2002 Nissan Xterra reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Nissan Xterra — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 214
- 7 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 18 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 33 reported crashes · 55 injuries · 48 deaths · 12 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,426
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Nissan median
-8
median 222 across 220 Nissan records
Vs 2000-2004
-39
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
8%
Steering: 18 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Nissan Xterra
- STEERING 18
- AIR BAGS 12
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10
- SERVICE BRAKES 8
1 recall on record for the 2002 Nissan Xterra
- NHTSA 10V554000 · 2010 · STEERING:COLUMN THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Nissan Xterra
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Nissan Xterra units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Nissan Xterra reliable?
NHTSA has 214 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Nissan Xterra and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is steering (18 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Nissan Xterra units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Xterra?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (18), air bags (12), unknown or other (11), vehicle speed control (10). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Nissan Xterra?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.