NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
11 reportsClear category filter220,715 miles · Aug 4, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
WHEN DRIVING MY XTERRA, IT LOSES POWER AND CUTS OUT ON ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. THERE IS A DECLARATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE WON'T CRANK OR START LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME OVER YEARS THAT THE XTERRA HAS CUT OFF ON ME. ALL DASHBOARD SYSTEMS STOP COMPLETELY …
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WHEN DRIVING MY XTERRA, IT LOSES POWER AND CUTS OUT ON ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. THERE IS A DECLARATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE WON'T CRANK OR START LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME OVER YEARS THAT THE XTERRA HAS CUT OFF ON ME. ALL DASHBOARD SYSTEMS STOP COMPLETELY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS.
NHTSA ODI #11343229
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
FUEL GAUGE REGISTERING IMPROPERLY. ONLY SHOWS 3/4 TANK UPON FILLING TANK FULL AND WILL NOT DROP UPON USAGE OF FUEL. GAUGE HAS ONLY DROPPED ONCE SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11266928
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
GOT INTO MY CAR ONE DAY AND UPON TRYING TO CRANK IT , WHEN TURNING THE KEY IT HESITATED TO CRANK AND FINALLY DID SO. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, WHEN I LEFT MY CAR WOULD JUST NOT CRANK. NO CLICKS. LIGHTS WORK FINE. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH SECURITY, BATTERY. JUST REPLACED THE STARTER AROUND OCT OF LAST YEAR.
NHTSA ODI #11180721
116,000 miles · May 24, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
2004 XTERRA HAD BEEN LOW ON RADIATOR FLUID AND NEEDED TOPPING UP EACH WEEK, THEN EACH DAY. AFTER FILLING WITH WATER AND COOLANT NIGHT BEFORE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT ON HWY. CAR SAT IN SUN ALL DAY, THEN OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. HAD TOWED TO WORK ON IT. REPLACED SPLIT RADIATOR HOSE WHERE DRIPPING OCCURS AND REFILLED CAR RADIATO…
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2004 XTERRA HAD BEEN LOW ON RADIATOR FLUID AND NEEDED TOPPING UP EACH WEEK, THEN EACH DAY. AFTER FILLING WITH WATER AND COOLANT NIGHT BEFORE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT ON HWY. CAR SAT IN SUN ALL DAY, THEN OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. HAD TOWED TO WORK ON IT. REPLACED SPLIT RADIATOR HOSE WHERE DRIPPING OCCURS AND REFILLED CAR RADIATOR, NO LEAKING APPARENT. NEXT DAY, DROVE ON HWY TO WORK. AT 65-75 MPH CAR BEGAN MAKING CLICKING/TAPPING NOISES FROM ENGINE. WENT UPHILL TOWARDS INTERCHANGE AND CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY, STEAM (OR SMOKE) CAME FROM UNDER HOOD AS I CAREFULLY CROSSED FREEWAY TO EXIT, ALL LIGHTS CAME ON ON DASH AND SMOKE OR STEAM POURED INTO THE CAR THROUGH AIR VENTS. I HAD LOST ALL POWER AND POWER STEERING, BUT I STEERED IT SAFELY TO HWY SERVICE ROAD STREET WITH PARKING LOT. CAR WAS SMOKING UNDER HOOD, STEAM OR SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF VENTS AND ALL LIGHTS REMAINED ON ON THE DASH. UNDER THE HOOD, THE A/C CONDENSER OR RADIATOR HAS A 5" BREAK ON TOP OF IT. WHEN I PUT WATER IN THE RADIATOR IT POURS THROUGH SEVERAL PLACES WHERE HOSES CONNECT (GASKETS AND SEALS, I PRESUME). HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT EVER AGAIN, BUT NOW I CAN'T GET TO WORK OR PICK MY KIDS UP FROM SCHOOL ANYMORE AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT OR PAY FOR REPAIRS SINCE I CAN'T GET TO WORK.
