Problems · by component

2002 Nissan Altima fuel system, gasoline problems

38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Altima cite fuel system, gasoline, 4% of all 1,062 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
38
4% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle had failed the State Inspection because the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V251000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The dealer was contacted for recall completion and informed the contact that the recall was not applicable to the vehicle because the contact did not reside in the States listed in the recall. The contact stated that the vehicle registration could not be renewed due to the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, but no assistance was provided. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2026Fuel system, gasolineODI 11712207
“THE FIRST ISSUE I HAVE ARE THE OXYGEN SENOR ARE BAD NO SPEED WHEN GETTING PASS 35 FEEL LIKE YOUR DRIVING IN 25. THE MAJOR ISSUE AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WITH MY UNDER AGE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WHEN THE GEARS WAS IN DRIVE IT STOP AND WENT BACKWARDS THEN I PUT IT ALL THE WAY IN PARK AND IT STOP AND TOOK OFF AND SPEED WENT TO 60 THEN BACK DOWN TO IT NORMAL SPEED. JUST THE OTHER DAY ON 2/16/15 IT WAS PLACED IN DRIVE IT AUTOMATIC WENT INTO REVERSE INSTEAD OF DRIVE BUT THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2015Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10684209
“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO THE I 95 HIGHWAY BY PEMBROKE RD THERE WAS A BIG METAL STUFF ON THE LANE I WAS I COULDN'T GO NOWHERE BECAUSE THE HIGHWAY WAS BUSY DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THEREFORE I DROVE INTO THAT METAL STUFF AND HIT UNDER MY CAR NOW MY CAR DON'T START I DON'T HAVE NOW WAY TO GO TO WORK AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I CALLED TOWING TO TOWNING MY CAR I DID NOT KNOW I SHOULD POLICE ON THE FIRST PLACE THAT'S REAL SUCK THEY SHOULD HAVE PEOPLE TO CLEAN THE HIGHWAY I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE THING AND I TOOK IT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2013Fuel system, gasoline, EngineCrash reportedODI 10532095
“WILL NOT START,REPLACED CRANK AN CAM SENSOR NOTHING THEY ARE RECALLS ON THESE CARS FOR LOTS OF PROBLEMS I PURCHASED THIS CAR THINKING IT WAS A GOOD CAR FOR MY WIFE TWO DAYS LATER IT LEAVES HER AN MY DAUGHTER STUCK ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE DONE RESETS NOTHING WORKS IS THERE SOMETHING YALL CAN HELP ME WITH IM OUT OF POCKET CAUSE THIS CAR. CAN I TAKE IT TO NISSAN DEALER AN THEY FIX IT FOR A RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10444821
“2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. UNIT #1 WAS WESTBOUND ON IR80 IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. UNIT #1 PULLED TO THE RIGHT BERM AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. *LN ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE BURNT WIRES WERE TRACED TO THE FUEL INJECTION. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0425-90)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineFire reportedODI 10415950
“DRIVER SMELLED GASOLINE AT STARTUP. WAS ONLY FAINT AT FIRST, BUT GREW STRONGER OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ODOR BECAME SO OVERPOWERING THAT DRIVER HAD TO DRIVE WITH WINDOWS OPEN TO VENT FUMES. DRIVER IDENTIFIED GAS DRIPPING FROM FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR VISIBLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF ENGINE. DEALER CONFIRMED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAK, ORDERED REPLACEMENT PART, AND RETURNED VEHICLE TO OWNER STATING THAT IT'S STILL SAFE TO DRIVE. DRIVER CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE SINCE GAS DRIPS ONTO ENGINE WHILE IT'S RUNNING. DRIVER HAS DISCONTINUED USING VEHICLE UNTIL REPAIR IS MADE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10370694

Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Fuel system

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jul 14, 2003NHTSA 03V251000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026

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