15.4% of complaints about the 2002 Nissan Xterra came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (21 complaints), typically at 9.6 yr or about 100,000 miles.
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.
THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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 DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
IF CORROSION OCCURS, THE TERMINAL STRIP COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP OPERATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
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.
THIS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM TO GO INTO THE FAILSAFE MODE. UNDER THIS CONDITION, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE AND ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT EXCEED 2400 RPM REGARDLESS OF THE THROTTLE POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. UPON DIAGNOSTIC READING, THE SAID THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IF INDICATOR STARTED BLINKING AGAIN. THE LIGHT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR THE REST OF THAT DAY, BUT THE LIGHT STARTED BLICKING AGAIN AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED.
WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER DRIVER SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK *YH. THERE WERE 2 INJURIES.*JG
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
VEHICLE DIED UPON ACCELERATION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID AIR CONTROL VALVE HAD SHUTDOWN. DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM. THREE WEEKS LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ENGINE FAILS TO A DEFAULT SPEED OF ABOUT 15 MPH. THE DEALER DESCRIBED AS AN ERROR IN COMPUTER ENGINE CONTROL. *YH