2002 Nissan Xterra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Xterra years
- Far more complaints than other years 5th of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 157 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Xterra. That ranks 5th out of 16 Xterra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (24 complaints, 15%), typically at around 52,214 miles. Complaints mention 21 crashes, 7 fires, 28 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 157owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 21complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Nissan Xterra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 15% | 52,214 | — | — |
| Steering | 22 | 14% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 19 | 12% | 91,804 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 13 | 8% | 44,180 | — | — |
| Suspension | 13 | 8% | 35,050 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 | 8% | 17,800 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 11 | 7% | 83,804 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 7% | 147,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 6% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 8 | 5% | 144,750 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 5% | 168,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 5% | 39,950 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 7 | 4% | 25,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 7 | 4% | 61,250 | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 4% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 4% | 22,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 3% | 144,238 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 3% | 147,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 2% | 91,250 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | 185,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 100 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Nissan Xterra recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:column
Problem: 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.
Risk: The shaft may break which could result in loss of steering control during these low speed maneuvers increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: 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.
Risk: The driver side air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: 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.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:rear
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Brake rotor warpage (DP03005) — opened Jul 11, 2003, closed Jul 29, 2003.
- Driver's air bag system failure (EA02020) — opened Aug 29, 2002, closed Mar 3, 2003, led to recall 03V061000.
- Driver's air bag system malfunction (PE02038) — opened Mar 26, 2002, closed Aug 29, 2002.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The registered owner of this vehicle is registered tp the arab known as the polish polako missing a leg and is claiming to be a wanna be fake cop police. Hes bald and on the thinner side and ugly. im being framed for rapes & murders that hes done along w\ everyone i know from my pass that are…
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the rear passengerâs seat occupied, the rear passengerâs seat belt thread unraveled, and the buckle detached and remained latched. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was…
My wife's car was in need of two front tires so i took my vehicle to wheels 360- it was the only shop open and i was crunched on time. She is an emt and i am an educator so we do not have much spare time during the week. The shop over charged me for two low quantity tires. There were two workers…
My 2002 nissan xterra's airbags failed to deploy in a collision with a telephone pole at apx. 45 mph. The accident was on a badly maintained city street, the steering has been problematic even though i had an alignment done apx. 6 mo.s ago.
Loses pressure on the brakes, the steering wheel is moving sideways
Other Nissan Xterra years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Xterra | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 Xterra | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 Xterra | 4 | 0 |
| 2012 Xterra | 16 | 2 |
| 2011 Xterra | 24 | 2 |
| 2010 Xterra | 38 | 4 |
| 2009 Xterra | 19 | 3 |
| 2008 Xterra | 119 | 6 |
| 2007 Xterra | 557 | 1 |
| 2006 Xterra | 780 | 3 |
| 2005 Xterra | 845 | 3 |
| 2004 Xterra | 84 | 2 |
| 2003 Xterra | 72 | 3 |
| 2002 | 157 | 5 |
| 2001 Xterra | 150 | 3 |
| 2000 Xterra | 214 | 3 |
See all Nissan Xterra problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Xterra?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, steering, air bags problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 24 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Nissan Xterra?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Nissan Xterra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Xterra model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.