Nissan Xterra
Owners filed 3,099 complaints across 17 model years of the Nissan Xterra. The 2005 drew the most (845); the 2013 the fewest (4).
Model years17
Complaints3,099
Recalls59
Fires36
Deaths4
Every Nissan Xterra model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 10 | 0 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2014 | 10 | 0 | — | — | Suspension | Routine | |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2012 | 16 | 2 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2011 | 24 | 2 | — | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2010 | 38 | 6 | — | 4 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2009 | 19 | 5 | — | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2008 | 119 | 8 | 3 | 9 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2007 | 557 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Power Train | Above average | |
| 2006 | 780 | 5 | 3 | 12 | Power Train | Fatalities reported | |
| 2005 | 845 | 6 | 6 | 7 | Power Train | Above average | |
| 2004 | 84 | 3 | 3 | 10 | Steering | Routine | |
| 2003 | 72 | 3 | 2 | 16 | Steering | Routine | |
| 2002 | 157 | 6 | 7 | 21 | Steering | Fatalities reported | |
| 2001 | 150 | 5 | 5 | 15 | Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls | Routine | |
| 2000 | 214 | 5 | 4 | 25 | Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump | Fatalities reported | |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine |
Which Nissan Xterra years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2005 is the weakest year on record, with 845 complaints concentrated in the power train. It carries 6 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.