Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2005. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2005.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 Xterra | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 Xterra | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 |
| 2012 Xterra | 16 | 2 |
| 2011 Xterra | 24 | 2 |
| 2010 Xterra | 38 | 4 |
| 2009 Xterra | 19 | 3 |
| 2008 Xterra | 119 | 6 |
| 2007 XterraMost complaints | 557 | 1 |
| 2006 XterraMost complaints | 780 | 3 |
| 2005 XterraMost complaints | 845 | 3 |
| 2004 Xterra | 84 | 2 |
| 2003 Xterra | 72 | 3 |
| 2002 Xterra | 157 | 5 |
| 2001 Xterra | 150 | 3 |
| 2000 Xterra | 214 | 3 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Power train1,032
- Fuel system, gasoline721
- Engine and engine cooling440
- Engine375
- Fuel/propulsion system231
- Electrical system204
- Air bags177
- Fuel system, other139
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 311 Xterra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 185 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 8 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 | 1 |
| 2012 | 11 | 3 |
| 2011 | 9 | 4 |
| 2010 | 10 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 | 4 |
| 2008 | 16 | 9 |
| 2007 | 33 | 21 |
| 2006 | 24 | 12 |
| 2005 | 29 | 19 |
| 2004 | 37 | 25 |
| 2003 | 30 | 17 |
| 2002 | 30 | 20 |
| 2001 | 32 | 22 |
| 2000 | 29 | 19 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 5 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2015 Nissan Xterra SUV 4WD | — | 25.6 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Nissan Xterra SUV 4WD | — | 25.6 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Nissan Xterra SUV 4WD | — | 25.6 % |
| 2012 | 2012 Nissan Xterra SUV 4WD | — | 25.6 % |
| 2011 | 2011 Nissan Xterra SUV 4WD | — | 25.6 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 15 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 12.7–15.1 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Xterra 4WD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 16.0 | 12.0 | 14.2 |
| 2014 | Xterra 4WD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 15.2 | 11.9 | 13.7 |
| 2013 | Xterra 4WD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 15.2 | 12.0 | 13.8 |
| 2012 | Xterra 4WD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 12.3 | 14.0 |
| 2011 | Xterra 4WD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 12.3 | 14.0 |
| 2010 | Xterra 4WD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 12.0 | 13.7 |
| 2009 | Xterra 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 12.0 | 13.7 |
| 2008 | Xterra 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 11.9 | 13.7 |
| 2007 | Xterra 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 11.9 | 13.7 |
| 2006 | Xterra 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 12.2 | 14.1 |
| 2004 | Xterra V6 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 12.6 | 14.3 |
| 2003 | Xterra V6 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.7 | 12.6 | 14.3 |
| 2002 | Xterra V6 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.0 | 13.7 | 14.9 |
| 2001 | Xterra V6 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.2 | 13.8 | 15.1 |
| 2000 | Xterra · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 10.9 | 12.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
1 Xterra cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
New registrations in Europe
5 new Nissan Xterra cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2012, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2012 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 3 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
21 campaigns cover the Xterra; the latest 12 are below.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra two-wheel drive vehicles manufactured from June 19, 2012, through July 12, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with front wheel hubs that may not meet the design hardness specifications. A wheel hub that was manufactured below hardness specification may wear prematurely and eventually crack.
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.
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.
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.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.
NISSAN HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2010 TO MARCH 13, 2010. ON SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FASTENERS SECURING THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MODULE, AND ALSO THE FASTENERS SECURING THE STEERING SHAFT POSITIONING BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 FRONTIER, XTERRA AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE MOLDED FUEL TANK SHELLS CAN DEFORM, CAUSING THE FUEL SENDER FLOAT ARM TO CONTACT AN EMBOSSMENT MOLDED INTO THE TANK SHELL CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE TO SHOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER TANK WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 5,523 MY 2008 TITAN, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.' THE TIRE PLACARD LISTS AN INCORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM/VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (ABS/VDC) ACTUATOR IS DESIGNED WITH ONE BALL IN THE VALVE SECTION. SOME ABS/VDC ACTUATORS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH MORE THAN ONE BALL IN THE VALVE.
NHTSA recalls