Nissan Altima L31 (2002–2006)

Nissan Altima L31 (2002–2006) — production years, market prices by model year, NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, and live listings for sale on VehiSales.

Nissan Altima — body generations

Vehicles within one generation share the same platform and body style.

Engines used in the Altima

Engine families this model shipped with, by NHTSA VIN build data — each links to every model that shares it.

About this generation

The third-generation Altima (chassis model L31) debuted in 2001 for the 2002 model year. It was the first mass-market product built on Nissan's new FF-L platform, which was unique to North America and had no equivalent model in Japan. The Asian Nissan Teana is similar but not quite identical, designed for Asian market requirements; all three model lines shared the same platform. The Altima grew significantly for this generation, as interior volume expanded.

The Altima's interior dimensions even surpassed that of the higher-end 2000–03 Maxima, so the 2004 Maxima was moved more upscale into the full-size bracket. Also, the biggest in class was the Altima's fuel tank. Additionally, the Altima upgraded its rear suspension to a multi-link type and its brakes to 4-wheel discs. This was the first generation to offer a V6 engine. 2003–2004 models received two-tone dash color, and the 3.5 SE received an upgrade in horsepower, from, though torque stayed the same.

2002–2004 models with manual gearbox were the lightest of the V6 (4DR) cars. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine accelerated the sedan from 0– in 8.6 seconds. The 2005 Nissan Altima received a facelift, including a new front grille, all-red tail lights, redesigned interior, and an optional DVD-based navigation system. The V6 was now rated at with torque rated, and a 0–60  mph (97  km/h) time of 6.2 seconds utilizing the 5-speed automatic transmission.

Also new was the SE-R model with a and of torque version of the V6, a 6-speed manual transmission (automatic still optional), upgraded brakes, 18-inch wheels, a suspension even stiffer than that of the 3.5 SE's, and a high-flow exhaust. Car and Driver tested the SE-R resulting in 0– in 6.1 seconds. MotorWeek episode 2432 tested a SE-R equipped with an automatic transmission that produced a 0–60  mph time of 5.8 seconds.

The third-generation Altima was well received by the press, with many critics praising the new style and extra space, being one of the most powerful and best-handling family sedans available. As the Altima offered the performance and space of the upper-market Maxima in a less expensive car, this significantly reduced Maxima sales but made Nissan competitive in the mid-size segment for the first time. While previous iterations received decent reviews, the third-generation Altima was the first to enjoy considerable success, and it was credited with a turnaround of Nissan's operations from debt-ridden to among the industry's most profitable.

Most of the criticism centered on the interior found in the 2002–2004 models, which were cited for using hard and brittle plastics. Some also found the steering too light and or abrupt, and the turning circle too wide due to its elongated wheelbase. The 2002 2.5-liter Altimas had major excessive oil consumption issues causing potential catastrophic engine failures. Some cases were because of owner neglect and other cases involving the catalytic converter failing, forcing foreign objects back into the exhaust manifold.

Most reports were received after the vehicle is beyond 100,000 miles and more than eight years old (beyond any warranties) and most of the reports had only to do with the 2002–2003 model ranges. In April 2015, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of all Nissan Altima owners of 2002 through 2006 model years. The lawsuit originally alleged that Nissan manufactured those model years with defective floorboards on both the driver and passenger side of the vehicle but was dismissed by a judge in January 2016.

The resulting premature rust was extensive and generally happened out of warranty. The real cause was that the front mudguards were not high enough and there was no stone guard applied to the metal plates underneath the vehicle. Other car models from other car manufacturers have also experienced the same problem to a lesser extent.

Source: Wikipedia — Nissan Altima — Third generation (L31; 2001), CC BY-SA.

Recalls & complaints by year (NHTSA)

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

For sale right now

• 2003 Nissan Altima 25 s — $7,999 · 58,433 mi · Easton, PA