Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
" Takata recall " . The car has been giving engine problems but I did not know what it was until I searched it online and I am having the same problem as many complaint on the recall website. The engine while on slow drive or when on a full stop it shuts down without any warning. It has happened to me a couple of times once I was on a highway but there was traffic and my car shut down. Another time I was at a regular city road and I was driving slow looking for parking and the car shut down but thankfully the car behind me was far and I turned my blinkers on, but thankfully no crashes as of yet. Many other times it has shut down on red lights, stop signs anywhere that it has been slow motion. Recently after so long of having these troubles, my car will take forever to turn on. It starts but it makes a weird noise from the engine and it shuts down. …
I have a 2002 Nissan Altima. My passenger headlight had gone out. I took my car to the dealer because I could not figure out how to get to the bulb to replace it. The dealer told me that the backside housing had melted and I needed a new headlight assembly. The dealer told me that the light/bulb reflects off of the back of the headlight assembly and shines out. Apparently, the heat from the light/bulb had gotten so hot it melted the backside housing (where it is grounded). There is no way to tell if this will happen to my other headlight, whether it will happen to my new headlight, or if it will happen to both lights. In my mind, this is a safety issue. Also, I am not the only person who this has happened to (according to two dealers). I am concerned that the bulb could get so hot as to melt something else in the car. …
My 2002 Nissan Altima vehicle was taken in for service at bob bell Chevrolet Nissan, 7900 eastern avenue, baltimore, maryland, 21224, on Thursday, August 2, 2007. It was brought in for servicing of all the vehicles' recalls, a soft grinding noise that could be heard when turning the steering wheel and low freon levels for air conditioning. On Friday afternoon, August 3, 2007 around 5 pm, I was contacted by the service department and strongly advised to pick up the vehicle before the service division closed at 6 pm. The dealership stated that all recalls and issues had been resolved and completed. I picked the vehicle up around 5:45 pm and proceeded to travel home. After only fifteen minutes, the vehicle engine started to smoke profusely. The engine started shaking harder and harder and a loud rattling noise could be heard from within the engine. …
The driver's side headlight went out and the bulb was replaced. Approximately 1 month later, the passenger's side headlight went out and the bulb was replaced. The bulb replacements were done at a local mechanic shop to avoid driving in the dark without a headlight. He charged me $70 to replace each light versus $145 that the dealership was going to charge for each light. About 1 month after the last replacement, the driver's side headlight went out again. I took the car to the dealership to find that the entire headlight fixtures were defective. According to the service advisor, something was melting the base of the light bulb causing them only to last a couple of months before going out again. I was also told that several other vehicles (of the same year, make and model) had been brought in for the same problem, but not enough for a recall. …
Dt*: the contact stated the air bag light on the dash flashed constantly. There is a safety improvement campaign, # 02i001000, regarding the air bag. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the safety improvement campaign; however it is not included in the safety improvement campaign due to the VIN. Updated 4/17/2006 - the vehicle was taken to a dealer who indicated that eh air bag was defective. The dealer refused any assistance because the vehicle was 2000 mile out of warranty. The check engine light illuminated. The dealer found antifreeze leaking into the cylinders. The driver's side low beam headlamp was inop. The tech replaced the right side headlight bulb. Radiator leaked coolant. The heater blew out cool air when the vehicle was stopped. The tech found an air pocket in the coolant system. Replaced clutch assembly. Cylinder head gasket was replaced.
Both the driver side and passenger side halogen headlight would work intermittently before finally going out for good. When I brought the car to the dealer (herb gordon Nissan), I was informed that the back of the halogen headlamp was plastic had the headlamp overheated which melted the plastic back to the headlamp causing the lamp to blow. I was told that no recall has been issued therefore it would not be covered by the dealer. This is clearly a manufactures defect and a recall notice should be issued. It cost me over $700 to replace the entire halogen housing units. I was told the replacement halogen housing unit is now metal and will not melt. This is now the twentieth complaint about this problem. How many complaints will it take before a recall notice is issued?
I too have had problems with front headlights in '02 Nissan Altima. Replaced the driver's side bulb only once; and the passenger side 3 times. Lights will work fine for awhile then intermittently; and then not at all. Contacted the dealership & was told I would need to replace entire light assembly & not just the bulbs because the housing melts. Replacement of assembly without paying the dealership would be difficult (if not impossible) because it requires the removal of the front bumper. If we could repair it ourselves, the cost for the part alone is still $188. This is obviously an issue in the '02's - newer models have been redesigned using metal to address this problem; unfortunately, it has been at the consumer's expense.
Low beam bulb inoperative due to defective ground plate inside right headlight assembly. I replaced the right headlight assembly on aug 15, 2004. On sept 4, 2004, the right low beam light bulb quit working. I took the headlight assembly out and noticed the ground wire going to the low beam bulb had "melted". The old headlight that I replaced also had a "melted" ground wire. This is a possilbe fire hazard. I contacted my local Nissan dealer and was given technical bulletin, classification: el03-008a, reference: ntb03-089a, dated: October 2, 2003. The ground plate costs around $11.00 if you put it in. This is a defect on Nissan's part. They should recall these headlight assembly at their cost.
2002 Nissan atlima customer states since 30,000 miles the check engine light has been on* the consumer was unable to defrost the windows, due to the defroster being inoperative. The consumer stated the vehicle would lose power, so he would have to take his foot off the gas and eventually it would gain speed. The consumer had various repairs made on the vehicle. The catalytic converter was deteriorating, the valve cover gasket was replaced, the headlight was replaced 3 times, the tail light assembly needed to replaced the consumer was told the vehicle needed a new engine after experiencing the stalling and no start problems.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Nissan Altima. Initially, the rear seat belts on both sides of the vehicle would not release on an intermittent basis. Currently, they do not work at all. The dealer has not yet been notified. The front driver and passenger side headlamps dim on their own; however, the instrument control panel show them as being activated. NHTSA campaign id number 073054000 (exterior lighting:headlights) was referenced. The contact received a ticket due to the headlamp failure. The current mileage was 96,791 and failure mileage was 95,000.
Headlight complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2002 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the lights of the 2002 Nissan Altima, 4% of the model year's 1,047 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Nissan Altima headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2002 Nissan Altima, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Nissan Altima headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.