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2000 Nissan Xterra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Xterra years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Nissan Xterra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 78.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

126 reports with mileage · 88 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports4 fire reports14 injury reports

Power Train complaints

22 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2024
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

My car keeps stalling out like it's not getting gas.

NHTSA ODI #11614949

190,000 miles · Dec 30, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE IN THE SAME GEAR AS SHOWN ON THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR. THE V…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE IN THE SAME GEAR AS SHOWN ON THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V288000, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IDENTICAL TO HIS FAILURE AND IT WAS ALSO RELATED TO THE CABLE LOCK PLATE ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190000.

NHTSA ODI #10373524

46,820 miles · Oct 3, 2007
Power Train

WITH 46,820 MILES ON OUR 2000 NISSAN XTERRA, WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY BY 1 MONTH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY WENT OUT. THE ENGINE RAN FINE BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED …

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WITH 46,820 MILES ON OUR 2000 NISSAN XTERRA, WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY BY 1 MONTH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY WENT OUT. THE ENGINE RAN FINE BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY TOOK MY INFORMATION. AFTER A WEEK OF PRESSURING FOR A RESPONSE, THEY FINALLY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR AND THAT IF I HAD MADE ALL OF OUR REPAIRS AT THE LOCAL DEALER THAT MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE DISCOUNTED THE REPAIR. WE HAD ALL THE SERVICE PERFORMED AT THE LOCAL DEALER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 4-5 OIL CHANGES THAT WERE PERFORMED AT JIFFY-LUBE. ALL SERVICE & MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON SCHEDULE AND THEY STILL REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. WE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING (NO HITCH INSTALLED) AND LIVE IN A FLAT TOPOGRAPHICAL LOCATION (MIAMI). WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. WE LATER SOLD THE CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT - EVER! WE ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE A/C AND COULD COUNT AN A REGULAR REPLACEMENT OF HOSES EVERY SUMMER. WE ARE VERY UPSET WITH NISSAN AND THIS HAS BEEN 3 YEARS AGO. TODAY WE RECEIVED A LETTER THAT THE CAR MAY BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN. HA! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204801

81,000 miles · Dec 5, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FIVE TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V288000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE A…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FIVE TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V288000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT THIS RECALL. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175168

113,702 miles · Jul 5, 2006
Power Train

FOR SEVERAL YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A "RATTLING" NOISE AND THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS AT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG (OF COURSE THIS IS THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT FORGOT TO PUT THE OIL CAP BACK ON AFTER CHANGING THE OIL ONE DAY). FINALLY THE TRANSMISSION JUST BROKE. I WAS DRI…

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FOR SEVERAL YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A "RATTLING" NOISE AND THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS AT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG (OF COURSE THIS IS THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT FORGOT TO PUT THE OIL CAP BACK ON AFTER CHANGING THE OIL ONE DAY). FINALLY THE TRANSMISSION JUST BROKE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A HORRIBLE SCRAPING METAL NOISE AND MY CAR BASICALLY JUST LUNGED FORWARD. IT SEEMED TO STAY IN 1ST GEAR BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY OTHER GEAR INCLUDING REVERSE. THANKFULLY I WAS LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO PARK IT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE UNTIL I HAD IT TOWED. I HAD IT TOWED TO DON IRBY'S TRANSMISSIONS LLC (THE BEST TRANSMISSION PLACE IN TOWN) AND THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION (RE4R01A). I KNOW THAT THE 2000 NISSAN XTERRA'S HAD A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND I REALLY WONDER IF/WHY MINE WASN'T INCLUDED...BECAUSE I REALLY DO FEEL THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. MY XTERRA DRIVES LIKE A NEW CAR AGAIN! IT HASN'T DRIVEN AND PERFORMED THIS GREAT IN YEARS!!*JB

NHTSA ODI #10161527

72,000 miles · Apr 5, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC, BUT THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V288000, REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10154641

90,000 miles · Sep 1, 2005
Power Train

I OWN A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ON AUG 19, WHILE ON A TRIP, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BECAME STUCK AND THE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER CONSULTING THE MANUAL FOR A PROCEDURE TO DISENGAGE THE SHIFT LOCK MECHANISM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER WOULD MOVE FREELY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION.…

