IllustrationWHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE RESTART FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
2002 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Xterra years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Nissan Xterra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 78.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Xterra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
1825–50K
1350–75K
1475–100K
20100–150K
17150K+
97 reports with mileage · 60 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports7 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
157 reportsI OWNED A NISSAN XTERRA(02)4WD-I DROVE IT TO THE LASSEN NAT'L VOLCANIC PARK IN RED BLUFF,CA,I WAS ABOUT 300 FT FROM HIGHWAY 36 GOING TO THE PARK. IT WAS KIND OF CHILLY AND THE ROAD HAVE SOME SNOW ON IT. I WAS GOING SLOW ABOUT 13 TO 15 MILES, BECAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ROAD, I WAS THINKING I'LL PUT ON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE,B…
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I OWNED A NISSAN XTERRA(02)4WD-I DROVE IT TO THE LASSEN NAT'L VOLCANIC PARK IN RED BLUFF,CA,I WAS ABOUT 300 FT FROM HIGHWAY 36 GOING TO THE PARK. IT WAS KIND OF CHILLY AND THE ROAD HAVE SOME SNOW ON IT. I WAS GOING SLOW ABOUT 13 TO 15 MILES, BECAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ROAD, I WAS THINKING I'LL PUT ON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE,BUT I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND TRANSFER IT TO 4WD-WHEN I STARTED SLIDING TOWARDS THE MOUNTAINSIDE,SO STEPPED ON THE BRAKES(ABS) BUT I KEPT ON SLIDING, I DID NOT STEER IT TO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION,I JUST WENT WHERE THE WAS GOING WHICH IS TO THE RIGHT,THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. IT HIT THE THE MOUNTAIN SIDE TREES AND SNOW THEN IT ROLLED OVER. MY SON AND ME WERE SHAKEN AND I SMELLED THE GAS SO I TURN THE ENGINE, IT STILL RUNNING. WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE SURVIVED THE CRASH- WE WERE WEARING OUR SEAT BELTS, WE GOT SOME BRUISE AN D BUMPS IN OUR HEAD,BUT A WEEK LATER I STILL FEEL ACHES AND PAINS-MY COMPLAINTS ARE THAT WHY DID OUR ABS DID NOT WORK AND THE AIRBAS DID NOT DEPLOY? LUCKY ENOUGH THAT WE WERE NOT ON THE SIDE OF THE OF THE DEEP CANYON WHEN IT HAPPENED. I ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT CAR. *JB
FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW BEGAN TO SLOW DURING RAISING, THEN IT STALLED DOWN AND THE TWO REAR WINDOWS FROZE DOWN ALSO, NO ACTION TAKEN AT THIS TIME. *AK
THE WINDOWS ON THE FRONT AND BACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE GO DOWN AND WILL NOT GO UP. VEHICLE WAS GIVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM 30,000 MILES TO 60,000 MILES AFTER VEHICLE HAD ALREADY 60,000 MILES ON IT. THEREFORE, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS POINTLESS. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO REPAIR THE WINDOWS. *AK
STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. IGNITION CAN BE IN OFF POSITION AND KEYS REMOVED WITH GEAR SHIFTER STILL IN "D" DRIVE. I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS NOT NORMAL UNTIL ON 7/16/2004 THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND IT TOOK APPRX 10 MINUTES OF ADJUSTING WHEEL AND ON/OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE WHEEL TO U…
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STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. IGNITION CAN BE IN OFF POSITION AND KEYS REMOVED WITH GEAR SHIFTER STILL IN "D" DRIVE. I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS NOT NORMAL UNTIL ON 7/16/2004 THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND IT TOOK APPRX 10 MINUTES OF ADJUSTING WHEEL AND ON/OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE WHEEL TO UNLOCK. I THEN READ THE OWNERS MANUAL AND REALIZED I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER STILL IN DRIVE. I HAVE DONE THIS MANY TIMES AFTER THE 2ND OR 3RD I CAONTACTED THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AS I HAD TO ACTUALLY RUN AFTER IT AT A GAS STATION. THE SERVICE REP AT TROPHY NISSAN SAID MY TRUCK WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY WILL LOOK AT IT AND TELL ME HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE, THIS VEHICLE IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND VERY DANGEROUS. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM I DO NOT ALLOW ANY FAMILY MEMBER TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK IN FEAR THEY WILL EITHER RUN OVER THEMSELVES OR INJURY SOMEONE ELSE WHEN THE TRUCK ROLLS AWAY.*AK
RIGHT REAR SHOCK BROKE WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AT 80,000 MILES.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH CONTROL UNIT ON 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. *MR THE SRS LIGHT WOULD COME ON, THE FIRST DEALER REPLACED THE CONTROL PANEL BUT THE SECOND SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE PART WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTOR. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE OF MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES JUST SHUT DOWN AND CAUSED DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING AND BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. *AK I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. IT APPEAR THE DEALER KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM JUST BY SPEAKING TO ME ON THE TELEPHO…
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I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE OF MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES JUST SHUT DOWN AND CAUSED DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING AND BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. *AK I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. IT APPEAR THE DEALER KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM JUST BY SPEAKING TO ME ON THE TELEPHONE. AFTER A DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT WITH THE EXTREME DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE AND AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER XTERRA OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS NOT DOING A PROACTIVE ROLE AND RECALLING THIS PART IF IT IS PRONE TO SUCH FAILURE.
