Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AFTER NOTICING EXCESSIVE RUST ON BOTH FRONT FLOOR PANELS OF MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, I GOOGLED "NISSAN RUST" AND READ THE MANY ARTICLES AND NEWS SHOWS ON THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS. I LIVE I ST LOUIS, SO NOT A EASTERN STATE WITH EXCESSIVE COLD AND SNOW. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS DEFECT, AND WOULD HOPE NISSAN WOULD BE FORCED TO OFFER A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT.
I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, THAT IS BURNING OIL. I HAVE TO PUT AT LEAST TWO QUARTS OF OIL IN THERE EVERY 2 WEEKS. NOW MY CAR IS SHUTTERING AND HISSING AT ME AND NOT GETTING ANYMORE WHEN I ACCELERATE. I'M BEING TOLD THAT I WILL NEED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE. NISSAN IS WILLING TO DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I'M SHOWING THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF CAR AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY NISSAN. AS A CONSUMER WHAT CAN BE DONE. THIS IS UNFAIR TO US, THINKING WE ARE BUYING A RELIABLE CAR WHEN IT'S REALLY A PIECE OF CRAP. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. STICKING TO HONDA'S. *TR
RE: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THERE IS SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION IN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS DIRECTLY UNDER BOTH THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGERS SEATS AND FLOORS. THE CORROSION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO TWO FACTORY HOLES IN THE FLOOR, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CORROSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR CAR IS LESS SEVERE: A LARGE AREA OF RUST BUT A RELATIVELY SMALL HOLE (TENNIS BALL SIZE) THROUGH THE SHEET METAL. THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR HAS A LARGE HOLE (SOCCER BALL SIZE) IN THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE ONLY MAJOR CORROSION ON THE CAR (THE "REAR SUBFRAME" ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED IN 2006 DUE TO CORROSION UNDER A NISSAN WARRANTY PROGRAM). THE FUEL FILLER NECK IS ALSO RUSTY AND DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE ALERT WHEN THE FUEL VAPOR SEAL LEAK REACHES THE POINT WHERE THE ALERT IS TRIGGERED. THERE IS LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IN THE WHEEL WELLS OR FENDERS. BASED ON TWO BIDS FROM AUTO BODY SHOPS IN THIS AREA, THE COST TO REPAIR THE RUST DAMAGE WILL BE BETWEEN $2500 AND $3200. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF APPROXIMATELY FORTY ALTIMAS IN THIS AREA. ALL BUT FIVE HAVE CORROSION IN THIS SPECIFIC AREA TO VARYING DEGREES. IT IS CLEARLY NOT LIMITED TO ONLY THE CAR WE OWN. NISSAN HAS A WARRANTY PROGRAM WHICH COVERS RUST PERFORATION FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT A DEALER IN THIS AREA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ON 2001 THROUGH 2005 ALTIMAS, BUT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO WARRANT IT DUE TO THE EXPENSE, PREFERRING INSTEAD TO REFUSE TO BE RESPONSIBLE. NISSAN WILL APPARENTLY TAKE THE CARS IN TRADE AND SELL THEM TO WHOLESALE AUTO OPERATIONS WHERE THEY ARE SOLD TO CUSTOMERS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED IVOQ 11/05/10 THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 12/22/10 *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL NOT CIRCULATE HEAT. ALSO AFTER SERVICE THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEVELS DEPLETES PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE ENGINE COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS COST $1600.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21. THE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A SENSOR WAS SOAKED IN OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TELL THE CONSUMER WHERE THE OIL WAS COMING FROM. SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WHEEL BEARING AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER 2 1/2 YEARS, THE VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS EVAPORATING, BUT THERE WERE NO LEAKS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE COULD SMELL COOLANT COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. UPDATED 02/01/10*JB
TOO MANY ISSUES TO REMEMBER THAN ALL BUT I'LL TRY: - EXCESSIVE OIL USE - EXCESSIVE COOLANT USE - OVERHEATING TO THE AFOREMENTIONED ISSUES - INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION ISSUES - FAILING AIRBAG - ELECTRICAL ISSUES - BROKEN SENSORS - CATALYTIC CONVERTERS GONE BAD - OXYGEN SENSORS GONE BAD - INTERMITTENT FAILURE TO START - INTERMITTENT CAR SHAKING AND SO ON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED OR STATIONARY HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BURNED EXCESSIVE OIL. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER; HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE REAR SHOCKS WERE BAD. UPDATED
