2002 Nissan Xterra Body & Structure Problems

2002 NISSAN XTERRA: THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER WINCH MECHANISM IN NE REGIONS RUSTS (FROM WHAT I GATHER IN ON LINE RESEARCH THE PROBLEM IS RAMPANT) AND FREEZES NOT ALLOWING YOU TO LOWER THE TIRE TO REPLACE A FLAT. I HAD A FLAT ON A VERY BUSY ROAD. I COULD NOT LOWER THE SPARE AND BENT THE ROD. CALLED AAA. HAD TO HAVE FLAT TIRE TAKEN OFF AND REPAIRED BEFORE I COULD MOVE AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR FLAT. AFTER I WENT TO TIRE STORE. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RELEASE WINCH AND INDICATED THEY SEE THE ISSUE VERY OFTEN IN NISSAN SUVS. THEY SAID MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO CUT OFF WINCH MECHANISM AND KEEP SPARE IN BACK OF VEHICLE. AFTER DECLINING, I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS THAT I COULD FIND ON LINE AND I STILL HAVE NOT FOUND A REASONABLE FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE METAL SUPPORT MECHANISM UNDER THE HOOD WAS SUFFERING FROM METAL FATIGUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE METAL FATIGUE WAS NORMAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL FATIGUE PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,400. UPDATED 1/13/2012 *LN

WATER COMES IN THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO INSPECTED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COWL WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED. *TT

VEHICLE HAS LOT OF WIND NOISE AND AIR COMING THROUGH THE DOOR SEALS WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAYS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE SUNROOF GASKET AND WEATHER STRIP. BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS PROBLEM CAN YOU PLEASE FORWARD TO US. *JB