2002 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

SPEEDOMETER READS APPROX 10% HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. VERY DISTRACTING IN THAT ONE IS CONSTANTLY DOING MENTAL CALCULATION. DEALER INITIALLY SAID THEY COULD NOT TEST AND I SHOULD TIME IT AGAINST MILEAGE MARKERS - DID SO. LATER DEALER ID SOME SORT OF ELECTRONIC TEST AND SAID IT WAS OFF SOMEWHAT BUT NOT 10%. SAID REGULATIONS ALLOWED 10% ERROR SO IT WAS WITHIN SPECS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000521 at NHTSA ↗

WENT OUT IN THE MORNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED ALL DAY TO GET IT TO START AND FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEM AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS LONG AS THE CAR STARTED. WE WERE TOLD IT COULD BE THE AIR TEMP., WHICH WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES THE MORNING THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IF WE WOULD HAVE DREAMED OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR WE WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT IT!!

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000566 at NHTSA ↗

THIS EVENING I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR. THE TEMP. WAS ABOUT 32 DEGREES. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, I DID WHAT THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALER SUGGESTED AND PUSHED THE GAS TO THE FLOOR AND TRIED AGAIN WITH NO LUCK. I WAS TOLD BEFORE THAT THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BEING COLD. WHY WOULD THEY SELL A CAR WHERE IT SNOWS IF IT WON'T START. MY WIFE IS EXPECTING A BABY IN 8 WEEKS AND WE NEED A RELIABLE CAR. THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM ANXIOUS TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TODAY IS JAN. 6, 2003 AND I CANNOT RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000568 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

AT TWO DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, EL PASO AND LAS CRUCES, THE OIL LEVEL ON THE DIPSTICK OF MY 2002 ALTIMA REGISTERED APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART LOW. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE INFORMATION IN THE MANUALS AS TO THE AMOUNT OF OIL NEEDED MAY BE INCORRECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003291 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS...*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004603 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY COME LOOSE. IF THE CONNECTOR COMES LOOSE, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence: THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CLOCK SPRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 21, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE.

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN. IN ADDITION TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE IN THE EVENT OF POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN OIL SPILLAGE, HEAT SHIELD(S) WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE PRE-CATALYST AND EXHAUST TUBE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. NISSAN RECALL NOS. R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, R3017. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF SUBSTRATE PARTICLES ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THEY COULD SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS, RESULTING 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. 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.

Reported: 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP.

Consequence: THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SCREEN AT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP TO PREVENT ICE CRYSTALS FROM BLOCKING THE OPENING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-333-0829.

Reported: 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Reported: 2007-11-14 (November 14, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.

Consequence: IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.