loose from the metal plate in the power valve, and the screws had gone through the engine crushed the spark plug in cylinder #1, and they made their way into the exhaust manifold. the dealer had to replace the screws, the plate in the intake manifold, the exhaust and adapter gaskets, and the spark plug. there is currently a recall for this problem on 2004 and 2005 altimas, though not on 2002 and 2003 models, which share the same engine. this problem is documented in other 2002 and 2003 models on this odi website and on various internet forums.*ak

I have a 2002 nissan altima 2.5 s i have had for less than 2 years. about 6 months ago at around 80k miles my engine started to randomly overheat even though coolant and fluid levels were correct. i had to tow it to a mechanic and he said the radiator was split. i spent $500 t replace that but then shortly after it happened again. we then replaced both thermostats on the vehicle and this helped for 2 months. most recently we have been encountering a severe stuttering and shaking of the whole vehicle immediately upon starting it up. regardless of it being in neutral, drive or reverse the car jerks back and forth very violently. after you drive it for a few minutes and the vehicle warms up it ceases this action. in addition to this though there is never any warm air coming out of the vents no matter how long the car is driven for. this is all happening simultaneously in addition to now the car is overheating all the way up but then jumps around so we never know where the temperature is at. nissan themselves is very uncooperative in any capacity when attempting to rectify this situation. this is very disheartening as me and my wife are both working full time students and cannot afford to continue to chase this with time or money. my wife is a nanny part time and has had the car stop and need to be towed while she is out in the middle of the city with her 2 toddlers she watches. i am doing my best to avoid missing work as a result of having only one vehicle. we have a 2004 volvo that has had no problems but this altima is going to drag us down. *tr

Starting at just over 100,000 miles the engine began making strange noises. but once i changed my oil the noises would go away. i also noticed that my car was having difficulty shifting gears and even would just stop running at low speeds. after about 4 months of this is when we realized that the engine was consuming a lot of oil. so, basically my car was running on no oil for months at at a time. i took my car in and they said that the only way to get around this is to put oil in her every 2 weeks! that, or get a new engine. my car has never been recalled for this issue and nissan refuses to fix it, simply b/c of the mileage. *tr

Twice last month the car just cut itself off and i was able to pull to the side of the road. thank god i was on a secondary road and not going over 35 mph. i got an appointment with the roanoke va dealership and took the car in. *ak because the check engine light did not come on, the service mgr stated they could find nothing wrong with the car--he then charged me $77 and told me to drive on the right side of the road in case it happened again!! i copied reports of the recall for the crank position sensor and left for th service dept, but because the "code" did not show up, they will not replace it. i will never ever buy a car from first team nissan again. they replaced the crank sensor in 2004 after i receiced a recall letter. but i found out that some of the replacement parts were defective too-i left that information and hi-lited the part about bad replacement parts. no help from dealer at all!!

2002 nissan altima 2.5s, while driving on the expressway the altima just cut off completely. the steering locked not giving me time to pull over off the road. this has happened 5 times. twice at high speed and 2 times at low speed and once stopped at a traffic light. i have read many complaints about this same problem and actually spoke to one driver with the same exact car with the same problem. that driver took the car in, and was told by the dealer that they couldn't find anything wrong. i will be taking my car to dealer at a rate of $110.00 to have it checked . someone should recall all these cars for the safety of the owners and their passengers. this is a serious problem for so many people to complain about, not including the one's that have not taken out time to voice their complaints. please inform me of any recalls involving this matter. i also, had other problems with the knocking from the engine, and the air conditioner. when i took it in to be checked while under warranty they again claimed they didn't t find anything wrong. please investigate before and not after someone is seriously hurt or killed. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact takes her vehicle in regularly for scheduled maintenance and is upset that at 60,000 miles, the engine needs to be replaced. she stated that the vehicle failed to start properly on june 9, 2007 and took it to the dealer. on may 13, 2007, the vehicle began overheating and shaking. the contact stated that she has been battling with the corporate office every since. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage is 60,604 and failure mileage was 60,493.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 55mph, the check engine light came on two to three weeks later after the vehicle was repaired. the mechanic stated that after replacing the head gasket on the engine the catalyst converter broke causing the rings in the engine wall to be destroyed. due to the failure, the vehicle burned excessive oil. after driving 645 miles the vehicle burned two quarts of oil. the mechanic also stated that this is an ongoing problem with the 2002 altima. this is the second catalyst converter replacement on the vehicle. the current mileage is 131654 and the failure mileage was 97288.

The 2002 nissan altima 2.5s has 50700 miles on it. i am currently experiencing high oil consumption problem because catalyst substrate particles flew into the engine. these particles have scored the cylinder walls. nissan had a recall on this problem based on nhtsa action number: pe02078, nissan had made preventive changes to the car to prevent this problem, as required by law in 2004. but whatever they did had not fixed the problem because it recurred. so now the altima 2002 had an engine failure because of the pre catalyst overheating problem, and nissan was refusing to address the problem . they stated had done recall procedures in 2004. it was very important for nhtsa to look to this matter as nissan had not fixed the defects just prolonged it. there were lot of altima owners at risk as this problem could result in a fire in certain conditions. so office of defect investigation should open this investigation again to get nissan to fix the pre catlyst overheat problem. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 55 mph, the service engine light illuminated. the dealer stated that the inside of the catalyst was scorched and the oxygen sensors needed to be replaced. the dealer removed the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin prior to the failure. the dealer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa recall number 03v084000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). the vehicle has not been repaired. the current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 68,000.

On november 8, 2006 i took the vehicle to nissan of rivergate with 78,903 miles on it which was well within the expiration date of the extended warranty. at that time i was told to bring the car back after i had driven approximately 1,000 miles. on november 22 , 2006 i returned and spoke with a service advisor and a mechanic. i was told the oil was about quart low. the mechanic looked up some qualifications on the computer and determined that i was qualified to receive a new engine. he said there was an engine already in stock, so he did not have to order one. i scheduled an appointment to bring the car back on november 28, 2006. while there i was handed a business card with a notation on the back that read drop off on tuesday november 28, 2006 for engine replacement. on november 28 i dropped the car off at the shop, expecting it to be three days in shop time for engine replacement. i received a phone call on november 29, 2006 stating they would have to do another oil consumption test . at this time the service manager told me that i did not qualify for a new engine or even to fix the existing engine. also, he claimed since the recall of 2004 altimas for oil consumption everybody y has been trying to get a new engine. then, he added that the purpose of a dipstick was to see how much oil needed to be added because all cars burn oil. a vehicle consuming of a quart of oil was acceptable oil consumption for 1100 miles. i contacted nissan of north america, who advised me to go to nissan of gallatin. i went to nissan of gallatin, and was told to do another oil consumption test. i received the same run around from nissan of gallatin ,and as of 4/24 i added 3 quarts of oil after driving 1046 miles. *ak

Design flaw caused catalytic converter breakdown which resulted in engine failure despite proper maintenance. car only had about 85,000 miles when problems began and 90,500 when failure occurred. new engine is needed at no fault of my own and despite proper car of vehicle. ninety thousand miles is too soon for engine replacement. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle over heated continuously and she smelled fuel. she also stated that it was difficult to start the vehicle after it had been parked; she had to pump the accelerator pedal several times in order for the vehicle to start. on one occasion, the contact noticed a burning smell from the engine once the engine was warm. the dealer advised the contact that there was a recall for the catalytic converter for her model but her vin was not included. the failure mileage was approximately 35,000. the current mileage was approximately 100,000.

I purchased a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s in december 2001 and currently have 113,000 highway miles and have maintained my car with oil changes and recommended services. though i never received a recall notice, i have done all recalls when the service dept advised that there one on it. about a week ago my service engine light came on while driving. i immediately made an appointment with nissan service dept. i was informed that the catalytic converter broke into pieces and went into the engine causing it to fail ($5,000). after paying the $550 fee for nissan basically telling me that i had a defective catalytic converter which cause the damage, i went home and did some research. i find that there are thousands of frustrated altima owners. i called nissans headquarters to advise them of my situation. i was contacted by nissan 48 hrs later basically telling me that my car had to many miles on it and past the warranty. i told them that i was aware of the many people with this same problem and can't believe that nissan is choosing to ignore that they have made this car with defective parts. i also can't believe that they are choosing to risk people lives and ignoring the many customers who are having the same problem. their excuse is that the car is past the 80,000 mile warranty, although i'm sure they will come up with some other poor excuse. the message i got from nissan is that they stand behind their product only until the warranty and although they have made their cars with a known defective part, basically it is the consumers problem for putting their faith into supposedly a company that stands behind their product. i'm currently awaiting word from the local dealer to see if they would replace the engine as a goodwill. although i doubt this will happen. maybe nissan will finally do something when unfortunate people really get hurt or lose their life! i can't believe that they also know about this problem and continue to close their eyes. *tr

My engine still dies out while driving. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact complained about oil consumption failure. the check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter was failing. through further investigation debris was discovered in the engine. the dealer stated that replacing the motor would be the only way to remedy the failure. the cost of the repair would be $4,000.00. the vehicle was under investigation # pe02078 for the same failure in 2003. nissan issued a recall from this investigation. the contact brought the vehicle to dealer for the recall repair, but the failure was not remedied, and recurred. the current mileage is 89,000, and failure mileage was 80,000. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start. the dealer stated that the head gasket was blown. the contact spoke with the manufacturer who stated that they were unable to repair the vehicle because it was no longer under warranty. the current mileage is 112,000 and failure mileage was 90,000.

My "service engine soon" lite became illuminated just prior to and rite after having my vehicle serviced. i became alarmed when, "i noticed it would not go out". i checked to make sure my fuel cap was tightly secured. i then drove my vehicle for several miles to reset the sensor. when that didn't work, i called nissan service dept in victorville, calif. to ask what else if any could be wrong with my veh. the answer i received from the serv. manager was one i could except. having taken my car into the service dept for a diagnostic test of the problem. just to be told that my "pre catalyst converter was not functioning properly and that i needed to replace it as soon as possible due to server engine damage that could result from debris being sucked into the converter. now if the "protruding portion of the exhaust pin was removed", and heat shields installed on the pre catalyst and surrounding exhaust tubing was done to correct or prevent any further problems. why would the pre catalyst convertor fail if proper corrective action was performed correctly in a vehicle not 5yrs old. i don't think i should have to pay $1092.00 dollars for faulty manufacturer defective parts/equipment. *jb

Since i purchased this 2002 nissan altima 2.5, i've constantly experienced cold starts. i've also taken the car to the dealership for a clicking sound that appears to be in the glove compartment area. the dealership could not locate the source of the problem..i still have the clicking noise.*ak on march 20, 2007 i took the car to the dealership because i am experiencing problems with starting the car. after 6 or 7 attempts the car starts. i thought it was the fuel pump. the car was put on a diagnostic machine whereby air pockets were found in the radiator system. they also found that anti-freeze was in my first and third cylinder. i was told that i needed an engine. i must say that i'm truly disappointed with this car. i've experienced nothing but problems since i purchasedit new. now it is five years old and needing an engine. i don't understand it. i had an extended warranty which ended at 100,000 miles and i have 101,000. i don't think that i should have to pay for a new engine when nissan knows that is problem existed with the 2002 models. the sales agent at the dealership also informed me that this was a common problem with this car. i will be contacting nissan to get further compensation for the replacement of my engine. why hasn't a recall been issued? thanks...

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact brought the vehicle to the dealer for its regularly scheduled maintenance. the dealer informed the contact that there was a recall on the vehicle for the exhaust pipe hanger pin and pre catalyst. the contact stated that a month after the recall was honored a knocking noise was heard in the engine. the contact brought the vehicle to the mechanic, who stated that the oil was low. the contact had only driven the car for 1,000 miles prior to the failure. the current mileage is 75,000 and failure mileage was 73,444. *ak

Check engine light comes on and off constantly. spark plugs died. took car to shop. repaired and other issues appeared: catalytic converter-fail (in pieces) repaired for $800. one week of driving and check engine light comes on constantly, oil extremely low, coolant low took back to shop now engine gasket blown, engine damaged and needs repair/replacement. this nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalytic converter. after inspection of the catalytic converter noticeable chucks of the catalytic converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer is fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 75 mph, the vehicle lost power and the vehicle would not accelerate above four mph. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter failed. the manufacturer issued a voluntary recall for the catalytic converter, however, they stated his vehicle was not included. the dealer replaced the engine. the failure mileage was 122,000 and current mileage was 125,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the current mileage was 86,000. the vehicle was consuming oil as stated in the recall. the contact's vehicle had the same failures as stated in the recall issued by nissa concerning : exhaust pipe hanger pin and catalytic converter. the dealer advised the contact that the recall did not pertain to this vehicle. the current and failure mileage was 86,000. there is a related odi investigation, pe02078. *ak

