2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 S from North America - Comments

I have had increasingly annoying problems with starting the car in cold or damp weather. The problem first occurred last year, and I was told it was 'bad gas'. Pumping and holding down the accelerator finally worked, and a plume of smoke shot out of the tailpipe. Recently had this problem again, only this time it is much worse. Auto shop couldn't really diagnose the problem.

The Engine Service light appears to come on (and sometimes turns off) at random.

The car looks good, and has more features and power that an Accord. However, if I had it to do over again, I probably would have chosen the more reliable Accord.

From reading other comments on this site it sounds like the crankshaft position sensor might be faulty or (more likely) there is an intermittent bad connection where it plugs into the rest of the wiring loom.

Try disconnecting the sensor plug and reconnecting it.

I have a 2002 Nissan Altima that was purchased new. When the vehicle had approx. 6k miles on it, I had a problem with the gear shift. Sometimes it would take 10 minutes to get out of "PARK". I took it into the dealership and was told that coffee or a beverage had spilled inside it (thus the sticking problem). I was very upset because nothing had EVER spilled in the shift. The dealership told me they "cleaned it out" (charged me $150.00) and if the shift had to be replaced it would cost ME about $500.00. The car seemed to run fine after the "cleaning", but unfortunately a year (to the week) later, when it started to get cold out, it started happening again! (We use the cup holder for sunglasses, not beverages). I am so frustrated because the blame was put on me, and the dealership would take no responsibility. My husband drives a 1993 Nissan Altima that has been a dream. We purchased another Nissan Altima because of the reliability factor. I have two small children and I now have to worry if my car will make it out of the driveway in the morning. I would appreciate any ideas/comments. (???)

I bought a new 2002 Nissan Altima for reliability since my first car, a 1994 Nissan Altima, was getting old. I never had a problem with my first car besides the body deterioration. My new 2002 Nissan Altima has been nothing, but unreliable!

I had my car for just a few months before the battery died the first time. It died for no good reason 2 more times before there was a recall on a part that is supposed to fix that problem. No dead batteries since then, but there were at least 2 other unrelated recalls on my car.

Also, my driver side headlight stopped working two separate times, and who knows why because the dealerships couldn't give me a good reason.

My newest problem that the car has is associated with the driver side door that is very difficult to open and close. It has been cold lately, so maybe this is the cause since the car doesn't do well in the cold.

I would not buy another Altima.

Hello. The door problem is one I, too, have had. In fact, I just had the handle replaced in my Altima. So far, it is working--but it has only been two days. The car goes back in tomorrow for yet another problem with the Service Engine Soon light.

My mother has a 2003 altima and her door fell off recently so consider yourself lucky. How the door fell of I really wonder. Overall a good car she drives a lot the last time I seen the odometer she had 155,000 miles on it, that was about six months ago so I pretty sure it has a lot more. The only problems That I know of, are that her driver's side window stop working and that he a/c system has a leak (I recharged it). Good car overall in my opinion especially for the abuse she's given it (she deliveries newspapers) but she keeps up with her car maintains most of the time.

These altima's were a scam they made them wrong and I'm fighting this.

I totally agree with the comment submitted in March 08'. These cars were definitely made wrong and Nissan should be held accountable. I have had to take my car to the local dealership 3 times in the last 2 weeks for the same thing. Initially my car would not start and I had to have it towed to the dealership and they said the "computer reading" was Mass Airflow, so they had to keep it for 3dys and they replaced the sensor costing me $711.48. Needless to say the same thing has happened 2 more times since they took my money claiming it was fixed. Now they have it back and they are saying it could be the catalytic converter. This is totally ridiculous and my husband and I are also fighting this.