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Nissan Xterra - Multiple Problems

Nissan Xterra • Engine Problems • Brake Problems • Defective Gas Shutter Valve • Wheel Bearings • Overseas Military Warranty • Just Falling Apart --- • Other Nissan Products

Bob of Tyrone PA (4/30/03):
Xterra is junk -- leaking fluid from rear and front axle (5 times). Weather strip falls off back door, paint is bubbling off of trunk, when I tow a small boat the whole car shimmies.

Randall of Kingsport TN (9/5/03):
2002 Xterra, 5 front end alignments, 2 rear differentials, sticks in 4 wheel, a/c 3 times, new tires on front, replaced rear seat cover, pop in right front, ride height changes as much as an inch on right side, it at this time needs another rear differential, front end alignment, pop in right front still there, the 4 wheel drive has started to pop when you back up. Nissan tells me that this is all normal. I have 10,000 miles on the vehicle.

I have filed a complaint with the BBB and the case is due to come up the week of the 15th of Sept. 2003. Nissan offered a 100,000-mile warranty for me to settle, my answer was no.

John of Framingham MA (9/3/03):
I have a problem which absolutely boggles the mind, so I'll try to do my best to explain it as clearly as I can. I own a Nissan Xterra (2001) that is 2 years old and was purchased new from a dealership. Now on the roof of the Xterra are two tubular rails that are the base for the roof rack. There is a wind deflector and a basket which you put on said roof rack (note that these come with the care and are OEM).

The wind deflector and the roof rack are secured using a total of 6 screws that you turn by hand. So here's the problem. One of these screws broke off in my hand as I was trying to remove it and I discovered that the screw's threading and the threading in the roof rack tube were covered in rust. Upon examinining the rest of the screws, I found similar results. Now, I took it to a local Nissan dealer to have the broken screw removed. To make a long, extremely frustrating story short, they told me that they could not remove the screw, charged me $37, and told me that the only remedy was to purchase 2 new roof rack rails (at a total cost of about $350). All of this because of a broken $2 screw (see what I mean by mind boggling).

At any rate, whay makes this more infuriating is that I had purchased the extended warranty for about $1500 and the rust damage that caused the screw to break is not covered. So right now, I am an extrememly disgruntled Nissan owner and cannot say enough bad things about their customer service. I am horribly dissapointed with the company (I had a similar experience in the past, which was much less expensive to take care of) and right now I regret having purchased a Nissan.

Daniel of Staten Island NY (8/22/03):
I recently brought my truck in for service to Sansone Auto Mall as i usually do because my Xterra is a lemon. I needed a new seat belt, power window motor, just to name a few. What struck me the worst was that when I was driving home my hood was shaking like crazy. I pulled over to check the problem and was shocked to find what I did. Someone physically removed the 2 bushing or rubber stops that keep the hood resting when shut. I returned the next day and Roger played it off like it was a simple mistake. It is unbelievable to think that when you bring your car in for service, they end up removing parts from your vehicle. I had to miss a days work and drive my car with the hood shaking like crazy because of their incompetence.

Carollyn of Lilburn GA (10/17/02):
In the first week of owning my Nissan Xterra the wheel had to be replaced. Before I reached 20K miles the rear end went out on my car and I lost a week with my car. The dealership (Boomershine Nissan) did not offer another mode of transportation but instead I was able to borrow a car to go back and forth to work. I have had numerous complaints about the speakers, and the rear window on the passenger side of the vehicle. I was told by Boomershine Nissan that they could not service these types of complaints on Saturdays. I would need to drop my car off during the week to have these things looked at and find other means of transportation.

Finally I have my car at the dealership now for a rattling noise which they tell me if caused by the exhaust pipe bracket. The bracket itself is apparently broken. They do not have any explanation and have not seen this happen in a car this new. They say it is unusual. My problem is that I am out of my 36M mile warranty and I have a serious problem that does not happen in such a new car. I am forced to pay $338.69 out of pocket to have my car fixed. I am concerned that their may be other problems with the vehicle that should not happen at 42M miles.

David of Corpus Christi TX (9/11/02):
I had a Nissan 2000 Xterra and I had so many problems with the vehicle that Nissan traded me for a 2001 model Xterra. However, it has giving me more problems then the first. I have already taken it to the Dealership, Ed Hicks, 6 times for repair. The biggest repair was to replace the gas tank. I have tried to talk to Ed Hicks, but they tell me to call Nissan directly. I have been dealing with Nissan directly, but no resolution, They tell me that it's Ed Hicks' problem.

All I want is to have a safe and reliable car. Nissan will not allow or sell another extended warranty to a vehicle that has one already. The extended warranty only covers a 2-year period form the date of purchasing the vehicle. I plan to keep my automobile for more then two years, and I want a longer warranty. What I want to happen is to have Nissan or Ed Hicks purchase the vehicle back, give me a longer warranty, or sell me a 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty at a reduced cost.

David should talk to a Lemon Law attorney.

Stacy of Massapequa Park NY (1/21/00):
Purchased a 2000 Nissan Xterra SE July 8, 1999. That same evening we started having problems. One mile from the dealer the service engine soon light came on. Brought into Amity Nissan service. Was told it was not connected properly at the assembly plant. August 8, 1999, oil leak. Nissan service changed rear engine seal, oil leak still detected, they removed and replaced oil pan and gaskets for transmission. August 28, 1999 radio and lcd display shorted out, Amity service installed brand new radio.

September 15, 1999 two screws fell out of the sunroof while being opened, key would not turn in the ignition. No explaination. November 6, 1999 transfer case pops out of low gear into neutral. Service ordered brand new transfer case, no explaination. Rear windshield wiper falls out of arm while in use. Brand new windshield wiper arm ordered. No explaination for defect.

January 12, 2000 front bumper detatching from truck. Amity service said bumper was not fastened correctly to truck frame after fog lights were installed at factory. I have gone back to Massapequa Nissan after every problem requesting a different Xterra. They said they would give us another vehicle car but was requesting more money because the truck I have is now a used vehicle. Approximately after the 4th or 5th problem Nissan North America offered us $2000. towards the purchase of a new Xterra. I feel that is unacceptable considering the I have had nine (9) different manufactuer defects in 6 months. The truck has been in the service center seven (7) times in 6 months.

This is totally unacceptable for a brand new car and a Nissan no less with a good reputation and a reputation for customer satisfaction. This has become an extreme inconvenience for my husand and myself arranging for a car to use for work every time this is in the shop. I purchased an extended warranty because we put a lot of miles on our cars. Included in the extended warranty is use of a loaner car when in service for more than a day. In the seven time it has been in for service, I have had one loaner under extended warranty.

This cannot continue This truck is falling apart piece by piece. What I am looking for is my $7,000 down payment back and purchase a car that I can actually use and not bring to a service center every few weeks and not have pieces of the truck falling off. If I can not be accommodated with my money back, I want a different Xterra with the same loan value and payment value. I have invested enought time and money into this piece of garbage. Nissan has refused this because their policy is if something goes wrong they will repair it under the warranty. There must be some way to protect the consumer. I have been told I do not fall under the lemon law because I have not had the same problem occur 3 times without being repaired. I feel that having 9 different problems is far worse.

Unfortunately, the Lemon Law applies to situations in which the same problem happens over and over. Stacy might be wise to take the $3,000 and swallow some of the loss.

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