10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,770 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2002 Nissan Xterra steering problems

steering problem

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2002 Nissan Xterra Owner Comments

problem #18

Mar 042021

Xterra

  • 155,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #17

May 302019

Xterra 6-cyl

  • miles
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.

- Milledgeville, GA, USA

problem #16

Feb 182018

Xterra

  • 144,000 miles
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

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #15

Aug 012011

Xterra

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Turn the wheel all the way to right or left. Hear a dreadful grinding sound as if the axle is going to snap in half.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #14

Oct 082014

Xterra 4WD 6-cyl

  • 131,000 miles
I was driving my Xterra home and all at once it got loud and a smell of sulfur came out stopped by local shop (monroe) they looked at it and after they all had their laugh said" omg we cannot believe someone sold this truck in this shape" 1) the pipe at the converter broke,2) the rust and rot is horrid3) the cob job this so called mechanic did again wow4) the steering is tightening up on me periodically and making it unsafe for me to drive and control the truck. 5 ) gas problems6) code lights you name IT7) the running boards broke off little each day something breaks or goes wrong with it.my grandkids are in this truck daily it is not safe. If there is a recall on the power steering I would like it checked but I would also like to turn this guy in no excuse for this type of work when your selling cars.

- Marcellus, NY, USA

problem #13

Oct 042014

Xterra

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was included in recall NHTSA campaign number: 10V554000 (steering). The failure mileage was 125,000.

- Aliquippa, PA, USA

problem #12

Jun 152014

Xterra 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought the car from hertz, thecar had been in a accident before I bought it. I did not find out about the accident until after I bought the car. The car tires could not stay aligned, the headlights were shooting up about 15 feet off the ground, there is paint splatter on the inside of the car motor, paint splatter on the outside by the guards tire, and you can see paint on the hood by the window on the right side, the toe hook on the right side looks to be new.there is a paint line on the inside of engine compartment, the hood is new, there isno rubber mount on the hood arm that hold the hook up. Over spray on the left drivers door.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #11

Sep 182013

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 85,607 miles
I was approaching the 'on' ramp when Xterra pulled to side then flipped over 3X.there are 4 recalls;3 may have contributed to rollover.

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #10

May 272011

Xterra

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that after having recall repairs performed under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V554000 (steering:column), the vehicle became difficult to steer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the gear box was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who offered to take liability for the repair parts. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 102,000.

- Comfort , TX, USA

problem #9

May 092011

Xterra 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles
Nissan is saying I have to get recall work done at dealer. Juneau, Alaska does not have a Nissan dealer and there are no roads out of juneau.

- Juneau, AK, USA

problem #8

Jan 042011

Xterra

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact previously owned a 2002 Nissan Xterra. The contact was driving approximately 15 mph when the steering wheel became resistant to movement. The contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and crashed into a residential home. The contact sustained a dislocated shoulder and her head struck and penetrated the front windshield. The vehicle was destroyed and a police report was available. The contact later received notification of a recall for the steering under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V554000 (steering:column). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- East Orange, NJ, USA

problem #7

Jan 052011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that she received a recall notice in regards to NHTSA campaign id number (10V554000-steering:column). After taking the vehicle to the dealer they advised her that they do not manufacturer that part anymore; therefore, they were unable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired for the steering column. The failure and current mileages were approximately 102,000. Updated 03/07/11 the consumer stated the repairs have been made. Updated 05/06/11

- Hays, NC, USA

problem #6

Sep 052005

Xterra

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #5

May 202004

Xterra

  • 47,000 miles
While driving 30 mph steering wheel pulled to the right. Consumer managed to pull over vehicle, and had it towed to the dealership, but dealership did not resolve the problem.

- Massapequa, NY, USA

problem #4

Mar 072003

Xterra 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,755 miles
My 2002 Nissan Xterra 4X2 steering was designed to not return to center on its own after making a sharp turn either right or left at slow speeds. I discovered this by almost running into a fence after turning out of a driveway into the right lane. This occurs every time...pulling into a parking place is a real challange to keep from ramming the car next to me. My dealer admits they all do it with no correction avaliable.

- Guerneville, CA, USA

problem #3

May 202003

Xterra 4WD

  • miles
This is a very solid, and stable vehicle in the snow and ice, (with studded snow tires, all season radials only work in Florida) it handles well, and performs nicely for a small SUV. The only complaints that I have with this vehicle, is that the ride is a bit rough. And it is a bit uncomfortable for taller people on long rides. To those that are complaining about the vehicle pulling to the left and right. Cure #1, get the car aligned. #2, check the road you are driving on, the track width on the Xterra is narrow, it may be catching a groove in the road. #3 check the tire pressures, to complaints about the braking....... have the brakes checked, rotors, pads, or calipers could be sticking.

- East Montpelier, VT, USA

problem #2

Dec 092002

Xterra 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,500 miles
While driving vehicle pulls to the right or left. Also, when braking it tends to pull on either side making it hard to control.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #1

Sep 242002

Xterra

  • miles
Consumer states that while driving and without warning the steering wheel will pull to the right and it will be hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. Dealer notified.

- Troy, NY, USA

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