NHTSA ODI #11097726
125,450 miles · Jan 23, 2017
Electrical SystemSteeringSuspension
I TOOK MY VECHICLE TO ACE AUTO AND HE CLAIM HE FIXED IT GAVE ME A LIST THE SECOND TIME BUT NOT THE FIRST TIME IT SAT THERE FOR A YEAR THAN I GOT IT OUT FOR 2 MONTHS BACK IN AGAIN ITS GOES REAL SLOW BACK FIRES NOW AND STERRING WHEEL LOCKED ONE DAY NOW ITS ACTING LIKE IT DONT HAVE POWER TO IT.EVERYTIME YOU GO SPPEED LIMIT THE STEE…
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I TOOK MY VECHICLE TO ACE AUTO AND HE CLAIM HE FIXED IT GAVE ME A LIST THE SECOND TIME BUT NOT THE FIRST TIME IT SAT THERE FOR A YEAR THAN I GOT IT OUT FOR 2 MONTHS BACK IN AGAIN ITS GOES REAL SLOW BACK FIRES NOW AND STERRING WHEEL LOCKED ONE DAY NOW ITS ACTING LIKE IT DONT HAVE POWER TO IT.EVERYTIME YOU GO SPPEED LIMIT THE STEERING LOCKS IT SHAKES AND NOT ENOUGH POWER TO GO BARELY GO UP THE HILL TOO.
NHTSA ODI #10947220
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineInjury
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY STARTER 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS TO SHOW ALSO. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR BECAUSE OF A CRACK NEAR THE CAP. I HAD A HOSE THAT GOES THROUGH MY DASH WITH THE HOT WATER EXPLODE ON ME AND BURN MY HAND PRETTY BAD. MY RADIATOR SEEMS TO EVAPORATE COOLING FLUID ON A REGULAR BASIS…
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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY STARTER 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS TO SHOW ALSO. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR BECAUSE OF A CRACK NEAR THE CAP. I HAD A HOSE THAT GOES THROUGH MY DASH WITH THE HOT WATER EXPLODE ON ME AND BURN MY HAND PRETTY BAD. MY RADIATOR SEEMS TO EVAPORATE COOLING FLUID ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE HAD A PRESSURE TEST IT IS HOLDING PRESSURE. AND NOW MY WARNING BELL IS NO LONGER WORKING. MY BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD 5 TIMES BECAUSE NO WARNING SOUND TO TELL ME I LEFT MY LIGHTS ON.
NHTSA ODI #10717539
128,138 miles · May 15, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringSuspension
I HAVE REPLACED MY STARTER 3 TIMES. MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE A SHORT OR FAULTY WIRING I'M SURE BECAUSE WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE GOTTEN TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS AS A RESULT I HAVE A EXPIRED BRAKE TAG I CANT GET A NEW ONE BECAUSE THE WIRING WILL COST TO MUCH. MY UV JOINT BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY…
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I HAVE REPLACED MY STARTER 3 TIMES. MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE A SHORT OR FAULTY WIRING I'M SURE BECAUSE WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE GOTTEN TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS AS A RESULT I HAVE A EXPIRED BRAKE TAG I CANT GET A NEW ONE BECAUSE THE WIRING WILL COST TO MUCH. MY UV JOINT BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY. THAT PART THEY TELL ME IS NOT A COMMON BREAKING PART. NISSAN CHARGES OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR THAT. I'M TOLD MY WIRING IS BAD AFTER I REPLACE MY STARTER 2 MONTHS AGO. THEY SENT ME A RECALL FOR MY COLUMN STEERING AND I HAD IT REPAIRED BUT IT STILL IS A SLIGHT HASSLE TO CHANGE GEARS. I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER TELLING ME THEY ARE BUYING 2004 NISSAN XTERRA'S BUT WHEN I CALLED THE SALES MAN SAYS IT'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE XTERRA'S THAT'S JUST A SALES STUNT. I THINK ITS A BUNCH OF BULL NISSAN KNOWS THEY DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB WITH THESE 2004"S.
NHTSA ODI #10716718
10,000 miles · Nov 8, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
THERE WAS A BREAK-IN OF MY CAR AND THE DOME LIGHT WAS LEFT ON. THE DOME LIGHT APPARENTLY SHORT-CIRCUITED AND BURNED OFF. THE HOT LIGHT FELL ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE TRUCK IS NOW TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10142216
6,761 miles · Aug 26, 2005
Electrical System
PROBLEMS WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 5 TIMES TO REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ECM. THE VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10129042
23,000 miles · Aug 16, 2005
Electrical System
ALTERNATOR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10133116
Official recalls
2Nov 11, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Dec 15, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCESSORY TOW HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE TOW HITCH TO LOOSEN OR SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE TOW HITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 3, 2005. OWNERS 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 ↗