FaultScore

2000 Nissan Altima engine problems

55 of the 199 complaints about the 2000 Nissan Altima are about the engine — 28% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 84,206 miles.

F

55

Complaints

2

Crashes

3

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine AND Engine Cooling 19 34.5%
Engine 10 18.2%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 8 14.5%
Gasoline 5 9.1%
Exhaust System 4 7.3%
Engine 4 7.3%
Cooling System 3 5.5%
GAS Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 1 1.8%
Emission Control 1 1.8%

Engine & Cooling across every Nissan Altima year

1993 18 0.5%
1994 14 0.4%
1995 30 0.9%
1996 10 0.3%
1998 14 0.4%
2000 55 1.6%
2001 68 2.0%
2002 752 21.9%
2003 591 17.2%
2004 142 4.1%
2005 407 11.8%
2006 358 10.4%
2007 76 2.2%
2008 75 2.2%
2009 118 3.4%
2010 54 1.6%
2011 43 1.2%
2012 72 2.1%
2013 166 4.8%
2014 80 2.3%
2015 66 1.9%
2016 86 2.5%
2017 40 1.2%
2018 13 0.4%
2019 55 1.6%
2020 38 1.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 80,000 miles Parker, CO Crash 1 injured

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. GOT. REARENDED I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. BROKEN SPINE. CAR WAS DESTROYED ONLY THING LEFT WAS WERE I WAS SITTING. AND THE PASSENGER SEAT. NOW NISSAN MURANO 2005 HAS FAULTY AIRBAG TOO. LIGHT ON AND FLASHING. VEHICLE. RENDERED UNSAFE TO OPERATE VEHICLE. NISSAN HAS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AIRBAGS AND WONT HELP CONSUMERS FIX THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10693746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,345 miles NEW Albany, IN

ENGINE

WENT OUT FOR DINNER AND NOTICED NOTHING UNUSUAL. ON THE WAY HOME, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THEN, 200 YARDS FROM HOME, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND ENGINE ROUGHNESS INCREASED TO SHAKING. CODES READ: "KNOCK" AND "CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE". IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ON ONE OF THE BRIDGES THAT WE FREQUENTLY USE, MY WIFE AND I BOTH WOULD PROBABLY BE SEVERELY INJURED, IF NOT DEAD! THE ONSET WAS RAPID! GUESS I WAS NOT LUCKY ENOUGH TO ESCAPE THIS MUCH-STONEWALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT ONLY FROM THE MULTITUDE OF ONLINE INFORMATION. UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME, IT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED TO CHECK INTO IT, WITH NO COMMUNICATION FROM NISSAN. MAINTENANCE AND ALL FLUIDS ARE UP-TO-SNUFF.

NHTSA complaint #10567804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles ST. Petersburg, FL Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS ALMOST AT MAX. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND THERE WAS NO COOLANT. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE OVER HEATED CAUSING THE ENGINE BLOCK TO CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #10478121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Downers Grove, IL

ENGINE

MY 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA IDLES ROUGH AND THE ENGINE SHAKES. MY MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID CYLINDER 4 WAS MISFIRING AND THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT WAS TO CHANGE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE PRICE: $1500. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE I SEE THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM 98-01 ALTIMA OWNERS. THE MECHANIC, SAID THIS WAS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. HE ALSO SAID CHANGING THE GASKET WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T NISSAN FORCED TO RECALL THIS ISSUE? SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO THEIR JOB AND LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10461178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gastonia, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10457162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Canton, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 2 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10453766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,741 miles Pisgah Forest, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FREEZES INDICATIONS FOR LONG PERIODS INTERMITTENTLY. ODOMETER, TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, ENGINE TEMPERATURE ALL FREEZE AT WHAT THEY WERE READING. THIS HAS BEEN A REPETITIVE, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRUE ENGINE TEMPERATURE READING, CAR WAS DRIVEN TO OVERHEATING. WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, BLOWING UP THE RADIATOR AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10432974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Sikeston, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2000 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE, REPLACE GASKET ON INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10384693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Baltimore, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AFTER 30,000 MILES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED APRIL 2007. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE YEARS LATER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AGAIN AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 91,351.

