2002 Nissan Altima SE from North America - Comments

OK so when I bought this gem to replace my wife's '97 Saturn SL (college car), she was ecstatic. Then the problems began. The car is an Altima 2.5 and the first thing was that the headlights kept burning out.

Next was a check engine light. The shop I go to said it was an O2 sensor. The dealer said he could tell me for a $90 diagnosis fee. Oh, and there were 3 recalls:

The entire headlight assembly needed replacement due too bad wiring or something. I had just put in new bulbs too.

The computer needed something to be uploaded to update it.

The rear sub-frame needed to be replaced.

All this is done for free but then you have no car for a week. The replacement of the O2 sensor cost me about $175 done through a friend of a friend or it would have been $182 for the part plus 2 hours of labor. Unfortunately, the check engine light went back on almost immediately. The code, P0420, was for the catalytic converter. The part costs about $300 on up. I decided to do some research. I looked on-line and then called the dealership. They told me there was no recall on the cat. converter...

There is an 8 year, 80,000 mile warranty though. The service writer talked to me as if I were still paying for the work. I reminded him that the car only had 79k on it. He was like, "Yeah, that's REALLY close!" I replied, "Close, but still under 80k."

I booked an appointment to have it done...

Don't give up in your little Nissan, those cars last forever. I know what you are going through right know, it happened to me before. One thing I've gotta say to you; once you fix it up, you'll be happy as long as you own that car, especially being so economic... good luck to you... let us know what happens at the dealer.

I would not advise buying those Tennessee made Nissans. Quality and workmanship has decreased greatly in the last eight or ten years. Murano and Rogue are the two main reliable models unless you go to Infiniti.