Faults:

The only problem I have had: About a year ago, it was dark, and when I turned on my lights, all of the interior and lights on the back of the car went out. I guess it's typical of these Xterra's - the front right (passenger side) side marker light socket wire (the one that's built into the plastic bumper) was rubbing against the steel of the body, caused the wire to strip, and when the bare wire touched the body, that's what was shorting out the fuse. So I just pried back the bumper, wrapped some electrical tape around the wire, moved the wire around so it didn't touch the body, and nothing has happened since!

General Comments:

I love this vehicle! It looks sharp (silver with the premium wheels) and of course - a Pittsburgh Steelers license plate frame :)

It has about 91000 miles on it and I'm going to sell it late this spring. But if you looked, sat and rode in this vehicle, you would easily believe that this vehicle has 40k.

Top option stereo system is excellent for a factory system. But should have bought an '03 (first year with the Rockford audio package that includes a sub woofer)

I did install a smaller pulley (2.4in.) and a high flow air filter, noticed a small gain in performance.

Bad gas mileage.

Animal in the snow.

And the chicks dig it.

Faults:

Window regulators recall.

Grill Faded.

General Comments:

My 2002 "X" has been a great SUV!

Rugged reliable and true to form and function for which she was built. This truck could be right at home either in the mountains of Colorado or the plains of Africa.

There's a reason this truck won SUV of the year 2 out of 6 years.

This is a real SUV.. not one of the watered down Fwd (Front wheel Drive) unibody constructed baby suv's.

Sure she gets average fuel mileage, but she is a real SUV and gets great mileage compared to other SUV's that are frame on body constructed. She's very tight still at 86,000 miles with little to no worries other than regular wear items. I do take this truck off road with care and she has performed great.

Faults:

The driver's seat back broke.

A clogged line in the air conditioner caused a water leak in the cabin.

General Comments:

It fits the image constructed by its ad campaign. Very good for sporty outdoor usage.

The worst thing about the design is the pieces that come off: the back seats, the basket over the sunroof (which must be removed to open the sunroof), the cover for the cargo area. When I sell it, I will have to be careful to gather it all up.

The biggest hassle is the rear seats.

It gets SUV gas mileage, but in return has plenty of power on the highway and plenty of torque off-road.

Faults:

The car windows have stuck from the day I picked it up and still stick to this day. Yes, I took it in to get fixed, they assured me that it was, and alas, we still have the sticking window problem.

The air conditioning is the worst I have ever encountered in a vehicle. Even the Ford Escort that I owned was better than my Xterra.

At 42,000, my power steering gearbox went out; a $1,757 part, not including labor. I am still waiting to hear if it falls under "covered by warranty" in order to get it fixed.

Also, a rattle has suddenly started when I use the heat or air conditioning.

General Comments:

Gas mileage is absolutely atrocious. I have friends with much larger SUV's that get better gas mileage than I do.