Most common 2002 Nissan Quest problems
Share of the 29 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Quest complaints by model year
Best Quest years: 2017, 2015, 2016. Years to avoid: 2004, 2007, 2012, 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
What 2002 Nissan Quest owners say
Wheels & tires
I recently experienced complete and partial tire wall separation on 3 of 4 continental touring contact a/s p215/65r-16 tires during one 1200 mile trip. The tire wall separation occurred on my 2002 Nissan Quest which had only 9500 miles on the vehicle. The three tire wall separations occurred suddenly while driving at highway speed resulting in two near-serious accidents and collisions. Upon inspection by a Nissan service center and local tire distributor, two tires were found to have very obvious and total tire wall separation and one tire was found to have partial separation. There was no indication of any tire punctures or obvious damage that May have caused the tire wall separations. Despite the vehicle being under factory warranty, the dealership was unwilling to assume any responsibility associated with continental tire failure. …
Purchased new 2002 Nissan Quest on 12/201.current millage is 26,000. All 4 tires have had tire separation. We replaced the first one on 7/03 with only 17,800 miles on it, the second one on 12/03, the third one on 7/12/04, and the forth on 8/22/04. After contacting the manufacturer (continental tires) they have made me pay for all 4 replacement tires. I have told them that I belive that those tires must have been defective. They said that they would prorate the tires, but why should I have to pay for their defective tires? If those tires wouold have been good they should have lasted at least 40-50 thousand miles. I have also had to pay to re-align the van. This is a second vehicle that, as you can see by the millage, is not used alot. All tires were replaced at tire kingdom in apopka, so I don't have the tire numbers you might need. …
Engine & cooling
We purchased a 2002 Nissan Quest van in February, 2003 from asheboro, nc Nissan. The day that we purchased the van, we experienced an oil leak. This problem was repaired by dealership, and we have had no other problems. In March, 2003, we started experiencing problems with a vibration in the steering, console, seats and floor. Asheboro Nissan replaced one continental tire in April then 2 more were replaced in October (same tire make replaced). Since all of this, the asheboro Nissan dealership has backed out of our problem, and I am now dealing with kenneth carter at Nissan America in la. We have now had a total of 7 continental tires on our van, and the problem still persists. My wife was told by jeff at asheboro Nissan months ago that it May be a problem with the axle. I am not sure if this was ever checked out. I was told to file this complaint by the nc atty. Generals office.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Nissan Quest. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle temperature rose. The vehicle was stopped and coolant was added to the engine and the contact proceeded to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic the following day and was informed that the head gasket would need to be replaced. The gasket had been replaced once before at 40,000 miles. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 104,000.
Body & structure
The chrome on both front door handles are chipping away. When the doors are opened the chrome is cutting the occupants hands. Dealership is not returning consumer's calls. The chrome has chipped away on the driver's side door, causing cuts to driver's left hand. The chrome on the passenger's side door handle is cracking along the upper side and is bubbling on the exterior side. The service manager agreed that the passenger's side looked as though it was bubbling and would chip away and to install new door handles would cost approximately$250.00. Manufacturer not willing to help at this time.
While trying to jack up the vehicle the jack collapsed under the vehicle. The running board on driver's side was damaged along with the front skirt. Also, driver's side front rotor struck the ground very hard and May be damaged as well.
2002 Nissan Quest engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Nissan Quest a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Quest rates better than average: 50% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Quest at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Nissan Quest?
The wheels & tires — 5 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tread/belt. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and body & structure (4).
How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Quest have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Nissan Quest. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Quest?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2015 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2007, 2012, 1995 and 1996. See the full Nissan Quest years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Nissan Quest problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 34,000 miles; 65% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.