Page 3 of 4 · complaints 101–150 of 157

2002 Nissan Xterra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Apr 13, 200411 milesCO

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 80 MPH AND FASTER VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECELERATED AND LAUNCHED FORWARD. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM AS CRUISE CONTROL . IN THE MEANTIME THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Feb 15, 200440,230 milesCA

ALL PARKING LIGHTS, SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, AND INSTRUCMENT LIGHTS STOP WORKING. THE "TAIL LAMP" FUSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS BLOWN. *AK

Power Train › Axle Assembly
Filed Jan 20, 2004OH

THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL #02V299000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT THEY REPLACED THE COMPONENT INDICATED IN THE RECALL.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 5, 2003TX

ONE BY ONE MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE ALL FAILED. THEY HAVE FAILED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND HAVE CAUSED A GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND USE OF MY TIME TO KEEP GETTING THEM FIXED. I KNOW OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE TONS OF INTERNET SITES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED?*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 31, 200319,000 milesAK

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 protected]) *LA

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 24, 200317,180 milesMI

BRAKE FAILURE INVOLVING 2002 NISSAN XTERRA.*MR THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE SITUATION BE INVESTIGATED UNDER NISSAN XTERRA ROTOR FAILURE ACTION # DP03-005 OPENED 7/11/03. *CB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 18, 2003CA

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA THAT HAD BRAKE SQUEALS SINCE ABOUT 9000 MILES. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED/INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SQUEAL IS A RESULT OF THE TYPE OF BRAKES AND THAT THEY WERE JUST COLD. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES SQUEAL ALL THE TIME. I WAS THEN TOLD ON ANOTHER VISIT THAT IT WAS THE DRIVE BELT AND NOT THE BRAKES. AFTER THIS SERVICE THE SQUEAL WAS STILL THERE. I TOOK IT BACK YET AGAIN AND THEY DID ANOTHER BRAKE INSPECTION AND SAID THAT WHEN I DO MY BRAKES THEY WILL HAVE TO SPIN THE ROTORS AND THIS SHOULD FIX THIS. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS FIX SINCE IT'S BEEN ON GOING FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor
Filed Sep 11, 2003MI

ON 09/10/03, WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKING FAILURE WITH LOSS OF ALL PRESSURE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT RESULT IN A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TAMAROFF NISSAN WHERE ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED AND THE FOLLOWING EXPLANATION OFFERED: I WAS TOLD THAT THROUGH NORMAL WEAR ON THE BRAKE PADS THE METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT CREATED EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO SEIZE THE ROTOR CREATING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE ROTOR AND CALIBERS RESULTING IN A MAJOR LOSS OF FUNCTION. AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS OF GREATER THAN $940.00 WAS PROVIDED. I AM QUESTIONING THIS EXPLANATION AND AM REQUESTING FORMAL INVESTIGATION NOT ONLY DUE TO THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR SAFETY IMPLICATIONS IF THIS IS IN FACT A PART OF NORMAL WEAR AT 25,000 MILES. I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS SITUATION BE INVESTIGATED UNDER THE ONGOING NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF NISSAN XTERA ROTOR FAILURE ACTION NUMBER DP03-005 OPENED 07/11/03. I FIND THE EXPLANATION DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT IN AS MUCH AS THE EVENT OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING ONLY APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET ON THE PROPERTY OF WILLIAM BEAUMONT HOSPITAL. IT IS IMPLAUSIBLE THAT EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE SEIZURE OF THE NISSAN NORTH AMERICA INC. PAGE TWO SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 BRAKE CALIBERS ON THE ROTOR. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHEN COMPLAINTS OF A NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT WERE ADDRESSED. IN ADDITION, A BURNING SMELL WAS DESCR

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Sep 1, 20035,356 milesIL

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

Wheels
Filed Aug 27, 2003PA

WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER COULD HEAR A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 18, 2003MA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL IN EITHER DIRECTIONS. *AK

Tires1 injured
Filed Jul 15, 2003100 milesTX

I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO BANKSTON NISSAN OF IRVING ABOUT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT SHAKING BADLY WHEN DRIVEN. THERE FIRST ANSWER ON 5/29/02 WAS THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. THE NEXT TIME I COMPLAINED THE ANSWER WAS THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES OR THEY MIGHT BE OF BALANCE. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THEM THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL XTERRA SEATS SHAKE LIKE THAT. I TOOK IT TO URBAN NISSAN FOR A SECOND OPINION THEY TOLD ME WITHIN 1 HOUR THAT THE SEAT BACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE SERVICE TECH AT BANKSTON DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR THEY ARE BEING RACIST AGAINST SOME RACES. DP

