2005 Nissan Xterra problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (332) · Fuel System, Gasoline (226) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (52)
🧭 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
768 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling 2010-10-28 · campaign 10V517000 · 747,480 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2010-05-20 · campaign 10E019000 · 1,873 vehicles
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CH
Risk: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Service bulletins (90)
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.
Electrical System 2026-08-24 · NTB05-086A · Service Campaign
voluntary service campaign body control module sub-harness voluntary service campaign id # p5234 is no longer active. · repair orders opened after this bulletin’s published date are no longer eligible for reimbursement under campaign id # p5234. · discard all previous versions of ntb05-086.
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
Air Bags 2024-07-08 · NTB23-081C · Service Campaign
voluntary safety recall campaign 2005-2013 frontier, pathfinder, and xterra; driver air bag cover campaign id #: pc945 and pc948 applied vehicles: 2005-2013 frontier (d40) 2005-2012 pathfinder (r51) 2005-2013 xterra (n50) check service comm or dealer business systems (dbs) national service history t
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.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-027D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication – network diagnostic flow chart 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 90 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-02-25 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 nissan xterra. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled inadvertently on several occasions. the contact was able to pull over to the side of the road on several occasions. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was restarted, and the contact continued driving. the vehicle was …”
2025-07-21 · Air Bags“the front airbag crash sensor on my 2005 nissan xterra failed and is currently unavailable due to an extended backorder. firestone auto provided a work order confirming the need for replacement. the airbag warning light has been flashing continuously for the past four months, indicating a system malfunction. my advisor contacted nissan dealers thre…”
2025-03-10 · Engine · 50,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 nissan xterra. the contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle was losing motive power. the service engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle stalled with the accelerator pedal depressed. the contact stated that the vehicle moved forward and stopped suddenly intermittently. on another occasion, the a/c became in…”
2023-08-08 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2005 nissan xterra. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23e012000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. no information on parts availability was prov…”
2023-02-15 · Exterior Lighting · 🔥 fire“the plastic on my sun visor broke and with the use of it the wires inside the mirror light become exposed and almost caused a fire …”
2023-02-15 · Power Train“i have a 2005 nissan xterra and the transmission failed due to my transmission fluid and radiator fluid mixed …”
2022-08-04 · Vehicle Speed Control“i have a 2005 nissan xterra. i am the original owner and have been driving it over 16 years. two years ago, in 2020 while driving my car on the road and with kids inside (with a 1 year old and a 6 year old child), the car began to shake and turned off (we were stranded in the middle of the road, at a traffic light). since it was my only means of …”
2022-02-14 · Power Train · 149,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 nissan xterra. the contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the contact stated she was able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle stalled after driving 50 feet. the vehicle was not drivable. the contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it…”
2022-02-07 · Power Train“transmission failure due to internal cracks in the radiator's oil cooler tube…”
2021-11-19 · Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump · 200,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owns a 2005 nissan xterra. the contact that while stopped at a traffic light the vehicle stalled. the contact was immediately able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle kept stalling. the contact restarted the vehicle however while entering a parking garage the vehicle stalled again. after several attempts the vehicle restarted. t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.