IllustrationP0463 CODE SHOWED UP ON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. 80,000 MILES. HAVE CLEARED THE CODE TWICE, AND CEL KEEPS POPPING UP WITH CODE P0463. *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
Fuel System, Other complaints
49 reportsFUEL GAGE IS NOT ACCURATE AND ERRATIC SOMETIMES, WHEN FULL TANK IT SHOWS ONLY 3/4 ON THE GAGE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON
P0463 OBDII CODE APPEARED AT ABOUT 56K MILES. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLED ON 1ST GEN XTERRAS, AND IS NOW A PROMINENT PROBLEM WITH 2ND GEN XTERRAS. HOWEVER, NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL. *TR
CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALER SAID WAS FUEL SENSOR FAILURE. COST $600 B/C I'M PAST WARRANTY THOUGH ONLY 40K ON 2005 XTERRA. THERE IS A RECALL B/C SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER YEAR MODELS OF XTERRA.. MANY COMPLAINTS RE: SAME PROBLEM ON SAME 2005 XTERRA ON INTERNET. ONE SITE DOCUMENTED 116 -SAME COMPLAINT SAME 2005 XTERR…
Read full complaint
CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALER SAID WAS FUEL SENSOR FAILURE. COST $600 B/C I'M PAST WARRANTY THOUGH ONLY 40K ON 2005 XTERRA. THERE IS A RECALL B/C SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER YEAR MODELS OF XTERRA.. MANY COMPLAINTS RE: SAME PROBLEM ON SAME 2005 XTERRA ON INTERNET. ONE SITE DOCUMENTED 116 -SAME COMPLAINT SAME 2005 XTERRA. SAFETY ISSUE B/C DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN TRUCK AT ANY TIME. CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD TO MAKE SURE TRUCK "FULL OF GAS". SAID THEY'VE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS BUT AT THIS POINT NO RECALL ON 2005 XTERRA. NO SOLUTION. ENGINE CAN QUIT IF OUT OF GAS--CRASH INEVITABLE, STRANDED IN REMOTE LOCATION OR UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. ERROR CODE: PO463. *TR
WE HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA AND AM HAVING THE SAME FUEL SENSOR ISSUE AS SO MANY OTHERS. WE FILL UP AND THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THIS CAUSES US TO NOT PASS EMISSIONS UNTIL IT IS FIXED, WHICH IS A 600.00+ ISSUE SINCE THE GAS TANK NEEDS REMOVED TO FIX IT. VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE A SIMPLE SEA…
Read full complaint
WE HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA AND AM HAVING THE SAME FUEL SENSOR ISSUE AS SO MANY OTHERS. WE FILL UP AND THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THIS CAUSES US TO NOT PASS EMISSIONS UNTIL IT IS FIXED, WHICH IS A 600.00+ ISSUE SINCE THE GAS TANK NEEDS REMOVED TO FIX IT. VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE A SIMPLE SEARCH OF THE WEB SHOWS HUNDREDS OF NISSANS IN OR AROUND 1 YEAR DIFFERENCE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! NISSAN RECALLS MORE THAN 500,000 VEHICLES REGARDING:FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM, SOURCE OF MANY COMPLAINTS, BEING ADDRESSED I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, THEY REPORTED THAT MY 2005 XTERRA VIN# WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. *TR
FUEL GAUGE IS SUDDENLY SHOWING THE GAS IS EMPTY AND EMPTY FUEL IS BLINKING CAUSING TO WORRY ABOUT THE GAS. *TR
FUEL GAUGE RECALL - NISSAN I OWN A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA, THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECENT RECALL FOR NISSAN VEHICLES WITH THE FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. MY PROBLEM WAS ON 04/06/2009, AND COST ME $443.65+TAX TO HAVE FIXED. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN, AND ALL I GOT WAS "A CALL BACK IN 3 WEEKS" RESPONSE. THE CURRENT RECALL COVERS NISSA…
Read full complaint
FUEL GAUGE RECALL - NISSAN I OWN A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA, THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECENT RECALL FOR NISSAN VEHICLES WITH THE FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. MY PROBLEM WAS ON 04/06/2009, AND COST ME $443.65+TAX TO HAVE FIXED. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN, AND ALL I GOT WAS "A CALL BACK IN 3 WEEKS" RESPONSE. THE CURRENT RECALL COVERS NISSAN "XTERRAS" PRODUCED BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH 2006 AND BETWEEN OCTOBER 2007 AND JANUARY 2008. THE PROBLEM EXISTED PRIOR TO THAT, IE: MY 2005 XTERRA. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER 2005 MODELS, AND THAT NISSAN SHOULD GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT MY FAULT........ *TR
FUEL SENSOR IN 2005 NISSAN XTERRA IS GIVING FAULTY READINGS ---NISSAN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE ISSUED A PARTIAL RECALL, BUT IT DOES NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE ACTUAL MODELS INVOLVED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME, I ASSUMED I HAD GAS AS THE GAUGE READ 1/4 TANK. I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN TOWNS, AND HA…
Read full complaint
FUEL SENSOR IN 2005 NISSAN XTERRA IS GIVING FAULTY READINGS ---NISSAN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE ISSUED A PARTIAL RECALL, BUT IT DOES NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE ACTUAL MODELS INVOLVED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME, I ASSUMED I HAD GAS AS THE GAUGE READ 1/4 TANK. I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN TOWNS, AND HAD TO CALL FOR HELP. SINCE THEN, IF THE GAUGE GETS DOWN TO JUST UNDER 1/2, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE NEEDLE FALLS TO THE BOTTOM AND READS EMPTY. I HAVE TO TRACK MY GAS USAGE BY MILEAGE, AND ON TRIPS THIS IS A HUGE PAIN. *TR
2005 NISSAN XTERRA-FUEL SENSOR WENT OUT, THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO QUIT EVEN WHILE DRIVING. CRASHES ARE INEVITABLE WITH YOUR ENGINE DYING. PARTS AND LABOR $600.00+. *TR
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR HAS FAILED, AND RETURNS ERRONEOUS RESULTS MISREPRESENTING THE LEVEL OF GASOLINE/FUEL AVAILABLE. WHILE NOT A HIGHLY CRITICAL ISSUE TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF, THIS IS STILL A THREAT TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AS THERE IS A DANGER OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS AND BEING STRANDED IN A REMOTE LOCATION AND/OR IN AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT…
Read full complaint
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR HAS FAILED, AND RETURNS ERRONEOUS RESULTS MISREPRESENTING THE LEVEL OF GASOLINE/FUEL AVAILABLE. WHILE NOT A HIGHLY CRITICAL ISSUE TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF, THIS IS STILL A THREAT TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AS THERE IS A DANGER OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS AND BEING STRANDED IN A REMOTE LOCATION AND/OR IN AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. *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.