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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

84 reports
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

220,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

I'M SURPRISED WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FUEL TANKS RUSTING OUT THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. ARE THEY WAITING FOR ONE TO BLOW UP OR CATCH FIRE. THE O RING LEAKS VAPOR AND GAS ON FILL UPS BECAUSE THAT AREA IS ALL RUSTED. EITHER THEY HAVE TO USE BETTER COATINGS OR HIDE THAT AREA FROM THE ENVIRONMENT. THE FLANGE AREA …

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I'M SURPRISED WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FUEL TANKS RUSTING OUT THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. ARE THEY WAITING FOR ONE TO BLOW UP OR CATCH FIRE. THE O RING LEAKS VAPOR AND GAS ON FILL UPS BECAUSE THAT AREA IS ALL RUSTED. EITHER THEY HAVE TO USE BETTER COATINGS OR HIDE THAT AREA FROM THE ENVIRONMENT. THE FLANGE AREA IS LIKE A WELL AND THE WATER JUST SITS THERE AND RUSTS AWAY THE TANK. P0455CODE IS SET WHICH IS EVAP SYSTEM GROSS LEAK. NISSAN OMITTED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH RUSTED FUEL TANKS . WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET NISSAN TO REDESIGN A FIX FOR THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632312

89,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FROM THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FROM THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RULED AS DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568202

60,000 miles · Aug 13, 2013
Steering

VEHICLE HAS TIGHT STEERING. BARELY ABLE TO TURN WHEEL WHILE NOT MOVING. INDEPENDENT GARAGE CHECKED STEERING, FOUND CORROSION IN STEERING LINKAGE AND NOTIFIED ME OF RECALL. WHEN CONTACTED NISSAN DEALER CLAIMS THAT RECALL DOES NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE. CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER WHO ALSO DENIED THE RECALL. VEHICLE IS WIT…

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VEHICLE HAS TIGHT STEERING. BARELY ABLE TO TURN WHEEL WHILE NOT MOVING. INDEPENDENT GARAGE CHECKED STEERING, FOUND CORROSION IN STEERING LINKAGE AND NOTIFIED ME OF RECALL. WHEN CONTACTED NISSAN DEALER CLAIMS THAT RECALL DOES NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE. CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER WHO ALSO DENIED THE RECALL. VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE RECALL DATES AND WAS MANUFACTURED AT SMYRNA, TN PLANT. REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT SAY WHY THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. WANTED ME TO TAKE TO DEALER AND PAY TO HAVE REPAIRED. EITHER NISSAN IS NOT HONORING THE COMMITMENT TO THE RECALL OR THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535146

140,000 miles · Aug 10, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

FLANGE AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS CORRODED AND FUMES ARE ESCAPING FROM THE GAS TANK EVERY TIME I FUEL UP MY VEHICLE. MANY XTERRAS HAVE THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534613

83,000 miles · Jan 7, 2013
Steering

AFTER REPAIRING STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM (RECALL ID# 10V554000) LESS THAN ONE YEAR, THE GEAR BOX CRACKED AND POWER STEERING FLUID DRAINED CAUSING POWER STEERING LOST FUNCTION. I THINK GEAR BOX CRACKED PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN DEALER AND REGIONAL OFFICE BUT THEY DENIED THE RELATION…

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AFTER REPAIRING STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM (RECALL ID# 10V554000) LESS THAN ONE YEAR, THE GEAR BOX CRACKED AND POWER STEERING FLUID DRAINED CAUSING POWER STEERING LOST FUNCTION. I THINK GEAR BOX CRACKED PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN DEALER AND REGIONAL OFFICE BUT THEY DENIED THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491671

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2011
Structure

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA AND IT IS LEAKING WATER IN THE REAR. I HAD THE BACK GLASS AND ROOF RACK CHECKED OUT BY A PROFESSIONAL. TO THE PROFESSIONALS FINDING THE WINDOW AND ROOF RACK WERE NOT LEAKING BUT THE WELDED SEAM OF MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE SEAM WAS NEVER WELDED RIGHT AND OVER TH…

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I CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA AND IT IS LEAKING WATER IN THE REAR. I HAD THE BACK GLASS AND ROOF RACK CHECKED OUT BY A PROFESSIONAL. TO THE PROFESSIONALS FINDING THE WINDOW AND ROOF RACK WERE NOT LEAKING BUT THE WELDED SEAM OF MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE SEAM WAS NEVER WELDED RIGHT AND OVER THE COURSE OF TIME IT HAS CAUSED A HAIR LINE CRACK ON THE ROOF. THE PROFESSIONAL LOOKED ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND NOTICED THE WELDED SEAM IS STARTED TO GIVE AWAY TOO. DUE TO THE CRACK MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING WATER EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR SNOWS. MY BACK CARPET HAS BEEN REMOVED SO NO FURTHER DAMAGE CAN BE DONE TO THE BACK INTERIOR. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437778

158,000 miles · Nov 15, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVIS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.

NHTSA ODI #10435700

158,081 miles · Nov 15, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK , FUEL PUMP MOUNTING BRACKET LEAKS AT THE MOUNTING. FUEL VAPOR LEAKAGE AND FUEL LEAKAGE WHEN TANK IS FULL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435693

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

2004 NISSAN XTERRA. CONSUMER STATES FUEL TANK IS RUSTED OUT AND THE SMELL OF GAS IS APPARENT *TGW

NHTSA ODI #10433294

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.