This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Xterra. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the wires underneath the steering column were burnt. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 204,391.
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.
The dashboard lights, headlights all went off at night while the vehicle was being driven. The consumer pulled off the road, replaced a fuse and continued on. One weeks later, the fuse blew again. The dealer found the right front wiring harness marker was rubbing against the frame and it had shorted out.
I have serious electrical malfunction with my 2002 Nissan Xterra. The electrical short causes my amp to blow and stereo to die. I have brought my truck in over 7 times (*currently in dealership's serv dept for exact same problem) and my truck has been "out of service" for 23 days (*currently in dealership's serv dept as we speak) since the problem originally occurred.there has never been a problem found w/in my electrical system or stereo, only amps and fuses replaced (7 times and counting).
- Burbank, IL, USA
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I purchased a brand new 2002 Nissan Xterra vehicle in November 2001. The vehicle was purchased at the pacific Nissan dealership in san diego, California. My wife and children went on an outing on easter Sunday. While at lunch, 5-15 minutes go buy and a person inquires about a parked Xterra on fire. To my wife's horror it was our Xterra with the widows up and flames/smoke coming from the dash/steering column area. My insurance and the fire marshal determined the fire appeared to be an electrical short/arching and no other apparent sources of ignition were present. The vehicle was determined to be a total loss. I had the vehicle towed to pacific Nissan where I purchased it and have maintained their recommended routine service. The service management questioned why the vehicle was brought over to the service department and not to their body shop. I explained the body shop sent us over to the service department. He explained to he could not do anything and that I would have to contact my insurance. I questioned him why I have to suffer going through my insurance when this was obviously a manufacturer defect and my vehicle was still under the basic warranty. Knowing I was not getting anywhere with this guy, I requested a phone number for customer service and he explained to me that they would only refer me back to him. I am confused on what I should do. Should I pay the deductible and hope my insurance will pay the whole amount owed on my vehicle" should I get a lawyer" no matter what I am still out a vehicle and have to, in one way or another, pay for some out of pocket expenses. I have contacted the Nissan Consumer Affairs depart. And they explained to me they would have to look into it. The customer affairs rep. Did inform me that there was a recall on their air bag module, but he was not sure what could happen. I have also, in the past, taken in this vehicle in to the service department to replace a gasket in the axle area because it was dripping fluid.
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- Pleasant Lake, IN, USA