2002 Nissan Altima S from North America - Comments

I noticed that the anti-freeze in the overflow take was disappearing. Once the car cooled off I checked the radiator and found that the radiator was down to just above the internals of the radiator. I topped off several times and it disappeared. I noticed the car was making some banging on start up and was having a rough idle, but it cleared up after just a few minutes. I guessed that I must have a small head gasket leak. In addition, the check engine light was returning a code of miss-fire cylinder one. I pulled the spark plug on cylinder one and did not see anything to indicate water was getting into the cylinder head and I also checked the number 4 cylinder just in case I had them backwards. Both appeared the same. I also checked the oil and again nothing to indicate water in the oil. I than decided to get a can of Bar's Leak and put it into the radiator. I followed the procedure completely. The check engine light went out about two days later and has stayed out. The rough starting problem is gone and the car fires right up. So it looks like I have a small leak probably when the radiator is fully pressurized that goes into the number one cylinder head. Once the pressure gets low enough the leak stops or really slows down. This is probably why the radiator never appeared to get below the internals of the radiator, but the rough start never appeared to stop. I will continue to follow this car and any lawsuits that may arise, as Nissan appears to have problems with the head gasket in this car and the Pre Cat that appears to the destroy the motor, as it self-destructs. So far my car hasn't shown any signs of the Pre Cat issues. However, I did find the car down nearly two quarts of oil one day. Since that time the car has had oil changes over about 12-15 thousand miles without using any oil. The only thing I can think of is that I used two partially filled containers thinking they were full. However, I have observed this bizarre behavior in other cars over the years and than everything is fine for years. It just doesn't make sense. Otherwise the car has done well. The car belongs to my wife, who I shouldn't have ever told about the possibility of head gasket leak and the repair. Just about suffered a nervous breakdown over the whole problem. I assured her that I would keep an eye on the problem and if need be replace the head gasket. She has one more semester of school and is stressing about the money needed to fix the car. The comments on the Internet indicate that the head gasket replacement runs about $800-$1500 dollars. Based on the Internet comments it certainly appears that Nissan should be offering to fix this problem under the warranty.

This is exactly what has happened to my car; it was diagnosed with a leaking head gasket. I have not put any bars in it yet. I have stopped driving it until I can figure out what to do. I may just trade it... Did bars help it start better?

Fine a report with better bussiness bureau.

I too own a 2002 Altima 2.5 that I just purchased back in May 07' with 47k miles. Two weeks ago (@ 58k miles) had it towed into dealership and they are telling me it's a head gasket issue and cat convetor and that a new engine would be the perfect solution... at my expense. We (the dealership & I) are trying to get Nissan Corp to replace engine... still awaiting their decision.

I feel this is a MAJOR issue and we all need to do something. Please give your thoughts or comments.

I purchased my 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5s new. Now at 83,000 miles, when I start it in the morning it runs very rough for about 10 seconds. After that it runs just fine. However, after a 60 mile trip, the "service engine soon" light came on.

My local Nissan dealer says that it over-heated and the head gasket has blown and allowed coolant to enter into the cylinders. The dealer suggested that I put in a new engine and radiator for $5,500. He says that Nissan will not do anything about the problem because the car is now out of warranty.

I see that a number of other people have similar problems. I don't know whether to replace the engine or sell the car. Any suggestions?

A couple of weeks ago my temp went up on my 2002 Altima SL. I got home only to find the clamp on top of radiator hose has come off. We fixed it, everything was fine then for about 1 month, and then the same thing happened with the top. I was told to replace the clamp and to flush the radiator, which I did. The car drives great, no noises or anything.

I drove about a mile today and the temp started to rise, so I took it home, and when my husband came home he noticed that the oil had water in it. That car was never run hot and the check engine light has yet to come on. What would do this? PLEASE HELP!!!

Tina.

I have a 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5. It has 141,000 miles on it and it is burning oil like crazy. Back around 100,000 miles, I noticed that it was also going through a significant amount of anti-freeze. Not a week goes by when I don't have to add some. Same thing with the oil. I am going through about a quart per week and have been noticing a strange clicking or buzzing sound upon acceleration. It goes away after I have poured some oil in.

I have done some research and this is a consistently reported problem. Many folks have started reporting the regular loss of anti-freeze and oil beginning in the 80,000 mile range. There is a whole website devoted to this, but I am not sure if I am allowed to post links on this website.

My wife has a 2002 Altima with a 2.5 engine. The car would run rough for about 20 seconds after first starting and then smooth out and run good. Had to add antifreeze several times. I figured that the car had a leak somewhere. I took the car to a local garage for an oil change and a tune up to fix the rough run on start up. The mechanic found coolant in the number 2 and 3 cylinders. I went to the place that I had purchased the car because I had bought an extended warranty. They told me that the engine had a blown head gasket. The head gasket was replaced. When I purchased the car it had 39,000 miles and head gasket was replaced at 95,000 miles. I just picked the car up from the shop and it runs great.

