2002 NISSAN XTERRA Complaints

VEHICLE: 2002 NISSAN XTERRA SE TAIL LIGHTS, FRONT SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, DASH PANEL ILLUMINATION FAILED DUE TO WIRE CHAFING BEHIND DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT MARKER LIGHT. THE BACK OF THE BULB SOCKET FOR THE FRONT SIDE MARKER LIGHT PINCHES IT'S CONNECTION WIRE AGAINST THE HEAD OF A 10MM SCREW LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE BULB SOCKET. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BULB SOCKET AND THE CHASSIS SCREW. THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT IS MOUNTED IN THE TOP EDGE OF THE FRONT BUMPER WHERE IT WRAPS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BUMPER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS NOT SMOOTH, WHICH CAUSES THE WIRE TO BE RUBBED AGAINST THE HEAD OF THE CHASSIS SCREW, WHICH WEARS THE INSULATION FROM THE WIRE AND RESULTS IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT BETWEEN THE DAMAGED WIRE AND THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SHARE THE FUSE WHICH ALSO PROTECTS THE TAIL LIGHTS, SO WHEN THE SHORT OCCURS THE TAIL LIGHTS BECOME INOPERATIVE. UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM, MY DAUGHTER HAD TO DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT WITHOUT TAIL LIGHTS ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, SHE WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE HER TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I INSPECTED THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT ON THE OPPOSITE (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT WAS MUCH MORE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BULB SOCKET AND THE CHASSIS. *JB

2002 XTERRA DIED WHILE DRIVING. FUEL SENDER CORRODED AT THE PUMP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED NISSAN DEALER IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE FREE. THE CONSUMER PROCEED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE BY HER LOCAL MECHANIC INSTEAD. *JB

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

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS A REAR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON BEFORE THE CRASH TO INDICATE AIR BAG FAILURE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE ALSO HIT A FIRE HYDRANT. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

ELECTRIC WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING, WINDOW STAYS IN THE OPEN POSITION, RIGHT FRONT WAS REPAIRED, RIGHT REAR ALSO BROKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER, NOT YET REPAIRED, WINDOWS ARE RARELY USED SO THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR OR MILEAGE FACTOR, DEALER SAID MANUFACTURER WOULD COVER UP TO 60K SO NISSAN KNOWS THE PART IS DEFECTIVE (THEY SELL AN "ALL-WINDOW" REPAIR KIT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL ALL FAIL), A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE REPAIRED EQUALLY FOR ALL OWNERS. *NM

DT: 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONSUMER STATES ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2005 VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT, AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO CORRECT IT, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. IT WAS RAINING AND THE ROAD WAS WET. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE MEDIAN WALL ON THE TURNPIKE. THE VEHICLE TURNED OVER AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, AND THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED, NO ONE HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR ABRASIONS ON LEGS AND ARMS, WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN TOE ,AND BACK AND BREASTS WERE BOTHERING HER. *AK

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

FRONT CALIPERS SEIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY ON MY 2002 X-TERRA 4X4. REPAIRS DONE AT PEP BOYS IN MARCH 2005. TEAM NISSAN STATED THERE WERE NO TSB'S OR RECALLS ON THE FRONT BRAKES, ALTHOUGH OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR INSTANCES. EVEN PEP BOYS SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY HAVE REPAIRED SEVERAL X-TERRAS WITH THE SAME BRAKE CONDITION.

HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP (EAST TN NISSAN, KNOXVILLE) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION ALL OVER VEHICLE. HEAR INTERMITTENT WHISTLING NOISE--CANNOT TELL IF COMING FROM FRONT OR REAR. I SUGGESTED TO THEM IT MIGHT BE A WHEEL BEARING. DEALERSHIP INSISTS NOT. THEY HAD ME TAKE VEHICLE TO LOCAL TIRE DEALER (TIRES PLUS, 4901 CLINTON HWY., KNOXVILLE, TN 37912) AFTER TELLING ME THE TIRES WERE OUT-OF-ROUND (SERVICE REP. SAID "VIBRATION DUE TO HIGH ROAD FORCE."). HOWEVER, LOCAL TIRE DEALER CLAIMED EAST TN NISSAN DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO BALANCE A TIRE AND SAID TIRES WERE NOT OUT OF ROUND. THEY BALANCED TIRES AND SENT ME ON MY WAY--DID SAY THEY WOULD "SELL ME A DIFFERENT TIRE AT A PRORATED PRICE." THIS IS "BUNK" AFTER PAYING NEARLY $30,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE! VIBRATION CONTINUES AND IS WORSENING!!! DEALERSHIP OFFERS NOTHING TOWARD HELPING ME GET REPLACEMENT TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE! I AM AFRAID THEY EITHER DID NOT REALLY DO THE RECALL ON THE REAR HOUSING AND ARE JERKING ME AROUND OR ELSE THAT TIRES (OR POSSIBLY WHEELS!) ARE OUT-OF-ROUND, AND THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY!