2001 Nissan Xterra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Xterra years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Nissan Xterra. That ranks 6th out of 16 Xterra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (43 complaints, 29%), typically at around 40,000 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 5 fires, 11 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 150owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 15complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 Nissan Xterra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 43 | 29% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 22 | 15% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 17 | 11% | 67,094 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 7% | 70,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 11 | 7% | 60,450 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 5% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 5% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 5% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 6 | 4% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 4% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 4% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 6 | 4% | 27,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 4% | 94,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 4% | 73,953 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 3% | 42,300 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 3% | 27,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 3% | 45,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 100,709 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Nissan Xterra recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: On certain pickup trucks equipped with six cylinder engines and sport utility vehicles equipped with four or six cylinder engines, the fuel pump terminal on the fuel-sending unit can develop a crack in the plastic molding. This can cause the terminal strip to corrode under some environmental conditions.
Risk: If corrosion occurs, the terminal strip could eventually break causing the fuel pump to stop operation. This will result in not being able to start the engine or cause the engine to stop running without warning, which can result in a crash.
Fix: In the following states, dealers will replace the fuel-sending unit. These states are connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, tennessee, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. In the other states, the dealer will inspect the fuel pump terminal on the sending unit for corrosion. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the unit. If there is not corrosion, the dealer will apply sealant to the terminal housing to help prevent corrosion in the future. Owner notification began on june 28, 2004. Owners should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Suspension:rear
Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, water may enter the rear axle housing due to inadequate sealing of the anti-lock braking system (abs) sensor.
Risk: This can result in corrosion and eventual failure of the wheel bearing. If this occurs, the wheel assembly could separate from the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear axle for water intrusion and any affected components will be replaced. The abs sensor will be resealed to prevent water intrusion. Owner notification began december 10, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap
Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the fuel tank inlet shutter valve does not meet the sealing performance specification.
Risk: Under certain conditions such as high ambient temperature and when winter grade gasoline is being sold, fuel could spill from the filler inlet as the tank is being filled. In the presence of an ignition source, fuel leakage could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank inlet shutter valve. Owner notification is expected to begin december 10, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Brake rotor warpage (DP03005) — opened Jul 11, 2003, closed Jul 29, 2003.
- Fuel spill during refueling (PE02052) — opened Jun 20, 2002, closed Dec 3, 2002, led to recall 02V300000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle disabled and the steering wheel locked on the highway once the speed hit 70mph. The wheel bearings are always rattling and if I go through a pothole the steering and tire feel really loose. The brake system doesn't feel right and has made a loud metal grind sound. The exhaust and or…
The xterra started missing and hesitating (engine) eventually dying and not restarting. The missing and hesitation occurred while underway on a busy 4 lane divided highway, but thankfully made it home before dying and not restarting. Missing and hesitation occurred while traveling straight on and…
Car failed to start after being parked overnight. Would crank but not start. Had it diagnosed and the fuel sending unit replaced. The dead unit had a hole through it's plastic which showed a corroded electrical tab. It doesn't look like corrosion from a crack in the plastic as stated in campaign#…
While driving, engine goes to idle mode and can't accelerate. I have to shift to neutral and back to drive to again drive normally, then problem happens again and have to do the same continuously every few miles while driving.
Major intrusion on front end after a motor vehicle accident without air bag deployment. This occurred on the highway after sliding on ice and being hit head on by a ford f150.
Other Nissan Xterra years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Xterra | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 Xterra | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 Xterra | 4 | 0 |
| 2012 Xterra | 16 | 2 |
| 2011 Xterra | 24 | 2 |
| 2010 Xterra | 38 | 4 |
| 2009 Xterra | 19 | 3 |
| 2008 Xterra | 119 | 6 |
| 2007 Xterra | 557 | 1 |
| 2006 Xterra | 780 | 3 |
| 2005 Xterra | 845 | 3 |
| 2004 Xterra | 84 | 2 |
| 2003 Xterra | 72 | 3 |
| 2002 Xterra | 157 | 5 |
| 2001 | 150 | 3 |
| 2000 Xterra | 214 | 3 |
See all Nissan Xterra problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Nissan Xterra?
Owners most often report visibility, fuel system, gasoline, electrical system problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 43 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Nissan Xterra?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 Nissan Xterra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Xterra model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.