IllustrationCOOLANT IN TRANSMISSION! BOUGHT NEW IN MARCH OF 2015. WAS DRIVING ON I-10 IN BILOXI AND IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE A BURNT RUBBER SMELL AND IT STARTED SMOKING! PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF IT! LEFT ME AND MY DAUGHTER STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY! *TR
2004 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 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
180–25K
925–50K
1150–75K
875–100K
10100–150K
10150K+
66 reports with mileage · 18 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.
- Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports
Power Train complaints
6 reportsI OWN A NISSAN XTERRA 2004 IT WAS IN PARK AND ROLLED BY ITSELF FROM FLAT TO DOWN A DRIVE HITTING A MOVING CAR THEN GOING DOWN A CLIFF INTO A TREE. NO ONE AT NISSAN OR ALLSTATE CAN EXPLAIN WHY IT ROLLED! NISSAN BLEW ME OFF SAYING IT CAN HAPPEN WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT IF IT COULD JUST ROLL LIKE THAT WHY DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY? T…
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I OWN A NISSAN XTERRA 2004 IT WAS IN PARK AND ROLLED BY ITSELF FROM FLAT TO DOWN A DRIVE HITTING A MOVING CAR THEN GOING DOWN A CLIFF INTO A TREE. NO ONE AT NISSAN OR ALLSTATE CAN EXPLAIN WHY IT ROLLED! NISSAN BLEW ME OFF SAYING IT CAN HAPPEN WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT IF IT COULD JUST ROLL LIKE THAT WHY DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY? THERE EXPLANATION WELL--- IT WAS IN PARK! SO HOW CAN IF IT IS IN PARK NO KEYS CAN IT ROLL FORWARD THEN DOWN???? *JB
ON MAY 9,2007 I SHIFTED THE 2004 NISSAN XTERRA FROM P ARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD 10 FEET. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT A RETAINING WALL. AK
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, WHEN I PUT THE LEVER INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IT TAKE FOREVER FOR IT TO COME BACK OUT (THE SHIFTER MOVES BUT THE LIGHT STAYS ON) THEIR ARE TIMES THE 4X4 LIGHT IS DIMLY LIGHT? AND OTHER TIMES IT COMES ON FOR NO REASON, SERVICED TWICE WAS TOLD THEY REPLACED A SWITCH ON THE UNIT. PROBLEM STILL EXISITS.*AK
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT IS VERY WOBBLY, AND THERE IS A SQUEAKY SOUND COMING FROM THE FLOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS, BUT NOTHING WAS RESOLVED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT GRADE THAT WENT TO THE STREET. CONSUMER OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, PUT LEFT FOOT ON THE CLUTCH, TURNED THE KEY, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. CONSUMER EXPECTED THE VEHICLE TO JILT FORWARD AND STALL WHEN FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE CLUTCH , BUT INSTEAD, IT JILTED, THEN SURGED…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT GRADE THAT WENT TO THE STREET. CONSUMER OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, PUT LEFT FOOT ON THE CLUTCH, TURNED THE KEY, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. CONSUMER EXPECTED THE VEHICLE TO JILT FORWARD AND STALL WHEN FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE CLUTCH , BUT INSTEAD, IT JILTED, THEN SURGED FORWARD AT 25 MPH UP THE DRIVEWAY, DRAGGING THE CONSUMER. CONSUMER'S HANDS WERE STILL ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NEVER DEPRESSED. VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE , BUT THE REAR WHEEL CONTINUED TO TURN. TWO INSURANCE ADJUSTERS CAME OUT AND INSPECTED THE DAMAGE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT AFTER THE FRONTAL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THEN THEY WILL INSPECT VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION, AND THEN CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
210V554000 · Steering:column
Nov 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.
04V581000 · Trailer Hitches
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.