Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Nissan Xterra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility43
- Fuel system, gasoline22
- Electrical system17
- Wheels11
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Air bags8
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Power train6
- Steering6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 32 2001 Xterra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 22 people died inside them, and 12 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Nissan Xterra failed the safety check 1.88% of the time — 6% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 163,174 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
1 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 15.1–15.5 L/100 km (about 15–16 mpg US), CO₂ 347–357 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xterra V6 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.2 | 13.8 | 15.1 |
| Xterra V6 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.0 | 13.7 | 15.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Nissan Xterra.
| 2004151 6 May 2004 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel pump terminal on the fuel sending unit can develop a crack. When exposed to heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, if r… |
| 2002205 13 Nov 2002 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel tank inlet shutter valve may not meet the sealing performance specification. Under certain conditions, fuel may spill from the fi… |
| 2002206 13 Nov 2002 | Brakes On certain four wheel drive vehicles, water may enter the rear axle housing due to inadequate sealing of the ABS sensor in the axle housing. This may result in… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SIX CYLINDER ENGINES AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOUR OR SIX CYLINDER ENGINES, THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT CAN DEVELOP A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TERMINAL STRIP TO CORRODE UNDER SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR AXLE HOUSING DUE TO INADEQUATE SEALING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE DOES NOT MEET THE SEALING PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Nissan told its dealers about the 2001 Nissan Xterra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635804 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0420 CATALYST SET. *TT |
| 635795 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 633677 | SUBJECT REGARDING ABS WARNING LIGHT DIMLY LIT. *JG |
| 633628 | SUBJECT REGARDING COOLANT LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD WATER OUTLET. *JG |
| 633592 | SUBJECT REGARDING DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FLOOR CARPET TORN. *JG |
| 631760 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. *SLC |
| 631339 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JG |
| 631329 | SUBJECT REGARDING COOLANT LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD WATER OUTLET. *JG |
| 631307 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF SQUEAK OR POP NOISE IN RIGHT REAR FLOOR PAN. *JG |
| 630975 | SUBJECT REGARDING RIGHT HAND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKING. *JG |
| 630810 | CONCERNS WITH MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JB |
| 629507 | SUBJECT REGARDING KNOCKING NOISE ABOVE IDLE (800-1100 RPM). *YD |
| 629492 | SUBJECT REGARDING BEARING NOISE FROM TRANSFER CASE AREA. *YD |
| 629210 | SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT |
| 628209 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE STEERING PULL DURING BRAKING. *JG |
| 627440 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING PULL DURING BRAKING. *JG |
| 625512 | SUBJECT REGARDING FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING FOR VEHICLES WITH ROUGH IDLE, HESITATION OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0300 - P0306 STORED. *TT |
| 625200 | SUBJECT REGARDING MIL ON W/DTC P1491 AND/OR DIFFICULTY REFUELING. *YD |
| 624064 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO REVISED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES.*JB |
| 624029 | INFORMATION ON FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING FOR VEHICLES WITH ROUGH IDLE.*JB |
| 623168 | INFORMATION ON FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING FOR VEHICLES WITH ROUGH IDLE, HESITATION OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0300-P0306 STORED. *SB |
| 623114 | SUBJECT REGARDING ESSENTIAL TOOL - REAR AXLE BEARING REMOVAL KIT. *TTTHE KIT IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL AND AND WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO ALL NISSAN DEALERS. |
| 621967 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 5N1ED28T31C520354 MAY EXHIBIT A SQUEAK OR POP NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR FLOOR PAN. *TT |
| 620002 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEP RAIL BRACKET AVAILABILITY / ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 618799 | SOME APPLIED MODELS (EQUIPPED WITH KA24DE 4 CYL. ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION ONLY) MAY EXHIBIT AN INOPERATIVE SPEEDOMETER WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0500 (VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR) STORED IN THE ECM. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE
FUEL SPILL DURING REFUELING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation