Used 2002 Nissan Altima Consumer Reviews
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Can Look but Can't Drive the Altima
I have owned my Altima for 2.5 years and have had 2 major breakdowns. First off, the catalytic converter went out. This was under factory warranty. Next the fuel pump went out. These are the types of breakdowns that should happen to MUCH OLDER cars. Overall I am pretty unhappy with this car. The interior is cheap, rattles, it has had a LOT of recalls, and breaks down a lot. Overall it is a good looking but if you can't drive it, what good is it? I think this will be my last Nissan.
Great Compromise
Didn't want a big SUV, and didn't want a little 2 seater, but wanted something in between. This fits the requirements very nicely. Fine acceleration and yet very roomy. Has some of the handling capabilities of my previous 2 seater and much of the load carrying ability of my P/U truck. Overall, a good choice, I think.
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $4,999287 mi away
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $4,500398 mi away
- 3.5 SE SedanMSRP: $6,988541 mi away
Loved it, but time to move on?
I bought this car used from a rental company about 5 years ago. It had 37,000 miles and I am very near 110,000 now. Most expensive repair was window switch which was less than $100.00. Just had to replace the sending unit to the transmission yesterday and my mechanic said not to expect more than 25,000 - 30,000 more miles before needing a new transmission. Now trying to decide if I should sell it or spend the $2500 - $3000 on the transmission and hope it lasts me a few more years. Overall this car has been very reliable and I love it. Hope I can find a reliable newer one as my next car!
Happy, Happy
Have only owned the car for a few weeks, but am very impressed with the spunkiness of the 4 cyl and the handling is very nimble. My first 4cyl since college (many years ago) and I'm very happy with it.
SPEED DEMON!!!!
I purchased this car while overseas. It was great gift for myself coming back. I took it instantly on the highways of Southern California. It is great and fun to drive. Passing is a breeze and handling the car at high speeds was also simple. Oh I have to say that its top end speed is the most alluring factor. While on a late night drive on I-15 I hit 140 with pedal to spare.
My 3rd Altima and I love it!!!
I can't believe what I have read, in that the Altima isn't a reliable car?!! I started out with a 1996 (which had over 150,000 miles on it when I traded it), then a 2000 (which I still have) and now my 200404! I travel 23 miles one way to work, to the store, etc etc. I just put Blizzaks on it.I love it!! I wouldn't buy any other car.
2002 Nissan Altima 3.5SE
Excellent power, lots of room front and back for folks over 6 feet tall. I am 6'4" and have plenty of room even behind the driver's seat with the seat positioned for me to drive. Great visibility, good handling. Would handle better if RWD or AWD. Cup holders are not real convenient. Turning radius is not tight. Guages are hard to read in certain lights.
Great car
Up to now the car is excellent. Good price for what you get. Great pasenger space.
Aging quickly
I loved the new car. My first car ever. Had a lot of fun with it but getting pretty tired of it. I had a recall issue with the engine crankshaft when it was 2 yrs old .. spoiled my vacation. The car has failed to start on half a dozen occasions. Lately I've been getting a cylinder misfire. The car also started knocking about 3 months ago so I went back to 87 octane fuel. I've also noticed a lack of power recently. Or maybe its because I am hesitant to push it now because of all the reliability issues. I have 85k on it and hope to get it to 6 digits before letting it go.
Great Car
We bought our car almost as soon as they went on sale. We chose over the Camry and Accord because of its style and driving characteristics. We have had a great experience and after nearly 4 years it still feels like a new car. Great performance from the 4cyl and auto trans. We would definitely buy another one but we don't have to because our 2002 is still so great.
Honest Opinion
Bought the car for my wife in March. She adores it. She loves the way it looks, rides, and, most importantly, accelerates.I have a 2000 V-6 Passat w/ 5 speed and it is not even in the same league as far as horsepower. The VW is far superior in steering, shifting, and workmanship. The Altima is far superior in raw power, sport style handling, looks, and the Bose system rocks! Basically, I adore both cars for different reasons. If you love a stick, all drivers should try both and let your heart decide. Before buying either car with an automatic, please learn to drive a stick and enter the "drivers" world.
Nissa Altima
Love It. This has been my favorite car. I love the power, the style the look. It is a great and wise purchase.
still like new
I bought my 02 Altima S model with moonroof, bose, pwr seat and 5-spd. I LOVE IT. Got rid of the crappy continental tires and put on 18 X 8.5 OZ racing wheels with Sumitomo tires, much better ride now. I haven't had a problem with squeaks, rattles parts breaking or breaking down. Wish I could say the same for the 50K 2003 Navigator I bought. What you get for the price is far more fun than the bland style and performance of the Camry and Accord 4 cyl. My brakes squeal under light stopping but the dealership can't figure out why...oh well, all in all I love it and don't have to pay a grand to get the timing belt replaced at 90K like the honda's :- 0
My first car
Man there is only one thing that i have to say about this car. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got this car after i graduated from high school. I thought that i was gonna get a 2.5S but i got a 3.5Se. The performance in this car is awesome. I can reach 0-60 in like 6.0 Seconds. I remember one day i was on the expressway and i thought i was speeding, i looked down at the speedometer and i was only going 50. This car has great handling and great pick up. I especially love the dual exhaust and the xenons that my car came with. It makes me think that i have a lexus or something. The bose system is great to. The only thing that i want is the navi system but i can deal without it.A great car.
mine
This car is the best, it has good handles on the turns and the design of the inside and outsies is the best.
Don't Buy 02 Altima!
After 2 yrs, my car required a new Cat Converter. Now 42K miles later needs another Cat Converter and has engine problems-cost repair 5K - Nissan & Dealer 24mo/24K warranty on replacement-won't cover now. Although beautiful on the outside, this car is a LEMON. CD player skips when car hits bumps, car is noisey, Paint protector so thin scratches easily, quality tire style limited and difficult to find must buy thru dealer. Battery died,shorted out radio, Southlake dealership said replacement cost $2500. Another dealer pulled radio and replaced back fuse for $20. Don't buy this car! Won't last financing term. 1) Bad Motor; powertrain; paint durability; noisey; tires; sound system overall=LEMON!
Great Buy
I just bought a Pewter color 2.5S and i really like it. The exterior looks very sleak and classy. I got mine with the auto dimming rear-view mirror with temp and compass, incabin microfilter,splash guards, and floor matts. I got it for about 18,400. So far I really like the car. Compared to the Accord, Camry, and Stratus, I think the Nissan Altima was a good choice for me.
Average car.. Awful service
This car has a great engine and very spacious interior. That is where the good things stop. Nissan service departments are awful. Car dead for no reason and dealer has it for 3 days each time with no loaner car offered for me or my family. Still cannot tell me whats wrong. Multiple other small issues. This is the 1st and last Nissan I will buy. Going back to Honda
LOVE IT AT FIRST, BUT THEN.... NOT!
Pros: love the power, handling good, gas is okay (v6. what do you expected), anti-lock breaks, Cons: bad brakes (worn-out quick), highway noise, steering wheel vibration even right after well balancing. "Heat seal" this is a bad and annoying thing i've been dealing with. Nissan is well known about this negative thing, but has yet to come up with a better solution. Would i buy a nissan again? The answer is noooooooooooooo!!!
After a year of ownership...
...I couldn't be happier. The Altima has given me no complaints thus far. The only times I've been in the dealership have been for regular maintenance/oil changes. I love the engine -- plenty of punch for a 4- cylinder -- and the handling is great. And the amount of room in the interior and the trunk is terrific. Sure, they skimped a little on the interior materials, but they spent the money on the right stuff. This car truly is built for drivers!
I'm ready to buy another....
I have a rare five speed. This big (by today's standards) four cylinder sedan easily pulls away from traffic and rides comfortably on the highway. I rent cars often because of frequent travel but when I use the Altima on trips I'm a lot happier. Never happy with the factory tires-when I swapped tires at about 50,000 miles the new Yokohama Avids provided a huge improvement in ride, handling and wet weather safety. Otherwise this is the best car I've ever owned. Brakes, tires, oil changes, normal maintenance, that's it!
Chose Altima over Maxima
Altima: 5 speed; 245 hp; new styling; independent rear suspension; bigger; less expensive; moderate fit/finish interior Maxima: 6 speed; 255 hp; dated styling (makeover pending); beam rear susp.; smaller; more expensive; better fit/finish interior I thought that I got more for my money with the Altima since the performance was equivalent, and there were more pluses with the Altima. BTW, my other car is a 97 Maxima.
