Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
157
Latest Jul 8, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
28
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 5, 2001
What this page shows
Our database holds 157 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Nissan Xterra. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
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 deseased and and still alive. I dont appreciate the trap house or the drug rape sex house that i own utilized by these drug sex rapist murders. Its so funny that people i know are dropping in that property and never coming out alive. i just did a few things to prove that im correct and the fake 5 proud boys are utilizing me from district 15 to get away with murder and rape. Yes.. they ate rapping men, woman and children and black mailing them by the millions. Im stationed under a goverment security from the Government Center that are being installed everywhere nation wide because Im the President of the United States and the schools all around where im at or go by are closed for what is going on at the property. i set a curfew into affect and everyone is watching who ate entering and but never leave alive. Everyone you see there on a daily basis are not who they claim to be.Im being framed for all the rapes and murders just when i got cancer and has lived passed all those time i been poison to death. i have seen it for myself online that i cant beleive it.... i looked like someone else thats doing the rapes and murders.. I dont think its funny any more but they think so. Nothing but meth addicts w\a raping desease. im so over it that im watching it for myself so everyone can see for them selfs. I rather die from cancer than to be poison from a drug overdozes i have had by the fake cop wanna be police with their drug issue & mental murder desease because Im the President Of the United States and not them. I have uploaded the VIN # of the vehicle online wirh the plates and I didnt have them register that vehicle for me or as a request. Nothing but delusional homocidles men!!!!!!.
NHTSA ID
11671857
Incident
Jul 1, 2025
Seat belts
Filed Dec 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the rear passenger’s seat occupied, the rear passenger’s seat belt thread unraveled, and the buckle detached and remained latched. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 164,000.
NHTSA ID
11628967
Incident
Dec 3, 2024
Mileage
164,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 25, 2021
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 REPLACING THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. THE WORKER REPLACING THE WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DAMAGED THE WHEEL STUDS BECAUSE HE WAS ON A HURRY. THE LEAD WORKER AND TWO OTHERS SPENT 2 HOURS TRYING TO FIX THE STUDS AND GET SOME OF THE LUG NUTS BACK ON. THEY MANAGED TO GET 5 OUT OF THE SIX ON. THEY INSISTED ON SENDING ME HOME WITH A WHEEL MISSING ONE LUG NUT. THEY ASKED ME TO COMEBACK TOMORROW OR SOME OTHER DAY TO FIX IT. IT WAS CLOSE TO 9 PM BY THAT TIME, AND I WAS FRUSTRATED. I DROVE HOME AND ON THE WAY HOME, THE CENTER HUB PLASTIC COVERING FELL OFF. IT EXPOSED THE AXLE/BEARING. I FEEL THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY TODDLER AROUND. SHOPS LIKE THE ONE MENTIONED SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE BECAUSE THEY COMPROMISE DRIVERS' SAFETY.I WOULD LIKE 1. A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE OVERPRICED TIRES AND 2. MY VEHICLE PROPERLY SERVICED SO THAT IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
NHTSA ID
11413743
Incident
Apr 24, 2021
Mileage
205,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Mar 6, 2021
Crash reported2 injuries reported
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.
NHTSA ID
11399557
Incident
Mar 4, 2021
Mileage
155,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 1, 2021
LOSES PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVING SIDEWAYS
NHTSA ID
11398323
Incident
Mar 11, 2020
Filed Dec 29, 2020
SERVICE ENGINE SOON
NHTSA ID
11385466
Incident
Dec 29, 2020
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 14, 2020
TIRES ARE RECALLED AND CAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER TO REGISTER SLOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED
NHTSA ID
11349264
Incident
Aug 14, 2020
Mileage
188,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 14, 2020
VEHICLE STALLS AT 100MPH ALSO ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY BRAKES AREN'T BAD BUT IT'S LIKE THEY'RE GOING OUT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOBBLES WHEN STOPPING HARD OR ON WET ROADS ALSO WHEN ACCELERATATING AND DRIVING THE RPM GAUGE WILL JIMP UP FOR A SECOND AND MAKE THE ENGINE SOUND LOUDER WHILE IT DOES IT AND ALSO STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE SOMEWHAT WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS AND BUMPS CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS UP BUT DOESN'T WORK HAPPENS EVERY DAY
NHTSA ID
11349259
Incident
Aug 14, 2020
Mileage
188,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 2, 2020
Crash reported
I HAD MY BRAKE BOOSTERS REPLACED ON 05/22/2019.I WAS BACKING UP SLOWLY ON 07/24/2020 IN A PARKING LOT OF A CONVENIENCE STORE. AS I WAS BACKING UP, I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEY BECAME STIFF. I TRIED TO PUMP HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN WHICH IT WAS TO LATE AND MY CAR COLLIDED INTO A UTILITY POLE.
