2002 Ford Explorer vs 2002 Nissan Xterra
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Explorer | 2002 Nissan Xterra |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 3,294 | 157 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 258 | 74 |
| Investigations | 7 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 144 | 21 |
| Fire reports | 57 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–17 | 19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 79,300 mi | 80,900 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Nissan Xterra |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1,502 | 6 |
| Structure | 486 | 5 |
| Suspension | 421 | 13 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 163 | 24 |
| Air Bags | 162 | 19 |
| Steering | 155 | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 152 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 148 | 13 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 138 | 20 |
| Shifting problems | 111 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 98 | 6 |
| Hesitation / surging | 77 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 74 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 66 | 6 |
| Check engine light | 61 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 47 | 6 |
2002 Ford Explorer
2002 Nissan Xterra
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Nissan Xterra years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.