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

Fuel System, Other complaints

2 reports

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Mileage unknown · May 14, 2004

Fuel System, Other

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I OWN A 2001 NISSAN XTERRA & IT HAS 66,000 MILES. HOWEVER, SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE XTERRA I HAVE KNOWN I COULD NOT WALK AWAY WHILE PUTTING GAS IN THE TANK BECAUSE THE GAS DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT-OFF. RATHER, IT WILL SPILL OUT. I JUST LIVED WITH THIS, FIGURING IT WAS A "KINK" I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH. UNTIL I WAS ON THE NISSAN WEBSITE & SAW THEY HAD A RECALL ON 2001 XTERRAS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. ONLY ONE PROBLEM, THE VIN FOR MY XTERRA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHILE MY XTERRA WAS AT THE VICTORY NISSAN OF RICHMOND (MAR 2004), FOR A DIFFERENT ISSUE, I LET BOTH TIM, SERVICE TECH, & GARY, SERVICE MANAGER, KNOW MY XTERRA DID THE SAME THING THE RECALL WAS DESCRIBING. THEY SAID MY XTERRA WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, BUT WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH NISSAN. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM VICTORY NISSAN. MAY 14, 2004, I NOTIFIED NISSAN HDQTRS ABOUT THE ISSUE & WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY XTERRA DIAGNOSED. MY COMPLAINT IS NISSAN IS AWARE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL TANK VALVE ON 2001 XTERRAS & I AM TELLING THEM MY 2001 XTERRA DOES THE SAME THING, BUT THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE MY XTERRA. CONSIDERING THE HUGE SAFETY ISSUES WITH FILLING UP A GAS TANK & IT NOT AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING, BUT RATHER SPILLING GAS, I FIND IT ABSURD NISSAN WOULD EXPECT A CUSTOMER TO PAY $40 TO $80 TO DIAGNOSE IF THE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ESPECIALLY ON A MODEL KNOWN TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ITS FUEL TANK VALVES. MY OTHER CONCERN IS IF MY 2001 XTERRA IS DOING THE SAME THING AS IN THE RECALL & WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, HOW MANY OTHER 2001 XTERRAS ARE OUT THERE JUST WAITING TO HAVE A SPARK AT THE GAS PUMP BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. ALSO, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT MY 2001 XTERRA'S ISSUE IS THE FUEL TANK VALVE OR NOT, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN & I WOULD THINK NISSAN WOULD WANT TO IDENTIFY IF THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANKS OF XTERRAS. AFTER ALL, DO WE NEED A REPEAT FORD EXPLORE TIRE ISSUE BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072617

80,000 miles · Jan 19, 2004

Fuel System, Other

FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WAS STRANDED 60 MILES IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. 2001 NISSAN XTERRA SE *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054426

Official recalls

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.

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

DP03005 · 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.