Seat Belts › Front1 killed
Filed Jul 10, 200318,500 milesTX

I OWN A 2002 XTERRA SE-SC THE SEATBELT ON PASSENGER SIDE LOCKS UP BUT DOESN'T RELEASE WHEN DRIVING COMPLAINED TO DEALER THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. CAN YOU PASS SOME INFO TO ME WHEN AVALIBLE. DP

Steering
Filed Jul 8, 200313,755 milesCA

MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA 4X2 STEERING WAS DESIGNED TO NOT RETURN TO CENTER ON ITS OWN AFTER MAKING A SHARP TURN EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT AT SLOW SPEEDS. I DISCOVERED THIS BY ALMOST RUNNING INTO A FENCE AFTER TURNING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME...PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE IS A REAL CHALLANGE TO KEEP FROM RAMMING THE CAR NEXT TO ME. MY DEALER ADMITS THEY ALL DO IT WITH NO CORRECTION AVALIABLE.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jul 3, 200318,000 milesNC

E-MAIL FWD FM NPO-200/TIS/DOERNBERG REQUEST FOR A DEFECT PETITION ON THE 2002 NISSAN XTERRA BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE ROTORS USED ON THE XTERRA IS SUBJECTED TO PREMATURE HEAT WARPAGE.*MR PH *JB

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Jun 27, 200370,540 milesAZ

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. THE NUTS AND BOLTS HAD LOOSENED AND FALLEN OFF. *JB WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN OFF ROAD PATH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD ENGAGED. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRE SHIFTED OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE WELL ABOUT 2 INCHES. AS THE CONSUMER EXAMINED UNDER THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT OF THE 4 BOLTS HOLDING THE WHEEL TO THE AXLE ONLY ONE REMAINED AND DIDN'T HAVE A NUT HOLDING IT. (ALL FOUR NUTS HAD LOOSENED TO THE POINT OF FALLING OFF) AT A SLOW SPEED ON A GRAVEL SURFACE IT HAD BROKEN THE BRAKE LINE, PARKING BRAKE, AND VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BRAKE DRUM. *SCC *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 16, 200317,800 milesNC

FRONT DISK BRAKES OVERHEATED AND BECAME WARPED. VEHICLE RARELY CARRIES FULL PASSENGER OR CARGO LOADS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER PULLED A TRAILER. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 18,000 MILES ON IT WITH NORMAL DRIVING, SELDOM STOP AND GO. FAILURE MAY CAUSE FAMILIES ON TRIPS WITH TRAILERS TO HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *NLM

Electrical System
Filed Jun 7, 200325,175 milesCA

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 STEERING WHEEL, CAR WOULD START. I DROVE TO NISSAN WHO NOW AFTER 9 HOURS THREE TECHNICIANS CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THEY SAY YOU CAN COME PICK UP YOUR VEHICLE. UNLESS THEY WITNESS THE PROBLEM THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. SAID NEXT TIME LEAVE IT ALONE AND CALL THEM AND THEY WILL HAVE IT TOWED. THIS NISSAN HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICE THROUGH THE DEALER. *JB

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jun 5, 2003NC

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL #02V299000. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE MECHANIC DID NOT PUT SEALANT ON THE ABS SENSOR. THE MECHANIC STATED HE DID EVERYTHING AS HE WAS TOLD. *JB

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 4, 200326,000 milesMA

ENGINE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

Suspension
Filed May 21, 2003FL

CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT 4 TO DO AN ALIGNMENT AND STILL THE SAME ITS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 21, 20038,467 milesVA

ABS SENSOR. PH

Unknown or Other
Filed May 20, 2003VT

THIS IS A VERY SOLID, AND STABLE VEHICLE IN THE SNOW AND ICE, (WITH STUDDED SNOW TIRES, ALL SEASON RADIALS ONLY WORK IN FLORIDA) IT HANDLES WELL, AND PERFORMS NICELY FOR A SMALL SUV. THE ONLY COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE WITH THIS VEHICLE, IS THAT THE RIDE IS A BIT ROUGH. AND IT IS A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR TALLER PEOPLE ON LONG RIDES. TO THOSE THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. CURE #1, GET THE CAR ALIGNED. #2, CHECK THE ROAD YOU ARE DRIVING ON, THE TRACK WIDTH ON THE XTERRA IS NARROW, IT MAY BE CATCHING A GROOVE IN THE ROAD. #3 CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURES, TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKING....... HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED, ROTORS, PADS, OR CALIPERS COULD BE STICKING. *NLM

