3rd generation (L31) · L31 · 5,161 complaints, 4,056 with mileage
Owners filed 5,161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002–2006 Nissan Altima, and 4,056 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,000 and 116,000 miles. The median is 86,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine and its cooling system (33.0% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), body structure (17.0% of complaints, typically around 102,000 miles), the engine (10.6% of complaints, typically around 108,635 miles).
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1,704 | 33.0% | 80,000 | 55,000–100,000 |
| Structure | 878 | 17.0% | 102,000 | 81,000–130,000 |
| Engine | 546 | 10.6% | 108,635 | 81,000–146,315 |
| Electrical System | 371 | 7.2% | 67,945 | 41,000–111,590 |
| Power Train | 291 | 5.6% | 61,494 | 31,500–101,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 181 | 3.5% | 109,000 | 80,600–140,000 |
| Air Bags | 167 | 3.2% | 80,000 | 50,000–118,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 136 | 2.6% | 74,000 | 40,000–109,306 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 103 | 2.0% | 30,000 | 15,589–80,000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 91 | 1.8% | 56,761 | 18,000–87,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,321 | 1,005 |
| 2003 | 1,099 | 881 |
| 2004 | 334 | 267 |
| 2005 | 1,364 | 1,105 |
| 2006 | 1,043 | 798 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 86,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 33.0% of complaints (1,704 reports, 1,429 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 100,000 miles.
A single system taking 33.0% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Body structure accounts for 17.0% of complaints (878 reports, 715 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 102,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,000 and 130,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 10.6% of complaints (546 reports, 455 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 108,635 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,000 and 146,315 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.2% of complaints (371 reports, 276 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,945 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 111,590 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.6% of complaints (291 reports, 236 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 61,494 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 31,500 and 101,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 3.5% of complaints (181 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 109,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 80,600 and 140,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2005 model year drew the most — 1,364 complaints — while 2004 drew the fewest at 334. The median year sits at 1,099.
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Of the 5,161 complaints filed against this generation, 249 reported a crash; 105 reported a fire; 258 reported an injury; 2 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 55,000 and 116,000 miles, with a median of 86,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and its cooling system and body structure are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine and its cooling system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 80,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Pre-catalyst substrate breaks down and ceramic particles are drawn back into the cylinders through the exhaust valves, scoring bores and causing runaway oil consumption and eventual engine failure. Nissan extended emissions warranty coverage on affected cars.
Head gasket failure, often after the pre-cat/oil-consumption sequence above.
Crankshaft position sensor and camshaft position sensor failures causing stall-while-driving; a large NHTSA complaint cluster.