2002 Nissan Altima Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF AN ENGINE LEAK. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE OIL WAS ESCAPING TO. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 12/22/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10436345

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE. SOME TIME LAST YEAR, WHEN I WAS AT THE GROCERY STORE, MY CLUTCH WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND IT WOULDN'T COME BACK UP. I PUMPED IT A COUPLE TIMES AND IT WORKED. THEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, IT JUST STAYED DOWN, I WAS FIGHTING WITH IT SO THAT I COULD CHANGE GEARS. THIS MORNING, WHEN I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK, IT STAYED DOWN AND WOULD NOT COME UP. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336430

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

95,978 mi

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA CLUTCH ISSUE. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD STICK TO THE FLOOR, NOT ALLOWING THE CONSUMER TO SHIFT CORRECTLY; IF AT ALL. ONCE IT WAS STUCK, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CLUTCH TO FUNCTION WAS TO PULL THE CLUTCH MANUALLY BACK UP WITH HIS FOOT. AT 38,333 MILES, THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF$ 1,092.13. A YEAR AFTER HAVING THE CLUTCH REPLACED, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE DEALER STATED THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO REPLACED AT A COST OF $250.00. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE PROBLEMS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10313182

Incident

Apr 1, 2007

Mileage

38,333 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 50 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND MOMENTARILY, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED HESITATION AND SLIGHT JERKING. THE VEHICLE THEN PROCEEDED AS NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,100.

NHTSA ID

10323758

Incident

Apr 3, 2010

Mileage

93,000 mi

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING PROPERLY. I WOULD START THE CAR AND IT WOULD RUN ROUGH, SPUTTERING, AND ENGINE SOUNDS HAD CHANGED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ON SOME OCCASIONS IT IS HARD TO START. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE FIXED BY A PRIVATE GARAGE ON 08/05/2009 AND WHEN IT WAS PUT ON THE COMPUTER A CODE CAME UP. THE CODE WAS P0420: CATALYST EFFICIENCY: RECALL- POTENTIAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE AND THE RECALL BULLETIN ATTACHED TO THE CODE. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT NISSAN. I DID CONTACT NISSAN AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH MY VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD A COPY OF THE 8 PAGE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND THAT MY VIN # WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL. AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS AN OLD CAR THAT HAD NO WARRANTY ATTACHED TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290131

Incident

Aug 5, 2009

Mileage

110,485 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10240328

Incident

Jun 30, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

I HAVE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S,MY CAR BURN OIL LIKE CRAZY, COULD MAKE A FIRE IF I DIDN'T KEEP CHECKING ON THE OIL LEVEL, I SPENT 5 QUART JUST FROM IOWA TO MINNEAPOLIS AND FOR THE LOCAL DRIVE I NEED TO REFILL 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 5-6 DAYS (BETWEEN OFFICE AND HOME WHICH IS JUST 4 MINUTES DRIVING). *TR

NHTSA ID

10229023

Incident

May 25, 2008

Mileage

100,260 mi

NORMAL DRIVING IN AIR TEMPERATURES ABOVE 80 DEGREES. FAILURE IN THE CLUTCH PETAL PRESSURE- UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND SHIFT GEARS. HAD FLUID FLUSHED HOWEVER THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AND SO THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER WERE REPLACED AS RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER. ONE YEAR LATER THE ISSUE RETURNS, FLUID WAS FLUSHED AND REPLACED WITH A HIGH GRADE CLUTCH FLUID (DOT 4) HOWEVER STILL DID NOT SOLVE ISSUE. MASTER AND SLAVE WILL BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS LINK BELOW WILL SHOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH PRESSURE. HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2005-2006-NISSAN-ALTIMA-SE-R-DISCUSSION/229124-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-CLUTCH-PROBLEM.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226613

Incident

Apr 20, 2008

Mileage

52,200 mi

THROUGHOUT THE LAST 4 YRS, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION IT DOESN'T ENGAGE. I HAVE PULLED FROM A PARKING SPOT USING REVERSE, AND JUST WHEN I AM PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND SHIFT TO DRIVE THE CAR DOESN'T RESPOND. THE ENGINE DOESN'T REACT TO THE ACCELERATOR; THE ENGINE IS RUNNING BUT THE CAR IS UNRESPONSIVE. WHEN IT HAPPENS I HAVE TO PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN IT OFF. ONE TIME IT TOOK ABOUT 15 MINS TO BE ABLE TO RESTART AND RESTORE ALL FUNCTIONS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION I ENDED UP HAVING TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE SCARY PART IS THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE WHEN YOU NEED IT THE MOST; GETTING INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED AND VERY LUCKY THAT IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT OR MY OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. WHAT I AM EXTREMELY AFRAID IS IF THIS WERE EVER TO HAPPEN WHEN PULLING OUT INTO A HIGHWAY OR BUSY STREET TRAFFIC. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #07V527000. PLEASE CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILL; WE SHOULD NEVER WAIT THAT LONG OR LET IT GO THAT FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218488

Incident

Dec 16, 2007

Mileage

58,000 mi

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN HOT WEATHER AFTER BEING IN CITY TRAFFIC MY CLUTCH WOULD ONLY COME UP APPROX. 1/4 WAY FROM THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO CAREFULLY SHIFT GEARS, BUT FELT I MAY NOT HAVE THE CONTROL TO SHIFT NEXT TIME. AFTER THE CAR COOLED BY DRIVING OUTSIDE THE CITY, THE CLUTCH WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. THE DEALER FAILED TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH FLUID WAS THE ORIGINAL. I HAD THE CLUTCH FLUID DRAINED AND FILLED, ONLY TO STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT AIR FLOW WAS RESTRICTED WHEN A RECALL RESULTED IN A HEAT SHIELD BEING INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE THAT REDIRECTED MORE HEAT TO THE CLUTCH LINES/CYLINDERS. FORTUNATELY, THIS ONLY HAPPENS A FEW TIMES EACH SUMMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214844

