2002 Nissan Altima Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 3%of 1,047 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 Nissan Altima, 3% of the 1,047 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car was hit but not hard enough to make the airbag deploy on the passenger side . It should not be so sensitive .witch made my tcs and ABS lights come on . Just to let you know the car was in motion but from a standstill at a light . Unknown”
NHTSA complaint #11057369, filed 2017-12, 140,459 miles“On extremely cold days (5 degrees f or lower) I have had several instances where the brakes do not stop the car when the car is first driven. The cause is due to apparent malfunction of a check valve in the vacuum line to power brake booster. The pedal remains hard (I.e. - the pedal does not go to the floor). Usually after a few subsequent attempts to brake, the boost function returns and the brakes function normally. …”
NHTSA complaint #10255382, filed 2009-01, 80,000 miles“5/31/2015 at about 9:40pm. There were lines of cars leaving starfire sports in tukwila, wa off of 405 exit 1 because of adult recreational soccer games and the washington state high lchool boys lacrosse championships. When exiting starfire, it was my turn at the stop sign, so I proceeded. After I proceeded, the big black vehicle waiting at the stop sign across from me with the license plate aqg6472 started to turn into me. I slammed on my breaks. He slammed on his breaks and then stared at me. He almost collided with me. …”
NHTSA complaint #10722547, filed 2015-06, 66,000 miles“Ok 3 or 2 week after I brought the car it start running hot the it start to get to the point when it do run hot and I hit the gas the car want go it was like I was trying to make the car go fast but it was going slow so I took it back to the place I brought it from and he didn't do much so I found a mechanic and he ran at test on me and told me that it was some recalls on part of my car and the person head it before me didn't get it done like the cam sensor ,crank sensor and my catalytic converter and a time thing the I took it back to the place I brought it from he said he can do nothing…”
NHTSA complaint #10712541, filed 2015-04, 219,000 miles“Re: 2002 Nissan Altima se. Since approximately 3 years ago, I have been having problems with my brakes. I live in the ne where it gets cold in the winters, and only have this problem when the temp. Is approx. Below 30 degrees. This problem has typically occurred when the car has sat idle all night, but has also happened at other times when it hasn't been driven for a few hours. When first starting the car, the brake pedal is so stiff that I can't press it all the way to the floor - almost like it is frozen. …”
NHTSA complaint #10320184, filed 2010-03, 90,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10192217Jul 23, 2013If YOU CONFIRM: A vehicle needs to have the brake rotors resurfaced (front or rear). ACTION: Use the ProCut PFM Series on-car brake lathe to perform brake rotor resurfacing and…
- 10192216Jul 23, 2013SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 14% |
| 2024 | 5 | 12% |
| 2023 | 4 | 13% |
| 2022 | 5 | 16% |
| 2021 | 21 | 30% |
| 2020 | 18 | 10% |
| 2019 | 30 | 13% |
| 2018 | 49 | 22% |
| 2017 | 19 | 5% |
| 2016 | 11 | 2% |
| 2015 | 26 | 3% |
| 2014 | 28 | 3% |
| 2013 | 58 | 3% |
| 2012 | 20 | 5% |
| 2011 | 12 | 5% |
| 2010 | 32 | 8% |
| 2009 | 47 | 3% |
| 2008 | 93 | 9% |
| 2007 | 70 | 15% |
| 2006 | 26 | 3% |
| 2005 | 37 | 3% |
| 2004 | 10 | 4% |
| 2003 | 12 | 1% |
| 2002 | 29 | 3% |
| 2001 | 7 | 4% |
| 2000 | 12 | 8% |
| 1999 | 15 | 17% |
| 1998 | 14 | 11% |
| 1997 | 9 | 8% |
| 1996 | 5 | 5% |
| 1995 | 10 | 6% |
| 1994 | 4 | 4% |
| 1993 | 6 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2002 Nissan Altima
594 complaintsBody and structure
128 complaintsEngine
92 complaintsElectrical system
77 complaintsFuel system
56 complaintsExterior lighting
41 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
39 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaintsEquipment
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsSteering
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Nissan Altima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology