2002 Nissan Altima vs 2002 Nissan Maxima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Nissan Altima | 2002 Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,047 | 205 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 142 | 82 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 29 | 27 |
| Fire reports | 28 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 20–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 90,000 mi | 64,400 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Altima | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 594 | 30 |
| Structure | 128 | 11 |
| Engine | 92 | 19 |
| Electrical System | 77 | 22 |
| Exterior Lighting | 41 | 22 |
| Air Bags | 34 | 29 |
| Power Train | 39 | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 164 | 21 |
| Check engine light | 128 | 11 |
| Oil consumption | 126 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 107 | 8 |
| Overheating | 47 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 32 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 30 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 28 | 0 |
2002 Nissan Altima
2002 Nissan Maxima
Compare all Nissan Altima vs Nissan Maxima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.