Nissan Xterra Problems by Year
NHTSA has 3,099 owner complaints and 21 safety recalls on file for the Nissan Xterra, across 16 model years (2000–2015). The 2005 model year has the most complaints (845). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
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Nissan Xterra years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Xterra year: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2005 Xterra: 845 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2006 Xterra: 780 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2007 Xterra: 557 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2013 Xterra: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2014 Xterra: 10 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2015 Xterra: 10 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Nissan Xterra problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 1,032 | 16 | 15 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 721 | 10 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 440 | 12 | 4 |
| Engine problems | 375 | 15 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 231 | 13 | 2 |
| Electrical System problems | 204 | 12 | 5 |
| Air Bags problems | 177 | 14 | 63 |
| Fuel System, Other problems | 139 | 9 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 108 | 11 | 18 |
| Suspension | 85 | 15 | 5 |
| Visibility | 76 | 8 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 67 | 13 | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 55 | 9 | 8 |
| Structure | 50 | 13 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 43 | 14 | 8 |
| Wheels | 43 | 10 | 5 |
| Tires | 38 | 12 | 2 |
| Equipment | 30 | 8 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 28 | 10 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 20 | 10 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 18 | 5 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Nissan Xterra problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2007: power train (231) · fuel system, gasoline (136) · engine (85) · engine and engine cooling (75) · fuel/propulsion system (63)
- 2006: power train (268) · fuel system, gasoline (237) · engine and engine cooling (106) · engine (104) · fuel/propulsion system (94)
- 2005: power train (412) · fuel system, gasoline (242) · engine and engine cooling (167) · engine (114)
All Nissan Xterra model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Xterra | 10 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 Xterra | 10 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2013 Xterra | 4 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2012 Xterra | 16 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 Xterra | 24 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 Xterra | 38 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Xterra | 19 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Xterra | 119 | 6 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 Xterra | 557 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Xterra | 780 | 3 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Xterra | 845 | 3 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 Xterra | 84 | 2 | — | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 Xterra | 72 | 3 | — | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2002 Xterra | 157 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Xterra | 150 | 3 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Xterra | 214 | 3 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Nissan: all Nissan models · Nissan VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Xterra years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2000 (214), 2001 (150), 2002 (157), 2005 (845), 2006 (780), 2007 (557) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Xterra year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Nissan Xterra?
Power Train, with 1,032 complaints across 16 model years.
How many recalls does the Nissan Xterra have?
21 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.