2002 Nissan Altima Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 39about this part
- Share
- 4%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 39 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2002 Nissan Altima, 4% of the 1,047 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 1 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.
“Doors are locked shut all but one, cannot get them to unlock and when I get them unlocked, they won't latch closed. Will not unlock them even when I attempted manually... I need a solution.”
NHTSA complaint #11395285, filed 2021-02, 134,500 miles“Was driving and the clutch sank to the floor. Couldn't get into gear so I had to pull over. Once I parked my car, the clutch was completely to the floor. Couldn't drive it because the clutch would not get into gear. Waited about 20 mins and it came up 1/4 of the way and was able to get into gear. This only happens in the summer and it happens about once or twice every other week and if it happens while it's parked, the car is inoperable.”
NHTSA complaint #10465822, filed 2012-07, 80,000 miles“I own a 2002 Nissan Altima 3.5 se. Some time last year, when I was at the grocery store, my clutch was all the way down and it wouldn't come back up. I pumped it a couple times and it worked. Then when I was driving yesterday, it just stayed down, I was fighting with it so that I could change gears. This morning, when I was leaving for work, it stayed down and would not come up. I was unable to drive my car.”
NHTSA complaint #10336430, filed 2010-06, 95,978 miles“I have 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 s,my car burn oil like crazy, could make a fire if I didn't keep checking on the oil level, I spent 5 quart just from iowa to minneapolis and for the local drive I need to refill 1 quart of oil every 5-6 days (between office and home which is just 4 minutes driving).”
NHTSA complaint #10229023, filed 2008-05, 100,260 miles“When shifting gears in hot weather after being in city traffic my clutch would only come up approx. 1/4 way from the floor. I was able to carefully shift gears, but felt I may not have the control to shift next time. After the car cooled by driving outside the city, the clutch would return to normal. The dealer failed to reproduce the problem. The clutch fluid was the original. I had the clutch fluid drained and filled, only to still have the same problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10214844, filed 2008-01, 72,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 14% |
| 2024 | 4 | 10% |
| 2023 | 1 | 3% |
| 2022 | 4 | 13% |
| 2021 | 3 | 4% |
| 2020 | 17 | 9% |
| 2019 | 9 | 4% |
| 2018 | 24 | 11% |
| 2017 | 133 | 34% |
| 2016 | 235 | 42% |
| 2015 | 161 | 17% |
| 2014 | 209 | 19% |
| 2013 | 506 | 22% |
| 2012 | 149 | 35% |
| 2011 | 68 | 28% |
| 2010 | 73 | 19% |
| 2009 | 95 | 6% |
| 2008 | 80 | 8% |
| 2007 | 62 | 13% |
| 2006 | 79 | 10% |
| 2005 | 115 | 11% |
| 2004 | 17 | 6% |
| 2003 | 34 | 4% |
| 2002 | 39 | 4% |
| 2001 | 6 | 4% |
| 2000 | 9 | 6% |
| 1999 | 7 | 8% |
| 1998 | 6 | 5% |
| 1997 | 8 | 7% |
| 1996 | 7 | 8% |
| 1995 | 27 | 15% |
| 1994 | 3 | 3% |
| 1993 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2002 Nissan Altima
594 complaintsBody and structure
128 complaintsEngine
92 complaintsElectrical system
77 complaintsFuel system
56 complaintsExterior lighting
41 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsBrakes
29 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 31, 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