IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HEADER SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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
Visibility complaints
5 reportsREAR WINDOW BUSTED OUT ON IT'S OWN. THERE WAS NO ONE TOUCHING IT OR ANYTHING. MY WIFE WAS GETTING OUT NEPHEW OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND THE WINDOW BUSTED OUT,SPREADING PIECES OF GLASS ALL OVER THE BACK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WANT THE GLASS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK AND SEE WHAT CAUSED THE WI…
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REAR WINDOW BUSTED OUT ON IT'S OWN. THERE WAS NO ONE TOUCHING IT OR ANYTHING. MY WIFE WAS GETTING OUT NEPHEW OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND THE WINDOW BUSTED OUT,SPREADING PIECES OF GLASS ALL OVER THE BACK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WANT THE GLASS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK AND SEE WHAT CAUSED THE WINDOW TO BUST OUT SO NO ONE GET HURT OR HAS A WRECK WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE WINDOW BUST OUT. *JB
VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER WITH DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW SLOW TO RISE. DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, AFTER 3RD VISIT, DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE RE-GREASED ROTORS INSIDE DOOR AND NOTHING MORE TO DO. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DIFFERENT DEALER AND HAD RAISING ARM REPLACED IN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT WITH 02, 03…
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VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER WITH DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW SLOW TO RISE. DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, AFTER 3RD VISIT, DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE RE-GREASED ROTORS INSIDE DOOR AND NOTHING MORE TO DO. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DIFFERENT DEALER AND HAD RAISING ARM REPLACED IN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT WITH 02, 03 AND SOME 04 XTERRAS AS PER NISSAN SERVICE SHOPS. *NM
2004 XTERRA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS REASON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ONE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A DEFECTIVE RIGHT DOOR. THE RADIO ALSO DOES NOT WORK. *TS WHEN THE POWER WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULA…
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2004 XTERRA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS REASON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ONE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A DEFECTIVE RIGHT DOOR. THE RADIO ALSO DOES NOT WORK. *TS WHEN THE POWER WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. BOTH FRONT WINDOW RUN CHANNELS WARPED TWICE AND CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO JUMP WHEN THEY WERE ROLLED DOWN. *NM
THE SIDE MIRRORS OF MY 2004 NISSAN X-TERRA SHOW MARKEDLY DISTORTION OF IMAGES. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONVECTION OF THE RIGHT MIRROR. IT IS MOST PROBABLY RELATED TO FAULTY GLASS MANUFACTURING. SPECIALLY THE LEFT MIRROR IS NOT OPTICALLY FLAT. *JB
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.