WHEN DRIVING AT A DETERMINED SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED A LOSS OF FUEL ON THE FUEL GAUGE. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL TANK FAILED. *AK
Official recalls
510V554000 · Steering:column
Nov 11, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
04V230000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
May 24, 2004
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SIX CYLINDER ENGINES AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOUR OR SIX CYLINDER ENGINES, THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT CAN DEVELOP A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TERMINAL STRIP TO CORRODE UNDER SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF CORROSION OCCURS, THE TERMINAL STRIP COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP OPERATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: IN THE FOLLOWING STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT. THESE STATES ARE CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THE OTHER STATES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE SENDING UNIT FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE UNIT. IF THERE IS NOT CORROSION, THE DEALER WILL APPLY SEALANT TO THE TERMINAL HOUSING TO HELP PREVENT CORROSION IN THE FUTURE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
03V061000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Feb 27, 2003
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY COME LOOSE. IF THE CONNECTOR COMES LOOSE, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CLOCK SPRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 21, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
02V298000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Nov 12, 2002
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGER, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS FULL THROTTLE IN LOW GEAR WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT FULLY WARMED UP AND AT COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, THE AMOUNT OF INTAKE AIR FLOW THROUGH THE AIR FLOW METER MAY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM PRESET DIAGNOSIS LIMIT VALUE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM TO GO INTO THE FAILSAFE MODE. UNDER THIS CONDITION, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE AND ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT EXCEED 2400 RPM REGARDLESS OF THE THROTTLE POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
02V299000 · Suspension:rear
Nov 12, 2002
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR AXLE HOUSING DUE TO INADEQUATE SEALING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE FOR WATER INTRUSION AND ANY AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. THE ABS SENSOR WILL BE RESEALED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3DP03005 · Brake Rotor Warpage
Opened Jul 11, 2003 · Closed Jul 29, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
MR. KENT JONES OF KERNERSVILLE, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION TO NHTSA BY E-MAIL DATED JULY 1, 2003, REQUESTING NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES.THE PETITIONER ALLEGED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS IN THESE VEHICLES WERE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE ROTORS OVERHEAT AND WARP FROM NORMAL USAGE.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATABASE FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING MY 2001 THROUGH MY 2003 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES IDENTIFIED ONLY TWO REPORTS RELATED TO BRAKE ROTOR WARPING; ONE FOR A MY 2001 AND ONE FOR A MY 2002.THE COMPLAINT FOR THE MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA WAS REPORTED BY THE PETITIONER.BRAKE ROTOR WARPING CAN RESULT IN BRAKE PULSATION AND SHAKING WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED.BRAKE PULSATION, TIRE OR SUSPENSION VIBRATION, AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS ARE AN OBVIOUS ANNOYANCE TO THE DRIVER, BUT GENERALLY DO NOT CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF A VEHICLE.FURTHERMORE, EVEN IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, ANY POTENTIAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WILL BE NEGLIGIBLE. THEREFORE, THIS CONDITION DOES NOT NORMALLY CONSTITUTE A SAFETY DEFECT, EVEN IF IT OCCURS WITH FAR MORE OFTEN FREQUENCY. IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF AN ALLEGED SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER IN THE MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN INVESTIGATION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
EA02020 · Driver's Air Bag System Failure
Opened Aug 29, 2002 · Closed Mar 3, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
IN ITS LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 21, 2003 TO NHTSA, NISSAN STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 27,385 MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 6/12/01 (START OF PRODUCTION) TO 11/1/01 AS WELL AS APPROXIMATELY 37,177 MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 6/13/01 (START OF PRODUCTION) TO 10/25/01.VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER THESE DATES ARE NOT AFFECTED.NISSAN STATED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MAY NOT BE FULLY SECURED TO THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE SQUIB PIN CONNECTOR DUE TO THE RETAINING GROOVE IN THE MODULE NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT DEPTH TO HOLD THE CONNECTOR IN THE ASSEMBLED POSITION.A RETAINING CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE CLOCKSPRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.SEE RECALL 03V-061 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
PE02038 · Driver's Air Bag System Malfunction
Opened Mar 26, 2002 · Closed Aug 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
No summary supplied.