Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Nissan Xterra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THE ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON. WHEN THE GEARS SHIFTED UP, IT STARTED TO RESIST ACCELERATION AND LOSING TRANSMISSION POWER. STARTED TO SHIFT DOWN AND COAST. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. WOULD NOT START BACK UP. *TR
THE DISTRIBUTOR HAS BALL BEARINGS UNDER THE SOLENOID AND PHOTO FOR CAM SENSOR THAT COMES APART AND GOES EVERY WHERE INTERNALLY. IT CAUSED ME TO GO OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCKER WHEN IT COMPLETELY STOPPED MY CAR WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO SENSOR INDICATOR UNTIL I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT ONLY REGISTERED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OF AN ON TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. IT ALMOST CAUSED MY WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BURN OUT AS WELL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND PULL THE MATERIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND BUILDS OF MATERIAL FOR THE INTERNAL ITEMS OF THIS, ESPECIALLY THE BALL BEARING THAT CAME APART. THIS IS THE MOST COMMON MALFUNCTIONING ITEM ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. I'M AN INDUSTRIAL AND BUILD INSPECTOR AT CENTURY FASTENERS CORP. PLEASE REVIEW THIS AS IT COULD BE FATAL TO SOME ONE WHO DOSE NOT KNOW HOW TO CONTROL A SITUATION LIKE THIS. PLEASE AND THANK YOU,[XXX] 2002 NISSAN XTERRA AND ALL RELATED MODEL ENGINES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ALARM ON THE VEHICLE ACTIVATED CONSTANTLY; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
MY 2002 XTERRA ENGINE STALLS WHEN AT IDLE SPEED, IT STARTS BACK BUT WILL STALL ALMOST EVERYTIME I STOP AT A LIGHT,STOP SIGN OR IN TRAFFIC. ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND THERE IS NO CODES. I SPOKE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT A RECALL ON THE 2004 MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE IPDM RELAY, THEY SAID THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MINE. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO SAID THERE IS AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN FOR THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2002 MODEL. I HAVE ALREADY HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR THIS PROBLEM HAD SPARK PLUGS,DISTRIBUTOR,PLUG WIRES,FUEL FILTER ,MAF SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED $1300.00 LATER I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, PURCHASED OIL AND PUT IT INTO THE VEHICLE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD TRIPLE AAA TOW THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS DIESEL FUEL MIXED WITH GAS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL SYSTEM TO BE FLUSHED, AND THE OIL CHANGED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, AND THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED. THE DEALER HAD THE CONTACTS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AND PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE, FLUSHED THE FUEL TANK, AND FUEL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ,WENT DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET AND PURCHASED HIGH OCTANE GAS. THE VEHICLE RAN LONG ENOUGH FOR HIM TO GO ACROSS THE STREET, GOT THE GAS AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS IT DID BEFORE THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER , WHERE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC HAD TO BE DONE, AND THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC SHOULD HAVE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A PROBLEM, AND THAT NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD EVER INDICATED THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST, AND THE PROBLEMS BEGAN AT THE END OF JANUARY. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IF THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE OIL IT WAS PURCHASED THAT WAY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 50,000.*AK THE DEALER STATES TAG LIGHT NOT WORKING AND CD PLAYER NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INFORMATION FROM CARFAX AND A REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 06/08/07 *TR
VEHICLE: 2002 NISSAN XTERRA SE TAIL LIGHTS, FRONT SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, DASH PANEL ILLUMINATION FAILED DUE TO WIRE CHAFING BEHIND DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT MARKER LIGHT. THE BACK OF THE BULB SOCKET FOR THE FRONT SIDE MARKER LIGHT PINCHES IT'S CONNECTION WIRE AGAINST THE HEAD OF A 10MM SCREW LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE BULB SOCKET. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BULB SOCKET AND THE CHASSIS SCREW. THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT IS MOUNTED IN THE TOP EDGE OF THE FRONT BUMPER WHERE IT WRAPS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BUMPER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS NOT SMOOTH, WHICH CAUSES THE WIRE TO BE RUBBED AGAINST THE HEAD OF THE CHASSIS SCREW, WHICH WEARS THE INSULATION FROM THE WIRE AND RESULTS IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT BETWEEN THE DAMAGED WIRE AND THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SHARE THE FUSE WHICH ALSO PROTECTS THE TAIL LIGHTS, SO WHEN THE SHORT OCCURS THE TAIL LIGHTS BECOME INOPERATIVE. UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM, MY DAUGHTER HAD TO DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT WITHOUT TAIL LIGHTS ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, SHE WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE HER TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I INSPECTED THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT ON THE OPPOSITE (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT WAS MUCH MORE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BULB SOCKET AND THE CHASSIS. *JB
THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS ALL WENT OFF AT NIGHT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, REPLACED A FUSE AND CONTINUED ON. ONE WEEKS LATER, THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THE DEALER FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT WIRING HARNESS MARKER WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME AND IT HAD SHORTED OUT. *NM *BF *NM
ALL PARKING LIGHTS, SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, AND INSTRUCMENT LIGHTS STOP WORKING. THE "TAIL LAMP" FUSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS BLOWN. *AK
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
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
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
ENGINE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK
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 WHAT I AM STILL OUT A VEHICLE AND HAVE TO, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, PAY FOR SOME OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPART. AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT. THE CUSTOMER AFFAIRS REP. DID INFORM ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THEIR AIR BAG MODULE, BUT HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT COULD HAPPEN. I HAVE ALSO, IN THE PAST, TAKEN IN THIS VEHICLE IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO REPLACE A GASKET IN THE AXLE AREA BECAUSE IT WAS DRIPPING FLUID. *JB
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
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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