I HAVE A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA SE. I WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH WHEN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED, FORCING ME TO DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. THERE I SAT WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER - STRANDED. I HAD NO WARNING OF THIS TERRIBLE EVENT AND AM FURIOUS THAT A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT COULD MALFUNCTION SO TERRIBLY.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Xterra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
214 reportsAS I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY MY 2000 NISSAN XTERRA'S ENGINE CUT OUT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO ROLL OFF THE ROAD INTO A GAS STATION WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH THE TANK WAS FULL. THE PART THAT FAILED IS THE FUEL SENDING UN…
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AS I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY MY 2000 NISSAN XTERRA'S ENGINE CUT OUT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO ROLL OFF THE ROAD INTO A GAS STATION WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH THE TANK WAS FULL. THE PART THAT FAILED IS THE FUEL SENDING UNIT (NISSAN PART # 25060-4S415) WHICH HAS WIRING THAT CORRODES. WHEN THE SENDING UNIT FAILS THE FUEL PUMP IS TURNED OFF, WHICH IN TURN SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF. THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS VERY SERIOUS. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CAN SHUT OFF AT ANY MOMENT CAUSING OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. I HAVE READ ABOUT A HANDFUL OF XTERRA OWNERS ON THE INTERNET THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IF THERE ARE 10 OR SO PEOPLE WRITING ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET, I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THAT ARE NOT ON THE INTERNET. WHEN I PURCHASED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AT MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, THE PARTS PERSON TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT HE SELLS QUITE A FEW OF THEM. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL, AND WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. NISSAN MUST ISSUE A RECALL AS THIS PROBLEM MAY HARM OR KILL PEOPLE. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.XTERRAOWNERSCLUB.COM/CGI-LOCAL/ULTIMATEBB.CGI?
2000 NISSAN XTERRA 67245MILES FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT RUSTED OUT. TS
I WAS THE DRIVER OF MY 2000 NISSAN XTERRAIN - INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN JANUARY 2003. I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, AND HIT FROM BEHIND BY A VEHICLE GOING 40 MPH. I THEN HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE NISSAN WAS TOTALLED AND I WAS INJURED.
I HIT A GARDEN-VARIETY INNER-CITY POTHOLE RETURNING FROM A DAY-TRIP. AS A RESULT, THE TORSION BAR ON MY 2000 NISSAN XTERRA WAS BROKEN. STRANGE, FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS MARKETED AS CAPABLE OF RUGGED OFF-ROAD DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, BUT MY INSURANCE COMPANY PREFERRED THAT I TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE…
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I HIT A GARDEN-VARIETY INNER-CITY POTHOLE RETURNING FROM A DAY-TRIP. AS A RESULT, THE TORSION BAR ON MY 2000 NISSAN XTERRA WAS BROKEN. STRANGE, FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS MARKETED AS CAPABLE OF RUGGED OFF-ROAD DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, BUT MY INSURANCE COMPANY PREFERRED THAT I TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. BEFORE RELEASING THE CAR TO THE OTHER FACILITY, THE DEALIERSHIP SAID THE TORSION BAR HAD BEEN ORDERED AND WOULD BE DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY. THAT WAS ALMOST 4 WEEKS AGO. EACH TIME I CHECK ON THE REPAIR, I AM TOLD THE SAME THING: PART ON NATIONWIDE BACKORDER---NO RELEASE DATE AVAILABLE. IT ALL SEEMS FISHY TO ME...WHY WOULD THE TORSION BAR BE SO FLIMSY ON A VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY CAPABLE OF CLIMBING MOUNTAINS? AND WHY IS THERE SUCH A SHORTAGE OF THIS PART? ARE SO MANY NEEDED FOR REPAIRS THAT THEY CAN'T BE KEPT IN STOCK? AND WHAT IS THE HOLDUP ON DELIVERY OF THE PART? I'VE TRIED TO CONTACT NISSAN U SA TWICE, WITH NO REPLY EITHER TIME. I FEEL TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND JERKED AROUND BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN AND I'M AT THEIR MERCY.
THE FUEL PUMP ON MY WIFE'S 2000 NISSAN XTERRA FAILED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IT. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. IT WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECH CALLED NISSAN AND ORDERED THE PART FUEL PUMP, WHICH WAS ON BACK ORDER. NISSAN SAID THEY HAD A NUMBER OF FAILURES BUT NOT RECALLED THE PUMP. …
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THE FUEL PUMP ON MY WIFE'S 2000 NISSAN XTERRA FAILED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IT. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. IT WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECH CALLED NISSAN AND ORDERED THE PART FUEL PUMP, WHICH WAS ON BACK ORDER. NISSAN SAID THEY HAD A NUMBER OF FAILURES BUT NOT RECALLED THE PUMP. NISSAN ALSO SAID TO REPLACE THE FILTER AND REGULATOR. THE COST WAS OVER $500. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT SINCE FUEL PUMP FAILURE SHUTS THE VEHICLE OFF.
