Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Nissan Altima
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Nissan Altima has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,047 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V527000 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE/ENGINE STALL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E074000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E063000 FMVSS 108/BROKEN AIMING MECHANISM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E054000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E064000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E023000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V455000 NISSAN/CRANK/CAM POSITION SENSOR WELD NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V251000 NISSAN/FUEL TANK FREEZE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V084000 NISSAN/DEBRIS AND CATALYST SUBSTRATE/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V061000 NISSAN/AIR BAG MODULE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02I001000 NISSAN/AIR BAG SENSOR NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 594 complaints
- Structure 128 complaints
- Engine 92 complaints
- Electrical System 77 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 41 complaints
- Power Train 39 complaints
Of the 1,047 complaints on file, 29 report a crash and 28 a fire; across all 1,047 complaints, owners report 27 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Nissan Altima has a significant number of owner complaints and twelve recall campaigns, suggesting several reliability issues. Engine and engine cooling systems are the most reported areas with 594 complaints, reflecting potential recurring problems. However, the specifics of failure mileage and repair costs are limited, so cost-of-ownership expectations are broad estimates.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine cooling | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $300–$800 | occasional |
| Airbags | Unknown | $400–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush and refill
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Spark plug replacement
- Air conditioning service
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine overheating
- Electrical failures
- Airbag warning light
- Unusual engine noises
- Check engine light
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Nissan Altima at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.