2002 nissan altima 2.5 s excessive oil consumption began around 92k miles. this vehicle has always had timely oil changes, suddenly the car was low on oil. the car was brought to the nissan dealership in smithtown, ny on 2/22/07, and i was informed that it needed a new engine and that there wasn't anything else that could be done. the catalytic converter was ordered on 2/23/07 (this was back-ordered). the catalytic converter was replaced on 3/13/07, approx. $600. now the car needs another catalytic converted and the engine is consuming several courts of oil a week. there are many people with the same car that have all experienced this sudden excessive oil consumption. the are other altima years that had this same problem and that were recalled but nissan has not done that for the 2002 model. it is widely know that it was due to the oil rings and the faulty pre-cats and exhaust manifolds. this car needs approx. $8k is repairs in order to stop burning oil and to correct the emissions. nissan should be responsible for these faulty parts in these cars, in all the years that they effected. *tr

My 2002 nissan altima 2.5s appears to have pieces of the catalytic converter in the engine cylinder, causing an engine misfire. when doing research on the internet i find hundreds of owners of this same model vehicle with the same problem and in most cases they are being denied any help from nissan due to the vehicle being out of warranty. it is obvious that there is a definite pattern of premature problems/failures with this model that nissan refuses to address. it is time that nhsta uses their influence to get this company to stand behind these defective vehicles! *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that her motor mounts have either failed or are loose. when she depresses the brake pedal, the vehicle jerks dramatically. the sensor in the catalytic converter failed. the dealer stated that if the vehicle had less than 80,000 miles, the failure would be covered under nissan's extended warranty. the vehicle exceeds 80,000 miles and will not be covered under warranty. the current and failure mileages were 116,460. updated 04/21/08 *bf

Following the format requested above: 1: events leading up to the failure: simply bought the car and drove it... seems that all 02 4 cylinder altima owners are experiencing issue b/c of design flaw! 2. failure: the pre-catalyst completely disintegrates into the engine and causes the engine to fail! consequence: need a new engine. 3. what was done to correct the failure: nothing but hide! they mask the problem to get past all warranties. nissan usa is absolutely hiding from their responsibility to provide a safe vehicle! they started by hiding the pre -catalyst internal disintegration notification within a recall for a potential exhaust pipe hanger pin problem. they knew the pre-catalyst was disintegrating into engines causing damage, but didn't release that clearly to avoid needing to get past warranties and replace engines. my car was running rough and the dealer then replaced the precat (49k miles) and the car was never quite the same, but it did run so i thought all was fine. obviously the first one had disintegrated into the engine and the nissan didn't warn me of what was to come! i have taken very good care of this car and now have 98k on it.. but the end is very close. i had ses reports of p0420 and then later a report for a 4th valve issue... now the car drinks oil at 1 - 2 quarts a week or it is completely out of oil! there is no smoke, smell, or drips. the oil is just gone! the dealer says i need a new engine and said there is nothing they can do. they directed me to nissan consumer affairs- they have been very slow to respond. i am hopeful that they will replace my engine so that i don't have to worry about my engine seizing while i am driving on the highway or turning across in front of oncoming traffic! they have had my car for 10 days and i am waiting on consumer affairs to return my calls. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving at any speed, the engine made a grinding noise. the contact examined the engine and noticed that there was no oil present. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the failure occurred without warning. the current mileage was 118,000 and failure mileage was 75,000.

Overthe past two months both the cam sensor & crank sensor failed on my 2002 altima. the cam sensor failure turned on the check engine light. however the crank sensor failure shut down the engine while i was in traffic making for a very unsafe condition. just last week i was notified by the dealer of a recall for the crank sensor, two weeks after it failed. why i wasn't notified sooner is beyond me. i contacted the dealer & was given a 800 to call for reimbursement of my expenses. looking over this site it appears the crank sensor recall is a few year's back- why did i just receive the call about this recall? i also noticed that there are cam sensor failure complaints. why was there not a recall for this problem initiated? *tr

This vehicle will burn oil at a rate of 1-2 quarts every 1000 miles. this is a known recall situation from nissan related to failure of the precat and material from the failure being sucked back into the engine. engine replacement is usually necessary. nissan has yet to replace the parts or engine on a vehicle that now needs oil every 2000 miles. *nm

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. while driving 50 mph, the contact heard a knocking sound coming from the engine. she noticed that the check engine light was illuminated. the dealer stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and they performed the replacement. approximately a month and half later, the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to excessive oil consumption. the dealer performed an oil change. the contact stated that she had to add a quart of oil ten days after the oil change was performed. the dealer was unable to determine the reason for the excessive oil consumption. the current mileage is 78,739 and failure mileage was 72,633.