Not Exactly Happy
I was really taken aback when I realized how terrible it handled in snow/icy conditions. It slid and slid, and the ABS made huge sounds but never stopped the car. Never felt safe in snowy/icy weather after that. The fabric on the seats attracts so much dog hair and yet our dogs have never even been in the car. And you can't get the hair out. Twice in a year we've had to take it to the dealership because the memory in the computer system goes out and all the radio settings, clock, etc. have to be re-set.
Just Great
This is a great car. A lot of interior room with great handling. I have problems with the heater blower. It makes a whistling sound and have not been able to get it replaced due to shortage in parts. Otherwise ZI love to drive it and take the car everywhere. Better fuel economy on the highway then in the city. Premium gas is a pain but is worth the extra dollars for the performance.
Great Restyle
Great power,room and design
love my new car
We just bought this use car and I have fallen in love with it! It has so much get up and go. It is sharp looking. I drive a lot for work and am so glad I bought this car!
Motors are junk
I will never buy another nissan altima or nothing in nissan the motors are junk and will not hold up i have spent a fortune on this junk pile and i am going to buy another car as soon as possible shame on you nissan for selling junk!
Excellent
Fun car to drive. Beautiful design. No problems at all.
No regrets with my 2002 Altima SE
My Altima has over 17,000 miles now and I enjoy it driving it as much as when I first got it. Living in the suburbs of a major city with plenty of winding roads through the country-side makes this vehicle a pure pleasure to drive. It has great performance, excellent handling and is still gets a lot of looks. The 5-speed manual is the way to go if you're a driving enthusiast.
2nd Gen 1st Yr (2002) Nissan Altima
The 2002 Altima underwent a big design change resulting in many new and some not so improved or appreciated changes.New body is nice, but too low. The interior is appealing and comfortable. The interior lights need to be much brighter, as in the Sentra. The heater in our car has had problems since we got it at 14,000 miles. The car is taken to the service dept at least once a year to make it work as well as my 95 . Nissan PU,so far to no avail. Our car has had several recalls and problems peculiar to 2002 Altimas. Exhaust header replacement recall at 30K mi, muffler recall at 60K mi,front converter selfdestructed at 88K & Killed eng ($3.5K) The 100Kmi $2K warranty was a wise choice. purcased
you need one of these cars!
I just bought my Nissan and i love the way it handles and looks. i was looking for a car that fit me, and i found that in my Altima. I didn't really look at this car until i heard so many good things from co-workers. I'm glad i listened to them because i could not have been more happy with my purchase.
Better than average vehicle
While this car has had many recalls since first purchased it has been a very reliable vehicle. It was my parents before they gave it to me, and as a student, I find it great to own. It's fun to drive, looks nice, and gets average fuel economy. Other than the recalls, I have only had minor issues with the vehicle. I have no complaints. Love it!
Great Buy!!!
2002 Altima, is a maintenance free car, driving 100 miles per day in highways, just change oil every 3K miles and add some coolant fluid, that is all the maintenance needed. Nothing compares very strong engine with tires even better!!
02 Altima
Great car, superior handling, more fun to drive than the Camry (I know, we have one), and looks way better than the new 4-door Accord... although 2- door Accord does look good (but isn't a fair comparison).
Had it for 5 years, still love it.
I'm this car's first owner, and all I've ever had to do was change a battery. Incredible reliability, a fun drive with great cornering, a sharp look (this was the first model year with the redesign), value. This was the first car I bought on my own and it was a solid purchase. I didn't get many fancy options (cloth interior, vinyl) but it still looks quite nice inside.
Velvet Is In All Year!
I purchased my 2.5SL in October '01 (around the time it first came out). Took a test drive and was hooked. It's a beautiful car (Velvet Beige of course). Drives smoothly. Definitely an eyecatcher. Gets a lot of double takes. And the best part about it is -- I look good driving it!
i love my ruby altima
i've had my altima for a year now and nothing but good has come from her. she is my neverending project that i drive everyday.
