2002 Nissan XTERRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
157 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 97 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 157 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 25.5% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 13.4% |
| Engine operation | 19 | 12.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 18 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
Steering: 18; Air Bags: 12; Unknown Or Other: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Engine: 8; Service Brakes: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 17
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 60 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 19; 2003: 31; 2004: 12; 2005: 15; 2006: 6; 2007: 4; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2011: 12; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 9; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 4; 2021: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002913 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
NISSAN DEALER NEAR MALL OF GEORGIA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOT BE ABLE TO ORDER REPAIR KIT FOR NISSAN XTERRA 2002 TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF ABS WARNING LIGHT STAY ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005933 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016498 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2001. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT THE PACIFIC NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WENT ON AN OUTING ON EASTER SUNDAY. WHILE AT LUNCH, 5-15 MINUTES GO BUY AND A PERSON INQUIRES ABOUT A PARKED XTERRA ON FIRE. TO MY WIFE'S HORROR IT WAS OUR XTERRA WITH THE WIDOWS UP AND FLAMES/SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH/STEERING COLUMN AREA. MY INSURANCE AND THE FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINED THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/ARCHING AND NO OTHER APPARENT SOURCES OF IGN…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021209 · 2003-06-07 (June 7, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STARTING. FIRST PROBLEM CAR DIED JUST AFTER STARTING. ODOMETER TRIP AND A @ B HAD BEEN SET BACK TO ZERO AND CAR STEREO PRESETS ALL ERASED. NEXT MORNING CAR WOULD NOT START. WAITED AN HOUR, CAR STARTED. TOOK IN THEY ADJUSTED THE IDLE. THE CAR WAS FINE OTHERWISE. THIS WAS JUST OVER ONE MONTH AGO. YESTERDAY WENT TO LEAVE WORK CAR WOULDN'T START. NO POWER THEN I GOT THE RADIO TO WORK. THEY GOT THE CAR STARTED, THEN SHUT OFF TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. IT WAS. WOULDN'T START. CALLED TOWING, BUT AFTER BANGING ON MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,175 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022327 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
ENGINE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090416 · 2004-09-04 (September 4, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036994 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
I HAVE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WITH MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. THE ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSES MY AMP TO BLOW AND STEREO TO DIE. I HAVE BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN OVER 7 TIMES (*CURRENTLY IN DEALERSHIP'S SERV DEPT FOR EXACT SAME PROBLEM) AND MY TRUCK HAS BEEN "OUT OF SERVICE" FOR 23 DAYS (*CURRENTLY IN DEALERSHIP'S SERV DEPT AS WE SPEAK) SINCE THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY OCCURRED.THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM FOUND W/IN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR STEREO, ONLY AMPS AND FUSES REPLACED (7 TIMES AND COUNTING).*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,356 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067275 · 2004-04-16 (April 16, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186030 · 2007-03-23 (March 23, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, PURCHASED OIL AND PUT IT INTO THE VEHICLE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD TRIPLE AAA TOW THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS DIESEL FUEL MIXED WITH GAS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL SYSTEM TO BE FLUSHED, AND THE OIL CHANGED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, AND THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED. THE DEALER HAD THE CONTACTS VE…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045198 · 2003-10-31 (October 31, 2003)
ENGINE MAKES LOUD "WHISTLING" SOUND; ENGINE DEFINITELY LOST POWER OVER THE LAST YEAR; WILL NOT GO OVER 70-75 MPH; MAKES LOUD WHINING/GRINDING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING GEARS; PULLS TO THE RIGHT ALL THE WHILE DRIVING; USING AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF GAS. (CONSUMER CAN ALSO BE EMAILED AT [email removed]) *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10700786 · 2015-03-20 (March 20, 2015)
THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THE ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON. WHEN THE GEARS SHIFTED UP, IT STARTED TO RESIST ACCELERATION AND LOSING TRANSMISSION POWER. STARTED TO SHIFT DOWN AND COAST. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. WOULD NOT START BACK UP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 245,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10700786 at NHTSA ↗