2003 Nissan XTERRA: complaints, problems and recalls

A NEWLY PURCHASED NISSAN XTERRA 2003 WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND DID A 180 DEGREE TURN AT 60 MPH ON A DRY DAY, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE LIGHTLY APPLIED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,155 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010817 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT STATED THE REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEWOUT. GENERAL GRABBER AW P265/70R16. *AK BRAKES AND STEERING WERE INOPERABLE PRIOR TO TIRE BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024916 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT WINDOWS OF MY NISSAN XTERRA, I BOUGHT THE CAR TWO MONTHS AGO AND THE FRONT WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING TWICE ALREADY. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE XTERRAS AND THAT NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL OR EVEN HAS A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN HAVING TO CHANGE THE SAME PART OVER AND OVER. AS WE ALL KNOW WE BUY NEW CARS FOR THEIR DEPENDABILITY NOT BECAUSE WE LIKE THE PAYMENTS! *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041694 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT SPEEDS OF 30-40 MPH. DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE THE EMPTY PASSENGERS DID. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT. 2003 NISSAN XTERRA 3,700 MILES. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045652 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE DRIVER TRIED TO AVOID A CRASH BY HITTING A WALL HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT WITH THE WALL, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047773 at NHTSA ↗

TICKING NOISE COMING FROM TOP REAR OF DRIVER DOOR (SEAL) AND HEAD-LINER RIGHT ABOVE DRIVER'S SEAT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058997 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE PEDAL FADED TO THE FLOOR,WHILE TRYING TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT.RESULTING IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT.WHEN I MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH MY EMPTY PASSANGER SEATS DID.ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS AND THE OFFICERS THAT RESPONDED DID NOT TICKET ME FOR FAILURE TO STOP,NISSAN INSISTS THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN OPERATOR ERROR.SINCE THIS ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD MY STEREO REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE HAD WORK DONE ON MY STEERING COLUMN DUE TO GRINDING NOISES AND BOTH MOTORS IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060232 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA WITH 7400 MILES ON IT. ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2004, I ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS AND ALL FOUR WINDOWS WERE POWERLESS. I CALLED CONICELLI NISSAN SERVICE IN CONSHOHOCKEN, PA IMMEDIATLEY AND BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE THE NEXT DAY (FEBRUARY 26, 2004). DURING THE FIRST SERVICE CHECK, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN AND DID NOT FIX ANYTHING. ON FEBRUARY 27, 2004, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY WINDOWS. THIS TIME MY FRONT, RIGHT, DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW WAS DOWN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT UP. …

Owner-reported narrative. 7,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060387 at NHTSA ↗

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: 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.