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Nissan Altima - Stalling

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

Jeffrey of Scottsdale AZ (1/3/04):
Vehicle in question is a 2003 Nissan Altima that was purchased in Sept. 02 at Pinnacle Nissan of Scottsdale, Az. On July 11, 2003 the car after being driven a short period of time and then parked would not restart. It would turn over and the only way you could keep the engine running was to keep the RPM's up at a very high level. The minute you let the RPM's drop and tried to let the engine idle the car would choke/flood out and stop running. The car could not be started and driven at all.

I had it towed to the closest Nissan dealer in Scottsdale which was Scottsdale Nissan. They had the car until the 14th of July, 2003 and reported that they could not duplicate the problem but their paperwork states they THOUGHT the problem was caused by "internal open circuit in airflow meter with consult test" so they installed a new airflow meter and airfilter and test drove the car. I picked the car up on July 14, 2003.

Then on Oct. 28, 2003 the car was again parked after a short drive and again the same problem took place and the car was towed back to Scottsdale Nissan and again they could not duplicate the problem so we picked it up on Oct. 29, 2003. Then on Nov. 19, 2003 the car was parked after a short drive and again it did the same thing. This time instead of calling a tow truck I left the car for a short period of time and then tried to start it again. It took numerous tries but I was able to nurse the engine back to life and I limped it home for the day.

This time I decided to take the car back to the original dealer on Nov. 20, 2003 which was Pinnacle Nissan of Scottsdale. They could not duplicate the problem again and per their paperwork they cleaned the fuel injector per some bulletin from Nissan USA. We picked the car up on Nov. 21, 2003. On Dec. 29, 2003 the car was driven a short distance to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, the engine was turned off for approximately 5 minutes and once again it could not be restarted. Police intervened and it was towed to a safe location at the airport until it could be towed back to Pinnacle Nissan of Scottsdale.

Pinnacle Nissan informs me that they THINK, I repeat, they THINK they know what the problem is and they can only offer a temporary fix with no guarantees that this will not happen again. They say further that it looks like it's a software problem with the on board computer that runs everything in the car. The software fix is not available from Nissan USA and may not be available for another 3 to 6 months. So Pinnacle, per a call to a Tech Line at Nissan USA, added fuel system cleaner to the tank for temporary repair until final repair is available.

I have kept Nissan USA informed of each and every incident described above. They really haven't made any comment on any of this yet. They just listen and say keep us informed. In Arizona the Lemon Law states that after 4 attempts to solve the same problem and with no positive results that I can return the car for a replacement or they can buy the car back. Because the last incident in Dec. 03 was the fourth time I have been through this I am in the position to follow through with the Lemon Law claim if it happens again. With the statement from Pinnacle Nissan that this is only a temporary fix with no guarentees I have a funny feeling that we will be addressing this again for the 5th time soon. I picked the car up this morning, Jan. 2, 2004.

Jeffrey should contact an experienced, aggressive Lemon Law attorney.

Karissa of Hoover AL (11/5/03):
I purchased a used 2002 Nissan Altima with 39264 miles on it in mid September. Since that time I have taken it in twice because it cuts off on me out of the blue. The first time this incident occurred it was on 10/25/03. It cut off first going down a hill, the wheel just locked and it shut down. It immediately cranked back up. Then I went a little further and as I was making a left turn it cut off again.

I immediately drove across the street to Crown Nissan and was told to bring it in on the following Monday. So I took it in on 10/27/03 and within a couple of hours I received a call from a Dan who was servicing my car. Dan said, I have driven it for about 20 miles and it didn't cut off on me, we can't find anything wrong at this time." Then on the following Thursday night 10/30/03 as I was making a right turn it cut off again. I had to have it pushed by men into a parking lot.

I called Nissan that the following Friday morning 10/31/03 to see if I could bring it in Donnie said it would be Tuesday before they could get to it. So, I decided to see if it would crank that morning 10/31/03 and it did perfectly. I was going down a hill and in the process of making a left turn it cut off again. I called Nissan from where I had cut off and they gave me another number to call and have it towed. So I was given a Nissan Montana to go to work in and was informed that my car would be ready around 3pm by Allan the Asst. Man. because they were going to need the minivan back. So I arrived around 3pm and my car was in the same place the tow truck dropped it off.

So I proceeded to speak with the Manager, Chris who collaborated with the service manager, who both stated that they needed to keep my car for about 5 days and drive it around like it was theirs and see if it would cut off on them. Well that was fine. Chris gave me a Lexus at that time 10/31/03 to keep until they had driven it around a few day. On Sunday night my car still had not been moved. On Monday 11/03/03, I received a call from Dan stating again that he had driven it about 20 miles and it still didn't cut off on him. And that he doesn't see anything wrong with it. I came to the lot on Monday after work and my car had been moved to another location. I placed another rock on my tire that evening. Today 11/05/03 my car still has not been moved, my rock is still in the same place and no one is trying to resolve the problem. No one is driving it around as explained to me.

