2002 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,047 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
88,173 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 801 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 229 of 1,047 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 148 | 14.1% |
| Braking behavior | 56 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 42 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 31 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 2.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 229 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 164 |
| Engine | 92 |
| Structure:Body | 92 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 91 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 69 |
| Electrical System | 48 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 48 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 229; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 164; Engine: 92; Structure:Body: 92; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 91; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 69; Electrical System: 48; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 48
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 72 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 74 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 121 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 235 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 239 |
| 150,000 and above | 60 |
Under 25,000: 72; 25,000 to 49,999: 74; 50,000 to 74,999: 121; 75,000 to 99,999: 235; 100,000 to 149,999: 239; 150,000 and above: 60
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (239). 246 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 37 |
| 2003 | 64 |
| 2004 | 84 |
| 2005 | 67 |
| 2006 | 72 |
| 2007 | 95 |
| 2008 | 144 |
| 2009 | 105 |
| 2010 | 77 |
| 2011 | 74 |
| 2012 | 53 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 54 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 37; 2003: 64; 2004: 84; 2005: 67; 2006: 72; 2007: 95; 2008: 144; 2009: 105; 2010: 77; 2011: 74; 2012: 53; 2013: 38; 2014: 30; 2015: 54; 2016: 12; 2017: 21; 2018: 4; 2019: 7; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 148 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006119 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON HIGHWAY ENGINE STALLED, ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A COLLISION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014839 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
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 *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005278 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
DELAYS, OBVIOUS JERKING, FELT DURING ACCELERATION AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPR. IT IS WORSE WHEN CAR STARTS COLD PARTICULARLY IN THE MORNING. JERKING FORWARD DURING DECELERATION (WITHOUT BRAKING) AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPR. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AS THE CAR PUTS ON MORE MILEAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007562 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH THEN THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDDLE SEEMED STIFF LIKE SOMETHING WAS PREVENTING FROM GOING DOWN. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003448 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S HAS HAD THREE SETS OF TIRES REPLACED (FOUR TOTAL SETS INCLUDING ORIGINAL TIRES) AND THREE 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENTS IN LESS THAN 6000 MILES. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT DETERMINED ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM. SYMPTOMS ARE EXCESSIVE TIRE VIBRATION AND INTERIOIR NOISE FROM REAR AXLE AND VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT IMPLEMENTED ANY TSBS TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE. TIRE ROTATION AND RE-BALANCING EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 87 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005034 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
EXACT DATE OF INITIAL INCIDENT NOT KNOWN. MY CENTER CONSOLE WAS IN USE WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING BEHIND A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IN THE FAR RIGHT HAND LANE. DEBRIS FELL ONTO THE ROAD AND IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID IT, I SWERVED TO THE LEFT. THIS ACTION PLACED MORE OF MY WEIGHT ON THE CONSULE AND IT COLLAPSED. WHEN IT DID SO, I FELL TO THE RIGHT AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND PLACED ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDEL NEARLY SENDING MYSELF INTO THE MEDIAN AND POSSIBLY FLIPPING OVER. I DID MANAGE TO COMPENSATE AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BUT WAS VERY SHAC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032488 · 2003-08-08 (August 8, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION 03 V 084 000. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067428 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF, FORCING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHT WIRING MELTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003164 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON DECEMBER 3, 2002 WHEN MY CAR ENGINE CEASED TO FUNCTION ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. ON JANUARY 15, 2003, AGAIN ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT CEASED FUNCTION AND THE ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED AND THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A MALFUNCTION WITH FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP AND GAS TANK ARE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009853 · 2002-06-02 (June 2, 2002)
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY. IT IS AN UNEASY FEELING TO HEAR THE GAS TANK SLUSHING AROUND, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. WHEN I FIRST REPORTED TO CARMAX, ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS DROVE WITH ME AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECT ALSO. CARMAX REPLACED THE GAS TANK, AND YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE GAS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY TEST DROVE BOTH THE V6 AND V4 ENGINE CARS AND THEY BOTH DID THE SAME THING. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY [XXX]. *JB PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026023 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY MISMATCHED. TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET PART, ONLY 3,000 MILES OLD. STILL HARD DOWN SHIFTING 5-4 & 2-1GEARS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,511 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087043 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN BACKING UP A STEEP INCLINE. DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. DURING THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS. THE FIRST OCCURRANCE WAS ABOUT SEPT. 2002. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087043 at NHTSA ↗