I have a 2002 Altima as well. 90k miles, blown head gasket, cat converter, and now they are telling me there is engine failure as well. I am calling the claims dept tomorrow.

2002 altima 2.5.

I have owned the car since brand new with 0 miles on her.

2 years ago around 90k I had the check engine light come on. I took it to the local Nissan dealership, and guess what blown head gasket. I laughed at the service writer, paid him his $135 dollar fee for the diagnostic and left. There is no reason a newer car with that mileage should have that problem, so I thought until reading everyone Else's post. I then took it to the trusted family mechanic, and he ran some sealant in the system, and I have not had an issue since. Now at 127k my fuel pump, and pre-cat just went out, $2000 later. But she has been a great car for 6 years.

I have a 02 2.5 SL and I also at 90,000 replaced O2 sensor and a cat. Ever since about 120,000 miles my oil gets low really quick and give the car a horrible rattling sound when I accelerate. Add some oil and it goes away. At 150,000 another O2 sensor... then a cat then I was told I had a miss fire which was also triggering my check engine light. So add a tune up and some piece for a cylinder. The check engine light again in the same week. Another miss fire and replace the same piece for another cylinder. No check engine light but car runs really rough when I start it and when I come to a stop. The idle drops real low and sometimes will stall???

I also have an Altima 2,5. I have read some comments above and my Altima is doing the Exact same thing, the head gasket is blown @ 87,000 miles, almost stalling after starting then cleared up and was fine We have contacted Nissan and at this time our waiting for an answer to our request for Nissan to pay for the entire bill of $1,400 for a new head gasket. They said they be back to us by Friday 8/15/08. now that I've found and read all these comments it is Very, Very obvious there is a head gasket issue.

I suggest this, we all get together via e-mail and start a "class action suit" against Nissan to have them fix all our vehicles.

I too have been having several of these same issues with my 2002 Altima:

Check engine light on

Code P0420- cat running below threshold

Code P0570- idle high

Random misfires

Am getting really frustrated with this car, had it down to my mechanic several times and he is stumped as to why all these problems all at once. Any help would be great!

I think I need to call Nissan and see about getting them to fix these problems, they seem to be more common than what I thought.

To comment 19:58: NO! NO! NO! DO NOT start a class action suit!!! The ONLY winners of class action suits are the lawyers. The often huge settlements are spread so thinly (after the millions that the lawyers get) that the people who deserve the money get virtually NOTHING!! I know because I was involved in a class action suit that was settled in favor of the plaintiffs. The lawyers got several million dollars I'm sure. I got a whopping TWELVE DOLLARS!! In another case against a local Toyota dealer, the plaintiffs again "won" (if you can call it that) and their award? A coupon for $3000 off another car from the SAME DEALER that ripped them off the first time!! The dealer probably jacked up the price of any cars bought with the coupons by $4000 and pocketed ANOTHER $1000 bilked from the poor buyers. You should either file INDIVIDUAL suits against Nissan, or file complaints with your state Attorney General's office, your local Better Business Bureau, all local consumer affairs offices and your local TV station's consumer watch division.

As for Nissan, (and virtually all imports now) it is sad that so many people are STILL deluded by ad hype. Nissan is currently building some of the most unreliable cars and trucks on Earth. The Titan and Armada have been disasters and are rated "much worse than average" and not recommended by Consumer Reports. In a recent USA Today story on resale values, the Armada had the WORST of any large SUV (with Toyota's Sequoia not far ahead of it). One of my friend's took a real beating financially on a Pathfinder and one has tried (hard with no success) to sell his 3-year old Murano for what he owes on it.

The current crop of domestics are far better in all respects than the import competition. The large SUV with the BEST resale value is the Chevy Suburban. Likewise the Chevy Silverado has a higher resale value (and is far more reliable) than the Tundra. The highest rated car Consumer Reports has ever tested is a Ford (the Fusion).

Instead of sending money to Japan, Americans need to start looking at the wonderful choices from our own companies. Apparently many already are, as sales of the Ford Focus have increased more than Civic and Corolla COMBINED. At the moment the domestic makers cannot even keep up with the demand for the smaller cars, and even with the gas prices hurting car sales, GM dropped in overall sales by less than Toyota last quarter.

To comment 3121, I agree, right now we're contacting everyone you recommended, AND, going to the dealer who fixed the car, stand outside the dealership with signs and let everyone who's interested know exactly what's going on.

This ploy worked once before when I did a job for a condo and they tried to rip me off for thousands; 2 days later I had my money. Do not be on their property, or impede their business. If on the other hand some of you would like to tackle Nissan as a group, I'm with you. You can contact me at jim.resp@yahoo.com.

Good luck.

Jim.

I contacted Nissan about the blown head gasket on my Altima.

They will not take responsibility for the defected head gasket. Even after I told them of my research and how many people have the exact same problem as me. Nissan will not stand behind their product. I will never own another Nissan vehicle. Right now I am going to contact my local news channel and the better business bureau.