Nissan Xterra Engine Problems
Owners have filed 375 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Nissan Xterra across 15 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (114). The words owners use most often: “transmission fluid” (18% of reports).
- 375engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transmission fluid: mentioned in 69 of 375 complaints (18%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 41 of 375 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Nissan Xterra at $2,900, and half of them between $2,650 and $4,650.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2022), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 332 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 375 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 2 an injury.
Nissan Xterra engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Xterra | 1 | 10% | 147 |
| 2013 Xterra | 2 | 50% | 14,717 |
| 2012 Xterra | 4 | 25% | 1,540 |
| 2011 Xterra | 5 | 21% | 54,000 |
| 2010 Xterra | 4 | 11% | 37,200 |
| 2009 Xterra | 3 | 16% | 103,500 |
| 2008 Xterra | 23 | 19% | 90,000 |
| 2007 Xterra | 85 | 15% | 113,000 |
| 2006 Xterra | 104 | 13% | 112,117 |
| 2005 Xterra | 114 | 13% | 108,000 |
| 2004 Xterra | 8 | 10% | 134,000 |
| 2003 Xterra | 6 | 8% | 124,500 |
| 2002 Xterra | 8 | 5% | 144,750 |
| 2001 Xterra | 6 | 4% | 110,000 |
| 2000 Xterra | 2 | 1% | 152,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2011, 2012
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak.
Risk: If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2005, 2006
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 armada, titan, infiniti qx56 and model year 2005-2006 frontier, pathfinder and xterra vehicles. The intelligent power distribution module (ipdm) assembly contains an engine control module (ecm) relay that has a diode for electrical current noise reduction. The ecm relay may allow silicon vapor to form and, over time, the silicon evaporates from the diode molding which causes silicon oxide to develop on the ecm relay contact due to arcing.
Risk: This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ecm relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 6, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Water pump went out replace water pump motor blown
Oil is getting into the radiator and causing a gray gunk build up in radiator and possibly the engine. I have had the car less than a 1 1/2 years And I've already had to have the same issue fixed 3 Ã first time. The heater hose blew out caused an air bubble in the radiator which caused us to have…
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power. The service engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle stalled with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle moved forward and stopped suddenly…
The vehicle was driving just fine, then about a month later the heat gauge started to fluctuate, i replaced the radiator caps, thermostat...it ran good for another month, started to overheat....i made sure water was in radiator and overflow...about a month went by the gauge started to fluctuate…
The vehicle was driving just fine, then about a month later the heat gauge started to fluctuate, i replaced the radiator caps, thermostat...it ran good for another month, started to overheat....i made sure water was in radiator and overflow...about a month went by the gauge started to fluctuate…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Xterras have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 375 owner complaints about engine for the Nissan Xterra. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Nissan Xterra engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Nissan Xterra?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,900 (half paid between $2,650 and $4,650), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Nissan Xterra?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission fluid”, in 69 of 375 complaints, followed by “timing chain” (41).
Other Nissan Xterra problems
See all Nissan Xterra problems.