I was recently notified that my 2002 nissan altima is in need of a new engine. it has 72k miles on it. the catalytic converter was already replaced by the dealership. it has had an oil consumption problem that has of late become quite a cause for concern. (i now check my oil every couple of days.) i fear that if i keep driving it, i will ruin another catalytic converter. unfortunately, i have no other transportation and i cannot in good conscience sell it to another party. nor can i afford the replace the engine. this was the first new car that i ever bought off the lot. i have kept excellent service records and have maintained the vehicle very well and have had all of the recommended recalls done. i feel that i have been duped. the dealership acts as if i have done something wrong but i have found that i am not the only one who has experienced this very same problem. please add me to your list of dissatisfied customers! i would welcome your input as what my next course of action might be in the pursuit of a just resolution. i would also be interested hearing about any class action law suits that may exist as a result of nissan's negligence in this matter. *nm

This complaint is in reference to the following: nhtsa action number: pe02078 nissan na made some preventive changes to the 2002 nissan altima as requested to by law. however the changes nissan na made were not sufficient nor successful. it appears that the preventive service nissan provided has only prolonged the outcome. thousands of 2002 nissan altima owners are currently experiencing oil consumption problems with a direct relation to a failure in the catalytic converter. after inspection of the catalytic converter noticeable chucks of the catalytic converter are missing. nissan na is very aware of the problem and they are selectively fixing some consumers vehicles. if the consumers vehicle is outside their power train warranty nissan na refuses to assist the consumer is fixing the problem. safety should not be limited to a percentage of miles or to a period of time. *nm

Tl* - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving at 40 mph under dry conditions when the vehicle lost power, the contact was able to get the vehicle to the side of the road without a crash. there were no warning lights before the failure, but once the vehicle restarted the check engine light stayed on. there was recall 03v455000 for the crank position sensor, and was is the same failure that autoway of nissan told him he had. the contact stated that he received a call on 12-4-06 from the dealer, stating that this vehicle was not affected by the recall due to the vin . the contact has a diagnostic report, and repair order stating that the crank position sensor was the cause of the failure. *ak the crankshaft position sensor was replaced under recall back in march of 2004, the recall replacement failed on jan 9, 2007. the consumer stated the part has been replaced 3 times. updated 02/02/07. *jb

Various services performed by dealer did not correct problem---such as throttle body cleaning, checking spark plug coils, crankcase sensors, o2 sensors---after 6 months dealer decided head gasket blown which i told them from beginning plus oil usage and antifreeze usage---head gasket replaced on "extended warranty" which i did not purchase with car- so there is some acknowledgement of problem---currently oil consumption about 1 qt for 400 miles, probably the result of head gasket and pre cat causing damage to oil sweeper ring on piston which would allow oil into cylinder---thus a reason for rough running at low idle plus smoke on acceleration---no smoke on normal running since cat converter is cooking---but sure will lead to another cat converter failure- this process started with dealer 01/07. *tr

Tl*-the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima there is a recall on the fuel pump screen which caused the engine to stall, and the engine service light to remain on. during the diagnosis they found a service engine code pertaining to the catalyst. he took it to the dealership and called nissan, who inform him that the dealer would fix it, but nissan called back refusing to cover the cost of the repair. the failure mileage was 74,000 , and the current mileage was 80,000.*ak the manifold exhaust was replaced, when the vehicle was in idle, it would surge. the air bag sensor was replaced. updated 05/22/07. *jb

My car has the same problems as the newer model, and nissan refused to repair it, we were told that the problems only pertained to 2003-2004 models, not the 2002 models *ak

2002 nissan altima with a list of problems including lost power, electrical issue with 02 sensors, exhaust, cruise control**cc when the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, she was told the vehicle had 2 recalls. after the two recalls were completed, the consumer still experienced problems with the vehicles lack of power. the vehicle had also started to consume large amounts of oil. the consumer took the vehicle to a repair shop and it was discovered that the oil rings were stuck on the pistons. the engine light had constantly been on. the code stated there was a problem with the timing chain sensor. *jb

