IllustrationMAJOR INTRUSION ON FRONT END AFTER A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITHOUT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER SLIDING ON ICE AND BEING HIT HEAD ON BY A FORD F150.
2001 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Nissan Xterra do not stand out strongly from 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
70–25K
2925–50K
1350–75K
2275–100K
11100–150K
3150K+
85 reports with mileage · 65 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.
- Visibility. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
8 reportsI WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF A BUSINESS PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD, CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH HER DRIVER DOOR. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY AIRBAG IN MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING ME TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THE RESULTS WERE…
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I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF A BUSINESS PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD, CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH HER DRIVER DOOR. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY AIRBAG IN MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING ME TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THE RESULTS WERE THAT I FAILED TO PROPERLY DECELERATE; THIS WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 8/29/06 WHEN A VEHICLE STRUCK ME HEAD-ON. MY AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH I SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES I FEEL THAT MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN BUT HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK CONCERNING ON CHECKING THE VEHICLE, ETC. THE SUV IS ALREADY REPAI…
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 8/29/06 WHEN A VEHICLE STRUCK ME HEAD-ON. MY AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH I SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES I FEEL THAT MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN BUT HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK CONCERNING ON CHECKING THE VEHICLE, ETC. THE SUV IS ALREADY REPAIRED IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 WEEKS. *NM
[XXX]. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPL0YED, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER.*AK *YH
VEHICLE HIT A LIGHT POLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE NEAR HEADLIGHT, RADIATOR PUSHED BACK ABOUT 6 INCHES. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK/ BACK, AND HEAD INJURIES. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME, MAY BE TOTALLED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 20-25 MPH WITH A TREE AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM *JG
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, HITTING A GUARDRAIL, AND ON SECOND IMPACT HITTING A VEHICLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
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.
02V299000 · Suspension:rear
Nov 12, 2002
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE FOR WATER INTRUSION AND ANY AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. THE ABS SENSOR WILL BE RESEALED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 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.
02V300000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Nov 12, 2002
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE DOES NOT MEET THE SEALING PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS SUCH AS HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND WHEN WINTER GRADE GASOLINE IS BEING SOLD, FUEL COULD SPILL FROM THE FILLER INLET AS THE TANK IS BEING FILLED. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 10, 2002. 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.
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
2DP03005 · Brake Rotor Warpage
Opened Jul 11, 2003 · Closed Jul 29, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
MR. KENT JONES OF KERNERSVILLE, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION TO NHTSA BY E-MAIL DATED JULY 1, 2003, REQUESTING NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES.THE PETITIONER ALLEGED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS IN THESE VEHICLES WERE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE ROTORS OVERHEAT AND WARP FROM NORMAL USAGE.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATABASE FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING MY 2001 THROUGH MY 2003 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES IDENTIFIED ONLY TWO REPORTS RELATED TO BRAKE ROTOR WARPING; ONE FOR A MY 2001 AND ONE FOR A MY 2002.THE COMPLAINT FOR THE MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA WAS REPORTED BY THE PETITIONER.BRAKE ROTOR WARPING CAN RESULT IN BRAKE PULSATION AND SHAKING WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED.BRAKE PULSATION, TIRE OR SUSPENSION VIBRATION, AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS ARE AN OBVIOUS ANNOYANCE TO THE DRIVER, BUT GENERALLY DO NOT CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF A VEHICLE.FURTHERMORE, EVEN IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, ANY POTENTIAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WILL BE NEGLIGIBLE. THEREFORE, THIS CONDITION DOES NOT NORMALLY CONSTITUTE A SAFETY DEFECT, EVEN IF IT OCCURS WITH FAR MORE OFTEN FREQUENCY. IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF AN ALLEGED SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER IN THE MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN INVESTIGATION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
PE02052 · Fuel Spill During Refueling
Opened Jun 20, 2002 · Closed Dec 3, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.