VehicleVerdict

2002 Nissan Altima fuel system problems

The 2002 Nissan Altima has 57 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 4% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

57

Fuel System complaints

4%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

Related recalls

03V251000Fuel SystemJuly 14, 2003 · 377,000 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. AT EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, MOISTURE IN THE FUEL TANK COULD FREEZE AND FORM ICE CRYSTALS. THESE ICE CRYSTALS MAY OBSTRUCT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP.

Consequence

THIS CAN PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SCREEN AT THE SUCTION OPENING OF THE FUEL PUMP TO PREVENT ICE CRYSTALS FROM BLOCKING THE OPENING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-333-0829.

What owners report

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. UNIT #1 WAS WESTBOUND ON IR80 IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. UNIT #1 PULLED TO THE RIGHT BERM AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. *LN ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE BURNT WIRES WERE TRACED TO THE FUEL INJECTION. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0425-90)

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · June 16, 2011 · fire

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2002 Nissan Altima have?

NHTSA has 57 complaints about the 2002 Nissan Altima fuel system — 4% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2002 Nissan Altima fuel system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the fuel system: 03V251000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.