2002 Nissan Xterra Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 7%of 157 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 147,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2002 Nissan Xterra, 7% of the 157 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 147,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Unable to control speed and battery keeps dying even though battery and alternator test good. When driving at low speed I cannot accelerate gradually, the car revs really hard and pulls hard when trying to increase speed. Once I drive for about 20 minutes and pickup speed the brakes are loose and hard to come to a stop, and the pedal does not respond when accelerating or reducing speed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10958662, filed 2017-03, 147,000 miles“When driving it is impossible to accelerate to normal speed even when pressing pedal to the floor, when I try to accelerate past 15 MPH the engine revs really hard and jerks as if it is about to stall. I stalled out on the freeway without warning. It is hard to control speed when tryin to increase or decrease acceleration. The pedal feels inconsistent with the throttle and/ or RPM and is very hazardous. …”
NHTSA complaint #10958658, filed 2017-03, 147,000 miles“After shifting into reverse, with one foot on the clutch, and one foot on the brake still, my Xterra begins accelerating in reverse though my feet were on the clutch and brake only. My Xterra's brakes only stopped my vehicle after shifting into neutral and then turning off the engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10777894, filed 2015-09, 150,641 miles“I purchased a used Xterra about 6 months ago. I was pulling into a parking spot in a shopping mall at a low speed when the engine suddenly went into a high whining rev and the vehicle lurched forward and took off out of control. Before coming to a stop it ran into four other parked cars. I was as it had a mind of its own. This has never happened to me in all my years of driving only american made cars. The Nissan is the only foreign car I have owned and will likely be the last after this episode.”
NHTSA complaint #10713773, filed 2015-04, 96,000 miles“I was entering a parking spot at my normal slow speed when suddenly the engine went into an extremely high rev and the Xterra made a sudden lunge forward. In a matter of seconds it slammed into a number of other parked cars. It was as if it had a mind of its own. I can only guess it was a stuck gas pedal, stuck throttle or stuck accelerator. Over the years I have had nothing but american cars, the last several were caravans with no issues of this type. This Nissan is the first foreign car that I have purchased.”
NHTSA complaint #10712178, filed 2015-04, 101,000 milesRelated recalls
- 02V298000Nov 12, 2002On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with a supercharger, under certain conditions, such as full throttle in low gear when the engine…Covers: Nissan Xterra 2002, Frontier 2002
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 10% |
| 2010 | 1 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 5% |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% |
| 2007 | 7 | 1% |
| 2006 | 14 | 2% |
| 2005 | 12 | 1% |
| 2004 | 3 | 4% |
| 2003 | 3 | 4% |
| 2002 | 11 | 7% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 2000 | 9 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2002 Nissan Xterra
28 complaintsEngine cooling
24 complaintsSteering
22 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsSuspension
13 complaintsOther or unknown
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 31, 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