2002 Nissan Xterra engine problems
32 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2002 Nissan Xterra, which is 15% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 32 15% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 89,000 miles 17 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When engine problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 17 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 89,000 miles, and 35% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 fires.
What owners wrote
2002 nissan xterra, unit 1 was traveling eastbound on the ohio turnpike when the engine caught fire. (ohio traffic crash report # 10-0086-91) updated 03/29/11
The distributor has ball bearings under the solenoid and photo for cam sensor that comes apart and goes every where internally. It caused me to go off the highway and almost got hit by a trucker when it completely stopped my car with out warning of any kind on the highway. There was no sensor indicator until I turned the car off and it only registered the crankshaft sensor after the car was turned of an on to figure out what was wrong. It almost caused my whole electrical system to burn out as well.