2004 Nissan Xterra problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (13) · Engine (6) · Suspension (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Xterra model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
66 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Steering:column 2010-11-11 · campaign 10V554000 · 500,552 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Service bulletins (48)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB13-028I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
removing foreign material from the window glass this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB09-081K · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
windshield cracking this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 48 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-08-09 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“i have been in three accidents, of decent speed, and my airbags never deployed. i was told to report that. …”
2025-06-05 · Engine“water pump went out replace water pump motor blown …”
2024-12-27 · Steering“i took my xterra to get inspected 12/27/2024. i was informed i have a recall on this vehicle.…”
2023-06-09 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“my vehicle has been in 3 accidents. being rear-ended at 70mph, again six months later at 60mph, then the forward vehicle slammed their brakes, and i hit them at around 30mph. in any of these accidents, none of my airbags deployed. …”
2022-04-01 · Unknown Or Other“unknown. wanting to make a recall appointment that was reported on my smog check.…”
2021-01-01 · Steering“the steering weal it's becoming stiff and is becoming hard to maneuver around and it might affect my driving and i'm scared i might crash and this is the only vehicle i have and own and have no other means to purchase another car. i was heading to work and i tried turning on the corner and it just became hard to steer the steering weal.…”
2020-10-17 · Wheels · 150,000 mi“speeds over 60 hits a bump and starts rocking and bouncing…”
2020-08-04 · Steering · 220,715 mi“when driving my xterra, it loses power and cuts out on me. this is very dangerous and cuts completely off when i'm accelerating. there is a declaration and then the vehicle won't crank or start leaving me stranded. this is not the first time over years that the xterra has cut off on me. all dashboard systems stop completely when it happens. i …”
2020-05-05 · Power Train · 168,000 mi“coolant in transmission! bought new in march of 2015. was driving on i-10 in biloxi and it started smelling like a burnt rubber smell and it started smoking! pulled over and got out of it! left me and my daughter stranded on the side of the highway! *tr…”
2019-10-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System“fuel gauge registering improperly. only shows 3/4 tank upon filling tank full and will not drop upon usage of fuel. gauge has only dropped once since i have owned the vehicle.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.