Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 Nissan Altima Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling — runs 5.3× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
1,047Complaints
12Recalls
29Crashes
28Fires
27Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling (21.9% of complaints) — is covered by 3 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints here are 5.3× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
5 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 1 rests on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 229 · 21.9% | Recalled | Recall 07V527000 · Recall 03V455000 · Recall 03V084000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 164 · 15.7% | Recalled | Recall 07V527000 · Recall 03V455000 · Recall 03V084000 |
| Structure:body | 92 · 8.8% | No official action | — |
| Engine | 92 · 8.8% | Recalled | Recall 07V527000 · Recall 03V455000 · Recall 03V084000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System | 91 · 8.7% | Recalled | Recall 07V527000 · Recall 03V455000 · Recall 03V084000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor | 69 · 6.6% | Recalled | Recall 07V527000 · Recall 03V455000 · Recall 03V084000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 1,047 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 12 campaigns
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 06E023000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E064000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 07E054000 · 2007 · reported 07/25/2007
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 07E063000 · 2007 · reported 08/21/2007
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling
NHTSA campaign 07V527000 · 2007 · reported 11/14/2007
IF THE INTERRUPTION IN THE SIGNAL FROM THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS SO BRIEF THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) LOGIC DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A LOW SPEED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
NHTSA campaign 03V251000 · 2003 · reported 07/14/2003
THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling
NHTSA campaign 03V455000 · 2003 · reported 11/17/2003
THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 07E074000 · 2007 · reported 09/14/2007
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
NHTSA campaign 03V061000 · 2003 · reported 02/27/2003
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe
NHTSA campaign 03V084000 · 2003 · reported 03/11/2003
EITHER OF THESE TWO CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags
NHTSA campaign 02I001000 · 2002 · reported 04/17/2002
THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AS EXPECTED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN A HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO NOTIFY REPRESENTATIVE. VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 10063307 — filed 11/01/2004 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
“I WAS DRIVING FROM MI TO IL ON THE DAY BEFORE MY STARTING MY NEW JOB IN ILLINOIS. THIRTY MILES OUT FROM MY DESTINATION, THE…”NHTSA complaint 10064381 — filed 04/02/2004 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
“THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE OXYGEN SENSOR, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE…”NHTSA complaint 10053367 — filed 01/27/2004 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Altima?
Engine and engine cooling issues are the most-reported category, cited in 229 of 1,047 NHTSA complaints (21.9%), followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (164), structure:body (92), engine (92). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 Nissan Altima have?
1,047 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 29 involved a crash, 28 involved a fire, and 27 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes — 12 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Nissan Altima's reported problems?
5 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
