IllustrationFUEL GAUGE FAULTY. READS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO RUN OUT OF FUEL. SERVICE ENGINE CODE P0463 FUEL SENSOR. *TR
2005 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Xterra years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Xterra are substantially higher than 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
210–25K
8025–50K
15950–75K
21575–100K
261100–150K
34150K+
770 reports with mileage · 75 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.
- Power Train. Review the 412 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 242 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 167 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports6 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
39 reportsFUEL GAUGE STUCK AT 3/4 TANK AFTER FUEL UP. NEEDLE WILL NOT MOVE AND IS INACCURATE. SEVERAL OTHER REPORT SAME ISSUE RELATED TO FUEL SENDING UNITS ON NISSAN TRUCKS AND SUV'S 2005-2008. *TR
INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE LEADING TO INACCURATE FUEL READINGS; THE GAUGE MAY SHOW GAS LEFT WHEN TANK IS ACTUALLY EMPTY OR VICE VERSA; ALL DIGITAL DASH READINGS AND COMPONENTS SHORT OUT OR COMPLETELY STOP WORKING INCLUDING MILEAGE READINGS; HAVE TO CONTINUALLY FILL UP WITH GAS TO ENSURE I HAVE ENOUGH TO RUN THE VEHICLE; I HAVE RUN OU…
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INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE LEADING TO INACCURATE FUEL READINGS; THE GAUGE MAY SHOW GAS LEFT WHEN TANK IS ACTUALLY EMPTY OR VICE VERSA; ALL DIGITAL DASH READINGS AND COMPONENTS SHORT OUT OR COMPLETELY STOP WORKING INCLUDING MILEAGE READINGS; HAVE TO CONTINUALLY FILL UP WITH GAS TO ENSURE I HAVE ENOUGH TO RUN THE VEHICLE; I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE TRAVELING AT 80 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD; I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN TRAVELING WITH ME AND DO NOT NEED TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER STOPPED WORKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONTACTS REQUEST TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE ECM IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTAC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER STOPPED WORKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONTACTS REQUEST TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE ECM IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500.
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROL MODULE . THE TRUCK DIE ANY WHERE MY TRUCK IN LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY(495) WEST IN THE LEFT LANE I BELIEVE THAT ALL NISSAN 2005 XTERRA THE SHOULD CALL FOR THIS CANE OF PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
HI I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK ON THE FUEL PUMP. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THAT ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE, WITH LOW MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE GAS GAUGE STOPS WORKING OR BECOMES INACCURATE. ON THE ODB II, IT SHOWS AS PO463. NISSAN WILL NOT COVE…
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HI I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK ON THE FUEL PUMP. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THAT ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE, WITH LOW MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE GAS GAUGE STOPS WORKING OR BECOMES INACCURATE. ON THE ODB II, IT SHOWS AS PO463. NISSAN WILL NOT COVER AND THIS IS UNSAFE, AS YOU HAVE TO "GUESS" BY MILEAGE HOW MUCH FUEL IS LEFT. MINE WENT OUT AND I FIXED IT MYSELF AS I WAS CONCERNED WITH SAFETY OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AT A BAD TIME. *TR
THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE; I PURCHASED MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED '05 XTERRA 4 MONTHS AGO AND DROVE IT UP UNTIL YESTERDAY WITHOUT PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AFTER WORK, MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ON. I STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH GAS ON MY WAY HOME, AND NOTICED MY GAS GAUGE WOULD NOT PASS THE 3/…
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THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE; I PURCHASED MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED '05 XTERRA 4 MONTHS AGO AND DROVE IT UP UNTIL YESTERDAY WITHOUT PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AFTER WORK, MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ON. I STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH GAS ON MY WAY HOME, AND NOTICED MY GAS GAUGE WOULD NOT PASS THE 3/4 TANK POSITION. EVENTUALLY, AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 50 MILES OR SO, MY GAS GAUGE (SOMETIMES) RETURNS TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ALWAYS REMAINS ON. AT THIS POINT, NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN. BUT IN DOING MY RESEARCH, ALL SIGNS POINT TOWARDS THIS BEING A FUEL SENDING UNIT PROBLEM THAT IS COMMON IN BOTH 01-04 NISSAN VEHICLES (FOR WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL) AND 05-PRESENT NISSAN VEHICLES (FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL). *TR
2005 NISSAN XTERRA HAD AN ELECTRICAL WIRE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROY IT. *NJ
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES AND JUST WENT OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. LOOKING IT UP ON THE INTERNET, SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR DEFECT AS OTHER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR
Official recalls
310V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Oct 28, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
08V690000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 29, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
05V458000 · Trailer Hitches
Oct 5, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A NISSAN ACCESSORY TOW HITCH, INADEQUATE QUALITY OF SOME WELDED JOINTS IN THE HITCH ASSEMBLY MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE HITCH FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING USED TO TOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRAILER SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TOW HITCHES. ON OCTOBER 17, 2005, OWNERS WERE SENT AN INTERIM LETTER ADVISING THEM NOT TO USE THE TOW HITCH UNTIL IT CAN BE REPAIRED. ANOTHER LETTER WAS SENT OUT ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005, NOTIFYING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR. OWNERS MAY 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
1DP12004 · Transmission Failures
Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.