2002 Nissan Xterra Powertrain & Transmission Problems

LOSES PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVING SIDEWAYS

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THE ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON. WHEN THE GEARS SHIFTED UP, IT STARTED TO RESIST ACCELERATION AND LOSING TRANSMISSION POWER. STARTED TO SHIFT DOWN AND COAST. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. WOULD NOT START BACK UP. *TR

THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL #02V299000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT THEY REPLACED THE COMPONENT INDICATED IN THE RECALL.

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2001. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT THE PACIFIC NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WENT ON AN OUTING ON EASTER SUNDAY. WHILE AT LUNCH, 5-15 MINUTES GO BUY AND A PERSON INQUIRES ABOUT A PARKED XTERRA ON FIRE. TO MY WIFE'S HORROR IT WAS OUR XTERRA WITH THE WIDOWS UP AND FLAMES/SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH/STEERING COLUMN AREA. MY INSURANCE AND THE FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINED THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/ARCHING AND NO OTHER APPARENT SOURCES OF IGNITION WERE PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO PACIFIC NISSAN WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAVE MAINTAINED THEIR RECOMMENDED ROUTINE SERVICE. THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT QUESTIONED WHY THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT OVER TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND NOT TO THEIR BODY SHOP. I EXPLAINED THE BODY SHOP SENT US OVER TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HE EXPLAINED TO HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE. I QUESTIONED HIM WHY I HAVE TO SUFFER GOING THROUGH MY INSURANCE WHEN THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER THE BASIC WARRANTY. KNOWING I WAS NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THIS GUY, I REQUESTED A PHONE NUMBER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REFER ME BACK TO HIM. I AM CONFUSED ON WHAT I SHOULD DO. SHOULD I PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE AND HOPE MY INSURANCE WILL PAY THE WHOLE AMOUNT OWED ON MY VEHICLE? SHOULD I GET A LAWYER? NO MATTER WHAT I AM STILL OUT A VEHICLE AND HAVE TO, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, PAY FOR SOME OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPART. AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT. THE CUSTOMER AFFAIRS REP. DID INFORM ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THEIR AIR BAG MODULE, BUT HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT COULD HAPPEN. I HAVE ALSO, IN THE PAST, TAKEN IN THIS VEHICLE IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO REPLACE A GASKET IN THE AXLE AREA BECAUSE IT WAS DRIPPING FLUID. *JB

STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. IGNITION CAN BE IN OFF POSITION AND KEYS REMOVED WITH GEAR SHIFTER STILL IN "D" DRIVE. I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS NOT NORMAL UNTIL ON 7/16/2004 THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND IT TOOK APPRX 10 MINUTES OF ADJUSTING WHEEL AND ON/OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE WHEEL TO UNLOCK. I THEN READ THE OWNERS MANUAL AND REALIZED I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER STILL IN DRIVE. I HAVE DONE THIS MANY TIMES AFTER THE 2ND OR 3RD I CAONTACTED THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AS I HAD TO ACTUALLY RUN AFTER IT AT A GAS STATION. THE SERVICE REP AT TROPHY NISSAN SAID MY TRUCK WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY WILL LOOK AT IT AND TELL ME HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE, THIS VEHICLE IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND VERY DANGEROUS. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM I DO NOT ALLOW ANY FAMILY MEMBER TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK IN FEAR THEY WILL EITHER RUN OVER THEMSELVES OR INJURY SOMEONE ELSE WHEN THE TRUCK ROLLS AWAY.*AK