2001 Nissan Xterra Fuel system Problems

The vehicle disabled and the steering wheel locked on the highway once the speed hit 70mph. The wheel bearings are always rattling and if I go through a pothole the steering and tire feel really loose. The brake system doesn't feel right and has made a loud metal grind sound. The exhaust and or gasoline smell is way potent and not normal either it is strong smelling all the time. Potential recalls with fuel system, gasoline delivery, fuel pump and suspension, REAR , gasoline storage , tank assembly, filler pipe and cap. All are potential recalls also the exterior lighting

NHTSA ID

11468769

Incident

May 4, 2022

THE XTERRA STARTED MISSING AND HESITATING (ENGINE) EVENTUALLY DYING AND NOT RESTARTING. THE MISSING AND HESITATION OCCURRED WHILE UNDERWAY ON A BUSY 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, BUT THANKFULLY MADE IT HOME BEFORE DYING AND NOT RESTARTING. MISSING AND HESITATION OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON AND WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11405499

Incident

Mar 19, 2021

Mileage

217,000 mi

CAR FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT REPLACED. THE DEAD UNIT HAD A HOLE THROUGH IT'S PLASTIC WHICH SHOWED A CORRODED ELECTRICAL TAB. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE CORROSION FROM A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC AS STATED IN CAMPAIGN# 04V230000, BUT MORE LIKE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MELTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC, WHICH THEN ALLOWED CORROSION. NISSAN HOTLINE TOLD ME THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY, BUT COULDN'T SAY IF THE UNIT WAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11217267

Incident

May 20, 2019

THE TERMINAL STRIP ARE CORRODE AND CAN'T BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE PUMP GOT DAMAGE BY THE CORROSION OF THE TERMINAL, NOW NISSAN DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE PUMP. IS NOT MY FAULT THAT THEY USING PARTS THAT CAUSING THOSE TYPE OF PROBLEM. I CAN'T AFFORT TO PAY FOR THE PUMP PLUS LABOR.

NHTSA ID

10896852

Incident

Aug 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 02V299000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID

10743271

Incident

Nov 12, 2002

Mileage

108,000 mi

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND PAID 4000 DOLLARS FOR IT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING AND THE FUEL PUMP WASN'T COMING ON. AFTER SEARCHING FOR THE POWER ISSUE I DISCOVERED THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT WHICH IS THE TOP TO THE GAS TANK ITSELF. MEANING THE SERVICE HOLE OF THE TANK ACCESS IS THE TOP PART OF THE SENDING UNIT. THE SENDING UNIT HAS 4 FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS AND 4 ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. TWO FUEL CONECTIONS AND 2 ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS PLUG INTO THE TOP SIDE OF THE SENDING UNIT AND THEY ROUTE THROUGH THE PLASTIC MOLDED SENDING UNIT AND CONNECTIONS ARE MADE IN THE BOTTOM SIDE. BASICALLY FUEL AND ELECTRICITY ROUTE THROUGH THIS UNIT INTO THE TANK. THE POWER WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP BURNED AND MELTED THE CONECTION INSIDE THE MOLD AND BURNED THE PLASTIC ALL AROUND THE CONNECTION PLUG WHERE THE POWER GOES TO THE GAS TANK. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE 00' AND 02' SENDING UNITS WERE RECALLED BUT NOT MY 01'. THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT TO RIDING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A TICKING TIME BOMB UNDER MY CHILDREN'S SEATS. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN BUT I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THEM SO I AM REACHING OUT TO THE TRANSPORTATION SAFTEY AUTHORITIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10715043

Incident

May 4, 2015

Mileage

138,000 mi

AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP IT WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP TO IDLE.SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE HAVE ALSO HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ALIGNMENT DUE TO THE WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10644150

Incident

May 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10594173

Incident

May 18, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO SEALED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AS A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,128 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,130. ..UPDATED 06/28/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL REPAIR FAILED . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER THE FAILURE, THEN THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THE COST. UPDATED 07/2/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID

10509699

Incident

Apr 7, 2013

Mileage

87,128 mi

MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA SHUTS OFF WHILE IN MOTION. ALSO, WILL NOT START AT TIMES. OVERALL, CAR HAS SHUT OFF OR NOT STARTED PROBABLY ABOUT 10 OR SO TIMES. ACCORDING TO NISSAN THE RECALL ON THIS PART WAS ALREADY FIXED BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR (I BOUGHT IT PREOWNED)....BUT OBVIOUSLY IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN THEREFORE THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AT ALL. HOWEVER, SINCE THEY REPAIRED IT ONCE THEY HAVE WASHED THEIR HANDS OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249434

Incident

Oct 31, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN XTERRA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. THE REMEDY WAS PERFORMED BY SILICONE SPRAY BEING SPRAYED OVER THE STRAP SENDING UNIT, WHICH RESTS ON THE FUEL PUMP AND INDICATES HOW MUCH FUEL THE VEHICLE IS USING. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. HE FEELS THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT FIXED PROPERLY, BUT COVERED UP INSTEAD. HE WOULD LIKE THE REPAIR WORK INVESTIGATED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,000.

NHTSA ID

10244560

Incident

Oct 4, 2008

Mileage

92,000 mi

FUEL SENDING UNIT THAT WAS REPLACED ON 4/25/2005 DUE TO RECALL OF POSSIBLE CORROSION FAILURE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183228

Incident

Feb 15, 2007

Mileage

91,120 mi

04 V 230 000/FUEL SENDING UNIT: THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO SEND THE DEALER THE RECALL PART BECAUSE THE CONSUMER MOVED TO FLORIDA. *JB NISSAN DENIED THE CONSUMER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. *SC

NHTSA ID

10097154

Incident

Oct 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10092166

Incident

Sep 14, 2004

WHILE PUMPING GASOLINE AT THE GAS STATION GASOLINE SPLASHED ON THE DRIVER. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079603

Incident

Apr 25, 2004

I OWN A 2001 NISSAN XTERRA & IT HAS 66,000 MILES. HOWEVER, SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE XTERRA I HAVE KNOWN I COULD NOT WALK AWAY WHILE PUTTING GAS IN THE TANK BECAUSE THE GAS DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT-OFF. RATHER, IT WILL SPILL OUT. I JUST LIVED WITH THIS, FIGURING IT WAS A "KINK" I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH. UNTIL I WAS ON THE NISSAN WEBSITE & SAW THEY HAD A RECALL ON 2001 XTERRAS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. ONLY ONE PROBLEM, THE VIN FOR MY XTERRA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHILE MY XTERRA WAS AT THE VICTORY NISSAN OF RICHMOND (MAR 2004), FOR A DIFFERENT ISSUE, I LET BOTH TIM, SERVICE TECH, & GARY, SERVICE MANAGER, KNOW MY XTERRA DID THE SAME THING THE RECALL WAS DESCRIBING. THEY SAID MY XTERRA WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, BUT WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH NISSAN. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM VICTORY NISSAN. MAY 14, 2004, I NOTIFIED NISSAN HDQTRS ABOUT THE ISSUE & WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY XTERRA DIAGNOSED. MY COMPLAINT IS NISSAN IS AWARE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL TANK VALVE ON 2001 XTERRAS & I AM TELLING THEM MY 2001 XTERRA DOES THE SAME THING, BUT THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE MY XTERRA. CONSIDERING THE HUGE SAFETY ISSUES WITH FILLING UP A GAS TANK & IT NOT AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING, BUT RATHER SPILLING GAS, I FIND IT ABSURD NISSAN WOULD EXPECT A CUSTOMER TO PAY $40 TO $80 TO DIAGNOSE IF THE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ESPECIALLY ON A MODEL KNOWN TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ITS FUEL TANK VALVES. MY OTHER CONCERN IS IF MY 2001 XTERRA IS DOING THE SAME THING AS IN THE RECALL & WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, HOW MANY OTHER 2001 XTERRAS ARE OUT THERE JUST WAITING TO HAVE A SPARK AT THE GAS PUMP BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. ALSO, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT MY 2001 XTERRA'S ISSUE IS THE FUEL TANK VALVE OR NOT, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN & I WOULD THINK NISSAN WOULD WANT TO IDENTIFY IF THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANKS OF XTERRAS. AFTER ALL, DO WE NEED A REPEAT FORD EXPLORE TIRE ISSUE BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN!*AK

