2002 Nissan Altima Engine Problems
- 89
- 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 89 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
What owners report
- catalytic converter · 27 records
- needed replaced · 17 records
- check engine · 17 records
- engine light · 15 records
- failure mileage · 15 records
- independent mechanic · 13 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 26 |
| 150–400k mi | 22 |
| 60–100k mi | 18 |
| 1–30k mi | 5 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine · Visibility/Wiper
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine would misfire and the oxygen sensor would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The oxygen sensor was replaced and the oxygen sensor light shut off. The cause of the catalytic converter failure was not determined.…
ODI 11302331
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
While driving on the highway i proceeded to try and reach the speed limit but the car lost power to merge into traffic almost causing an accident. Vehicle cannot go past 55 mph, it loses power during acceleration.
ODI 11266020
Engine
My vehicle equipped with the 2.5l 4 cylinder consumes excessive amounts of oil. I have had to add roughly 1-2 quarts of oil every 200 miles. Engine has no external oil leaks. New valve cover gaskets 500 miles ago, new spark plugs every 10,000 miles due to oil fouling, new pcv valve 500 miles ago. The car does mostly city and country, 55mph driving and under.
ODI 11258650
Engine
The car will not start when it is hot outside. The service engine light stays on all the time. The car stops while driving on street and highways. The crank position sensor'(s), camshaft position sensor's and the variable timing control sensor'(s) needs to be replaced. Recall #r3021 and r3022 was listed on the recall from nissan.
ODI 11111168
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. While operating the vehicle, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle hesitated and bucked. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the camshaft sensor malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The sensor was replaced, but the vehicle later experienced difficulty starting. The local dealer (sumerian nissan in fort myers fl) and…
ODI 11033816
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the crank shaft cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer (anker nissan in north smietfield, rhode island) where it was diagnosed that the crank shaft and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
ODI 11025425
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control · Visibility/Wiper
Our car has shut off at any speed without warning for several months. The check engine light has also been on.
ODI 11001957
Engine
Took our 2002 nissan altima in to nissan for a recall repair (2003 recall for exhaust / catalytic converter issues) - recall states if engine is damaged, that it will be replaced. Engine has been destroyed due to catalytic converter failure. Nissan has acknowledged the recall and damage and indicated the engine would be replaced. This car was purchased lat year by my daughter, we were unaware of the recall until…
ODI 11042041
Electronic Stability Control · Engine
I have a 2002 altima but i only purchased it about 8 months ago. Somewhere around 2 months ago my check engine light came on. So i had it looked at and they said it was a crank sensor code, so i had it replaced. Didn't fix the problem for long. The light came back on, throwing the same code. Well then a week later my car completely shut off while i'm driving down the road. When i begin to restart it, nothing. It…
ODI 11019514
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. On several occasions, while driving, the engine stalled. The contact had to restart the vehicle while the accelerator pedal was applied. Also, while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle would hesitate to gain speed and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure…
ODI 10993429
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. While driving 55 mph, the contact heard a loud noise and the vehicle began to decelerate. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder lane and caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the…
Fire reported
ODI 10983151
Engine
Recall campaign r3022 / 03v455000 due to defective original manufacturer crankshaft / camshaft sensor, this caused my engine to completely stall at 65 mph on the california 57 south freeway. Extreme dangerous driving experience had occurred and caused unsafe driving condition for the surrounding vehicles. Vehicle had difficulty steering and braking which luckily avoided any accident. The recall campaign was…
ODI 10959955
Engine
Letter from senator franken on behalf of constituent re a recall 03v-084 repair that years later seems not to have fixed the problem. *ld the consumer stated the recall, #03v-084, was performed on or about 01/15/04 but, was not effective in preventing engine damage. The consumer would like for the vehicle to repaired again under the recall. The consumer stated the vehicle consumed about one quart of oil per tank…
ODI 10978428
Catalytic Convertor · Engine
2002 nissan altima. Consumer writes in regards to power valve screw issue. *ld the consumer stated he was quoted a price of $1,000 for a catalytic converter and $5200 for a new engine with less than 90,000. *jb
ODI 10965549
Engine · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
I received a letter from the sapir your court of the state of california i am unable to find out what is going on with my car for what may happen with my car but this letter is telling me that i may have engine damage because if i lose power valves girl and that my car is unsafe to drive no one won't give me any true information or everyone is telling me they do not know what i am talking about please help me i…
ODI 10944456
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Steering
My car has been having steering problems to wear i got it fix with replacing a steering rack which has not lasted longer then a year. 2015-2016 and i can't seem to get a repair man to figure it out. This has happen driving, and turning. I have had exhaust problem to were the repair men has told that my car could catch of fire due to the heat shield so they remove one. Which still left my car dealing with oil…
ODI 10899014
Electronic Stability Control · Engine
The vehicle stalls while driving which could cause an accident. It has happened many times and we have been lucky other drivers are paying attention. The vehicle does start back up. We have found a recall but when we've checked the vin # it comes up with no recalls. There is a sensor issue recall that describes exactly what the car is doing. It has stalled on off ramps, city streets and suburban roads. I have found…
ODI 10895390
Electrical System · Engine
I have recently discovered that there was a recall on my nissan altima 2002 model. I have tried to contact the dealer locally but no results. I also contacted the manufacturer and they gave me run around saying that they needed the software which they will make it available and soon as it's available they will contact me. I have contacted them several times but i get the same run around. It's been over a year and…
ODI 10995431
Electrical System · Engine · Exterior Lighting
My brakes are going out fast. My heater takes forever to heat up. My fuses keep burning out,car lighter don't work. It runs rough. I think it has a short on some wires.
ODI 11053704
Engine
I have replaced the camshaft/crankshaft sensors in may car and it's still stalling out at times; i have reed other complains of other customers with the same related problem and i need something to be done before, i end up getting killed on the highway driving this car, my car has 162000 miles on it and with keeping up with my maintains this should not be occurring. I have called the nissan dealership in snellville,…
ODI 10838544
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
My 2002 nissan altima started to have problems with the car engine shutting off without any warning. Just 98000 miles on it dealer charged me $900 for set of sensor and labor. Car would stall in traffic on the highway, no warning, we would lose all power. Went to nissan and they said no one else had this problem.
ODI 10810728
Engine
The pre-catalyst on the exhaust has failed, and caused damage. There is a recall for certain vin #'s but mine is not coming up. Nhsta campaign 03v084000.
ODI 10807772
Engine
Valve cover gasket leaked oil on the ignition coils causing the engine to not crank. I had car towed to mechanic. The mechanic said the valve cover gasket leaked oil on the ignition coils. I had just replaced all 4 of the ignition coils over the course of the last year and a half due to them going bad one by one. While driving in the city, an ignition coil would go bad, causing the car to sputter and shake badly as…
ODI 10816373
Electrical System · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan altima. While driving up a ramp at approximately 65 mph, the vehicle began to vibrate and jerk. The rpms increased from 35 to 4,000. The speedometer started to fail and the vehicle lost power and stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. This was a recurring failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 165,000.
ODI 10761029
Engine · Exterior Lighting · Vehicle Speed Control
Takata recall . The car has been giving engine problems but i did not know what it was until i searched it online and i am having the same problem as many complaint on the recall website. The engine while on slow drive or when on a full stop it shuts down without any warning. It has happened to me a couple of times once i was on a highway but there was traffic and my car shut down. Another time i was at a regular…
ODI 10884948