Christine of Manorville NY (10/17/03):
I purchased my 2002 Nissan Altima in December of 2001. Approximately 1 month later (approx 5,000 miles) my vehicle began having problems. In the morning the engine cranked but would not start. I have had my car towed into the dealership 4 times for this problem. The dealer maintains that they could not find or duplicate the the problem, and that other customers complain of the same situation happening.

At approx 11,000 miles while driving 65 MPH my vehicle completely shut off almost causing an accident. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership. After having my car 4 days they satted they did not know why the vehicle shut off while driving ... they replaced the entire computer system, catalytic converter, and exhaust system.

In the next 6 months my vehicle failed to start approx 15 times, and stalled while driving 5 times (causing my vehicle to hit the guardrail). The dealership replaced the entire engine. I unfortunalty still have this vehicle, and am reluctant to drive it. I am filing a civil lawsuit as well as complaining to the Ny BBB for a full refund and compensatory damages.

Rebecca of Las Vegas (10/16/03):
We bought a 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 in September of 2001. Excited about having one of first new body styles in Las Vegas we had no clue we would be disappointed in every aspect after our purchase. Since purchasing the car I have had several cosmetic pieces replaced due to United Nissan service department not knowing how to replace parts or things just falling apart. We bought the car at night. The next morning I noticed the passenger visor was ripped. (This car was just off of the truck a week) The center console surrounding the gear shift was dented. My tint on the windows (front driver & passenger) were messed up from the window rubbing. All this was replaced, but they destroyed my front passenger side door panel in the process. We had to argue with the service department to get that replaced. Believe it or not they ordered the wrong part and we had to argue again to get the right part ordered.

Anyway with all of this happening, we have put some mileage on this car due to traveling for softball tournaments for my daughter. Service on this car has been kept up faithfully. In June of 2003 we were on vacation in California when the car started to stall out. We took the car to Sorrettos Nissan and they said it was the throatle body - the part would take 3 days to get in but it was okay to drive home to Las Vegas. We asked are you sure, we didn't want to get stranded in the middle of the desert. They assured us it would be fine, just take it to our dealership when we get back to have it replaced.

Well wouldn't you know - we made it to Victorville, CA and the car started to stall and hesitate. We drove it all the way to Barstow, CA still hesitating where we made the decision to stop due to the hesitation getting worse.

As soon as we turned off on the off ramp it died. We got it to a gas station and called a local Nissan dealership and they referred us to a tow truck company. We were towed to a motel and the car to the dealership. The next morning we called to get a courtesy ride to the dealership and they told us they wouldn't because they didn't want us down there arguing with them over the car. We had to talk to the owner of the dealership to get a ride.

We finally get there and they told us it would be approximately 5 days before they could even look at the car. We explained to them that we were out of town and we needed to get it fixed. They suggested we rent a car and drive back when it was ready. The whole jist of this is that I found a tow truck driver who I had to pay to have the car towed back to Las Vegas to United Nissan. The next morning we go to the dealership to see the status of the car and we are told we do not have an extended warranty on the car. I said yes we do I have the paperwork.

Well come to find out we had two contracts from the sales office manager dated the same day. One with an extended warranty, one without. We spoke to the General manager to get this figured out. Well what had happened to the car was that we had a defective heat shield, broken O2 sensor. The general manager agreed to fix that for free but if we wanted an extended warranty we could pay for 1/2 of it at his cost $400.00. Even though we had proof showing his Sales Manager had made a mistake regarding the warranty. To this day we are still arguing over this. The General manager refuses to make amends.

Well the next day I get in the car and the Service Engine light comes on. We call the service dept. and they suggest we bring it back in, it's probably something that didn't get reset after replacing the O2 sensor. Come to find out the catalytic converter needs to be replaced. (Now this is only the day after having everything else replaced) The general manager fixes that because it stems from the O2 sensor being burnt out.

Heather of Fort Worth TX (10/1/03):
I bought my 2003 Altima in December of 2003. I loved my car for about 8 months and then the check engine light came on and my car would not accelerate over 30 mph. I read my owners manual and did all the things it told me to do when the light came on. The next morning while driving to work the car cut out again. I decided to take it to the shop. They could find nothing wrong with it (did not provide a rental car). They reset the computer and sent me on my way. A few days later the problem recurred. I took my car back in the shop and they found nothing wrong with it and once again gave me no rental. They kept my car for a few days and replaced the accelarator pad.

