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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Suspension complaints

11 reports
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150,000 miles · Oct 17, 2020
SteeringSuspensionWheels

SPEEDS OVER 60 HITS A BUMP AND STARTS ROCKING AND BOUNCING

NHTSA ODI #11364867

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

160,000 miles · Jun 20, 2015
Suspension

PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, ALMOST PUNCTURING GAS TANK ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I WAS ADVISED BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY AN ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND IT IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART, A…

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PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, ALMOST PUNCTURING GAS TANK ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I WAS ADVISED BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY AN ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND IT IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART, AS THE METAL LAYERED LEAF SPRING SHOULD NOT BREAK. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NOT ONE THAT IS DRIVEN IN A MANNER OF OFF ROADING, THAT THE FAILED LEAF SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY THE AUTHORITIES PERHAPS, AS A RECALL ITEM. HE ADVISED THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT AND I HAVE REVIEWED THIS SITE TO DETERMINE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD ISSUE WITH THE LEAF SPRINGS BREAKING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10726364

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

170,319 miles · Jan 16, 2015
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEAF SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,319.

NHTSA ODI #10676126

39,657 miles · Mar 10, 2010
Suspension

AT 39,000 MILES, RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING SNAPPED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318447

90,206 miles · Mar 7, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

1. FRONT RIGHT LOWER A-FRAME (SWING ARM) FRACTURED AND RELEASED BALL JOINT RESULTING IN CAR COLLAPSING ONTO THE TIRE. FAILURE APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE DUE TO ROUGH EDGES OF BROKEN AREAS. BALL JOINT IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND STILL GRIPS A PIECE OF THE A-FRAME. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OP…

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1. FRONT RIGHT LOWER A-FRAME (SWING ARM) FRACTURED AND RELEASED BALL JOINT RESULTING IN CAR COLLAPSING ONTO THE TIRE. FAILURE APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE DUE TO ROUGH EDGES OF BROKEN AREAS. BALL JOINT IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND STILL GRIPS A PIECE OF THE A-FRAME. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED AT A VERY LOW SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. HAD IT HAPPENED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WOULD LIKELY HAVE CAUSED A ROLLOVER CRASH WITH FATALITIES POSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED, ALL PARTS WILL BE RETAINED WHEN IT IS. 2. LEFT REAR ANTI SWAY BAR MOUNTING CLAMP FAILED DUE TO METAL FATIGUE JUST DAYS PRIOR TO THIS RESULTING IN THE ANTI SWAY BAR BAR PUMMELING THE STEEL BRAKE LINE UNTIL IT SPRANG A LEAK. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. I REPLACED THE BROKEN CLAMP AND BRAKE LINE. AGAIN NO CRASH OCCURRED DUE TO LOW SPEED OPERATION. I HAVE THE PARTS AND PIECES IN MY POSSESSION. 3. PRIOR TO THIS BY A FEW WEEKS THE LEFT FRONT FREE WHEELING HUB DISINTEGRATED WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. I REPLACED THE HUB BUT HAVE SOME PIECES. I HAVE NO THEORY ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THIS FAILURE, BUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT. WE LIVE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRA NEVADAS AND MANY ROADS ARE PERCHED ALONG STEEP ROCKY SLOPES. A LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSED BY ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS COULD HAVE PROVED FATAL. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 90206 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN GENTLY. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED ON A USER FORUM FOR XTERRA FANS THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR HAS BEEN A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THEM FOR QUITE A WHILE WITH THE RESULT THAT THEY RECOMMEND REMOVING THE SWAY BAR ALTOGETHER AND BEEFING UP THE REAR SHOCKS. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE XTERRAS SHOULD BE RECALLED ON THE REAR SWAY BAR ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261058

43,117 miles · Jul 1, 2008
Suspension

VEHICLE HAS 40K MILES ON IT (7K MILES PAST 36M/3Y WARRANTY). LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY ON PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR BROKE - PART SHOULD NOT BREAK AT 40K MILES. LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE PER ALL THE MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN TO. PART SHOULD LAST 100K MILES OR MORE. VEHICLE NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232806

30,300 miles · Jun 19, 2008
StructureSuspensionTires

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKS ALONG THE SIDES OF THE TIRES. ALSO , WHEN I GOT NEW TIRES, A BIG O TIRES SHOP FOUND THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS BAD ON THE PERMANENT STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE THAT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED DUE TO IT WAS THE __ TOE - SAI - INCLUDED ANGLE - AND THE TOTAL TOE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231631

57,000 miles · Mar 24, 2008
Suspension

REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD. FIRST ONE CRACKED AT 57,000 AND 2ND ONE BROKE AT 64,000 MILES. MECHANIC THOUGHT THAT FAILURE OF THESE WAS PREMATURE AND A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222220

Official recalls

2

10V554000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.