Nissan Xterra Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 1,032 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Nissan Xterra across 16 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (412). The words owners use most often: “transmission fluid” (24% of reports).
- 1,032power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $6,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%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 244 of 1,032 complaints (24%)
- Class action: mentioned in 63 of 1,032 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Nissan Xterra at $6,300, and half of them between $4,700 and $8,150.
Based on 100 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2020), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 942 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,032 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 9 an injury.
Nissan Xterra power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Xterra | 6 | 60% | 61,000 |
| 2014 Xterra | 1 | 10% | 86,000 |
| 2013 Xterra | 1 | 25% | 10,284 |
| 2012 Xterra | 6 | 38% | 12,708 |
| 2011 Xterra | 1 | 4% | 22,000 |
| 2010 Xterra | 11 | 29% | 66,400 |
| 2009 Xterra | 6 | 32% | 101,300 |
| 2008 Xterra | 47 | 39% | 106,500 |
| 2007 Xterra | 231 | 41% | 110,000 |
| 2006 Xterra | 268 | 34% | 109,000 |
| 2005 Xterra | 412 | 49% | 104,000 |
| 2004 Xterra | 6 | 7% | 6,000 |
| 2003 Xterra | 2 | 3% | 114,500 |
| 2002 Xterra | 6 | 4% | 22,000 |
| 2001 Xterra | 6 | 4% | 100,000 |
| 2000 Xterra | 22 | 10% | 76,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2000
Problem: Vehicle description: pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect. " these vehicles could have a shift cable lock plate that is too brittle and can break. The gear shift lever and the "prndl" indicator may move, but the transmission will not shift out of the park position. Over a period of time, the transmission could shift out of the park position, but the gear indicated on the display may differ from the gear engaged in the transmission.
Risk: If the driver selects 'drive' and the transmission is actually in 'reverse', a vehicle crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission shift cable lock plate.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I have a lot of ticking and stalling lights are blinking I think itâs may be the transmission and I smell gas inside the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact shifted the vehicle into drive, and the vehicle unexpectedly went into reverse with no warning light illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the failure reoccurred. The contact stated…
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…
My car keeps stalling out like it's not getting gas.
Clutch burnt out with 5 min between 1st incidence of barely slipping and total failure leaving me stranded on roadside with little notice and nowhere safe to pull off.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Xterras have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,032 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Nissan Xterra?
Owners report a typical cost of $6,300 (half paid between $4,700 and $8,150), from 100 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Nissan Xterra?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission fluid”, in 244 of 1,032 complaints, followed by “class action” (63).
Other Nissan Xterra problems
See all Nissan Xterra problems.