2002 Nissan Xterra Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 14%of 157 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 96,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the steering of the 2002 Nissan Xterra, 14% of the 157 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 96,000 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11399557, filed 2021-03, 155,000 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”
NHTSA complaint #11073475, filed 2018-02, 144,000 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10025634, filed 2003-07, 13,755 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10079640, filed 2004-06, 47,000 miles“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…”
NHTSA complaint #10633284, filed 2014-09Related recalls
- 10V554000Nov 11, 2010Nissan is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 frontier vehicles manufactured from july 9, 2001 through october 20, 2004, and model year 2002-2004, xterra…Covers: Nissan Xterra 2002–2004, Frontier 2002–2004
Related service bulletins
- 10243708Sep 21, 2023DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10232652Feb 22, 2023DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10192217Jul 23, 2013If YOU CONFIRM: A vehicle needs to have the brake rotors resurfaced (front or rear). ACTION: Use the ProCut PFM Series on-car brake lathe to perform brake rotor resurfacing and…
- 10192216Jul 23, 2013SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | 10% |
| 2011 | 1 | 4% |
| 2010 | 2 | 5% |
| 2007 | 6 | 1% |
| 2006 | 22 | 3% |
| 2005 | 10 | 1% |
| 2004 | 20 | 24% |
| 2003 | 12 | 17% |
| 2002 | 22 | 14% |
| 2001 | 6 | 4% |
| 2000 | 6 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2002 Nissan Xterra
28 complaintsEngine cooling
24 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsSuspension
13 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsTires
7 complaintsEquipment
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Nissan Xterra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology