KnownCarProblems2002 Infiniti QX4 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Infiniti QX4, most often about the suspension (38% of complaints, typically around 140,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about QX4 model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2002 Infiniti QX4 problems
Suspension
14 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 140,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
The frame of the car is rusted out, making the truck unsafe for driving. The rust is also noticed on the running boards, and a large portion of the rear suspension system. I have had the recall fix applied on the passenger side, however rust is spreading like wild fire throughout the entire frame.
The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti QX4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver without warning. The contact called an unknown dealer and was informed that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 11v244000 (steering, suspension) in 2012. The…
Steering
7 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 132,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti QX4. While the vehicle was with an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, the mechanic noticed that the driver's side strut housing was rusted and cracked. The independent mechanic alerted her of a recall for the strut housing and the manufacturer was contacted. The manufacturer…
The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti QX4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver without warning. The contact called an unknown dealer and was informed that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 11v244000 (steering, suspension) in 2012. The…
Air bags
5 complaints · 14%: the contact stated while pulling into a garage at 5-10 MPH, the vehicle accelerated resulting in the vehicle crashing through the contact's house. During the incident the contact had brake failure and the air bags failed to deploy. There was frontal damage to the vehicle. The vehicle has not been inspected by the…
Takata recall air bag did not deploy when stationery 2002 Infiniti QX4 stopped at traffic light on city street was hit in the rear by another vehicle which was accelerating. Pushed Infiniti QX4 25 feet into oncoming traffic.
Engine
4 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
My 2002 Infiniti QX4 has had three catalytic converters replaced due to a crack in the seam of the catalytic converter on both sides. My vehicle has 18,800 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti QX4. The contact was driving approximately 70 MPH when the vehicle completely stalled without the warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician informed the contact that three power valve screws detached from the engine. The vehicle was in the process of…
Speed control
4 complaints · 11%: the contact stated while pulling into a garage at 5-10 MPH, the vehicle accelerated resulting in the vehicle crashing through the contact's house. During the incident the contact had brake failure and the air bags failed to deploy. There was frontal damage to the vehicle. The vehicle has not been inspected by the…
2002 Infiniti QX4 in a parking lot at about 5mph. Intending to park straight ahead against a concrete wall. One car length behind the parking space. Beginning to brake. Sudden acceleration propelled the car forward and hit the wall head-on, despite effort to brake. There was a surging power sound and the car was…
Brakes
3 complaints · 8%: the contact stated while pulling into a garage at 5-10 MPH, the vehicle accelerated resulting in the vehicle crashing through the contact's house. During the incident the contact had brake failure and the air bags failed to deploy. There was frontal damage to the vehicle. The vehicle has not been inspected by the…
The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti QX4. The contact stated that while traveling 3 MPH, the anti-lock braking system warning light illuminated. The service engine warning light also illuminated shortly afterward. The steering wheel then became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was driven to an authorized dealer where it…
Body and structure
3 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: body.
The frame of the car is rusted out, making the truck unsafe for driving. The rust is also noticed on the running boards, and a large portion of the rear suspension system. I have had the recall fix applied on the passenger side, however rust is spreading like wild fire throughout the entire frame.
The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti QX4. After the contact purchased the vehicle from an independent mechanic, he noticed rust forming on the passenger side frame rail below the passenger side control arm. The contact took the vehicle to another independent mechanic who informed him that they could reinforce the frame…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Infiniti QX4 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began february 12, 2020. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 maxima, 2002-2006 sentra, 2002-2004 pathfinder, 2007-2011 versa sedan and versa hatchback, 2001-2004 infiniti i30 and i35, 2002-2003 inifiniti qx4, 2003-2008 infiniti fx35 and fx45 and 2006-2010 m35 and m45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on march, 31, 2017. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2002 pathfinder and infiniti qx4 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with takata air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture.
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on june 15, 2015. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: on december 18, 2015 nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 infiniti fx35 and fx45 vehicles.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 nissan maxima, 2002-2004 pathfinder, 2002-2006 sentra, 2002-2003 infiniti qx4 and i35, 2003 fx35 and fx45, and 2001 i30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Suspension: front
Risk: The strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly. This may lead to grinding noises, increased steering effort, and possibly the steering column to break, resulting in the loss of steering control, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Nissan will inspect the strut housing and repair the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification letter was sent out in may 2011. The second notice was mailed on july 25, 2011. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 1996-2004 pathfinder and model year 1997-2003 infiniti qx4 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. In areas of the country in which heavy concentrations of road salt are used, a mixture of snow/water and salt may enter an assembly location hole in the upper strut housing, causing water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and the inner hood ledge assembly. Over time, this snow/water and salt intrusion may result in corrosion of the strut tower housing in some subject vehicles.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: The inflator housing may rupture and pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants.
Fix: Nissan will notify the owners of the forty-six affected vehicles. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module assembly with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began on august 19, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 and infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling forty-six certain model year 2002 pathfinder and infiniti qx4 vehicles manufactured from august 24, 2001 through august 28, 2001. The air bag inflator contains propellant wafers that are required to properly deploy the front passenger air bag. Due to improper propellant wafer installation during the air bag inflator assembly process, some air bag inflators may be missing one of the wafers. As a result, the remaining wafers in the inflator used for the deployment of the front passenger air bag may, over time, break up into powder due to normal vibration experienced while driving. This causes the combustion rate of the propellant to increase inside the inflator, which can lead to internal pressure rising suddenly during air bag deployment.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Frame/body structure corrosion
Summary
In their defect information report (dir) of april 20, 2011, nissan north america, inc. (nissan) notified NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 nissan pathfinder and 1997-2003 infinity qx4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.the vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states including connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.the dir states in part, ...the st
Questions about the 2002 Infiniti QX4
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Infiniti QX4?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (14 complaints, typically around 140,000 miles); steering (7 complaints, typically around 132,000 miles); air bags (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Infiniti QX4 have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 9, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Infiniti QX4?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about QX4 model year since 2000, with 37 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.