I HAVE FOLLOWED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS MAINTENANCE AND HAVE SO MANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. I THINK NISSAN NEEDS TO REVISIT THIS MODEL AND DETERMINE IF IT IS A DEFECT. I HAVE AN 02 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE HEATER WAS REPLACED IN THE 2ND YEAR, THIS YEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AND NOW THE STRUTS ARE WORN OUT. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE LONG RUN, NOT WITH A NEW CAR. *JB
I OWNED THIS NISSAN ALTIMA FOR THREE MONTHS, AND DID NOT ENCOUNTER ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. OVEMBER 25, 2004 DROVE OVER 200 MILES TO MARYLAND. TRAFFIC WAS NOT BACKED-UP AT ALL. WEATHER WAS PERFECT. *AK NOVEMBER 28, 2004, APPROXIMATELY 4AM, I WAS DRIVING, AND A FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME (DRIVING), ON A WELL PAVED, TWO LANE (ONE LANE FOR EACH DIRECTION) ROAD WITH NO SIDEWALKS AND ABSOLUTELY ZERO POTHOLES. AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 1 (ONE) MILE, THE ROAD BEGAN TO BEND TO THE LEFT. FOLLOWING THE ROAD AS IT WAS BENDING TO THE LEFT, I FELT A SLIGHT DROP/BUMP, THEN PROCEEDED TO SPIN AROUND, MORE THAN 360 DEGREES, TO THE LEFT. AS I STARTED TO SPIN, I HIT A MAILBOX ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET (LUCKILY THERE WASN?T ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC) IN THE FRONT OF A HOUSE, WHICH CAUSED MINIMAL DAMAGE ON MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, THEN CONTINUED TO SPIN AND STOP IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO THE MAILBOX I HIT. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS LAYING ALMOST PARALLEL TO THE GROUND. TWO TOW TRUCK DRIVERS CAME AT SEPARATE TIMES. THE FIRST TOW TRUCK DRIVER DID NOT SEE THE ROAD I TRAVELED AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, OR WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SECOND TOW TRUCK DRIVER DID SEE EXACTLY WHERE I DROVE (HE TOWED THE CAR BACK TO WHERE I LEFT FROM), AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOLD ME THE SUSPENSION BROKE DUE TO ME HITTING A POT HOLE OR A CURB. THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING ON DID NOT HAVE ANY POT HOLES OR CURBS. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERS SUSPENSION DAMAGE AND THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THE WHEEL, FRONT SUSPENSION, FRONT DRIVER AXLE, FRONT STEERING LINKAGE/GEAR, AND ROCKER/PILLARS/FLOOR WERE REPLACED, AND MY FRONT DOOR WAS REPAIRED. PORTIONS OF THE CAR WAS PAINTED. I AM NOT SURE IF THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.
I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUTS OF MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. EVERYTIME I DRIVE OVER A WASHBOARD OR SPEEDING BUMP, THE STRUTS MAKE A POPPING SOUND AS IF A HAMMER IS HITTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ANY SORT OF IRREGULARITIES FROM THE ROAD CAUSES SUCH NOISES. IF YOU TAKE TIME TO GO TO 3RD GENERATION ALTIMA FORUMS, YOU WILL REALIZE TONS OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH MY SAME SITUATION. PLEASE, IF ANYONE FROM NISSAN IS READING THIS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE ALTIMA HAS IT'S FAULTS, FIX THEM!!!!!
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STRUTS PROBLEM. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT CONSUMER HAD TO SAY REGARDING THE DEFECT OF THIS NEW VEHICLE. STRUTS WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. IT SEEMED THAT THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED EVERY 10,000 MILES. *AK
I PURCHASED MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA S 2.5 IN NOV. 2001. 1) AFTER A FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED A SHIMMING OR VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING. IT FEELS AS IF WERE COMING UP FROM THE FRONT TIRES THROUGH THE SUSPENSION. HOWEVER, THOUGH IT IS USUALLY PRESENT, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T VIBRATE FOR A WHILE, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN! I HAVE CHANGED THE TIRES (THOUGH USED THE SAME BRAND), HAD THE TIRES BALANCED, ROTATED AND THE WHEELS ALIGNED, YET THE VIBRATION CONTINUES. IN ADDITION, AT THE LAST ALIGNMENT, THE MECHANIC HAD PROBLEMS ALIGNING THE REAR SUSPENSION IN PARTICULAR. THE CAR HAS ALSO SHOWN ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED THE CONSUMER'S COMMENTS SECTION OF EDMUNDS.COM, A CAR-BASED WEBSITE, AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE NOTED THIS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *LA
WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED FUEL WOULD OVER FLOW. ALSO, FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO WOBBLE. SOMETIMES IT WA SHARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK
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.
REAR SHOCKS WENT BAD, EVERYTIME CONSUMER WOULD GO OVER A BUMP THERE USED TO BE A NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE SHOCKS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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