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Nissan Altima L31

2002–2006 · L31 · sedan

Third-generation Altima, sold in the US 2002-2006. First Altima built on the Nissan FF-L platform, and the generation that moved the nameplate from compact-adjacent into true midsize. 2.5L QR25DE I4 (around 175 hp) was the volume engine; 3.5L VQ35DE V6 (around 240-265 hp) was the SE-R / 3.5 SE option, available with a 6-speed manual. FWD only. Built in Smyrna, TN.

Watch out: QR25DE oil consumption and precat failure are the dominant durability issues on the I4 cars and are well-documented in NHTSA complaint records, forum threads, and shop notes. The factory upstream catalytic converter can shed material that gets ingested back through the cylinders, accelerating ring and bore wear. Owner reports of resulting low compression and burning oil are common at high mileage. VQ35DE cars are mechanically more durable but timing chain stretch shows up at very high mileage. Pre-purchase: check oil level against the dipstick (low is bad), run a compression test on the I4, and verify the precat has been deleted or replaced.