2004 Nissan Xterra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Xterra years
- About as many complaints as other years 8th of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Nissan Xterra. That ranks 8th out of 16 Xterra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (20 complaints, 24%), typically at around 83,000 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 84owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 20 | 24% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 13% | 69,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 13% | 107,828 | — | — |
| Engine | 8 | 10% | 134,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 7% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 7% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 7% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 6% | 135,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 6% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 6% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 6% | 29,486 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 5% | 65,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 4% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 4% | 54,900 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | 38,306 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | 30,300 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 116,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 12,256 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 30,300 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Nissan Xterra recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:column
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 frontier vehicles manufactured from july 9, 2001 through october 20, 2004, and model year 2002-2004, xterra vehicles manufactured from july 9, 2001, through january 6, 2005. Over time corrosion may form in the lower steering column joint and limit movement of the joint. The limited movement of this joint may create excessive load on the lower steering column shaft. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, it may lead to cracking of the shaft during low speed maneuvers that require large steering inputs.
Risk: The shaft may break which could result in loss of steering control during these low speed maneuvers increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The steering column shaft and joint will be replaced with a shaft of a different design. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on december 13, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Trailer hitches
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the accessory tow hitch attachment bolts may not have been tightened to the proper specification.
Risk: This could cause the tow hitch to loosen or separate from the vehicle which could result in a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will tighten the tow hitch. The recall began on january 3, 2005. Owners 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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I have been in three accidents, of decent speed, and my airbags never deployed. I was told to report that.
Water pump went out replace water pump motor blown
I took my xterra to get inspected 12/27/2024. I was informed I have a recall on this vehicle.
My vehicle has been in 3 accidents. Being rear-ended at 70MPH, again six months later at 60MPH, then the forward vehicle slammed their brakes, and I hit them at around 30MPH. In any of these accidents, NONE of my airbags deployed.
UNKNOWN. Wanting to make a recall appointment that was reported on my SMOG check.
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 | 84 | 2 |
| 2003 Xterra | 72 | 3 |
| 2002 Xterra | 157 | 5 |
| 2001 Xterra | 150 | 3 |
| 2000 Xterra | 214 | 3 |
See all Nissan Xterra problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.
Similar Nissan models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Nissan Xterra?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, suspension problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 20 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Nissan Xterra?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 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 2004 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.