Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-65
Intermittent starting problem, crank position sensor, oil burning problem, turn signals occasionally stop making the 'click' noise, poor heater performance.
First of all start out with the positives - the car is absolutely gorgeous. It is ruby with tan leather, a very nice combo.
Then engine is strong for a 4 cylinder, but mileage is only marginally better than the 3.5.
The stereo is very good (bose with 6 CD changer).
The seats are average - the lower cushion is a little short.
Interior materials are low grade hard plastics.
Stock Continental tires are garbage in the snow/ice - replaced with winter tires.
Maybe I received a lemon, but I've had more than my share of problems with this thing - poor heater performance, intermittent flooding when cold (especially when humid), the car burns a litre between oil changes (6000KM), and now the car sits at the stealership waiting replacement of a crank position sensor which went south.
Overall I would say that this car is a rather large disappointment, especially considering I took a chance and bought it instead of a comparably priced accord or camry. I will try my luck with an American car next (considering the Altima is built in America anyway).
HI,
I was wondering what kind of heating problems you were having. I am having heating problems too. The local dealership has tested it and purged the system twice. But I still get the same results. I get no heat when it is idling. I get some heat on the lower settings. When my foot is on the gas though I get plenty of heat. Did Nissan find a solution for you?
Thanks.
No, they kind of snuff me when I ask them. It seems to be worse on the passenger side - the wife is always complaining that she is cold while I am boiling. Maybe the micro-filter is blocking some airflow?
I also have a 2002 Altima. For two years I have been haunting my local dealership trying to get a fix for the heating problems. Unique features such as blast of heat upon turning corners, blowing cold air when idling and frigid starts to the day are all part of my daily driving experience. I have also experienced problems with the ignition especially in damp, cool weather. I am anxious to hear if anyone has had successes in fixing the heating system. Winter is coming!
The heating problems indicate the coolant level in the radiator (not the plastic reservoir) may be low.
The lack of heat will show up when the car is at idle and engine is at low RPM. This is because air is getting into the heating hose.
A way to correct this is to add coolant directly into the radiator when the engine is first started up. You will probably have to repeat this for several days until the radiator is completely full.
Once the radiator is full and the engine has warmed up, there should be plenty of heat all the time.
The fix to all that problem is to get you a 1993-1994
Nissan Altima or second Gen Altima (1998)
I have a 1993 Nissan Stanza ALTIMA GXE this is the first probuction Altima in 1993 (there were 2 ALTIMA's in 93 the
stanza ALTIMA and the ALTIMA.) knock on wood. this car is a very good car I have 146.000 thousand miles on car and now the brakes and rotors need replaced, (as well as struts, distributor, steering gear, radiator, alternator at 100000miles to 140000miles) not all at once.
Other than that this car is better then most of all the new junk they put out as new.
I had a new truck (Frontier) from Nissan it sucked bad. I will never get another new Nissan as long as I live.
I bought a used 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5. Buyer beware!! I understood that being a used car you are taking a risk. I've had it 5 months and I had it towed to the dealer yesterday. I couldn't get the thing to start. Usually it fires up right away. Yesterday I tried 3 times and it wouldn't 'catch.' It also has a squeaky drivers seat that now drives me insane. After driving the car around and having a long 'test drive,' I wouldn't recommend this car. The turning radius is awful, the plastic interior probably won't stand the test of time, the stick shift is really clunky, and the road noise is louder than my 20 year old Honda Accord! The car is beautiful and I was taken by that. I will be selling it, owned it for 5 months and I will be purchasing a newer Honda Accord. Nissan--you can improve on this car!
Yes, I have had problems with my Altima not starting. Ended up having to change the starter.
In terms of the heating problem... I have had the car to two different dealerships for a total of 10 visits. They have not been able to fix the problem. Answer is that there is no solution and the fluid levels are all fine. I can hardly face the thought of another winter in it. I too will be dealing off my Nissan next spring and will likely look at the Honda Accord as I loved my previous one EXCEPT I have heard reports that the new Hondas are also having heater problems :^ (
I am having the same problem with my 2002 altima, I took my car back and forth to the dealer 5 times, they change parts, and change the fluid. I just can't keep spending money I just don't have. Now the dealer wants me to pay about $600 in labor just to check inside the dash and still might not have the answer. Is there anyone that can help me, or is there someone that I can call.
I am planning on dumping it the first chance I get.
I also have a 2002 Nissan Altima. It has not been a good investment. I have had numerous problems. I have already replaced the brakes, which I paid for as Nissan said it was not covered under my warranty. Further, my vehicle has been with the dealer for 4 weeks now because my engine needed to be replaced. To make a long story short, I brought the car in because I was hearing "A strange Noise", the dealer called me back and said that I needed a completely new engine, because I was low on oil. However, the oil level was not low enough to cause any warning lights to go off. In addition, I had 4 weeks prior had my oil changed (I get the oil changed very frequently). The dealer tried to get us to pay the $5000 for the new engine. However, we proved that it was not our fault, and Nissan is now paying. Additionally, I just received a call this A.M. saying now the complete clutch system needs to be replaced. I only have 25,000 miles on the car!! Anyway, BUYER BE VERY AWARE. This car is not all it is cracked up to be.
I bought my 2002 2.5s altima brand new, and yet it has more problems than a car that 10 years old. Crank shaft sensor replaced 4 times, caty- converter, entire exhaust, radiator, computer, and I have brought it an additional 3 times because it has no heat. The car has 31000 miles on it, you do the math, do you really want a nissan?
I have a brand new 2005 nissan altima 2.5s and I have been having oil problems, my altima is burning oil, I took it to the dealer and they did an oil analyses three times and said the oil is fine. but when I check my oil once a week and it shows low on the dipstick, I usually have to add a quarter of a quart, I currantly have 7,000 miles please help give me your advice on what I should do.
Heating problem fixed in my 2002 Altima. After 10 visits
the heat works all the time not just when moving!
The Water valve was stuck in the open position.
New water valve and I have had heat ever since.
I have a 2002 Altima and was perfectly happy with it until last June. After 8 months of taking it back to the dealer they are now replacing the engine and catalytic converter. They kept treating me like I was exagerating the problems. Believe me, the last thing I want to do is keep taking a stupid card back to the dealer every few weeks. They kept saying they couldn't figure out the problem, but all they had to do was go on a couple of these boards and they could have diagnosed the problem starting with the converter. They tell me I had bad piston rings, but I think that is a big lie.
My wife and purchased a '02 Altima 2.5 SL about 6 months ago. It had 32k on it. It's a beautiful car with plenty of power and very comfortable. However, it handles terribly and the stock Continental tire are pure crap. It burn about 2 qt. of oil about every 1k miles and that is not acceptable. We've not experienced any of the heater problems. The Bose stereo sounds great and the steering wheel mounted controls are neat. But now the CD changer had crapped out. We're very disappointed in this car and are considering a trade ASAP.
I purchase a 2002 altima in april 2002 I have heatying problem and starting issues, i have taken this car to dealer for every recall the have, but it is too late the engine went bad anyway. before this car I had a 2004 isuzu rodeo wish I wish I never gave away. i wolud never purchase another nissan vehicle again. try calling nissan customer all you hear is your car is out of warrnty. i think nissan know all about the problem this veihcle has, but refuse to take responsibilty for it. I think that everyone who have problem with partcular year model should try to get their local news to investigate maybe then nissan might reimburst some of us for the amount of money we spent trying to fix their issues.