2002 NISSAN ALTIMA — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A 2.5 LITER ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY IN MARCH OF 2006 AND AGAIN IN MAY OF 2009. SHE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V084000 ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH HER VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IN 2006, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED AND CHARGED $1,000 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. A RECALL NOTICE IN 2002 DID NOT STATE THAT IT WAS RELATED TO A VIN AT THAT TIME. THE RECALL WAS LATER AMENDED IN 2006 AND 2008 TO PERTAIN TO A SPECIFIC VIN. IN MAY OF 2009, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND BLACK SMOKE AND OIL POURED OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD CONSUMED OIL. THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN AS LONG AS THE OIL DOES NOT LEAK. AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED THIS FREQUENTLY. THE FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE RECENT FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/02/09.*JB