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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 →
845Owner complaints

Model-year median: 78

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
157
200272
200384
2004845
2005780
2006557
2007119
2008
Compare all Xterra years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
412Fuel System, Gasoline
242Engine And Engine Cooling
167Engine
114Fuel System, Other
49
All reported categories
Electrical System
39Fuel/propulsion System
32Unknown Or Other
25Air Bags
19Vehicle Speed Control
12Steering
10Electronic Stability Control (esc)
8Suspension
8Equipment
6Structure
4Visibility
4Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes
3Trailer Hitches
3Child Seat
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

845 reports
91,000 miles · Jul 14, 2018
Power Train

"TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR RECALL" I OWN A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA OFFROAD V-6. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN SEPT. 2005. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AN AIR INTAKE PROBLEM WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS VEHICLE! UNTIL IT WENT OVER 90,000 MILES IN FEB. 2014, THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRI…

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"TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR RECALL" I OWN A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA OFFROAD V-6. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN SEPT. 2005. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AN AIR INTAKE PROBLEM WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS VEHICLE! UNTIL IT WENT OVER 90,000 MILES IN FEB. 2014, THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE FAST LANE ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PASS OVER THE OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC AND MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE CAR ROLLED TO A COMPLETE STOP. I LET IT SIT AND COOL AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN TO FIND THAT I WAS ABLE AT LEAST DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. IT WAS THEN THAT I WAS FIRST MADE AWARE OF THE RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION RECALL AND SUBSEQUENT ISSUES. THEY "SERVICED" THE COOLING SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE RADIATOR HOSES AND CLAMPS AND FLUSHING THE SYSTEM OUT AND TELLING ME THAT THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. (AT MY EXPENSE OF COURSE) THEY CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY WITH NO PROBLEMS. FINE. 2 YEARS AND 6,000 MILES LATER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A LOS ANGELES FREEWAY (IT IS SOMETIMES POSSIBLE) THE TRANSMISSION SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND SWITCHES INTO NEUTRAL LEAVING ME TRYING TO AND WEAVE MY WAY TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WHERE THERE IS A SHOULDER BEFORE I LOOSE MOMENTUM. THEN THE VEHICLE WAS NON OPERATIONAL AND I WAS STRANDED 100 MILES FROM HOME. IN THE 2 YEARS SINCE, THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD, HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 MORE TIMES AND HAD 2 MORE CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE IMPORTANT POINT TO BE ADDRESSED HERE IS THAT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS RECALL ENDED AND IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A "SAFETY HAZARD". WELL, WHEN MY VEHICLE FAILED ON A BLIND CURVE ON CA ST HWY 74 (THE CORRIDOR OF DEATH), WITH NO MEDIAN OR SHOULDER, IT BECAME A REAL TIME SAFETY HAZARD TO ME.

NHTSA ODI #11111334

147,000 miles · Jun 26, 2018
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING MY XTERRA WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE WOULD REV HIGH MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOWED A CODE FOR THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE IT, OVER A $1…

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WHILE DRIVING MY XTERRA WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE WOULD REV HIGH MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOWED A CODE FOR THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE IT, OVER A $1,300. MECHANIC DISASSEMBLED TRANSMISSION TO REACH CONTROL MODULE AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXED WITH WATER. I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE RADIATOR AND FLUSH TRANSMISSION. LOOKING AT $2,000 IN REPAIRS. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR CRACKING AND MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR AWHILE. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND CONSUMERS ARE STUCK WITH THE BILL. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST ISSUE A SAFETY BULLETIN ADVISING THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THE RISK. INSTEAD NISSAN OPTED TO STAY SILENT AND HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS PUT PROFITS BEFORE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY SHOULD BE FINED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11104149

135,000 miles · May 18, 2018
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA TRANS JUST DIED ON 5/10/2018. I WAS DRIVING OVER THE WHITESTONE BRIDGE QUEENSBOUND ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN IT JUST STOPPED. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TODAY, 5/18/2018, THAT THE FAN WENT INSIDE THE TRANS AND WOULD COST THOUSANDS TO FIX. APPARANTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I'M SO ANGRY.

NHTSA ODI #11096797

163,000 miles · May 9, 2018
Engine

ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKING AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. SLUGGISH TO RUN, ETC. NISSAN ALREADY KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL VEHICLES AND CORRECTED THE ISSUE. NOW I AM OUT ALMOST $3000.00 PAYING FOR AN ISSUE THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT BUT IS NOT WILLING TO CORRECT.

NHTSA ODI #11092726

81,000 miles · Mar 27, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME. GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY EVEN AFTER YOU FILL IT UP COMPLETELY. DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0463, FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT ACCURATELY STATE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO NISSAN AND NHTSA. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT IN THE TANK OR HOW MANY MILES…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME. GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY EVEN AFTER YOU FILL IT UP COMPLETELY. DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0463, FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT ACCURATELY STATE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO NISSAN AND NHTSA. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT IN THE TANK OR HOW MANY MILES YOU CAN GO. THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR CERTAIN 2006, 2007 AND 2008 XTERRAS. NOT SURE WHY IT HASN'T BEEN FOR THE 2005 MODEL YEAR AS IT IS THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11081532

40,000 miles · Mar 15, 2018
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WITH JUST OVER 40,000 MILES ON IT THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP AS I HIT THE GAS. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND OTHER DRIVERS WERE FORCED TO AVOID MY VEHICLE WHICH COULD NOT SAFELY MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS AGAIN JUST HAPPENED AT OVER 80,000 MILES. TH…

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WITH JUST OVER 40,000 MILES ON IT THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP AS I HIT THE GAS. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND OTHER DRIVERS WERE FORCED TO AVOID MY VEHICLE WHICH COULD NOT SAFELY MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS AGAIN JUST HAPPENED AT OVER 80,000 MILES. THE CLUTCH IS WEARING VERY QUICKLY ON THIS VEHICLE. LUCKILY NONE OF THESE HAVE CAUSED ANY REAL SAFETY CONCERN BUT I WANT IT DOCUMENTED THAT NISSAN IS SELLING A VEHICLE WITH A POORLY MADE CLUTCH THAT COULD CAUSE SAFETY ISSUE DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. IF A VEHICLE LOSES ITS CLUTCH IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS OR LOSE MOTIVE POWER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #11079496

180,000 miles · Mar 3, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #11076067

140,000 miles · Feb 26, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION STARTED TO LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING THIS PAST SATURDAY. SO, BASICALLY MY CAR DOES START THEN AFTER DRIVING IT A FEW MINUTES OR MORE WILL STIFFEN AND CUT OFF. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11075033

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2018
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO SUFFERN NY AND WHEN I TOOK THE EXIT TO SUFFERN THE CAR LOST POWER WITH PREVIEW SIGN THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WHEN I TRY TO GET TO A SHOP TO CHECK IT OUT IT WAS SMOKING AND I SAW LIQUID UNDER. THE CAR WILL START BUT CANNOT MOVE ANYMORE OR MOVE SLOWLY. I HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN SOMEONE'S HOUSE.

NHTSA ODI #11074571

155,000 miles · Feb 9, 2018
Structure

TAILGATE LOCK WON'T UNLOCK

NHTSA ODI #11071946

Official recalls

3

10V517000 · 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

1

DP12004 · 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.