2002 Nissan Altima Catalytic Convertor Problems
- 69
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 69 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- catalytic converter · 54 records
- engine light · 24 records
- check engine · 18 records
- needed replaced · 11 records
- engine engine · 9 records
- failure mileage · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 33 |
| 100–150k mi | 20 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Catalytic Convertor
Dealer says the engine in my 2002 nissan altima must be replaced at a cost of $5,400 because it blew a head gasket allowing coolant to enter the cylinders. Car is out of warranty because it has 83,00 miles. It has come to my attention that this is a very common problem for this model because of defective design. Nissan refuses any help to correct problem. *tr
ODI 10207545
Catalytic Convertor · Engine And Engine Cooling
My engine blew up. I called my nearest nissan dealer who forwarded me to nissan corp, who sent me to nissan north america and after telling them my story 3 times, they advised me there was nothing they could do since it as not yet a recall. I looked online and many had the same issue and were trying to get this to be a recall. I had just moved to that area, i had no job, no money and was attending school. My car sat…
ODI 10325901
Catalytic Convertor
Tl*the contact's daughter owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated while driving, the engine makes strange sounds, and black smoke comes from the vehicle intermittently. The vehicle also has excessive oil consumption. A mechanic performed a diagnostic and discovered that the catalyst converter and precatalyst were malfunctioning due to too much oil coming out of the engine. The…
ODI 10208436
Catalytic Convertor
Catalytic converter coming apart. Pulling parts of converter into engine. Causing mis fire on #3 cylinder. Need to replace engine and converter. *jb
ODI 10205544
Catalytic Convertor · Engine
Engine cylinder walls are scored and using an excess amount of oil also catalytic converter is no good. *jb
ODI 10205614
Catalytic Convertor
I recently purchased a 2002 nissan altima 2.5s model from my 75 yr old aunt ,in trying to smog it . Check engine light on w/ p0420 code , car has 61450 mi. Uses alot of oil , alhambra nissan checked and stated engine no good ruined catalytic. Catalytic has federal warrenty 8yr-80k,also alot of smoke early am start up..industry knowledge./ iatn says catalytic break up cause engine damage ,scoring cylinder walls,…
ODI 10201239
Catalytic Convertor
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. In 2007, the contact's vehicle burned 1 quart of oil per month. Within the last few months, the vehicle has begun to burn 1 quart of oil per week. A local mechanic inspected the vehicle and stated that the oil was burning through the catalytic converter, which caused debris to flow back into the engine. The contact was informed that the vehicle needed a new engine or should…
ODI 10224190
Catalytic Convertor
Massive oil consumption, oil burning, in 2002 nissan altima 2.5l standard. Catalytic converter setting check engine light. I was told i needed a new head gasket. $1200. Still burning oil. Nissan has many complaints for this issue and refuses to help. *tr
ODI 10196015
Catalytic Convertor
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…
ODI 10191130
Catalytic Convertor
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…
ODI 10190655
Catalytic Convertor
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…
ODI 10200670
Catalytic Convertor · Engine
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
ODI 10188384
Catalytic Convertor
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…
ODI 10186663
Catalytic Convertor
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…
ODI 10187756
Catalytic Convertor · Engine And Engine Cooling
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…
ODI 10186943
Catalytic Convertor
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.
ODI 10202166
Catalytic Convertor
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 10183539
Catalytic Convertor · Engine
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…
ODI 10182957
Catalytic Convertor
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…
ODI 10221233
Catalytic Convertor
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…
ODI 10181514
Catalytic Convertor
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…
ODI 10182766
Catalytic Convertor
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
ODI 10190333
Catalytic Convertor
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.…
ODI 10185602
Catalytic Convertor · Engine And Engine Cooling
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
ODI 10176044
Catalytic Convertor · Electrical System
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…
ODI 10174787