Four problems related to brake disc caliper have been reported for the 2002 Nissan Altima. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Nissan Altima based on all problems reported for the 2002 Altima.
At 2 years of ownership and 37,000 miles my rear brakes have failed completely; calipers, pads, rotors, etc. All need replacement. Front brakes are "ok" for now and only half as worn as the rear brakes. This doesn't seem right to me. Of course, it is not warrantied since it is over the 36,000 miles or 3 years. I have read numerous other complaints from consumers about this happening to them too. I bought my car new in 2002 and have driven mostly highway miles. What, besides defective parts in the first place, would cause this kind of parts failure?.
Rear brake calipers corroded and failed to perform properly. Calipers seized in an applied brake fashion (constant pressure on the rotors). Both rear brakes have subsequently failed to the point where there is no more pad on the brakes, only metal-to-metal contact between the pad base and the rotors. The pads, shims, and rotors have to be replaced. The car is only 1. 5 yrs old, with 35,000 highway miles on it. This is unacceptable. The dealer has indicated that the front brakes are close to the same condition. Dealer/Nissan have indicated that a $200 maintenance visit every 15,ooo miles is required to prevent this. In 150k+, and 190k+ ,miles on 2 of my old hondas (I owned them from day 1) I never had to perform this kind of maintenance, and never had this kind of failure. Same goes for my 2000 Dodge grand caravan (60k+ miles and no problems with front calipers).
2002 Nissan Altima. 1)rear pads + rotors worn at 35,000 miles: replaced at owners cost. Now 83000 miles(may '08): dealer has told rotors and pad need replacement and possibly calipers need to be evaluated. At 75000 mile check everything was ok. (per the service record). In Jan'08 I had specifically asked the breaks to be inspected. Told ok. Now suddenly the rotors are shot. Other than a squeal sound for 2 days no other symptoms. Concerned about how brakes go from fine to shot in 3 months. I think it is a big safety concern if the time it takes breaks to disintegrate is less than a 3 month period. 2) engine not starting after parked in the cold. Happened twice once at 48000 miles. (lower bill. ) 2nd time at 78000 miles. (huge bill ~$1000). Multiple parts replaced and serviced. Highlighted as problem on various forums with this particular Nissan model. Evaluate possibility related to ecm timings etc.
The caliper assembly corroded which caused the brakes to wear prematurely.