Nissan Xterra Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 231 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Nissan Xterra across 13 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (94). The words owners use most often: “fuel gauge” (41% of reports).
- 231fuel/propulsion system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $860typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%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.
- Fuel gauge: mentioned in 95 of 231 complaints (41%)
- Sending unit: mentioned in 49 of 231 complaints (21%)
- Gas tank: mentioned in 29 of 231 complaints (13%)
- Service engine: mentioned in 25 of 231 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel/propulsion system repair on the Nissan Xterra at $860, and half of them between $680 and $1,050.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2024), 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 fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 197 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 231 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 1 an injury.
Nissan Xterra fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Xterra | 1 | 25% | 19,150 |
| 2012 Xterra | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2011 Xterra | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2010 Xterra | 3 | 8% | 53,525 |
| 2008 Xterra | 9 | 8% | 104,000 |
| 2007 Xterra | 63 | 11% | 94,500 |
| 2006 Xterra | 94 | 12% | 90,000 |
| 2005 Xterra | 32 | 4% | 83,033 |
| 2004 Xterra | 5 | 6% | 135,500 |
| 2003 Xterra | 5 | 7% | 180,000 |
| 2002 Xterra | 2 | 1% | 185,000 |
| 2001 Xterra | 8 | 5% | 123,000 |
| 2000 Xterra | 7 | 3% | 156,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the Nissan Xterra. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Unknown
My car keeps stalling out like it's not getting gas.
My car dies out while driving. I've replaced so many parts already and it keeps leaving me stranded.
Extreme smell of gas after filling gas tank while out of town. Odor was so strong it required all windows to be down to drive without feeling affected by fumes and I was terrified that someone would fluck a cigarette out of a car somewhere, especially at a stop light, and cause an explosion. Once…
Hole in exhaust system due to weld failure in support clamp The problem is reoccurring every year over a 3 1/2 year period
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Xterras have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 231 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system 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 fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix fuel/propulsion system problems on the Nissan Xterra?
Owners report a typical cost of $860 (half paid between $680 and $1,050), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Nissan Xterra?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel gauge”, in 95 of 231 complaints, followed by “sending unit” (49).
Other Nissan Xterra problems
- Power Train problems (1,032)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (721)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (440)
- Engine problems (375)
- Electrical System problems (204)
- Air Bags problems (177)
- Fuel System, Other problems (139)
- Steering problems (108)
See all Nissan Xterra problems.