2002 Nissan Xterra Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

I WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPOT AT MY NORMAL SLOW SPEED WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE WENT INTO AN EXTREMELY HIGH REV AND THE XTERRA MADE A SUDDEN LUNGE FORWARD. IN A MATTER OF SECONDS IT SLAMMED INTO A NUMBER OF OTHER PARKED CARS. IT WAS AS IF IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. I CAN ONLY GUESS IT WAS A STUCK GAS PEDAL, STUCK THROTTLE OR STUCK ACCELERATOR. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT AMERICAN CARS, THE LAST SEVERAL WERE CARAVANS WITH NO ISSUES OF THIS TYPE. THIS NISSAN IS THE FIRST FOREIGN CAR THAT I HAVE PURCHASED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712178

Incident

Apr 6, 2015

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.

NHTSA ID

10670804

Incident

Jan 31, 2014

Mileage

174,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10616274

Incident

Jun 8, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10564979

Incident

Dec 19, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10413939

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

2002 NISSAN XTERRA, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0086-91) UPDATED 03/29/11 *BF

NHTSA ID

10393172

Incident

Feb 6, 2011

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND ANTIFREEZE LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245626

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

BOTH OF THE VEHICLES EXHAUST MANIFOLDS HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS AND HAD TO BE REPLACES BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE DRIVERS CABIN. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH 00-02 NISSAN XTERRAS . NISSAN CHANGED THE MANIFOLD DESIGN IN 03 WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RECALL OR COMPENSATE CONSUMERS FOR THE ISSUE IN PRIOR MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233619

Incident

Jun 20, 2008

Mileage

89,000 mi

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE IS CRACKED ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER AREA. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG NISSAN XTERRA OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233349

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

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

NHTSA ID

10186030

Incident

Feb 3, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON HAD XTERRA FOR ONLY 26 DAYS FIND OUT IT IS EMISSIONS PROBLEM NO HELP FROM DEALER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172316

Incident

Oct 31, 2006

Mileage

29,000 mi

PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET ON 2002 NISSAN XTERRA 4WD. CAR IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE COOLANT AND ONLY 3 YRS OLD. NISSAN DEALER WANTS SOMEWHERE AROUND $3000 TO REPAIR. NISSAN USA MANUFACTURER OF VEHICLE HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY CANNOT ASSIST ME. CAR NOW HAS ONLY 70,000 MILES BUT THE PROBLEM EXISTED WAY BEFORE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY SMELLED ANTI-FREEZE LEAK WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE BUT THEY NEVER PUT IT IN WRITING AND NEVER MENTIONED IT AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141366

Incident

Oct 9, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED HAD A COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM RADIATOR TO HER ENGINE. SHE WENT ON THE WEBSITE AND FOUND A COUPLE OF SERVICE BULLETINS, NHTSA ITEM 631329, AND 633628 THAT RELATED TO THE COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. CURRENTLY, WAS HAVING ANOTHER COOLANT PROBLEM, AND SHE WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON WEDNESDAY. SHE WAS LOSING COOLANT, BUT SHE SAW NO SIGN OF A LEAK. SHE ASSUMED THAT IT WAS A LEAK WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 1-05, AND SHE TOOK IT TO DEALER ON 1-11-05 TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL COOLANT PROBLEM FIXED ,AND HAD TO PAY $946.36 FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10133538

Incident

Jan 15, 2005

Mileage

70,267 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 65 MPH, ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING SUDDENLY, OIL LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE STOPPED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED AN ENGINE I ASKED WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID SLUDGE GOT IN THE ENGINE CAUSED IT TO SEIZE UP, THEY DID NOT DETERMINE HOW THE SLUDGE GOT IN THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116581

Incident

Mar 28, 2005

Mileage

54,428 mi

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE RESTART FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10107508

Incident

Jan 18, 2005

I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE OF MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES JUST SHUT DOWN AND CAUSED DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING AND BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. *AK I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. IT APPEAR THE DEALER KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM JUST BY SPEAKING TO ME ON THE TELEPHONE. AFTER A DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT WITH THE EXTREME DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE AND AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER XTERRA OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS NOT DOING A PROACTIVE ROLE AND RECALLING THIS PART IF IT IS PRONE TO SUCH FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10068474

Incident

May 7, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10045198

Incident

Jul 4, 2003

Mileage

19,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

8017998

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

NHTSA ID

762979

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

NHTSA ID

8008792

Incident

Mar 12, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

8008790

Incident

Mar 12, 2002