RoadVitals

2002 Nissan Xterra Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
13
Latest Apr 22, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 157 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 13 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.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Apr 22, 2008

THE MAIN LEAF SPRING IN THE REAR SUSPENSION SHEARED OFF NEXT TO THE AXLE WHILE DRIVING. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR AND THE TOTAL LOAD IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 100LBS. THE SPRING CAUGHT ON THE BRAKE LINE AS IT BROKE. MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10225365
Incident
Apr 22, 2008
Mileage
117,950 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 16, 2006

THE VEHICLE LEFT A COUPLE LARGE PUDDLES WHILE PARKED. DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A COMPLETELY FAILED REAR SHOCK, DUE TO CORROSION, AND RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OR RISK DIMINISHED HANDLING. AT 37,500 MI, THE 2002 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY SO BOTH REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10147839
Incident
Jan 10, 2006
Mileage
37,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 8, 2004

RIGHT REAR SHOCK BROKE WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AT 80,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081565
Incident
Jun 27, 2004
Mileage
80,800 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 5, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10022484
Incident
Jun 5, 2003
Suspension
Filed May 21, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10019082
Incident
Mar 21, 2003
SteeringSuspension
Filed May 20, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10019029
Incident
May 20, 2003
SteeringSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Apr 1, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10013792
Incident
Dec 9, 2002
Mileage
2,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 1, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10013788
Incident
May 21, 2002
Mileage
250 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 9, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10010184
Incident
Mar 6, 2003
Mileage
32,600 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 23, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
567987
Incident
Jun 21, 2002
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Aug 5, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8015449
Incident
Jun 5, 2002
Suspension
Filed Jun 11, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8011460
Incident
May 31, 2002
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Apr 10, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8007282

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .