2001 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 168 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 23 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 4 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsSep 14, 2007
CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. DS517-B001L AND DS517-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OPTICEL SURFACE OF THE REFLECTOR IS CORRODED INHIBITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BEAMS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
Campaign 07E074000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, tread/beltFeb 23, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H TIRES. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAGE, THE TIRES MAY DEVELOP SHOULDER AREA CRACKING. CONTINUED USE OF A TIRE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO EXPOSURE OF THE BELT EDGE.
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, A BELT EDGE SEPARATION IS POSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE.
BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE WILL REPLACE THE TIRES WHICH WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THESE ALTIMA VEHICLES. FIRESTONE IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE AT 1-800-465-1904.
Campaign 01V065000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
60 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, May 7, 2009
ROUGH IDLING AND VIBRATIONS IN THE ENGINE STARTED IN 2006 AT 102,000 MILES. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. THEN, A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. WENT TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS WHO COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. DROVE THE CAR LIKE THIS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM! ENGINE NOW BUCKS AND STALLS OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO SIT AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT WITHOUT YOUR CAR STALLING IS TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME! YOU HOPE AND PRAY YOU DON'T RUN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU! I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS! NOW, THERE IS POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WON'T MOVE! AFTER A WHILE THE CAR WILL TAKE OFF! TRY GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS ISSUE!! AFTER REPLACING SPARK PLUGS, DISTRIBUTOR CAPS, HARNESSES, FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL FILTERS, O-RINGS, ETC. WE FINALLY FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET! A CHEAP PART TO BUY BUT EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX! OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS I HAVE SPENT OVER $4,000 TO ACTUALLY FIX MY CAR! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM, I FOUND 110 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE! EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE 2000-2001 NISSAN ALTIMA!! PLEASE RECALL THIS ITEM! I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE BECOME SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF NISSAN!! A SIMPLE RECALL TO REPLACE A $10.00 PART TO SAVE A LIFE...... OR A LAWSUIT AND A LOST LIFE! THIS SHOULD BE A NO BRAINER!! A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.....NISSAN SHOULD HURRY UP AND TAKE THEIR PICK!!! I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER NISSAN!! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 15, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE IDLES ROUGHLY WHENEVER IT IS IN PARK OR STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, BUT THE AMOUNT FOR THE GASKET WAS ONLY $11. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WOULD COST $600. THE DEALER IS NOT REPLACING THE GASKET. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 13, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IDLING. ON ONE OCCASION, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $900. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Mar 24, 2009
NISSAN ALTIMA GLE 2001 REQUIRED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACEMENT ON 10/11/03 UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CAR IDLED VERY HIGH WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. WHEN CONSULTING CARCOMPLAINT.COM THERE ARE OVER 80 OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. MY DAUGHTER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND DID NOT REPORT IT. SHE HAD IT REPAIRED WITHOUT WARRANTY COVERAGE. I SUGGEST THAT YOU GO TO WWW.CARCOMPLAINT.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/2001 AND READ THE COMPLAINTS. I AM SURE THIS DEFECT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 2001 ALTIMA. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 20, 2009
MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SHAKES WHEN IN THE IDLE OR STOP POSITION. HAVE HAD ALL THE REPAIRS DONE TO THAT I COULD AFFORD. WENT ON TO AUTOBEEF.COM AND READ 74 OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WE ALL HAVE THE SAME QUESTION WHY WASN'T THIS CAR RECALLED OR FIXED BY NISSAN. IT WAS A MISTAKE ON THEIR BEHALF. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR AND IT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I THINK THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RESEARCHED AND TAKING CARE OF AND NOT BY THE CONSUMER OF THESE DANGEROUS CARS. ALSO SOMEONE SHOULD READ THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS MAKE, YEAR AND MODEL OF THIS CAR. IT IS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THE MAJOR COMPLAINT IS A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. LIKE I SAID IT IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT BEFORE THERE ARE ANY DEATHS. OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS TAKEN CARE OF??????? *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 9, 2009
