NISSAN XTERRA · model year

2002 NISSAN XTERRA

214 NHTSA complaints, 33 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002NISSANXTERRA carries 214 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 33 crashes, 12 fires, 55 injuries, and 48 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 XTERRA is steering with 18 filings, followed by air bags (12) and unknown or other (11). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 2002 XTERRA, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

214
Complaints
33
Crashes
12
Fires
55
Injuries
48
Deaths

Total Complaints

214 filings

Crashes Reported

33 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING18
AIR BAGS12
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
SERVICE BRAKES8
ENGINE8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE7
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
SUSPENSION6
TIRES6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC6

Recalls (6)

03V06100027/02/2003

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY COME LOOSE. IF THE CONNECTOR COMES LOOSE, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY.

04V23000024/05/2004

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SIX CYLINDER ENGINES AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOUR OR SIX CYLINDER ENGINES, THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT CAN DEVELOP A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TERMINAL STRIP TO CORRODE UNDER SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDIT

06E02600023/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D

02V29900012/11/2002

SUSPENSION:REAR

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR AXLE HOUSING DUE TO INADEQUATE SEALING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR.

02V29800012/11/2002

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGER, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS FULL THROTTLE IN LOW GEAR WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT FULLY WARMED UP AND AT COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, THE AMOUNT OF INTAKE AIR FLOW THROUGH THE AIR FLOW METER MAY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM PRESET

10V55400011/11/2010

STEERING:COLUMN

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MO

Recent Complaints

20250708CrashFireFatalBACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

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 a

20250708CrashFireFatalBACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

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 a

20250708CrashFireFatalLANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

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 a

20241205SEAT BELTS

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.

Mileage: 164,000

20210425WHEELS

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 MENTI

Mileage: 205,000

20210306CrashAIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 155,000

20210306CrashSTEERING

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.

Mileage: 155,000

20210301SERVICE BRAKES

LOSES PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVING SIDEWAYS

20210301POWER TRAIN

LOSES PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVING SIDEWAYS

20210301FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

LOSES PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVING SIDEWAYS

20201229UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SERVICE ENGINE SOON

20200814SERVICE BRAKES

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

Mileage: 188,000

20200814ENGINE

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

Mileage: 188,000

20200814VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Mileage: 188,000

20200814ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TIRES ARE RECALLED AND CAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER TO REGISTER SLOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED

Mileage: 188,000

20200814WHEELS

TIRES ARE RECALLED AND CAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER TO REGISTER SLOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED

Mileage: 188,000

20200802CrashSERVICE BRAKES

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.

Mileage: 131,058

20190610CrashSTEERING

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

20190118CrashSERVICE BRAKES

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.

Mileage: 190,000

20180218STEERING

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

Mileage: 144,000

Compare 2002NISSANXTERRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 NISSAN XTERRA have?
The 2002 NISSAN XTERRA has 214 NHTSA complaints, 33 crashes, 12 fires, 55 injuries, and 48 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 NISSAN XTERRA?
Yes, the 2002 NISSAN XTERRA has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 NISSAN XTERRA?
The most-complained component for the 2002 NISSAN XTERRA is STEERING with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2002 NISSAN XTERRA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.