NHTSA ID
11342829
Incident
Jul 24, 2020
Mileage
131,058 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 10, 2019
Crash reported2 injuries reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STEERED OUT OF CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED FIVE TIMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE ELBOW AND BODY PAINS WHILE HER PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERAL LACERATIONS AND BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOT OF THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *DT*JB
NHTSA ID
11219059
Incident
May 30, 2019
Brakes
Filed Jan 18, 2019
Crash reported
UPON SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL GOT HARD NOT ALLOWING VEHICLE TO STOP AND VEHICLE ALSO STARTING RAPIDLY ACCELERATING WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL.RESULTED IN A CRASH WITH A STOPPED VEHICLE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.NO SERIOUS INJURIES THANKFULLY.
NHTSA ID
11170695
Incident
Jun 15, 2016
Mileage
190,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 18, 2018
TWICE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE BY PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL BOTH TIME. HAPPENED FAIRLY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER WHEN IT STALLED. LOST ALL CONTROL.
NHTSA ID
11073476
Incident
Feb 17, 2018
Mileage
144,500 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 18, 2018
I HAVE HAD A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE SINCE 2010 AND I HAVE NEVER N=BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE STEERING ISSUE. THIS IS THE 2ND RECALL I HAVE HAD WITH NO ALARM FROM NISSAN
NHTSA ID
11073475
Incident
Feb 18, 2018
Mileage
144,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Jun 30, 2017
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANYTHING AUTOMOTIVE (LOCATED AT 1228 E RIVER RD, DIXON, IL 61021; (815) 285-3035) WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BACK SEAT WAS CATCHING FIRE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-647-7261 AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. CASE NUMBER: 27261028 WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL IN 2004 FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY OR THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS FAULTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA ID
11002467
Incident
Jun 25, 2017
Mileage
170,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 5, 2017
UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED AND BATTERY KEEPS DYING EVEN THOUGH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TEST GOOD. WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED I CANNOT ACCELERATE GRADUALLY, THE CAR REVS REALLY HARD AND PULLS HARD WHEN TRYING TO INCREASE SPEED. ONCE I DRIVE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND PICKUP SPEED THE BRAKES ARE LOOSE AND HARD TO COME TO A STOP, AND THE PEDAL DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING OR REDUCING SPEED. I RECENTLY WAS GOING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH TRYING TO REDUCE SPEED TO PREPARE TO EXIT, AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF, ALL DASH LARD LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO COAST AND THEN GET A PUSH FROM SOMEONE TO GET INTO THE EXIT LANE AND COAST TO THE GAS STATION.
NHTSA ID
10958662
Incident
Mar 2, 2017
Mileage
147,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 5, 2017
UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM LOW TO HIGHER. VEHICLE STALLS WHEN GOING ABOVE 40MPH WITHOUT WARNING OFTEN. ALSO, IT IS HARD TO SOMETIMES INCREASE SPEED OR DRIVE AT A CONSTANT MPH SPEED SUCH AS WHEN GOING THROUGH RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. WHEN TRAVELING -15 MPH AND TRYING TO A CELEBRATE ONTO FREEWAY ETC THE ENGINE STALLS AND JERKS, AND THE RPMSPINS VERY HARD AND ROUGH WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THROTTLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE ACCELERATION WHEN GIVEN GASSED PEDAL DOES NOT INCREASE AND DECREASE SPEED ACCORDINGLY, WHICH GIVES A COMPLETE LACK OF CONTROL OVER DRIVING VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH SECURING BACK ROW SEATBELTS HENCE, MY INCREASED CONCERN OF OUTCOME SHOULD AN UNFORTUNATE COLLISION OCCURR WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR.
