Four problems related to fuel pump have been reported for the 2002 Nissan Xterra. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Nissan Xterra based on all problems reported for the 2002 Xterra.
My wife was driving her Nissan Xterra when the vehicle engine suddenly died in traffic in a multi-lane street with heavy traffic. She had to get out of the car and, with the help of our son, push it off to the side of the road to clear the street. The failure was found later to be a bad fuel pump and bad fuel sending unit. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop that did the diagnosis and isolated the fault to those two components. They replaced the fuel pump and sending unit, as well as the fuel filter and strainer. During the conversation wtih the repair shop (not a Nissan dealership) they mentioned that there was a Nissan recall out for the sending unit, and that I ought to be reimbursed by Nissan. When I contacted Nissan they told me I could not be reimbursed because the recall / repair had already been done on this same vehicle in 2005. If the recall was done correctly by the dealership, this item should not have failed when my wife was driving it.
I was driving down the highway at 65 mph when my engine died. I cruised it to the side of the road and attempted to start it again, but it would not turn over. I could smell gas. After having it towed, we initially determined fuel pump failure. Once the repair was initiated, we found that the wire to the fuel sending unit was corroded and had heated up enough to cause a pea size hole in the plug. After some research I found that there was a recall for this exact failure completed on my vehicle in 12/2004, but instead of replacing the unit, they only sprayed sealant on the wire (because no corrosion was found) to prevent corrosion in the future. We replaced the sending unit, fuel pump and fuel filter. The old part is still available for inspection. I am filing a complaint with Nissan. I am not the original owner.
2002 Xterra died while driving. Fuel sender corroded at the pump and had to be replaced. The mechanic informed the consumer there was a recall regarding the issue, however the vehicle would need to be taken to a certified Nissan dealer in order for it to be free. The consumer proceed to have the work done by her local mechanic instead.
Engine would stall while at low speed. Also auto would not start and ther was a semll of plastic burning.