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Apr 25, 200322,000 milesCA

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 IGNITION WERE PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO PACIFIC NISSAN WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAVE MAINTAINED THEIR RECOMMENDED ROUTINE SERVICE. THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT QUESTIONED WHY THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT OVER TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND NOT TO THEIR BODY SHOP. I EXPLAINED THE BODY SHOP SENT US OVER TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HE EXPLAINED TO HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE. I QUESTIONED HIM WHY I HAVE TO SUFFER GOING THROUGH MY INSURANCE WHEN THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER THE BASIC WARRANTY. KNOWING I WAS NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THIS GUY, I REQUESTED A PHONE NUMBER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REFER ME BACK TO HIM. I AM CONFUSED ON WHAT I SHOULD DO. SHOULD I PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE AND HOPE MY INSURANCE WILL PAY THE WHOLE AMOUNT OWED ON MY VEHICLE? SHOULD I GET A LAWYER? NO MATTER

Tires
Filed Apr 14, 2003WI

ALL 4 ORIGINAL TIRES CRACKED PREMATURELY WHERE THE TREAD MET THE OUTSIDE TIRE WALL AND WITHIN THE TREAD ITSELF. *JB

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning Light
Filed Apr 10, 2003NY

NAR 04/10/2003 THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT NHTSA PLEASE PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION ON HOW AND WHERE SHE CAN OBTAIN PURCHASE PARTS AND PROCEDURE INFORMATION SPECIFIED TO COMPLY WITH RECALL #R2019. WHICH IS IN REFERENCE WITH NISSAN ABS WARNING LIGHTS. *CB

Suspension
Filed Apr 1, 20032,500 milesTX

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

Suspension
Filed Apr 1, 2003250 milesTX

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

Structure
Filed Apr 1, 20035,000 milesTX

VEHICLE HAS LOT OF WIND NOISE AND AIR COMING THROUGH THE DOOR SEALS WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAYS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE SUNROOF GASKET AND WEATHER STRIP. BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS PROBLEM CAN YOU PLEASE FORWARD TO US. *JB

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly › Leaf
Filed Mar 9, 200332,600 milesNY

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

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning LightCrash
Filed Feb 18, 2003PA

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 KILLED IN THIS ACCIDENT, AND FEEL SOMEONE SHOULD BE HELD ACOUNTABLE.

Fuel System, Other
Filed Feb 4, 2003MN

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.

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jan 29, 2003MO

THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Wheel Speed Sensor
Filed Jan 18, 20039,000 milesGA

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.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 19, 2002CA

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 LIGHT CAN BE BLINDING, SIMILAR TO A FLASH BULB ON A CAMERA GOING OFF IN YOUR FACE IN A DARK ROOM. THESE BRIGHT LIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE LEGAL FOR REGULAR DRIVING USE, THEY SHOULD BE USED ONLY IN THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT HIGH BEAMS ARE USED.

Service Brakes, Air
Filed Oct 23, 2002NY

VEHICLE PULLS RIGHT. YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES. TIRES ARE FEATHERING. I WAS DRIVING ON A THREE LAND HIGHWAY. I HAD TO HIT MY BRAKES AND ALMOST TOOK OUT THE CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF ME. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON YOUR WEBSITE. DT

Suspension › Front
Filed Oct 23, 2002NY

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AGGRESIVELY THE VEHICLE RUNS OF THE ROAD, AS A RESULT THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE BEGINNING TO FEATHER ON THE RIGHT SIDE. NLM

Steering
Filed Oct 11, 2002NY

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 5, 2002CO

THE OWNERS OF THIS TRUCK LIVE 6500 FEET ABOVE ELEVATION. THE TRUCK WILL LOSE POWER OR WILL NOT MAINTAIN MODERATE SPEED. THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE TRUCK WAS TOO HEAVY FOR THAT SIZE ENGINE TO DEAL WITH THAT KIND OF ALTITUDE. TWO OTHER DEALERS IN THE AREA ALSO CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 4, 2002IL

THE SUV DEVIATES TO THE RIGHT AT ANY SPEED WITH IN A FEW SECONDS. IT IS EXTREMELY NOTIACEABLE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. CONSTANT PRESSURE MUST BE HELD ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE SUV ALSO DEVIATED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD, SUCH AS FOR SUDDEN HALTING. THE SUV WOULD END ON THE SHOULDER IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HARD. THE SUV HAS BEEN AT THE NISSAN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES. THERE WAS SOME ADJUSTMENTS THE LAST TWO TIMES. NOW THE SUV STILL DEVIATES TO THE RIGHT (LIKE TRING TO RUN OFF THE ROAD) AT CRUISING SPEEDS. THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE WITH THE BEHAVIOR WITH SUDDEN BRAKING. THE SUV NOW ENDS ON THE LEFT LANE OR INCOMMING LANE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED SUDDENLY. THE ABOVE PROBLEMS WERE NOT NOTED DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING, BUT SINCE THEM IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DO WORRY ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD UNDER RAIN, SNOW, OR ICE CONDITIONS. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PREDICT WHAT THE TRUCK WILL DO UNDER AN EMERGENCY. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THIS PROBLEM?. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Aug 15, 2002GA