NHTSA ID

10072617

Incident

May 14, 2004

COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. MY VEHICLE WENT DEAD ON HWY 131S AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING. ALONE AND OUT OF TOWN. HAD TO BE TOWED ON FLATBED. WHEN TALKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. I THEN CALLED MY PRIVATE, USUAL DEALERSHIP I HAVE SERVICE AT AND THEY STATED THEY HAD REPLACED THREE OF THESE IN THE LAST MONTH. THIS NEEDS RECALLED!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10060246

Incident

Mar 2, 2004

Mileage

77,645 mi

FUEL SYSTEM SENDING UNIT FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059777

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

Mileage

66,000 mi

2001 NISSAN XTERRA - I WAS JUST GETTING OFF A BUSY RT. 95 AND MY CAR JUST TURNED OFF - NO POWER STEERING,ETC. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT. CALLED TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS THE NEXT DAY AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIT ME IN FOR TWO DAYS, SO I NEEDED MY XTERRA FIXED SO I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP. THEY SAID MY FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT SHORTED OUT WHICH IN EFFECT SHORTED OUT MY FUEL PUMP, BOTH WERE REPLACED - $962 LATER.....I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (I SHOWED THEM THE NISSAN FAULTY PART) AND THEY REFERRED ME TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE THERE AND SHE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY WEREN'T IN THE POSITION TO REIMBURSE ME B/C THE WORK WASN'T DONE AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THERE WOULD BE A RECALL....I WOULD'VE HAD A GREATER CHANCE OF GETTING MY MONEY BACK IF I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. REGARDLESS, IN THE END I PAID $962 FOR A FAULTY NISSAN PART WHICH HASN'T BEEN RECALLED AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS - GO FIGURE!!

NHTSA ID

10058501

Incident

Feb 6, 2004

Mileage

48,100 mi

FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT FAILED AT 38,800 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY). A CRACK FORMS IN THE UNIT AND EVENTUALLY CORROSION SETS IN CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE TRUCK STALLS AND YOU LOSE MOST OF YOUR STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED SINCE THE 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER ACCORDING TO YOUR WEB SITE, SO THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN TRUCKS. IT'S TIME FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL!*AK

NHTSA ID

10056778

Incident

Dec 29, 2003

Mileage

38,800 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP HANGER/SENDER UNIT HAD A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE FUEL TANK. THE REPAIR WAS MADE BY AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10055936

Incident

Jan 21, 2004

Mileage

41,558 mi

FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WAS STRANDED 60 MILES IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. 2001 NISSAN XTERRA SE *CB

NHTSA ID

10054426

Incident

Jan 16, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT RESTART.

NHTSA ID

10039395

Incident

Aug 28, 2003

Mileage

27,235 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 XTERRA ON INTERSTATE 495 WHEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY LOST POWER AND STALLED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR, IT STARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES. I LET THE CAR RUN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE REENTERING THE HIGHWAY. ABOUT TWO MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND A BAD FUEL PUMP/FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE DRY, AS IF THE CAR HAD RUN OUT OF GAS, BUT I HAD THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET ON NISSAN OWNER'S SITES THAT THE NISSAN FRONTIER AND XTERRAS EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNITS. THE RESULT OF SUCH FAILURES IS NO GAS DELIVERY TO THE ENGINE, AS IF THE VEHICLE HAS RUN OUT OF GAS. THE FAILURE COMES WITHOUT WARNING AND DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RELATED TO MODEL YEAR. IT IS APPARENT THAT SUCH FAILURES IN A GAS DELIVERY SYSTEM IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I BELIEVE NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR THIS PART. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020979

Incident

May 26, 2003

MY GAS TANK NEVER SHOWS FULL WHEN IT IS FILLED. WHEN FILL MY XTERRA WITH GAS, IT OVERFLOWS EVERYTIME UNLESS I MANUALLY STOP THE PROCESS BY GUESSING HOW MANY GALLONS I HAVE PUT IN. AT THAT POINT THE GAS SPLASHES OUT AND OVERFLOWS. THEN WHEN I START MY CAR. THE GAS GAUGE ONLY SHOWS 3/4 TANK FULL, NEVER COMPLETELY FILLED. WHEN I FIRST BOUT THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2000, THIS PROBLEM WAS PRESENT BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX IT. THEN I READ ABOUT THE RECALL 2 YEARS LATER ON THE INTERNET AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME, I TOOK MY XTERRA TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE RECAL ISSUED BY NHTSA IN 2002 BUT THEYSAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10020754

Incident

May 30, 2003