RPMS JUMPING UP AND DOWN AT IDLE. MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 4 AND I NEEDED A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. (HE KNEW THIS BECAUSE HE SPRAYED CARB CLEANER BY CYLINDER 4)A $500 JOB. CAR MAYBE 8 YEARS OLD BUT IT ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT. NO REASON GASKET SHOULD BURN OUT ON ONE SIDE LIKE THAT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 8, 2008
I OWN A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SE. IT IS A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY CAR STARTED HAVING LOW IDLE PROBLEMS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. I HAD A TUNE UP DONE WHICH INCLUDED NEW SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR AND CAP. THE CAR STILL HAD LOW IDLE PROBLEMS. I THEN RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2000-2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. I OWN A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SE. THE PROBLEM TURNS OUT TO BE A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT LEAKS AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. ($600-$1000). I SEE WHERE NISSAN REFUSES TO ADMIT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND WILL NOT CONSIDER A RECALL. YOU CAN ALSO REFERENCE CASE #10167168, 10145161,10100639, AND 10163901. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET AND THE IDLE IS GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE MY CAR IS ALMOST STALLING WHEN I COME TO A STOP. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 10, 2008
AT 89,000 MILES MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE BEGAN EXPERIENCING EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLING. ENGINE WILL STALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS I AM ASKING FOR A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 10, 2008
I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. SIMILAR TO WHAT I HAVE READ ON DOZENS OF WEBSITE, IT STARTED IDLING HIGH (AT ONLY 55,000 MILES) AND ULTIMATELY HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT A COST OF $852.05. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED. SADLY FOR ME, IT WAS THREE WEEKS AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND NISSAN REFUSED TO OFFER ANY PRICE BREAK ON THE SERVICE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE EXCEEDINGLY COMMON - AND OFTEN ON VERY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES SUCH AS MINE. NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Nov 9, 2008
I HAVE NISSAN ALTIMA GXE MODEL 2001. AFTER A THOROUGH RESEARCH ON THE WEB, I FIND THAT "INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK" IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN NISSAN ALTIMA. IT COST BETWEEN $700 - $1200 (THOUGH PART IS FOR $15-$30 ONLY). WITH THIS PROBLEM, CAR START SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN YOU STOP AT LIGHT. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT FEQUENTLY LIGHTS UP. CAR STALLS ABRUPTLY IN THE LIGHT. ON A HIGH WAY DRIVE, CAR CAN STALL ANYTIME WHICH IS A GREAT HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITH A KID OR AN OLD AGE PEOPLE. NISSAN SHOULD HELP OWNERS FIX THIS AND SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RECALL THIS CARS WITH THIS KIND OF FAULTY PARTS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 28, 2008
I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE WITH 89,207 MILES ON IT. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED A ROUGH IDLING AT STOPLIGHTS, SO BAD SOMETIMES I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO DIE OUT ON ME. ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2008, I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE MCCARTHY BLUE SPRINGS NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS, AND WAS ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN UNTIL IT GETS FIXED. SO, I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP OVER THE WEEKEND AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PICK IT UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22, 2008. IN OTHER WORDS, I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR 4 DAYS. IN RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM ONLINE TO SEE IF IT'S A NOTABLE PROBLEM WITH NISSAN ALTIMA'S I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL WEBSITES COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING. MOST OF WHICH HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT MUCH LOWER MILEAGE THAN MINE. THE REPLACEMENT COSTS SEEMS TO BE ABOUT THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD, TO BE BETWEEN $700 AND $800 PLUS. IN RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR ALL NISSAN ALTIMA'S. THERE ARE MANY WEBSITES COMPLAINING OF THE VERY PROBLEM OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON NISSAN ALTIMA'S. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN PREVIOUSLY (JANUARY 5, 2008) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. SO, I PAID TO HAVE THAT FIXED WHICH WAS OVER $450. MY CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, UNTIL I STARTED NOTICING THAT IT WAS IDLING HARD AT STOPLIGHTS, BUT I FIGURED IT WAS JUST DUE TO THE COLD. WHEN I CALLED NISSAN ABOUT IT, THEY ASKED ME IF MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AND IT WASN'T SO THEY JUST SAID IT WAS DUE TO IT BEING COLD. BUT IT NEVER STOPPED AND CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND WORSE. UNTIL I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT BACK INTO NISSAN TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND THAT'S WHEN THEY SAID IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED ON THIS VERY PROBLEM AND HOW MANY IT TAKES FOR YOU TO CONSIDER A RECALL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Oct 16, 2008
