2002 NISSAN XTERRA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

MY 2002 XTERRA ENGINE STALLS WHEN AT IDLE SPEED, IT STARTS BACK BUT WILL STALL ALMOST EVERYTIME I STOP AT A LIGHT,STOP SIGN OR IN TRAFFIC. ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND THERE IS NO CODES. I SPOKE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT A RECALL ON THE 2004 MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE IPDM RELAY, THEY SAID THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MINE. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO SAID THERE IS AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN FOR THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2002 MODEL. I HAVE ALREADY HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR THIS PROBLEM HAD SPARK PLUGS,DISTRIBUTOR,PLUG WIRES,FUEL FILTER ,MAF SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED $1300.00 LATER I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB

Mileage: 90,000

2002 NISSAN XTERRA, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0086-91) UPDATED 03/29/11 *BF

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND ANTIFREEZE LEAK. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

BOTH OF THE VEHICLES EXHAUST MANIFOLDS HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS AND HAD TO BE REPLACES BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE DRIVERS CABIN. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH 00-02 NISSAN XTERRAS . NISSAN CHANGED THE MANIFOLD DESIGN IN 03 WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RECALL OR COMPENSATE CONSUMERS FOR THE ISSUE IN PRIOR MODELS. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE IS CRACKED ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER AREA. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG NISSAN XTERRA OWNERS. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, PURCHASED OIL AND PUT IT INTO THE VEHICLE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD TRIPLE AAA TOW THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS DIESEL FUEL MIXED WITH GAS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL SYSTEM TO BE FLUSHED, AND THE OIL CHANGED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, AND THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED. THE DEALER HAD THE CONTACTS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AND PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE, FLUSHED THE FUEL TANK, AND FUEL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ,WENT DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET AND PURCHASED HIGH OCTANE GAS. THE VEHICLE RAN LONG ENOUGH FOR HIM TO GO ACROSS THE STREET, GOT THE GAS AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS IT DID BEFORE THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER , WHERE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC HAD TO BE DONE, AND THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC SHOULD HAVE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A PROBLEM, AND THAT NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD EVER INDICATED THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST, AND THE PROBLEMS BEGAN AT THE END OF JANUARY. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IF THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE OIL IT WAS PURCHASED THAT WAY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 50,000.*AK THE DEALER STATES TAG LIGHT NOT WORKING AND CD PLAYER NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INFORMATION FROM CARFAX AND A REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 06/08/07 *TR

Mileage: 50,000

HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON HAD XTERRA FOR ONLY 26 DAYS FIND OUT IT IS EMISSIONS PROBLEM NO HELP FROM DEALER. *NM

Mileage: 29,000

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

Mileage: 40,000

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

Mileage: 70,267

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 65 MPH, ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING SUDDENLY, OIL LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE STOPPED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED AN ENGINE I ASKED WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID SLUDGE GOT IN THE ENGINE CAUSED IT TO SEIZE UP, THEY DID NOT DETERMINE HOW THE SLUDGE GOT IN THE ENGINE. *AK

Mileage: 54,428

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE RESTART FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE OF MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES JUST SHUT DOWN AND CAUSED DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING AND BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. *AK I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. IT APPEAR THE DEALER KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM JUST BY SPEAKING TO ME ON THE TELEPHONE. AFTER A DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT WITH THE EXTREME DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE AND AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER XTERRA OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS NOT DOING A PROACTIVE ROLE AND RECALLING THIS PART IF IT IS PRONE TO SUCH FAILURE.

Mileage: 50,000

ENGINE MAKES LOUD "WHISTLING" SOUND; ENGINE DEFINITELY LOST POWER OVER THE LAST YEAR; WILL NOT GO OVER 70-75 MPH; MAKES LOUD WHINING/GRINDING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING GEARS; PULLS TO THE RIGHT ALL THE WHILE DRIVING; USING AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF GAS. (CONSUMER CAN ALSO BE EMAILED AT [email protected]) *LA

Mileage: 19,000

THE OWNERS OF THIS TRUCK LIVE 6500 FEET ABOVE ELEVATION. THE TRUCK WILL LOSE POWER OR WILL NOT MAINTAIN MODERATE SPEED. THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE TRUCK WAS TOO HEAVY FOR THAT SIZE ENGINE TO DEAL WITH THAT KIND OF ALTITUDE. TWO OTHER DEALERS IN THE AREA ALSO CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*JB

THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED, 10 MONTHS OLD AND I AM SCARED TO TAKE IT ON A THE HIGHWAY, WASTE OF MONEY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND LEFT. ALSO WHEN BRAKING IT HAS A PULLING EFFECT. IN ADDITION, HAD PROBLEM WITH TIRES. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS TEMPERATURE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CD PLAYER MAKES NOISE AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. THE A/C SHORTED OUT. THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MADE NOISE WHEN ROLLING UP AND DOWN. CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND LEFT. ALSO WHEN BRAKING IT HAS A PULLING EFFECT. IN ADDITION, HAD PROBLEM WITH TIRES. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS TEMPERATURE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CD PLAYER MAKES NOISE AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. THE A/C SHORTED OUT. THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MADE NOISE WHEN ROLLING UP AND DOWN. CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *YH

THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON ACCELERATION UP TO 60 MPH UPON PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER LOSING POWER, THE CAR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH WITH HESITATION AND COULD MAINTAIN A SPEED OF ONLY 30 MPH. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR MALFUNCTION. DEALER RE-SET E.C.U. AND SO FAR, PROBLEM HAS NOT REPEATED. POWER WINDOW PROBLEM OCCURS ON DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW. THE WINDOW GOES DOWN AT NORMAL SPEED BUT COMES UP VERY SLOWLY WITH INTERMITTENT STOPS. FIRST TIME PROBLEM REPORTED TO DEALER, DEALER LUBED WINDOW TRACK. PROBLEM PERSISTED, SO WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO ORDERED A NEW RUBBER WINDOW CASING.

TURNED ON VEHICLE IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK. ENGINE CHECK SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. DROPPED VEHICLE OFF AT DEALERSHIP. SAY IT IS THE PURGE VOLUME CONTROL VALVE BUT THEY CANNOT GET THE COMPUTER TO RESET WITH THEIR COMPUTER IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. STATED THEY MAY NEED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE MORE THAN ONE DAY.

ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE THE LAST OF JANUARY 2002. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH TRUCK. ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE GOING ABOUT 60 MPH. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON A MAIN HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. VEHICLE WAS COSTED TO SIDE OF ROAD, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *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

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. EVERYTIME VEHICLE HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO KEEP ENGINE LIGHT FROM COMING ON. *AK