I had my car back for a day and the same problem recured on a Saturday and the shop was closed. I had to go all weekend with no vehicle. I took my vehicle in Monday morning and had to ask for a rental car. This time they changed the throttle. To make a long story short one and 1/2 months later I still do not have my car and my rental, to put it nicely, sucks. I have a new computer, wiring sytem, and countless other parts in my car, but no car. They really do not know what is wrong and it has been in and out of the shop 6 times. They do not call and let me know the progress in the vehicle. I am in the process of trying out the lemon law, but really have no idea what I have gotten myself into.

Nissan actually had to gaul to call me and offer me an extended warranty on a car that still is not fixed. I guess I paid 20K plus to drive a Dodge Neon, Toyotta Corolla, and Ford Escort. I have had to miss meetings and I am a Math teacher that has trouble offering tutoring to my kids because I am in and out of the shop constantly for my car.

Benjamin of Indianpolis IN (8/22/03):
I purchased a 2003 Altima 3.5 SE in February. I was on a camping trip about three and a half hours from home during the second week in August. As I was preparing to leave I discovered that the engine would not start. We tried to jumpstart the car but the engine died a few minutes after the jumper cables were disconnected. I called Nissan Roadside Assistance and was told that they could send out a tow truck but that I would have to pay for it since I didn't buy an extended service plan.

I opted to get my own tow truck and had the car towed about 50 miles to Elkhart, IN (the closest Nissan dealership) on a Sunday morning. I later discovered that since the part that failed was under warranty Nissan will pay for the tow, so Roadside Assistance is clueless. I called the dealership Monday Morning to inform them that my car was there and to tell them about the problem I was having. On Monday afternoon I learned that the Main Fusible Link on the car had tripped. The dealer didn't have the part in stock but had ordered it. They also told me that because of the Blackout the distribution center was running about 3 days behind. The dealership has had my car for 5 days and the part still has not been delivered. In fact, the Service Manager told me the nearest part he could find was in California and that it probably wouldn't even be at the shop until Monday.

As a result of this incident, I missed work on Sunday and have had to rely on friends and relatives for basic transportation needs. When the car is ready, I will need to find somebody to drive 6 hours to Elkhart and back with me to pick up my car and drive my sisters' car back.

Junius of Ft. Washington MD (2/5/03):
I brought a 2002 NISSAN Altima SE 3.5 on August 9, 2002. On January 27, 2003 I took the car to Mike Pallone NISSAN because when I attempted to start it that morning the car acted as if it was going to cut off. It seem as if the engine was flooding. When I arrived at Mike Pallone Nissan in Springfied, Va and explained what happen to the service rep, he immediately indicated that they were aware of the problem and that NISSAN was also aware of it. That they thought it had to do with the fuel injection system. But they did not have a fix for it but that NISSAN Corp was working on one. He wrote up the complaint and that was that.

On February 4th I was at work and I was proceeding to the Pentagon for a meeting. I notice that as I attempted to acclerate the car was slowing up. The more I pressed the accelerator the more it slowed up. Again, as if it was about to cut off. Also, if I attempted to go up a hill the car nearly stopped. I was able to get it back to Mike Pallone NISSAN where I discussed the matter with the service rep who wrote the ticket up and gave me a rental car, which I am not sure I will have to pay for.

I received a call from him on February 5th indicating that they could not find anything wrong. He and I called the NISSAN corporation in California and talked to Leslie, who became irritated when we tried to explain the situation. It was clear that she knew about it, when asked by the service rep, but she was trying to conceal any knowledge of it. When confronted about the fact that there have been other NISSAN customers who have come in to the dealership with the same problem she became verbally augmentative.

Both the service rep and I attempted to explain to her that there is a problem and not just with my car. And the question is what is NISSAN doing about fixing the problem. You can smell gasoline after driving the car awhile and this lends itself to the possibility that the car could explode or catch fire. NISSAN needs to fix the problem and stop trying to hide it. There should be a recall which they are trying not to do.

Tamra of Lake Waccamaw NC (10/22/03):
I have taken my new 2002 Nissan Altima 4 times with the service engine light. The first time I took it the dealer didn't find anything. The next time I was told it was the oxygen sensor, light came back on took back dealer said catalytic converter needed to be replaced. When I took to have the catalytic converter replaced the dealer said the oil was not even touching the stick. Dealer called Nissan and Nissan said to put in a new motor.

I have been without my car for 11 consecutive days. I am making a 410.00 payment on a car I can't even drive. I have lost all faith and confidence in my car and in Nissan. I have had to take time off work to run back and forth to the dealership. I have three rental cars in the past two weeks. None of which are on the same level as a Nissan Altima.

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