Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Xterra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling24
- Steering22
- Air bags19
- Electrical system13
- Suspension13
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Unknown or other11
- Vehicle speed control11
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Service brakes8
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 28 injuries and 17 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 30 2002 Xterra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 20 people died inside them, and 9 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Nissan Xterra failed the safety check 2.31% of the time — 15% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 162,556 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 14.9–16.0 L/100 km (about 15–16 mpg US), CO₂ 343–368 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xterra V6 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.0 | 13.7 | 14.9 |
| Xterra V6 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.9 | 13.3 | 15.3 |
| Xterra V6 4X4 # · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.2 | 13.8 | 15.7 |
| Xterra V6 4X4 # · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.7 | 13.9 | 16.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Nissan Xterra.
| 2010402 12 Nov 2010 | Steering On certain vehicles, corrosion may form in the lower steering column joint and limit the movement of the joint. Limited movement of this joint may create exces… |
| 2004151 6 May 2004 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel pump terminal on the fuel sending unit can develop a crack. When exposed to heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, if r… |
| 2003045 21 Feb 2003 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the clockspring electrical connector may not be fully secured to the driver side air bag module squib pin connector due to the retaining gr… |
| 2002206 13 Nov 2002 | Brakes On certain four wheel drive vehicles, water may enter the rear axle housing due to inadequate sealing of the ABS sensor in the axle housing. This may result in… |
| 2002204 13 Nov 2002 | Engine On certain supercharged vehicles, the amount of intake air flow through the air flow meter may exceed the maximum preset diagnosis limit value which would cause… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
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 CONDITIONS.
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.
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.
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 DIAGNOSIS LIMIT VALUE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Nissan told its dealers about the 2002 Nissan Xterra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635795 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 635792 | ON SOME VEHICLES, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1491 SET. *TT |
| 633677 | SUBJECT REGARDING ABS WARNING LIGHT DIMLY LIT. *JG |
| 633652 | SUBJECT REGARDING DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT DIMLY LIT. *JG |
| 633628 | SUBJECT REGARDING COOLANT LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD WATER OUTLET. *JG |
| 633592 | SUBJECT REGARDING DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FLOOR CARPET TORN. *JG |
| 631339 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JG |
| 631329 | SUBJECT REGARDING COOLANT LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD WATER OUTLET. *JG |
| 630981 | SUBJECT REGARDING VG33 SUPERCHARGER MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0103 WITH LOW POWER. *JG |
| 630816 | INFORMATION ON VG33 SUPERCHARGER MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0103 WITH LOW POWER.*JB |
| 630810 | CONCERNS WITH MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JB |
| 629507 | SUBJECT REGARDING KNOCKING NOISE ABOVE IDLE (800-1100 RPM). *YD |
| 629492 | SUBJECT REGARDING BEARING NOISE FROM TRANSFER CASE AREA. *YD |
| 629483 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH DTC P1491.*YD |
| 629206 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0130 STORED, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *TT |
| 629197 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR BAG WARNING LAMP FLASHING AND DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE (SHORT) CODE STORED. *TT |
| 628223 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. *JG |
| 628209 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE STEERING PULL DURING BRAKING. *JG |
| 627449 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR BAG WARNING LAMP IS FLASHING AND DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE [SHORT] CODE STORED. *JG |
| 627444 | SUBJECT REGARDING VG33 SUPER CHARGER MALFUNCTIONINDICATOR LAMP |
| 627440 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING PULL DURING BRAKING. *JG |
| 11004962 | VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 11001201 | WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 11001194 | REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 11001191 | WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE
DRIVER'S AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE
DRIVER'S AIR BAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation