2002 Nissan XTERRA: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLES WITH EXTREMELY BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS CAUSE A DANGER TO OTHER DRIVERS. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT DRIVERS WITH THEIR HIGH BEAMS ON, I'M REFERRING TO REGULAR HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE UNUSUALLY BRIGHT. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE 405 FREEWAY LAST NIGHT BECAUSE A DRIVER BEHIND ME WITH BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS BLINDED ME AND I VEERED INTO THE NEXT LANE BECAUSE WE WERE ON A CURVE AND I COULDN'T SEE WELL ENOUGH TO STAY IN MY LANE. I HAVE HEARD MANY OF MY FRIENDS COMPALIN ABOUT CARS WITH BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS FOR THEM BECAUSE THE LI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000282 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENT HIGHWAY FUEL ECONOMY. VEHICLE ACHIEVES ROUGHLY 60% OF REPORTED HIGHWAY MILEAGE ON AVERAGE. HIGHWAY MILEAGE IS WORSE THAN CITY AVERAGE. SEVERAL DEALERS ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM AND CANNOT FIX. MANUFACTURE IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND DENIES EXISTENCE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005287 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH, MY REAR AXLE BROKE CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FLY OFF, LOSS OF CONTROL, AND OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A ABS RECALL FOR THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM, BUT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE RECALL. AFTER 4 WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE NISSAN WILL COVER THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT IS ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE I CAN OR SHOULD PURSUE FOR NEGLIGENCE ON BEHALF OF THE CORPORATION AND THE DEALER. I WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT MYSELF AND MY 2 YEAR OLD WERE NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED OR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007765 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 13 MONTH OLD 2002 NISSAN XTERRA THAT HAS 32,600 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF-ROAD. THE LEAF SPRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE AT THE REAR MOUNTING BOLT. LUCKILY WE CAUGHT IT IMMEDIATELY AND THE DEALER IS REPLACING IT UNDER WARRANTY. HAS THIS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE XTERRA AND SHOULD THE OTHER ONE BE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME? THE DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE LOOKED AT THE OTHER ONE AND SEES NO PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY BECAUSE I DO A LOT OF HIGH SPEED DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 32,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010184 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE VIBRATES SO HARD THAT PASSENGER'S SEAT BACK VIBRATES AS IT THE SEAT IS BROKEN AND MAKES AN ANNOYING NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFO YOU HAVE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013788 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. ALSO, WHEN BRAKING IT TENDS TO PULL ON EITHER SIDE MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013792 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-11-12 (November 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: 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.

Reported: 2002-11-12 (November 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: 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.

Reported: 2003-02-27 (February 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: 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.

Reported: 2004-05-24 (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: 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.

Reported: 2010-11-11 (November 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: 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.