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND UPON DIAGNOSTICS IT SAYS CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS DEFECTIVE HOWEVER AFTER REPLACING CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SENSOR PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 3, 2008
2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GETTING P0304 CODE AT 99,500 MILES. SEARCHED ON A DISCUSSION BOARD AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER USERS WITH THIS SAME CODE. THE CODE IS FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN IS ALSO AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT IS REFUSING TO RECALL AND PAY FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 21, 2008
LIKE MANY OTHERS, MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON IT DISPLAYED A CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT IS NOT A FAILURE BUT IF NOT CORRECTED COULD CRACK THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE ERROR CODE CROSSED TO A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER #4. I HAVE FOUND AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF FOLKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I WAS QUOTED $920 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN OR MEDIOCRE MATERIALS USED FOR THE GASKET. I WOULD LIKE TO REFERENCE FOUR DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE: 10167168 10145161 10100639 10163901 THIS INFORMATION WAS MINED FROM WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MINIMUM CRITERIA USED TO DETERMINE A RECALL OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT? IS THERE ANY AGENCY THAT CAN COMPEL NISSAN TO MAKE SOMETHING SO OBVIOUS AND PREVALENT AMONG THEIR CUSTOMERS RIGHT AGAIN? *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 26, 2008
THE CAR - 2001 ALTIMA - HAD A ROUGH IDLE AT ALL STOPS. IT FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FELT A 60,000 MILE TUNE-UP AT A COST OF $600.00 WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HE EVEN CHECKED NISSAN RECALLS TO AID WITH THE DIAGNOSIS. NONE WERE FOUND THAT APPLIED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AFTER THE TUNE-UP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN WHERE IT TOOK THE MECHANIC LESS THAN ONE MINUTE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HE REPORTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL AND YEAR OF THE CAR. THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT A TOTAL COST OF $825.32. A SUBSEQUENT SEARCH OF THE INTERNET FOUND THAT THIS WAS INDEED A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 13, 2008
2001 NISSAN-ALTIMA INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS FAILED AT 56,800 MILES. REPAIRS ARE EST. AT $850.00. DEALER RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 29, 2008
ENGINE VIBRATES A LOT DURING TRAFFIC LIGHT STOPS. FOUND FROM A MECHANIC THAT IT IS A CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE CAUSED DUE TO GASKET LEAK. WILL COST MORE THAN $600 TO GET IT FIXED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT IS AFFECTING MANY NISSAN VEHICLES AND COULD PROVE FATAL IF THE VEHICLE STOPS ON A HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE NISSAN HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THESE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 21, 2008
AS SEEN ON THE INTERNET AT LEAST 50 TIMES. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BLOWN ON #4 CYLINDER, NISSAN REFUSES TO DO A RECALL. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER . *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Dec 11, 2007
I HAVE TWO PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 ALTIMA. ISSUE #1: THE CAR RANDOMLY STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS (0-10MPH) WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2006. THIS PROBLEM RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHICH HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. THERE IS NO PATTERN OR SYMPTOM TO FORECAST WHEN STALLING WILL OCCUR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP (DEALERSHIP AND OTHERS) NUMEROUS TIMES WITH MECHANICS NEVER ABLE TO "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. AFTER SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON A NEW BATTERY, LEAD WIRES, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES, MY NISSAN MECHANIC SAID THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO EXCEPT "THROW PARTS AT IT UNTIL SOMETHING STICKS." ISSUE #2: THE CAR IDLES ROUGHLY AND SHAKES UNLESS IN NEUTRAL. THE SHOP SAID THE PROBLEM IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH IS A $600 REPAIR. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET PROVIDES AN ABUNDANCE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 26, 2007