OUR 2000 NISSAN XTERRA SE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELLING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON A HIGHWAY. WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, BUT IF WE WERE IN ANY OF THE OTHER LANES, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. THE CAR COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WE WERE STUCK. THE PROBLEM WAS DIFFICULT …
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OUR 2000 NISSAN XTERRA SE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELLING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON A HIGHWAY. WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, BUT IF WE WERE IN ANY OF THE OTHER LANES, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. THE CAR COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WE WERE STUCK. THE PROBLEM WAS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS... THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED, THE GAS TANK WAS FULL, THE GAS CAP WAS TIGHTLY SECURED AT THE MOST RECENT FILLING, THE SERVICE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD NEVER CAME ON INDICATING A POTENTIAL PROBLEM... IT WAS VERY SUDDEN AND VERY SCARY. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED, THE DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM... A CORRODED WIRE CONNECTION ON THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. I CHECKED THE XTERRA OWNERS CLUB WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. ONE PERSON HAD IT HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE DURING A HEAVY SNOWSTORM, BUT THEY WERE LUCKY THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS ALREADY MOVING SLOWLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL BY NISSAN SO THAT OTHER XTERRA OWNERS GET THIS PART REPLACED BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO THEM.
THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL JUST GO COMPLETELY BLANK: THE ODOMETER, GAS, CRUISE CONTROL WILL EITHER FREEZE WHERE IT IS OR WILL GO DOWN TO ZERO. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK AND HAD EVEN STARTED TO AFFECT THE GAS PEDAL. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55+MPH I HAD POWER EVERYWHERE EXCEPT THE GAS PEDAL. I CONTACTED MY DEA…
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THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL JUST GO COMPLETELY BLANK: THE ODOMETER, GAS, CRUISE CONTROL WILL EITHER FREEZE WHERE IT IS OR WILL GO DOWN TO ZERO. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK AND HAD EVEN STARTED TO AFFECT THE GAS PEDAL. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55+MPH I HAD POWER EVERYWHERE EXCEPT THE GAS PEDAL. I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS I COULD BRING IT IN WHEN IT WAS NOT WORKING, WHICH WAS VERY HARD TO DO BECAUSE IT WOULD STOP WORKING AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND FOR DIFFERENT LENGHTS OF TIME. SOMETIMES FOR A FEW MINUTES AND SOMETIMES FOR HOURS. I FINALLY CALLED 1-800-NISSAN1 WITH MY COMPLAINT AND THEY HAD THE CONTROL PANEL REPLACED AND NISSAN PAID FOR IT!!!! DT
THESE TIRES HYDROPLANED VIOLENTLY, EVEN AT LOW SPEED. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE XTERRA OWNER'S CLUB REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE. ONE MEMBER REPORTED TO THE OWNER'S CLUB WEBSITE THAT THEY CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER. THE XTERRA OWNERS CLUB WEBSITE A…
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THESE TIRES HYDROPLANED VIOLENTLY, EVEN AT LOW SPEED. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE XTERRA OWNER'S CLUB REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE. ONE MEMBER REPORTED TO THE OWNER'S CLUB WEBSITE THAT THEY CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER. THE XTERRA OWNERS CLUB WEBSITE ADDRESS IS: HTTP.WWW.XTERRAOWNERSCLUB.COM.*AK
WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS A LOUD POP, CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THE CLAMP THAT HOLDS THE STABILIZER BAR IN PLACE BROKE OFF THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PIECE WAS AN OPTIONAL PIECE AND THAT IT WAS …
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WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS A LOUD POP, CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THE CLAMP THAT HOLDS THE STABILIZER BAR IN PLACE BROKE OFF THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PIECE WAS AN OPTIONAL PIECE AND THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BACK HOME, BUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED SOON, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE, HOWEVER ANOTHER TECHNICIAN STATED THE ONLY WAY THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED WOULD BE TO SAW THE FRONT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE OFF AND WELD AND REPLACE THAT PORTION OR NISSAN WOULD HAVE TO SEND ANOTHER FRAME FOR THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER TECHNICIAN THAT THE SCREW THAT HOLDS THE CLAMP ON WAS POSSIBLY LOOSE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED FROM OIL CHANGES AND BY THE SCREW BEING LOOSE IT BROKE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED A CLAMP WOULD BE ORDERD AND HE WOULD UTILIZE ANOTHER PIECE OF MATERIAL AND DRILL 2 HOLES AND REPLACE THE CLAMP ENOUGH IN PLACE TO KEEP THE BAR IN PLACE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MECHANIC IS PERFORMING A PATCH UP JOB AND NOT CORRECTLY IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM.*JB
Official recalls
304V230000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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