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Nissan Altima - Engine Problems

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Nissan Altima • Stalling • Engine problems • Gas tank • Steering • Paint --- • Other Nissan Models

Barbara Ann of Nottingham MD (1/13/04):
My Nissan Altima after only 42,000 miles blew the head gasket and had to be replaced. The dealer wanted $875.00. I have done all the proper maintenance on this car and can not believe that a car with that amount of mileage would have a blown head gasket. The mechanic who fixed it said that the gasket was tight on one side and the defective side was loose. He said it could have beeen installed wrong when built.

Guy of Hinesville GA (9/21/03):
The engine on my '02 Altima seized after an internal failure of the engine that allowed the engine oil to be passed into the exhaust and burned out. The engine was eventually replaced but only after having to deal with consumer affairs at Nissan. Now the car is leaking around the axles. I had researched Nissan vehicles thinking that it would be the best purchase. I was wrong.

I was fortunate that this happened during a time that I didn't need to have the car but my wife had to deal with this by paying a $250 fee upfront out of pocket. All of this happened while I was deployed to Iraq during the war.

Rodne of Bronx NY (1/12/04):
I purchased a new 2002 Nissan Altima from COX Nissan back in March of 2003. The car only had 19,000 miles on it. The car just fell apart. First the engine started giving me problems. I took it into Nissan Auto Tech to get it fixed, the service tech told me my O2 sensors went bad. I had the car for about three months. Then in October of 2003 the radiator failed. It started leaking anti-freeze as though it had a hole in it. So, I took the car back to COX Nissan in the Bronx where I purchased it from. They worked out a deal where I could get a new car. Of course I have a higher money payment now.

Well, lo and behold the new 2003 Altima on Saturday January 10, 2004, radiator started to leak. I took the car back to COX nissan. The service tech told me the car started to leak because Nissan used a cheap cap for the radiator. The cap will not release the pressure from the raditor and your radiator just goes bad. This is the second time this has happen to me with a different car. I really did not get any help from Nissan Consumer affairs department. I wrote several letters and all I received was a standard form about were my needs satisfied.

Mark of Brooklyn NY (9/2/03):
Bought a 2002 Altima 4-cyl exactly one year ago. Nuisance problems from day one: temperature gauge in mirror is off by 15 - 30 degrees, center console under radio compartment door sticky. Both problems acknowledged by dealer as "every new (model that year) Altima has them".

Car has interrmittent problem - sometimes doesn't want to start. Starter doesn't move. I was scared at first, then I heard of "sticking starter inhibitor switch in transmission lever". After moving to neutral and back, sometimes a few times, car starts. Same problem experienced by two other 2002 Altima owners that I know. Dealer tried to find the problem but couldn't "duplicate" it. I told them the switch has to be readjusted or replaced, but no.

Now the car is at the dealer for "fuel flooding problem" - it failed to start today, starter operational but got flooded. At 11000 miles and $18500 it seems like a bad buy. During the last year it failed to start about 20 times, two of which it was flooded. Nissan has to have a recall done on that switch.

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