CAR SHAKING WHILE AT IDLE (STOPPED). PROBABLY CAUSE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AS FACED BY MANY OTHER NISSAN OWNERS. SOME COMPLAINTS REPORTED HEATING OF CAR LEADING TO FIRE. I HAVE NOT FACED FIRE YET BUT WILL NOT TAKE THE CAR TO FAR AS WELL. SINCE MANY PEOPLE FACED THIS, IT MUST BE A NISSAN DESIGN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS A EXPENSIVE FIX AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE PAID FROM THEIR POCKETS FOR A DEFECT WHICH NISSAN HAS INTRODUCED. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 9, 2007
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE AT AROUND 80000 MILES CAUSING ROUGH ENGINE IDLING, ENGINE STALLING, AND AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. FOUND 9 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 4, 2007
IN NOVEMBER 2006, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED (NISSAN ALTIMA 2001) AND I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC FOR SERVICE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE CONDITION IN ONE OF THE ENGINE CYLINDERS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE HEAD GASKET AND VARIOUS ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, A DAY AFTER GETTING THIS FIXED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. IT APPEARS THAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH IS AN EXPENSIVE AND LABOR INTENSIVE JOB. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH NISSAN ALTIMAS MADE AROUND 2001. FOR EXAMPLE, SEE THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/2000/ENGINE/INTAKE_MANIFOLD_GASKET_LEAK_CAR_SHAKES.SHTML COMMON TO NEARLY ALL CASES (EVEN THOSE BROUGHT TO NISSAN DEALERS) IS IT TYPICALLY TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REALIZE THAT THE TRUE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY INTAKE GASKET. BEFORE GETTING IT FIXED THE ENGINE WAS BEGINNING TO GET SHAKY, ESPECIALLY AT IDLE SPEED. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 22, 2006
CAR WAS IDLED ROUGHLY. OFTEN DROPPING TO BELOW 500 RPM AND SHAKING THE ENTIRE CAR. CAR HAD A LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS AND POWER. NISSAN DEALER CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM JUST BY HEARING ME TELL THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE CAR TELLING ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN A LOT OF CARS WITH MY PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR TO TRUSTED MECHANIC AND GOT SAME DIAGNOSIS. HE SAID HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF 2001 ALTIMAS WITH THAT PROBLEM (BLOWN IN EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION OF THE GASKET). PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, REPAIR COST APPROACHED $600. A QUICK SEARCH ON GOOGLE.COM YIELDS SEVERAL FORUMS TALKING ABOUT INTAKE GASKET PROBLEMS WITH 2001 ALTIMAS. THE PROBLEM IS SO WIDESPREAD THAT IT IS MENTION IN THE AUTOS SECTION OF THE MSN SITE. HTTP://AUTOS.MSN.COM/RESEARCH/VIP/RELIABILITY.ASPX?YEAR=2001&MAKE=NISSAN&MODEL=ALTIMA#ENGI HTTP://WWW.FAMILYCAR.COM/BOARDS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?P=344&SID=CC46EF56B5E213FB8DC33FE86106BA57. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Aug 11, 2005
EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAD TO CALL NISSAN HQ BACK BOTH TIMES JUST TO GET AND ANSWER THAT YES IT IS COVERED AND NO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I AM COMPLETELY OVER NISSANS FAULTY WORKMANSHIP. I TOOK MY X IN TO HAVE THE 60K MAINT DONE AND THEY HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME ABOUT MY BRAKES, BUT DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRACKED MANIFOLD. THEY EVEN TOLD ME THAT THEY SAW IT BUT DIDN'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. IF IT WASN'T FROM THE DEALER CHARGING ME FOR OVERFILLING MY TRANS FLUID AND NOT TIGHTENING A TRANS HOSE FITTING, I WOULD HAD DROVE THE THING UNTIL THE NEXT TIME TO CHANGE THE OIL AND NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD OR RAN THE TRANSMISSION DRY. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS MY FAULT FOR NOT KEEPING AN EYE ON IT. I ASKED THE LADY AT HQ'S, IF I HAD TAKEN MY X IN WITH 60K MILES ON IT AND THEY HAD FOUND THE CRACK WOULD IT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY? SHE TOLD ME NO THEN WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN ON 59999K AND IT WOULD HAD BEEN. I HAD TAKEN IT IN PRIOR TO THE 60K TO WHICH THE DEALER DID NOTHING OR NOTED NOTHING. THEN AFTER FINDING THE TRANS FLUID LEAK I TOOK IT BACK IN WHICH WAS ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK IN IT WAS OVER THE 60K. NOW AFTER THE DEALER QUOTED ME 4 DIFFERENT PRICES RANGING FROM 300-1500 DOLLARS ON REPAIRING THE EXACT SAME THING (EXHAUST MANIFOLD). I AM PAYING MORE FOR GAS DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE FROM THE CRACKED/FAULTY MANIFOLD. I CONSTANTLY SMELL EXHAUST DURING TRAVELING(STOPS). AT TIMES IT IS TO THE POINT THAT I MUST KEEP THE WINDOWS OPEN. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, May 20, 2005
DT: WHEN DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE DIES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. O2 SENSOR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER (2), AND FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED, BUT THE CAR STILL DOES THE SAME THING. THE MANUFACTURE IS SUPPOSE TO CALL THE CONSUMER ON MONDAY. THE CAR STALLS OUT EVERYDAY, AND IT'S ALWAYS GOING SLOW WHEN IT HAPPENS.*AK