2002 NISSAN ALTIMA — Owner-Reported Problems

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

• Campaign 03V061000 was reported 297 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 03V084000 was reported 412 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 03V251000 was reported 463 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 06E023000 was reported 1,405 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 07E054000 was reported 1,904 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 07E063000 was reported 1,931 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 07E074000 was reported 1,955 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

Safety Recalls (12)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

1. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 02I001000

   Report date

   Apr 17, 2002

   Component:

   Not available in the source record

   Consequence:

   THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AS EXPECTED.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261, CONCERNING THE PROBLEM.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

2. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 03V061000

   Report date

   Feb 27, 2003

   Component:

   AIR BAGS

   Consequence:

   THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CLOCK SPRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 21, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

3. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 03V084000

   Report date

   Mar 11, 2003

   Component:

   ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

   Consequence:

   EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PROTRUDING PORTION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN. IN ADDITION TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE IN THE EVENT OF POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE THAT COULD RESULT IN OIL SPILLAGE, HEAT SHIELD(S) WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE PRE-CATALYST AND EXHAUST TUBE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. NISSAN RECALL NOS. R3007, R3014, R3015, R3016, R3017. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE. IF SUBSTRATE PARTICLES ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THEY COULD SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS, RESULTING IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. IF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL IS NOT CHECKED ON A PERIODIC BASIS AND DROPS BELOW THE LOW LEVEL, AND THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IGNORING NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THE PRE-CATALYST WILL BE TESTED TO ENSURE IT IS WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND INSIDE THE PRE-CATALYST, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

4. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 03V251000

   Report date

   Jul 14, 2003

   Component:

   FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

   Consequence:

   THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SCREEN AT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP TO PREVENT ICE CRYSTALS FROM BLOCKING THE OPENING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-333-0829.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

5. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 03V455000

   Report date

   Nov 17, 2003

   Component:

   Not available in the source record

   Consequence:

   THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

6. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 06E023000

   Report date

   Mar 13, 2006

   Component:

   EXTERIOR LIGHTING

   Consequence:

   WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

   Remedy:

   ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

7. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 06E064000

   Report date

   Jul 17, 2006

   Component:

   Not available in the source record

   Consequence:

   LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

   Remedy:

   TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

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8. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 07E054000

   Report date

   Jul 25, 2007

   Component:

   EXTERIOR LIGHTING

   Consequence:

   DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

   Remedy:

   MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

9. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 07E063000

   Report date

   Aug 21, 2007

   Component:

   EXTERIOR LIGHTING

   Consequence:

   DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

   Remedy:

   ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT ANZO AT 909-628-1440.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07E074000

    Report date

    Sep 14, 2007

    Component:

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    Consequence:

    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    Remedy:

    EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.

    View authoritative NHTSA record →

11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07V527000

    Report date

    Nov 14, 2007

    Component:

    Not available in the source record

    Consequence:

    IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    Remedy:

    DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. CERTAIN MY 2006 ALTIMAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V223 (NISSAN R0606) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING FOR 06V223 ALSO INCLUDED THIS REPROGRAMMING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

    View authoritative NHTSA record →

12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E012000

    Report date

    Apr 7, 2009

    Component:

    Not available in the source record

    Consequence:

    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    Remedy:

    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

    View authoritative NHTSA record →