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I OWN A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ON AUG 19, WHILE ON A TRIP, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BECAME STUCK AND THE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER CONSULTING THE MANUAL FOR A PROCEDURE TO DISENGAGE THE SHIFT LOCK MECHANISM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER WOULD MOVE FREELY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER ADDITIONAL TIME, I WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION INTO "D", BUT THE SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAYS "N". I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TRIP, AND RETURN HOME. UPON RETURNING, THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS RECURRED. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 00V288000 WHICH DESCRIBES A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE 2000 NISSAN XTERRA, THAT INDICATES NISSAN SHOULD CORRECT THIS DEFECT. I CONTACTED A NISSAN DEALER IN MY AREA AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN ASSESSMENT. I INFORMED THE DEALER OF MY CONCERN ABOUT THE RECALL, BUT THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THIS RECALL, AND SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT NISSAN DIRECTLY. I CONTACTED NISSAN, AND AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WAS REFERRED TO "CHAD" WHO IS A REGIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHAD CAN BE CONTACTED AT 310-771-3853). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A DEFECTIVE SHIFT LOCK, AND AFTER TWO CONVERSATIONS WITH CHAD AT NISSAN, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOT PART OF THE RECALL, THEREFORE I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. BASED ON THE INFORMATION IN NHTSA 00V288000, I FAIL TO SEE HOW NISSAN SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10135082

52,000 miles · Feb 18, 2005
Power Train

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO WHEN CONSUMER WOULD PUT VEHICLE INTO FIRST GEAR IT MADE A LOT OF NOISE. THEN, IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR, BUT IT WOULD SLIP OUT AGAIN. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, SHE HAD TO HOLD IT IN GEAR. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR. CONSUMER WILL BE TAK…

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CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO WHEN CONSUMER WOULD PUT VEHICLE INTO FIRST GEAR IT MADE A LOT OF NOISE. THEN, IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR, BUT IT WOULD SLIP OUT AGAIN. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, SHE HAD TO HOLD IT IN GEAR. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR. CONSUMER WILL BE TAKING THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT FELT THIS VEHICLE WAS TOO NEW FOR TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION. *AK AFTER THE TESTING THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CLUTCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10098989

85,000 miles · Feb 7, 2005
Power Train

CONTINUING POOR CLUTCH OPERATION. PEDAL OFTEN BINDS; HAD TO RELEASE PEDAL FULLY TO GET CRUISE CONTROL TO OPERATE; PEDAL IS NEARLY TO THE FLOOR AT FIRST START ON COLD MORNING. JUST SPENT $1200 TO REPAIR CLUTCH. DEALER CLAIMS BINDING CLUTCH IS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER 2000 XTERRA OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM …

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CONTINUING POOR CLUTCH OPERATION. PEDAL OFTEN BINDS; HAD TO RELEASE PEDAL FULLY TO GET CRUISE CONTROL TO OPERATE; PEDAL IS NEARLY TO THE FLOOR AT FIRST START ON COLD MORNING. JUST SPENT $1200 TO REPAIR CLUTCH. DEALER CLAIMS BINDING CLUTCH IS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER 2000 XTERRA OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM EARLIER IN THEIR OWNERSHIP AND HAD THE PEDAL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY...MY THOUGHT IS THE BINDING CLUTCH IS CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS...*JB

NHTSA ODI #10110009

50,000 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Power Train

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, UPON TRYING TO SHIFT THE GEAR IT WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN FINALLY PUTTING IT IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE. *JB *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083373

Official recalls

3

04V230000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 24, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF CORROSION OCCURS, THE TERMINAL STRIP COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP OPERATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: IN THE FOLLOWING STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT. THESE STATES ARE CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THE OTHER STATES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE SENDING UNIT FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE UNIT. IF THERE IS NOT CORROSION, THE DEALER WILL APPLY SEALANT TO THE TERMINAL HOUSING TO HELP PREVENT CORROSION IN THE FUTURE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

03V307000 · Wheels

Aug 22, 2003

2000 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 15, 1999, AND FEBRUARY 29, 2000. THE ALLOY WHEELS USED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND COULD DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE WHEEL SPOKES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SPOKE CRACKS DEVELOP, THE WHEEL COULD FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING HUB, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE FOUR ALLOY WHEELS WITH XTERRA SE MODEL BRIGHT ALLOY WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SPARE TIRE STEEL WHEEL IS NOT AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED THROUGH NISSAN'S WEB SITE AT WWW.NISSANUSA.COM.

00V288000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 2, 2000

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE DRIVER SELECTS 'DRIVE' AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN 'REVERSE', A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE LOCK PLATE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.