This is one AWESOME vehicle
I bought a Nissan Altima after owning 3 different SUVs, all 6 cyl. This 4 cyl. Altima outruns everyone of them and they were some pretty expensive SUVs, we are not talking Rodeos here. This vehicle made it to Disneyland, CA from Las Vegas, NV in a little over 3 hours! Incredible.
So reliable
Bought my 3.5 on the internet, sight unseen. Best deal and was lucky to come across it. 2002 w/12000 miles on it, one owner, traded in to same dealer for newer vehicle. Responsive handling, nicely thought out interior features, got 31 mpg driving from Cincinnati to Ft Myers. Never a moment of trouble. I love the sporty look with the spoiler. Bose 6 CD had superb sound. I researched cars for about a year before purchasing. Altima had the biggest trunk in its class, and the most knee room in the backseat. Its fuel efficiency couldn't be beat. It pretty much created its own class. The only reason I got rid of it was to trade it for a 2006 with warranty, but selected same colors! Loved it.
Very Happy!
We got a 2002 2.5 SL with ABS/side airbags, seat warmers, sunroof for $290 a month with $4000 down--a pretty good deal. We leased the car at Quirk, but also spent a lot of time at Frost. Frost was great, but they weren't able to match the price at Quirk. So far (it has been almost a month), we are very pleased with the car. As the other reviews have mentioned, it really does turn heads. It's a peppy drive, and a great buy for the money.
Chris' Nissan
I have had the fully loaded V6 SE altima for about 8 months now & not only do I absolutely love it. but i have gotten so many compliments on the car on a regular basis. With the BOSE 8 speaker 6 CD Indash changer & the power & outstanding handling of the car. i have never had a car that is so much fun to drive
Just bought my new Altima...
I've driven Toyota's exclusively since the age of 16, but instead of another Camry, I bought the Altima this time, and FOR LESS MONEY. I have to say, originally, I wanted it because of the way this car looks. It is super- super. You know? But as far as the nuts and bolts, I find the 4 cyl to be PLENTY zippy, especially over 3500 RPM's when it really kicks in. I'm not wild about the placement of the air vents in the severely slanted dash - too far from my face. But other than that, the interior and exterior of this car are wonderful. That BOSE stereo also makes my rearview mirror vibrate some, but who can really complain about that?
Awesome car for the money
I bought the car a month ago and can't stop enjoying driving it. Considered the accord and camry but altima offers way more for the money (paid 18200). The 4 cilinder offers very lively performance - cruises effortlessly at 85 mph. The design is outstanding. Nissan reliability is awesome(had a 96 altima for 6 years - not a single problem with 95000 miles on the odometer). Yes some plastic detailes have not yet been perfected in the interior but that is expected in the first year with a completely redesigned car. Altima just can't be beat at the price. Test drive one and you will see the difference. Way to go nissan.
Altima
I was really looking for a car to haul a lot of stuff and I looked at the Altima and was compelled!!! The exterior is awesome thuoght the interior is very plasticy and cheap. IMO Nissan should redo the whole interior for all our sakes.
Excellent car
Best new car I have ever owned in fifty years.
Like it
Smooth family sedan lines, hot muscle-car performance. Can tell what brand of auto your driving at a glance. roomy inside, not outside.
I LOVE this car!
Rides nice, and handles exceptionally well...and it looks good too!
Altima
This car is great.It is fun to drive my only complaint is that my brakes are making a squeeking on occasion but otherwise this car is great. It has more standard horsepower than any full size vehicle under 30$cdn. Thank you for your time Shaan
2002 Altima a Winner!!!!
EXCELLENT CAR!!!! LOOKS FABOLOUS AND IS A REAL HEAD TURNER. I GOT AT LEAST 20 compliments the first week I had it. The drivetrain is excellent. The 4 speed performs without flaw. Fun to drive!!!! I got the "plus" package which adds a power sunroof. This feature is a lot of fun. It also adds the alloy wheels which are nice and it adds a couple other amenities.
would i buy another nissan?
Love the looks and performance from the 4 cyl. Car is a little larger than i like.It feels lite on its feet. The interior is nice but could use a little sprucing up. Alot of car for the money and gas mileage is pretty decent. It handles well for its size. When i bought it I compared it to the accord and camry. It had both beat in looks and performance. It just looked like a much more expensive car.