Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Altima, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling594
- Structure128
- Engine92
- Electrical system77
- Exterior lighting41
- Power train39
- Fuel system, gasoline38
- Air bags34
- Service brakes, hydraulic25
- Unknown or other23
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 27 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 29 2002 Altima vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 24 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Nissan Altima failed the safety check 2.31% of the time — 15% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 125,977 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 10.2–12.1 L/100 km (about 19–23 mpg US), CO₂ 235–278 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 8.7 | 10.2 |
| Altima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.8 | 10.5 |
| Altima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 9.7 | 11.3 |
| Altima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.9 | 9.9 | 12.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Nissan Altima.
| 2007364 13 Nov 2007 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine, the crank angle sensor can malfunction causing the engine to stall. Engine stalling would result in lost propu… |
| 2003267 5 Nov 2003 | Engine On certain vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor may have an improper solder joint. This could cause the Service Engine Soon warning light … |
| 2003171 15 Jul 2003 | Fuel System On certain vehicles at extremely cold temperatures, moisture in the fuel tank may freeze and form ice crystals. These ice crystals may obstruct the suction ope… |
| 2003060 10 Mar 2003 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road which could be ignited by contact with the ma… |
| 2003045 21 Feb 2003 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the clockspring electrical connector may not be fully secured to the driver side air bag module squib pin connector due to the retaining gr… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE SENSOR.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE HANGER PIN MAY CATCH DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY CONTACT WITH THE MAIN CATALYST. ALSO ON 2002 ALTIMA AND SENTRA VEHICLES, CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE THE CATALYST SUBSTRATE.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY COME LOOSE. IF THE CONNECTOR COMES LOOSE, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Nissan told its dealers about the 2002 Nissan Altima: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635812 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A HOWL OR GROAN NOISE AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS RELEASED. *TT |
| 635803 | TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING BUZZ OR HUM NOISE FROM SPEAKERS. *TT |
| 635798 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING RATTLE IN REAR DOOR WHEN CLOSING. *TT |
| 635081 | SUBJECT REGARDING VQ ENGINE WATER PUMP O-RING. *TT |
| 633694 | SUBJECT REGARDING QR25DE (4CYL) ENGINE HEAD GASKET HANDLING PRECAUTIONS. *JG |
| 633691 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL A/C TEMPERATURE IS NOT ADJUSTABLE. *JG |
| 633684 | SUBJECT REGARDING RATTLE IN HEADLINER NEAR ROOM LAMP. *JG |
| 633680 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIND NOISE AND WATER LEAK FROM SUNROOF. *JG |
| 633675 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE NOT CRANKING IN PARK BUT WILL CRANK IN NEUTRAL. *JG |
| 633671 | LOW POWER/POOR RUNNING AND/OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH FRONT O2 SENSOR/TRANSMISSION GEAR DTC STORED. *JG |
| 633659 | POOR HEATER PERFORMANCE. *JG |
| 633647 | SUBJECT REGARDING HOWL NOISE WHEN CLUTCH IS RELEASED. *JG |
| 633632 | A/T SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOID CLICK NOISE. JG THIS BULLETIN REPLACES NTB02-045 DATED 04/15/2002. *TT |
| 633624 | SUBJECT REGARDING WATER LEAKS ON FRONT FLOOR AREA. *JG |
| 633621 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIND NOISE DUE TO HOLE IN DOOR SEALER. *JG |
| 633619 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT CONSOLE BOX LID RETAINER CLIP AVAILABILITY.*JG |
| 633610 | SUBJECT REGARDING TRUNK OPENER CANCEL SWITCH OPERATION. *JG |
| 633608 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR CONDITIONING INOPERATIVE/ WARM AIR FROM A/C VENTS. *JG |
| 633606 | SUBJECT REGARDING FUSE #19 OPEN. *JG |
| 633603 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR SUSPENSION NOISE. *JG |
| 632161 | THIS BULLETIN STATES THAT SOME OF THE HEAD LAMP ILLUMINATION DELAY / AUTO LIGHT SETTINGS ON AN APPLIED MODEL CAN BE ADJUSTED USING CONSULT-II. *TT |
| 632159 | SUBJECT REGARDING FOG LAMP SYSTEM OPERATION WITH AUTO HEADLIGHT FEATURE. *TT |
| 632158 | SUBJECT REGARDING FOG LAMP SYSTEM OPERATION WITH AUTO HEADLIGHT FEATURE. *TT |
| 631936 | INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE TOOLS: ENGINE SUPPORT BAR, LIFT, AND TABLE. *SLC |
| 631716 | SUBJECT REGARDING RADIO STATIC NOISE. *SLC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation