Nissan Altima 2002–2006
3rd generation (L31)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20265,161 complaints, 4,056 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,000 and 116,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 85 complaints (2.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 20,000
- 25%
- 55,000
- Median
- 86,000
- 75%
- 116,000
- 90%
- 148,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 223 | 5.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 63 | 1.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 58 | 1.4% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 59 | 1.5% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 52 | 1.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 37 | 0.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 95 | 2.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 63 | 1.6% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 92 | 2.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 114 | 2.8% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 135 | 3.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 124 | 3.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 148 | 3.6% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 160 | 3.9% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 177 | 4.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 164 | 4.0% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 174 | 4.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 224 | 5.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 203 | 5.0% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 193 | 4.8% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 180 | 4.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 121 | 3.0% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 138 | 3.4% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 119 | 2.9% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 123 | 3.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 97 | 2.4% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 118 | 2.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 77 | 1.9% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 72 | 1.8% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 72 | 1.8% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 80 | 2.0% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 32 | 0.8% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 32 | 0.8% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 37 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 35 | 0.9% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 21 | 0.5% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 26 | 0.6% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 11 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 12 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 10 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 85 | 2.1% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 5,161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002–2006 Nissan Altima, and 4,056 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,000 and 116,000 miles. The median is 86,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine and its cooling system (33.0% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), body structure (17.0% of complaints, typically around 102,000 miles), the engine (10.6% of complaints, typically around 109,000 miles).
What fails, and when
- Engine and its cooling system80,000median 80,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 100,000
- Body structure102,000median 102,000 miles, middle half 81,000 to 130,000
- Engine109,000median 108,635 miles, middle half 81,000 to 146,000
- Electrical system68,000median 67,945 miles, middle half 41,000 to 112,000
- Transmission and driveline61,000median 61,494 miles, middle half 32,000 to 101,000
- Problems owners could not categorise109,000median 109,000 miles, middle half 81,000 to 140,000
- Airbag system80,000median 80,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 118,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and its cooling system | 1,704 | 33.0% | 80,000 | 55,000–100,000 |
| Body structure | 878 | 17.0% | 102,000 | 81,000–130,000 |
| Engine | 546 | 10.6% | 109,000 | 81,000–146,000 |
| Electrical system | 371 | 7.2% | 68,000 | 41,000–112,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 291 | 5.6% | 61,000 | 32,000–101,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 181 | 3.5% | 109,000 | 81,000–140,000 |
| Airbag system | 167 | 3.2% | 80,000 | 50,000–118,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 136 | 2.6% | 74,000 | 40,000–109,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 103 | 2.0% | 30,000 | 16,000–80,000 |
| Fuel system | 91 | 1.8% | 57,000 | 18,000–87,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 86,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 33.0% of complaints (1,704 reports, 1,429 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 100,000 miles.
A single system taking 33.0% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Body structure accounts for 17.0% of complaints (878 reports, 715 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 102,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,000 and 130,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 10.6% of complaints (546 reports, 455 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 108,635 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,000 and 146,315 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.2% of complaints (371 reports, 276 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,945 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 111,590 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.6% of complaints (291 reports, 236 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 61,494 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 31,500 and 101,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 3.5% of complaints (181 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 109,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 80,600 and 140,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2005 model year drew the most — 1,364 complaints — while 2004 drew the fewest at 334. The median year sits at 1,099.
Recalls and what they cover
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Reported severity
Of the 5,161 complaints filed against this generation, 249 reported a crash; 105 reported a fire; 258 reported an injury; 2 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 55,000 and 116,000 miles, with a median of 86,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and its cooling system and body structure are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine and its cooling system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 80,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine (2.5l Qr25de) 2002–2006
Pre-catalyst substrate breaks down and ceramic particles are drawn back into the cylinders through the exhaust valves, scoring bores and causing runaway oil consumption and eventual engine failure. Nissan extended emissions warranty coverage on affected cars.
Engine (2.5l Qr25de) 2002–2004
Head gasket failure, often after the pre-cat/oil-consumption sequence above.
Engine Management 2002–2006
Crankshaft position sensor and camshaft position sensor failures causing stall-while-driving; a large NHTSA complaint cluster.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,321 | 1,005 |
| 2003 | 1,099 | 881 |
| 2004 | 334 | 267 |
| 2005 | 1,364 | 1,105 |
| 2006 | 1,043 | 798 |
What owners reported
At any speed, my speedometer shows a different speed than my actual speed. My actual speed has been verified by radar, gps, mile markers and traveling along side another vehicle with an accurate speedometer (based on gps and radar). Where my speedometer is showing less than my actual speed, i am subject to make…
2002 · 17 miles · Throttle and speed control
Nissan Altima 4 door. My daughter [xxx]. While driving the vehicle ignition switch, oil, cooling, coil pack cause a major crash, totaling a complete wreckage. [Xxx] sustained, serious medical attention, taken to the hospital by ambulance. I started a series of complaints which Nissan failed to comment or…
2002 · 18 miles · Electronic stability control (esc)
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. The air conditioning system will not circulate heat. Also after service the oil and antifreeze levels depletes prematurely. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and she was advised that the catalytic converter and the engine coil needed to be replaced. A representative from…
2002 · 21 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Built from 4,056 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page