My daughter purchased the 2002 altima, 64,000 mi, october 2007, her first car. in december the car began to sputter near to the point of engine stall. per mechanic the computer registered an o2 sensor failure. they replaced the o2 sensor. same day we picked up the car from the mechanic the check engine light came on again. we immediately returned the car to mechanic. the computer now registered a misfire problem. per mechanic recommendations we replaced all spark plus and leads. mechanic reported oil on one spark plug. within 2 days of picking up car the check engine light was on again. in february we returned the car to the mechanic ,and also informed him that we were losing considerable oil, at least 1 - 1.5 quarts every 2 weeks, roughly every 800 miles. computer now reported catalytic converter failure. mechanic advised to take car to nissan dealer as catalytic converter was still under warranty , car at 68,000 miles. dealer informed us that previous owner had car in their shop september 15, 2007 and they had advised to replace engine. stated that engine coolant and oil was getting into exhaust system and fouling the catalytic converter. stated that nature of problem is not covered under 80,000 mi catalytic converter warranty. no mention of nissan recall regarding o2 sensor failure, high oil loss and catalytic converter failure. after reading the many complaints on nhtsa describing exactly our same problem and nissan's reluctance to resolve problem i would like recommendations concerning how to make the dealer and nissan own up to this pattern of faulty design and reluctance to take responsibility.*ak

Tl* - the contact owns a 2002 nissan altim,a and stated that while driving there was excessive consumption of engine oil. the contact stated that the engine used a quart of oil every 350 miles. the engine light was on and the engine was running rough. the contact stated that the recall repair was completed when it had 40,000 miles, but had the same failure as stated on recall 03v455000 engine and engine cooling. the contact called the dealer and the manufacturer, but they stated that they wouldn't cover the cost of the repair because it wasn't under warranty. the contact stated that the dealer should inspect the vehicle to see if the repair that needed to be done had to do with the recall . *ak updated 03/19/07. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle did not start. there were some fumes prior to the incident. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined the catalyst converter came apart internally and sent the debris to the engine, damaging the engine. updated 03/07/07. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the check engine and oil light illuminated. the vehicle was inspected by an independent repair shop, who performed a diagnostic test which produced a failure code, and indicated the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. there was a nhtsa recall, # 03v084000, regarding the electrical system. the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin. the manufacturer was alerted.

Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 40 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the problem was identified as a failed crank shaft position sensor and recall information was provided. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer where the contact was informed the vehicle was not included in recall # 03v455000 for engine and engine cooling due to the vin. the manufacturer was notified. updated 12/5/2006 - *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle had problems turning the ignition on. this occurred on a regular basis. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. the dealer checked the vin # to see if it was covered under recall and stated that their system showed that vehicle part had been fixed on a previous recall. the contact stated that the vehicle was never brought in for any recall work in regards to this matter, nor did the contact receive a recall letter on this matter. the vehicle was currently at the dealer, no repairs were made.*ak

My 2002 nissan altima 2.5 s started engine misfiring and stalling while in heavy traffic. this occurred with no prior warning lights or unusual performance from the engine. the malfunction indicator light then started alternating from flashing to constantly on. i consulted my vehicle manual and followed the directions to drive my vehicle at speeds less than 45 miles per hour to the dealer to have it serviced. the dealer diagnosed the problem and told me that a power valve screw had come loose and damaged the spark plug. the suggested replacing all of the power valve screws, but they indicated that i may have internal engine damage and catalyst failure that could not be seen. they further advised that i may have future problems with the car. i understand that the 2003, 2004 ,and 2005 versions of this car may have the same problem and that nissan had a voluntary service campaign for 2004 and 2005 engines. i believe that the damage which might have been caused is potentially catastrophic and should be attended to by the manufacturer in the form of a recall and repair of any damages. *nm

Nissan website : http://www.nissanusa.com/owning/recall_info/altima/2002/index.html#result1 applies to 2003 altima models in the following vehicle identification number range: 1n4al11**3c100003 - 311983 reason for recall there is a possibility that the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the catalytic converter and cause a fire. in addition, there is a possibility that certain engine operating conditions may cause damage to the pre-catalyst. material from inside a damaged pre-catalyst could enter the engine and result in increased oil consumption. if the engine oil level is not checked on a periodic basis and drops below the low level, and the driver continues to operate the vehicle ignoring noticeable engine noise, engine damage may occur which could result in a fire. what nissan will do in order to prevent these incidents from occurring, your nissan dealer will shorten the exhaust pipe hanger pin. the dealer will also reprogram the electronic control module to prevent any future damage to the pre-catalyst. in addition, the dealer will install heat shields on certain components of the exhaust system on vehicles that do not already have them. this free service should take about three hours to complete, but your nissan dealer may require your vehicle for a longer period of time based upon the dealer''s work schedule. the pre-catalyst will be tested to ensure it is working properly and replaced if necessary. if damage is found inside the pre-catalyst, it will be necessary to replace the engine. nissan anticipates that few engines will need to be replaced. if the engine needs to be replaced, this also will be free of charge and will take several days. in this case, a car rental allowance is available from your nissan dealer upon request. *jb