Incident

Jul 12, 2005

Mileage

72,000 mi

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA OVERHEATS, AIR CONDITIONER AND ENGINE FAILURES. CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE HAS BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR THE OVERHEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, AND ENGINE FAILURES. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND NO STEERING CAPABILITY. THE STARTER, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND RADIATOR WERE REPLACED. THE THERMOSTAT WAS STICKING WHICH WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT LOCKED INTO PLACE. THE FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN USING THE INTERNAL LATCH. THE GEAR WAS DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF PARK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201571

Incident

Mar 18, 2004

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE INEXPLICABLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, FALLS TO THE FLOOR AND BECOMES INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY DURING 'STOP-AND-GO' TRAFFIC. THE PEDAL SIMPLY DOES NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS FOR MY MECHANIC, WHO GAVE THE CLUTCH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. ONCE IT FAILED ME AT 60 MPH!!

NHTSA ID

10167200

Incident

Aug 14, 2006

I BELONG TO HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM AND MANY OWNERS OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM 2002 TO CURRENT 2006 MODELS HAVE HAD PREMATURE MASTER/SLAVE CYLINDER FAILURES WHICH ARE A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU CAN NOT SHIFT YOUR CAR INTO OR OUT OF GEAR WHILE IN MOTION. MANY OF US FIND OURSELVES IN A PANIC MODE WHEN WE CAN NOT STOP OR GO BECAUSE OUR CLUTCH PEDAL HAS NO PRESSURE AND WE CAN NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. MY PERSONAL INCIDENT INVOLVES ME HAVING NO ABILITY TO SHIFT WHILE IN ANY DRIVING SITUATION, SUCH AS PARKING LOTS AND UP TO HIGHWAY DRIVING. I NEARLY GOT HIT WHILE DRIVING SOUTH THEN MAKING A LEFT TURN (WEST) WHEN I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND AND ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION (NORTH). I HAD TO REV MY CAR TO REDLINE JUST TO MAKE IT PAST THE INTERSECTION. IF YOU GO TO NISSANCLUB.COM YOU'LL FIND MAY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD FAILURES WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166628

Incident

Jul 22, 2006

Mileage

34,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH FLASHED CONSTANTLY. THERE IS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN, # 02I001000, REGARDING THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 4/17/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT EH AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 2000 MILE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER FOUND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP WAS INOP. THE TECH REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB. RADIATOR LEAKED COOLANT. THE HEATER BLEW OUT COOL AIR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE TECH FOUND AN AIR POCKET IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM. REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10153527

Incident

Mar 23, 2006

Mileage

84,000 mi

WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATES, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO FEEL IT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK DEC 15 DEALER PICKED UP CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF VIBRATION CAR RETURN 12/17 CAN STILL NOT FOUND AND THERE WAS NO PAPER WORK GIVEN ON WHAT WAS DONE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10101298

Incident

Nov 5, 2004

Mileage

57,000 mi

CLUTCH WAS NOISY. CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AT 30K MILES. DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. PAID OVER $700 FOR NEW CLUTCH. DISCOVERED THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VEHICLE FOR A REPLACEMENT CLUTCH WITH UPDATED FRICTION MATERIAL. WAS WRONGFULLY ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO POOR DRIVING HABITS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104878

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

CAR STARTED, BUT AS I WAS SOON TO FIND OUT, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 1000 RPMS. PULLED OUT IN TRAFFIC BEFORE I REALIZED IT WOULD NOT GO. WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM DRIVEWAY AND ALMOST HAS A COLLISION BECAUSE I COULD NOT ACCELERATE TO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. MANAGED TO PULL OVER THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT. TURNED OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE. LATER, WOULD HAPPEN EVERY FEW TIMES I STARTED THE CAR. I HAD TO CHECK IF ENGINE WOULD REV BEFORE DRIVING. IF IT DID REV, PROBLEM WOULD NOT RE-APPEAR UNTIL TURNING ENGINE OFF. MANY TIMES, WOULD NOT START AT ALL, AND WHEN IT WOULD AND WOULD NOT REV. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT RE-STARTING, ENGINE WOULD START AND REV AND BE OK UNTIL TURNED OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. TURNED OUT TO BE THE "THROTTLE CHAMBER." REPLACED UNDER CALIFORNIA'S 50,000 MILE EMISSIONS WARRANTY, BUT ONLY AFTER I POINTED OUT THAT COVERAGE. SERVICE REP AT DEALER MENTIONED TO ME HE WAS SEEING THIS FAILURE ON NISSAN 3.5 LITRE V6S. POSTERS TO INTERNET NEWGROUP ALSO REPORT SEEING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10095908

Incident

Jul 26, 2004

Mileage

41,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10087043

Incident

Sep 15, 2002

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY MISMATCHED. TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET PART, ONLY 3,000 MILES OLD. STILL HARD DOWN SHIFTING 5-4 & 2-1GEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026023

Incident

Dec 27, 2001

Mileage

3,511 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10005278

Incident

Feb 4, 2003

CAR SHIFTED IN PARK AND KEYS REMOVED. CAR FAILED TO START UNTIL REINSERTED TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. DT

NHTSA ID

768788

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

SHIFTING FROM 5TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR AND CLUTCH PEDAL STAY IN THE FLOOR. CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE, THROW OUT BEARING AND FLYWHEEL FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ID

759593

Incident

Mar 16, 2002