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT HAS REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT(DRIVER) TONGUE ASSEMBLY, AS A WAY OF CORRECTING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT. THIS WAS DONE ON 5-31-02. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, THAT SAME DAY, BEFORE I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY THEN RESET THE COMPUTER. ON 8-9-02, I RETURNED TO DELARSHIP AGAIN, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON, 8-2-02. THE SERVICE DEPT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT PROBLEM AGAIN BY: R&R PILLAR COVER TRIM TO CHECK SEATBELT PRETENSIONER. THEY FOUND HARNESS WAS IN A BIND & WAS TAPED SHORT FRM THE FACTORY. CUT AWAY TAPE & PULLED SOME SLACK IN WIRE. THEN ON 8-14-02, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP & ADVISED THAT WHEN I BRING CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE ON 8-16-02, THEY NEED TO CORRECT THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT PROBLEM OR I WANT TO GET A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. I ALSO CALLED THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT, MY COMPLAINT# IS 3862334. I WAS ADVISED THEY WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP & ASSIST THEM IN REPAIRING PROBLEM OR IF IT CANT BE REPAIRED, THEN THEY WILL TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. I RESEARCHED YOUR WEB SITE TODAY & FOUND: PE02-038, NISSAN XTERRA 2002 PROBLEM HAS PREV BEEN REPORTED FOR THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AT THIS POINT, I AM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING A NEW VEHICLE, SINCE IT APPEARS THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 XTERRA'S THAT WERE PREV SOLD. THANK YOU FOR YOU ASSISTANCE.*AK

Suspension › Multiple Axle
Filed Aug 5, 2002MA

ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. INNER SEAL ON AXLE BEARING HAD FAILED. CONSUMER NOTICED GEAR OIL AROUND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE AND THE COIL WIRE FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 12, 2002VA

THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED, 10 MONTHS OLD AND I AM SCARED TO TAKE IT ON A THE HIGHWAY, WASTE OF MONEY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

Suspension
Filed Jun 11, 2002CA

VEHICLE VIBRATES SO HARD THAT PASSENGER'S SEAT MAKES AN ANNOYING NOISE, CONSUMER LOSES CONCENTRATION OF THE ROAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2002CA

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2002CA

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Apr 15, 2002OK

WHILE APPLYING UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEYLESS REMOTE ENTRY WITHOUT WARNING HEARED A LOUD NOISE, CAUSING DRIVERS AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *AK

Suspension
Filed Apr 10, 2002OK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND LEFT. ALSO WHEN BRAKING IT HAS A PULLING EFFECT. IN ADDITION, HAD PROBLEM WITH TIRES. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS TEMPERATURE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CD PLAYER MAKES NOISE AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. THE A/C SHORTED OUT. THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MADE NOISE WHEN ROLLING UP AND DOWN. CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *YH

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Mar 13, 2002NY

THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON ACCELERATION UP TO 60 MPH UPON PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER LOSING POWER, THE CAR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH WITH HESITATION AND COULD MAINTAIN A SPEED OF ONLY 30 MPH. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR MALFUNCTION. DEALER RE-SET E.C.U. AND SO FAR, PROBLEM HAS NOT REPEATED. POWER WINDOW PROBLEM OCCURS ON DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW. THE WINDOW GOES DOWN AT NORMAL SPEED BUT COMES UP VERY SLOWLY WITH INTERMITTENT STOPS. FIRST TIME PROBLEM REPORTED TO DEALER, DEALER LUBED WINDOW TRACK. PROBLEM PERSISTED, SO WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO ORDERED A NEW RUBBER WINDOW CASING.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 11, 2002TX

TURNED ON VEHICLE IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK. ENGINE CHECK SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. DROPPED VEHICLE OFF AT DEALERSHIP. SAY IT IS THE PURGE VOLUME CONTROL VALVE BUT THEY CANNOT GET THE COMPUTER TO RESET WITH THEIR COMPUTER IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. STATED THEY MAY NEED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE MORE THAN ONE DAY.

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2002 Nissan Xterra → · Every Xterra year → · How the figures are calculated →