2002 Nissan Altima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1321 complaints
1321
Total Complaints
87,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Top Issue
41
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

60,770 25th Percentile
87,000 Median Mileage
112,254 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
229
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
164
STRUCTURE:BODY
92
ENGINE
92
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
91
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
69
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
48
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
48
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
33
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
23

Severity Assessment

41
Crashes
43
Fires
48
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS LACKING A STICKER WHICH SHOWS THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE TO BE MAINTAINED. *YH"
"AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF - DEALER ORDERS NEW AIRBAG MODULE AND COMBINATION MUST BE REPLACED. HAS HAPPENED AT 600 MILE AND AGAIN AT 3700 MILES , STILL NOT REPAIRED- PARTS ARE ON NATION WIDE BACK ORDER - MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR: IGNITION NOISE AND STATIC IN RADIO FROM COILS. *AK"
"AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF - DEALER ORDERS NEW AIRBAG MODULE AND COMBINATION MUST BE REPLACED. HAS HAPPENED AT 600 MILE AND AGAIN AT 3700 MILES , STILL NOT REPAIRED- PARTS ARE ON NATION WIDE BACK ORDER - MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR: IGNITION NOISE AND STATIC IN RADIO FROM COILS. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28