Problems · by component

2002 Nissan Altima equipment problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Altima cite equipment, 3% of all 1,062 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
35
3% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the equipment

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“YES, I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT INTERLOCKS, I KNOW THE ARE TO DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS, BUT AT RISKING THE LIVES OF THE DRIVERS THAT HAVE THEM, IT IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING RETEST, I KNOW A RETEST IS TO ENSURE THAT THE DRIVER OF THE CAR HAS NOT DRANK SINCE DRIVING OR HAD SOMEONE ELSE BLOW TO START THE CAR, BUT IN MY OPINION IT'S HAZARDOUS TO THE DRIVER TO BE PUT IN THIS DANGER OF HAVING TO RETEST EVERY 30MIN, THERE IS A CAMERA PLACED IN THE CAR FOR A REASON, YES I BROKE THE LAW, I UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR MY INTERLOCK, YES I KNOW I CAN PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE FOR RETEST, BUT IN SOME CASES YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR THEM BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE COMING, IT TOOK A CHILD TO POINT OUT THE UNSAFE WAY RETEST ARE. YES, I KNOW I COULD HAVE NOT HAD IT PLACED IN MY CAR, BUT I HAVE TO WORK AND PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY. ANOTHER THING I THINK INTERLOCKS ARE A MONEY GIMMICK FOR THE STATE AND DEALER THAT PUTS THEM IN. I WASN'T COURT ORDERED TO HAVE ONE, THE JUDGE IN MY CASE, SAID I COULD'VE HAD A RESTRICTED LICENSE, BUT THE STATE OF MOTOR VEHICLE SO SAID I HAD TO HAVE ONE TO KEEP DRIVING. WHEN IS THE JUDGES…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2017Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10939700
“WHEN MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD, MY VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTIES STARTING IN THE MORNING. I LIVE IN SUNNY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SO OUR COLDEST MORNINGS ARE IN THE HIGH 30S. AS A RESULT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO MY VEHICLE NOT WANTING TO START. HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE NEVER OCCURRED IN THE WARM AFTERNOON. EVER SINCE THE INITIAL INSTANCE, IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN A COUPLE OF TIMES EACH YEAR. I NOTIFIED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASSIONS. OF COURSE THE PROBLEM NEVER AROSE WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, SO I DECIDED TO JUST DOP THE ISSUE, AS IT DIDN'T HAPPEN FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO BE OF MAJOR CONCERN TO ME. MORE RECENTLY; HOWEVER, MY CAR NEARLY STALLED ON MY WAY HOME FROM MY FRIEND'S HOUSE. I HAD TO THROW MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO PREVENT IT FROM DOING SO. EVER SINCE MY CAR NEVER WANTS TO START ON THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY. IN FACT, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON, AND I HAVE TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR TO GET THE CAR STARTED. I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE CHECKED AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAM POSITION SENSOR. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2011Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10392218
“ON 1/25/10, MY 2002 ALTIMA WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES ON IT, KEPT STALLING OR NOT STARTING DURING 3 SHOPPING STOPS. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY BATTERY AND WAS NEAR CLARK AUTO WHERE MY BATTERY IS UNDER WARRANTY... *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2010Engine and engine cooling, EquipmentODI 10316261
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2009Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10297131
“I PURCHASED A 02 ALTIMA 2.5 (AUTOMATIC) ON THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2009. ON FRIDAY, JULY 17, I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING A TERRIBLE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. UPON ARRIVAL, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OIL TANK WAS BONE DRY. AFTER ADDING 3 QUARTS OF OIL, THE NOISE WAS GONE. THROUGHOUT THAT DAY WHEN DRIVING I SMELT SOMETHING LIKE EXHAUST OR BURNING OIL OR SOMETHING. I JUST THOUGHT OIL WAS SPILLED ON THE ENGINE AND IT WAS SIMPLY BURNING OFF. I PUT APPROX 30 MILES ON THE CAR THAT DAY. ON SATURDAY, JULY 18, I PUT APPROX 20 MILES ON THE CAR (SAME SMELL). ON SUNDAY, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY MUFFLER WHEN I WOULD HIT THE GAS. IT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I WAS AT A STEADY PACE BUT IF I PUT GAS IN IT, THE SMOKE WOULD COME OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND HAD HIM CHECK THE OIL. TO MY SURPRISE, THERE WAS NOT A LICK OF OIL LEFT IN THE TANK... WHERE DID IT GO????????? THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LEAKS UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND NO SPOT ON MY DRIVEWAY. WE WENT AND PURCHASED 3 MORE QUARTS OF OIL AND ADDED IT TO THE CAR. WHEN WE CHECKED THE DIP STICK, THE OIL WAS PITCH BLACK. THE CAR WAS ALSO BLOWING BLACK SMOKE. I AM A SINGLE 27 YEAR OLD MOM, WORKING AND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2009Engine and engine cooling, EquipmentODI 10282326
“MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 IS SMOKING MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK I HAVE HAD TO PUT BRAKE PADS ON MY CAR 4 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR MY CAR HAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I DON'T KNOW THE REASON WHY. I TOOK MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER A NEW ENGINE AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM FOR MY CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED ONCE. I WAS TOLD BY NISSAN OF GADSDEN AL. THAT I NEED TO HAVE OVER $13,000.00 WORTH OF WORK ON MY CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD . I CALLED THE NISSAN COMPANY AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEN THEY STOP ACCEPTING MY CALLS AND SAID DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE THEY WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY REPAIRS MADE TO MY CAR. I PAID CASH FOR MY CAR AFTER THE FIRST YEAR I BEGAN TO START HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NSSAN NEW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THEY COULD WORK OUT SOMETHING WITH ME INSTEAD OF PAYING $12,000.00 FOR THE REPAIRS THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $8,000.00 FOR THE REPAIRS I DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND NISSAN TOLD ME TO DEAL WITH IT. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS PLEASE HELP I PAID…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2009Service brakes, hydraulic, EquipmentODI 10273288

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.