NHTSA complaint #10364972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,500 miles Windsor Mill, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STOPPING, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND MADE A VIBRATING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT VACUUM PRESSURE CAUSED THE MANIFOLD TO MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,500. UPDATED 11/22/11

NHTSA complaint #10363500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Eaton Town, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED ODI NUMBER 10145161(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) IS THE SAME AS HIS FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 81,000.

NHTSA complaint #10325703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Panorama City, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

2000 NISSAN ALTIMA GASKET MANIFOLD INTAKE*CW THE CONSUMER STATED HE FIRST DISCOVERED A PROBLEM WHEN HE TOOK OFF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND CHECKED THE CONDITION OF THE GASKET. THE SIDE WITH THE LEAK WAS AT CYLINDER 4. IT WAS HARD AND BRITTLE AND COULD CRACK AND SNAP VERY EASILY. THE CLOSER THE GASKET WAS TO THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER IT REMAINED MORE PLIABLE AND WOULD HAVE MORE FLEX INSTEAD OF JUST CRACKING LIKE HARD PLASTIC. OBVIOUSLY, THE GASKET SEEMED TO HOLD UP BETTER WHEN IT WAS CLOSER TO THE CYLINDER 1 BECAUSE IT WAS COOLER THERE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE GASKET WAS BEING EXPOSED TO MORE HEAT THAN IT WAS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND.

NHTSA complaint #10315435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Roslyn, PA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THIS MORNING THE CAR WAS WARMING UP IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE ; IT EXPLODED AND BURNED DOWN; THE FRONT IS COMPLETELY MELTED; WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE ENTERED THE CAR YET - FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND MANAGED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE IT REACHED THE TANK - OTHER WISE WE WOULD ALL BE DEAD AND OUR HOUSE GONE.

NHTSA complaint #10295590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Abington, PA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

OUR NISSAN ALTIMA GLE 2000 CAUGHT ON FIRE - ENGINE EXPLODED AND THE FULL FRONT OF THE CAR IS MELTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT MANAGED TO PUT OUT THE HUGE FIRE BEFORE IT REACHED THE GAS TANK OTHERWISE OUR HOUSE WOULD NOT EXIST ANYMORE. AND WE WOULD ALL BE DEAD. AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION WE HAD NOT ENTERED THE CAR THAT WAS WARMING UP IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVESTIGATING. I CAN SEND YOU PICTURES.

NHTSA complaint #10295281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Tioga, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT HAS OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT THAT JERKS AND SHAKES DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. HAVE HAD SEVERAL DIAGNOSTICS CHECKS DONE AND HAVE REPLACED ALL EXTERNAL PARTS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER TO NOT FIRE CORRECTLY AND BELIEVE THAT IT IS PROBABLY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #10292263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,000 miles Acworth, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING IDLE TO FLUCTUATE, INTERMITTENT STALLING 2000 ALTIMA WITH 57,000 MILES, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT DUE TO THE EGR PIPE RUNNING TO CLOSE TO CYLINDER 4 AREA OF THE MANIFOLD. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL ALTIMAS 1998-2001. NISSAN SHOULD REPAIR AS RECALL, THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALLING. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND NISSAN SHOULD HONOR ALL THE REPAIR COSTS TO ALL AFFECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10290251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Holland, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2000 NISSAN ALTIMA, CAR IDLES ROUGHLY AND VIOLENTLY SHAKES AS IF IT WERE ABOUT TO STALL CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK EVEN WITH THE BRAKES ON. THE CAR HAS BECOME SO BEAT-UP BY THIS, IT NO LONGER HAS ANY POWER TO IT. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AVERAGING 800 DOLLARS IN REPAIR. BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THIS MONEY, I CAN'T FIX MY CAR MEANING I CAN'T GET TO CLASS, NOR GET TO WORK TO MAKE MONEY. WEBSITES SUCH AS THIS (HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/2000/ENGINE/INTAKE_MANIFOLD_GASKET_LEAK_CAR_SHAKES.SHTML) SHOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN SHOULD BE HONORING A DEFECT SUCH AS THIS INSTEAD OF RAKING THE MONEY.

