12 of the
97 complaints about the 2003 Nissan Xterra are about the
braking system — 12% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
44,540 miles.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A SLIGHTLY SNOW COVERED ROAD WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ICE. MY SPEED WAS LOW ABOUT 15-20 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR STARED SLIDING SIDEWAYS TOWARD ANOTHER CAR HEADING TOWARD ME. MY FOUR-WHEELED DRIVE WAS ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. I MANAGED TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY OF THE OTHER CAR BUT I COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES DID NOT HELP AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND. I TRAVELED AT LEAST 80 FEET HITTING TREES AND BUSHES UNTIL A SET OF TREES STOPPED MY CAR. THE CRASH TOTALED MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10498397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesChicago, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10423968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesChicago, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES FAILED AND THE ABS DIDN'T WORK UNTIL I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE ABS TRIGGERS WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AND HAS CAUSE ME TO MERGE ONTO THE OTHER LANE. CAUSE MY CAR DOES NOT STOP. THE ABS LIGHT DOESN'T GO ON SO THE MANUFACTURER NISSAN TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. AND ITS SITTING AT A LOCAL TRUSTWORTHY MECHANIC SHOP WHERE IT WILL BE FIXED FOR THE SERVICE BRAKES AIR-ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE. PLEASE HELP WITH A RAPID RECALL SO MY FAMILY COULD GET REIMBURSED FOR THE HUGE EXPENSE OF FIXING A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10423988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesMontgomery, AL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
STEERING INPUTS VERY SLOWER TO RESPOND, HUGE NOISE, COULD NOT MAKE TURN EASILY, IT IS HAPPENING EVERY YEAR SINCE 2008 EVEN AFTER I SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND CHANGED THE PARTS, PREVIOUSLY PROBLEM STARTED WITH U- TURNS AND NOW WIDE TURNS, LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS ALSO. FOLLOWING IT-UP WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS SINCE JULY 2009 ( FILE # 6541095 AND [INTR #1358858] ), THEY DID NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND CLOSING THE CASE, NOW I GOT A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT MY STEERING INPUT ISSUE RELEASED BY NISSAN, HOWEVER I FEEL THIS MODEL OR MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS GIVING PROBLEMS ON TURNS AND UNCERTAIN ABOUT BRAKING CONDITION. LAST TIME DEALER WARNED ME THAT VEHICLE IS IN BAD CONDITION HOW COULD I MANAGED TO DRIVE TO HIS SHOP. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN WITH NOISE AND TURNS, SUGGEST ME WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, I WILL KEEP THE VEHICLE IN SAME CONDITION UNTIL THAT TIME. SOME TIMES WHEN I'M TURNING ON LEFT HAND SIDE I FEEL LIKE COMPLETE VEHICLE WEIGHT ON MY LEFT HAND AND CHEST CAUSING PAINS.
NHTSA complaint #10390968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesAllentown, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK ABNORMALLY WHENEVER ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE WITH THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING IN WET OR INCLEMENT WEATHER WITH THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #10381086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesLawrence, KS
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE AND UNDETERMINED ENGINE NOISE - ON 2 OCCASIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE HOLD BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARD. IT WAS REPAIRED TWICE IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS, BOTH TIMES SAYING THE SOME TYPE OF WASHER THAT HOLDS A CABLE HAD BECOME LOOSE. THE PARKING BRAKE TENSION WOULD BECOME VERY LOOSE BEFORE THE FAILURES. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL ENGINE NOISE ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AFTER 4 VISITS TO THE DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A LOOSE BELT SQUEALING OR A CONSTANT SQUEAKY NOISE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD OR THE OUTSIDE TEMPS ARE LOWER THAN ABOUT 60 DEGREES. DEALER CLAIMS THEY HEAR THE NOISE BUT ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM OR REPAIR IT. IT STILL SQUEAKS AND IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10178698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,081 milesWashington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 XTERRA BRAKES FAILED TO STOP CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN A RED LIGHT. *TS THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON MAY, 21, 2004. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORN, THE RIGHT INNER PAD CAME OUT OF HOLDER FROM METAL CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR CAUSING CALIPER PISTON TO JAM INTO INSIDE OF RIGHT FRONT ROTOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AND RIGHT FRONT CALIPERS. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED ON APRIL 15, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DID A COMPLETE BRAKE FLUID EXCHANGE TO REMOVE CONTAMINANT FROM BRAKE LINES. *NM THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE MOVED WITH NO FORWARDING ADDRESS. UPDATED 07/03/06.
NHTSA complaint #10159461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesRockland, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
FRONT RIGHT BRAKE FROZE IN THE "ON" POSITION WHILE DRIVING IMPEDING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING CAPACITY. BRAKE ALSO CAUSED SMOKE. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. AFTER FIRST OCCURRENCE THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND BRAKING CYLINDER SEEMED TO BE WORKING. AFTER SECOND OCCURRENCE THE BRAKE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10134383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,473 milesRochester, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 NISSAN XTERRA DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10132368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hardy, ARCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10074401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,600 milesVancouver, WACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
BRAKE PEDAL FADED TO THE FLOOR,WHILE TRYING TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT.RESULTING IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT.WHEN I MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH MY EMPTY PASSANGER SEATS DID.ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS AND THE OFFICERS THAT RESPONDED DID NOT TICKET ME FOR FAILURE TO STOP,NISSAN INSISTS THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN OPERATOR ERROR.SINCE THIS ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD MY STEREO REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE HAD WORK DONE ON MY STEERING COLUMN DUE TO GRINDING NOISES AND BOTH MOTORS IN MY REAR WINDOWS ARE FAILING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED,AND THIS IS JUST WITH 7200 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE, NOT TO MENTION THAT EVERY TIME I GET OUT OF THE CAR THE BRAKES SMELL HOT AFTER ASHORT OR LONG DRIVE AND WHEN I GET IN IT THE SQUEAL AND GRIND UNTIL THEY GET NICE AND HOT AND START TO SMELL.AND ALL THIS IS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW IS THE 12.5 MILES PER GALLON THAT I'M GETTING CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL ALSO? I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE IS A WEB SITE LIKE THIS THAT PROTECTS PEOPLE LIKE ME AND THE OTHERS THAT PURCHASED THESE ALL TOGATHER LOW QUALITY,OVERPRICED, NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS CARS.AND JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO RECOURSE,IT MAKES MY DAY!!
NHTSA complaint #10060232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,700 milesVancouver, WACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT SPEEDS OF 30-40 MPH. DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE THE EMPTY PASSENGERS DID. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT. 2003 NISSAN XTERRA 3,700 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10045652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.