NHTSA ID
10958659
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
147,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 5, 2017
WHEN DRIVING IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE TO NORMAL SPEED EVEN WHEN PRESSING PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE PAST 15 MPH THE ENGINE REVS REALLY HARD AND JERKS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. I STALLED OUT ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. IT IS HARD TO CONTROL SPEED WHEN TRYIN TO INCREASE OR DECREASE ACCELERATION. THE PEDAL FEELS INCONSISTENT WITH THE THROTTLE AND/ OR RPM AND IS VERY HAZARDOUS. WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE IN LOW SPEEDS IN RESIDENTIAL AREA OR PARK THE PEDAL ARELY MOVES AND IF GIVEN THE SLIGHTEST GAS IT WILL SHUT OFF E FINE OR TAKE OFF AND DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN YOU STOP ACCELERATION, OR BRAKE AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD POWER STEERING COLUMN FIXED AND AIR INTAKE FLOW HOSE REPLACED, I KEEP GETTING ERROR CODES THAT COME AND GO: P0122, P0128, AND P0123. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE SIMILAR RECALLS FOR OTHE MODEL AND YEAR OF NISSAN, AND WHEN I INQUIRE A OUT THE ISSUE TO NISSAN RECALL DEPT. THEY SAY THE PREVIOUS RECALL FOR GAS RESPONSE UNIT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE HOWEVER, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS ISSUE I AM HAVING. I JUST BOUGHT THIS TRUCK TO DRIVE MY CHILD TO SCHOOL AND I'M AFRAID THIS WILL CAUSE AN A CIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED SOON HOWEVER, I AM CERTAIN THIS IS A MANUFACTUR DEFECT RELATED TO FUEL LINE OR THROTTLE SINCE THE LOSS OF ACCELERATION IS EXTREMELY NOTICEBLE TO OTHE NISSAN OWNERS AND I HOPE IT IS INVESTIGATED AS CURRENT RECALLS NEED TO BE EXPANDED OR INVESTIGATED FOR THE NISSAN XTERRA AND POSSIBLY ALL NISSAN VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR REPORTED ISSUES.
NHTSA ID
10958658
Incident
Feb 25, 2017
Mileage
147,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 4, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE WAS WRECKED ON A DIRT ROAD. THE VEHICLE ROLLED FOUR TIMES AND WAS TOTALED; THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR SO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IS NOT A SURPRISE. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED FROM ACCIDENT, INCURRING SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL COSTS AS WELL AS JOB LOSS.
NHTSA ID
10863215
Incident
Sep 2, 2015
Mileage
98,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 10, 2016
TIRES ARE DEVELOPING A SERIES OF CRACKS EXTENDING FROM THE TAP INTO THE SIDEWALLS
NHTSA ID
10845927
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Mileage
195,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 17, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA ID
10836624
Incident
Feb 3, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 9, 2015
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN WERE BURNT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,391.
NHTSA ID
10789380
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
204,391 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 27, 2015
AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, WITH ONE FOOT ON THE CLUTCH, AND ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE STILL, MY XTERRA BEGINS ACCELERATING IN REVERSE THOUGH MY FEET WERE ON THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ONLY. MY XTERRA'S BRAKES ONLY STOPPED MY VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
NHTSA ID
10777894
Incident
Sep 26, 2015
Mileage
150,641 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 31, 2015
TURN THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO RIGHT OR LEFT. HEAR A DREADFUL GRINDING SOUND AS IF THE AXLE IS GOING TO SNAP IN HALF.
NHTSA ID
10760467
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Filed Aug 31, 2015
THE INNER CEILING FABRIC ALL CAME LOOSE AND I'M NOW HOLDING IT UP WITH STAPLES. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
10760465
Incident
Aug 20, 2012
Mileage
82,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 30, 2015
Crash reported
I PURCHASED A USED XTERRA ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING MALL AT A LOW SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT INTO A HIGH WHINING REV AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND TOOK OFF OUT OF CONTROL. BEFORE COMING TO A STOP IT RAN INTO FOUR OTHER PARKED CARS. I WAS AS IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING ONLY AMERICAN MADE CARS. THE NISSAN IS THE ONLY FOREIGN CAR I HAVE OWNED AND WILL LIKELY BE THE LAST AFTER THIS EPISODE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10713773
Incident
Apr 6, 2015
Mileage
96,000 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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