NHTSA complaint #10289393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,412 miles Chicago, IL Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE GAUGES ALL GO DEAD IN THE DASH ON MY 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THIS IS REALLY VERY SCARY AS I HAVE REALLY NO IDEA HOW FAST I'M GOING AND JUST TRY AND GO WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENS. LIVING IN A VERY BUSY CITY AND TAKING THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN NECESSARY POSES A THREAT TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR COOL AND THEN COMPLETE MY TRIP SO AS TO HAVE WORKING GAUGES. NO NISSAN DEALER OR MECHANIC HAS BEEN ABLE TO OFFER A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND BASED ON MY RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH NISSAN. ALSO, THE O2 SENSORS AND THE GASKETS ARE BAD ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10273677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Hampstead, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA IDLES ROUGH AND SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS COUGHING. MY MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID CYLINDER 4 WAS MISFIRING AND THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT WAS TO CHANGE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE PRICE: $1200. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE I SEE THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM 98-01 ALTIMA OWNERS. THE MECHANIC, WHO WORKS FOR NISSAN, SAID THIS WAS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. HE ALSO SAID CHANGING THE GASKET WILL FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE GASKET WILL LEAK AGAIN AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OR SO. WHY ISN'T NISSAN FORCED TO RECALL THIS ISSUE? SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO THEIR JOB AND LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10261680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Somerville, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AT 90K MILES, THE ENGINE IS LOUDER AND VIBRATES DURING ACCELERATION AND WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. THERE IS MOTOR OIL CONSTANTLY LEAKING FROM THE MANIFOLD GASKET. ALL SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND OIL CHANGED, BUT THIS DIDN'T HELP. IT IS MOST LIKELY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET OR SOME OTHER GASKET UNDER THE MANIFOLD COVER.

NHTSA complaint #10260384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Redlands, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I OWN A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA GLE, AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHAT MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING. MY CAR IDLES VERY ROUGH, AND IT IS STEMMING FROM AN ISSUE THAT NISSAN WILL NOT OWN UP TO. THERE ARE OVER 500 REPORTED CASES WITH THE SAME ISSUE, AS WELL AS CASES REPORTED DIRECTLY TO YOUR ATTENTION. AND YET, THERE IS NO RECALL. YOU CAN CHECK YOU RECORDS FOR THE SAME ISSUE IF YOU WOULD LIKE: #10167168 #10145161 #10100639 #10163901 I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE PLEASE, AND THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10259617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,500 miles Centereach, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. CAR CONSTANTLY JERKS WHEN IDLING AND SOMETIMES CUTS OUT. SPENT $55 ON A SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TEST. INTAKE VALVE GASKET FAILURE. CAUSING IDLE TO FLUCTUATE, INTERMITTENT STALLING 2000 ALTIMA WITH 37500 MILES, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT DUE TO THE EGR PIPE RUNNING TO CLOSE TO CYLINDER 4 AREA OF THE MANIFOLD. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL ALTIMAS 1998-2001. NISSAN SHOULD REPAIR AS RECALL, THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALLING. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. REPAIRS ARE EST. AT $850.00. ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN ADVISOR THE LIFETIME OF THE GASKET SHOULD EXCEED 100000 MILES. NISSAN HAS A PROGRAM TO CORRECT ANY UNUSUAL DEFECTS AFTER THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THEIR AGREEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10259551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Monroe, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON 2000 ALTIMA GXE . CYLINDER #4 MIS-FIRE. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SAME AS ISSUE #'S : #10167168 #10145161 #10100639 #10163901.

NHTSA complaint #10254978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverdale, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

ENGINE SHAKING WHILE IDLING, MISFIRE IN MUFFLER, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT 130K. REPLACED SPARK PLUG SYSTEM AT A COST OF $500 AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DUE TO #4 CYLINDER MALFUNCTION AT $400. BASED ON COMMENTS ON THE DISCUSSION BOARDS, AGREE THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON NISSAN DEFECT WHICH SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. WOULD LIKE TO SEE NISSAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10250927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,669 miles LOS Angeles, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

2000 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE HAS A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. MY CAR SHAKES WHILE IDLE AND THE RPMS GAUGE MOVES UP AND DOWN WHILE IDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, KNOCK SENSOR. AFTER THAT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS LATER. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER AND THEY NOW SAY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT A DIFFERENT REASON EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALER TO FIX. WILL LITTLE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COSTLY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR CONSUMERS THAT ARE BEING RIPPED OFF BY THE NISSAN CORPORATION?

NHTSA complaint #10248673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 185,000 miles Houma, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

OKAY I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL WITH NISSAN AND THEIR RECALLS, BUT THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE A RECALL ON THE 2000 ALTIMA INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MY CAR STARTED IDLING AT VARYING RPMS UNDER 1 GRAND AND STARTED VIBRATING IN A STRANGE WAY. WHEN I GIVE MY ALTIMA SOME GAS TO TAKE OFF, IT COMES TO THE VERGE OF STALLING. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND READ A FEW HUNDRED SEPARATE CASES WHERE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ERROR WHERE NISSAN HAS PLACED THE EGR PIPE TOO CLOSE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, CAUSING IT TO HEAT UP AND EVENTUALLY LEAK. NUMEROUS CONSUMERS ARE PAYING NEARLY $1000 TO CORRECT THIS MISTAKE THAT NISSAN ENGINEERS HAVE CREATED ON COUNTLESS CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ENGINEERING PROBLEM ON NISSAN'S PART AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10236885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Topkea, KS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAR WOULD IDLE VERY ROUGH AND NEARLY DIE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED ($900.00).

NHTSA complaint #10233081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Simpsonville, SC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

A LONG TIME AGO I STARTED HEARING SOME RATTLING SORT OF NOISE IN THE FRONT. TOOK IT TO CARMAX, AS I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE BELT AND CHARGED ME $80 SINCE BELTS AREN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM DIDN'T REALLY GO AWAY AND ONLY GOT WORSE. AROUND 89,000 MILES IT BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN IDLING AND THE NOISE WAS WORSE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. MY HUSBAND FOUND THE INFO ON THIS SITE, I PRINTED IT OUT AND TOOK IT TO CARMAX AND TOLD THEM TO FIX MY MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET! THEY WOULDN'T REFUND MY $80 FROM THE FIRST VISIT, NOR WOULD THE PAY ME $80 FOR DIAGNOSING IT MYSELF. HA. OH WELL. THEY DID $600 WORTH OF REPAIRS, WHICH WAS MOSTLY COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH EXPIRES AT 92,500 MILES). THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD ALSO CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF MY SPARK PLUGS, HOWEVER, AND THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THAT. BASED ON MY ONLINE RESEARCH, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS DUE TO HEAT AROUND THE CYLINDER 4 AREA FROM THE EGR PIPE WHICH BAKES THE GASKET INTO LEAKING AND THAT EVEN THOUGH I GOT IT FIXED THIS TIME, IT WILL LIKELY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. SEE #10167168 #10145161 #10100639 #10163901 ALSO, SEE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM WHERE YOU WILL FIND 36 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10228587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Philipsburg, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND SHAKING AT IDLE. WAS CONCERNED CAR COULD STALL OUT IN AN INTERSECTION. TOOK TO SHOP, VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED TO HAVE A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE (2000 NISSAN ALTIMA). GASKET IS BEING REPLACED. PART IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE, BUT REPAIR IS LABOR INTENSIVE' RUNNING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS SUCH A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG ALTIMA OWNERS.

NHTSA complaint #10224667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Washington Township, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS BEING REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON MY 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE FIRST TIME WAS AROUND 60,000 MILES, THIS TIME AROUND 110,000. THE FIRST TIME I GOT IT REPAIRED BY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THIS TIME I WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SINCE NISSAN WANTED $97 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AFTER DOING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE WAY IT WAS BUILT. IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? THEIR MISTAKE IS COSTING ME ALOT OF MONEY.

NHTSA complaint #10224105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2000 Nissan Altima problems

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