DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED O A NISSAN DEALER IT WAS FOUND THAT THE UPPER RIGHT CAM SHAFT HAD BROKEN ALSO DAMAGING HYDRAULIC LIFTERS.
2000 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Xterra years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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
126 reports with mileage · 88 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
214 reportsDT: IN RESPONSE TO THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT THAT MAY CRACK OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL WORK, AND THE CAR BROKE DOWN TWICE SINCE THEN FOR THE SAME REASON. OWNER WAS WORRIED THAT THE CAR MAY STALL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAD TRIED TO FIX THE RECALL 3 TIMES, AND THE OWNER NO LONGER TRUSTED THAT …
Read full complaint
DT: IN RESPONSE TO THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT THAT MAY CRACK OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL WORK, AND THE CAR BROKE DOWN TWICE SINCE THEN FOR THE SAME REASON. OWNER WAS WORRIED THAT THE CAR MAY STALL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAD TRIED TO FIX THE RECALL 3 TIMES, AND THE OWNER NO LONGER TRUSTED THAT NISSAN WAS FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME, THE OWNER WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE DIED. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AND WOULD NOT START. THIRD TIME, VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. OWNER HAS NOT TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. OWNER HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL. NISSAN REIMBURSED SOME OF THE MONEY BACK. THE OWNER CONCERNED THAT SHE MAY BE GETTING FAULTY PARTS.*AK
FRONT RIGHT ALLOY WHEEL OF MY XTERRA 2000 HAS CRACKS IN TWO PLACES, I CALLED NISSAN USA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VECHICLE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER. MY VECHICLE'S VIN NUMBER IS [XXX]. I NEED YOUR HELP. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT T…
Read full complaint
FRONT RIGHT ALLOY WHEEL OF MY XTERRA 2000 HAS CRACKS IN TWO PLACES, I CALLED NISSAN USA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VECHICLE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER. MY VECHICLE'S VIN NUMBER IS [XXX]. I NEED YOUR HELP. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
REQUEST FOR REFUND FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON THE 2000 NISSAN XTERRA.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER SENT SEVERAL COPIES OF THE INVOICE TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT TO…
Read full complaint
REQUEST FOR REFUND FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON THE 2000 NISSAN XTERRA.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER SENT SEVERAL COPIES OF THE INVOICE TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT TO DATE THE CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED. *NM
REQUEST FOR REFUND FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON THE 2000 NISSAN XTERRA.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER SENT SEVERAL COPIES OF THE INVOICE TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT TO…
Read full complaint
REQUEST FOR REFUND FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON THE 2000 NISSAN XTERRA.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER SENT SEVERAL COPIES OF THE INVOICE TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT TO DATE THE CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED. *NM
I HAVE ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON MY 2000 NISSAN XTERRA. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AROUND 40K MILES DUE TO A CRACK. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING A CRACK OF THE DRIVER EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS PROBLEM HAS ME CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTS INVOLVED. I THINK THAT THE EXHAUST FUMES MAY ENTER THE PASSENGER AREA OF …
Read full complaint
I HAVE ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON MY 2000 NISSAN XTERRA. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AROUND 40K MILES DUE TO A CRACK. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING A CRACK OF THE DRIVER EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS PROBLEM HAS ME CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTS INVOLVED. I THINK THAT THE EXHAUST FUMES MAY ENTER THE PASSENGER AREA OF THE CAR THROUGH THE FIREWALL.
I DID NOT RECIEVE RECALL INFO ON ALLOY WHEEL AND FUEL SENDING UNIT FROM NISSAN FOR MY 2000 XTERRA. IN ADDITION I HAD MY NISSIAN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES AT A DEALER AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL. ONLY WHEN I DID RESEARCH DID I FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL.
I WAS TRANSPORTING A MECHANIC TO A JOB SITE, WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTED A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. AFTER TALKING WITH ANOTHER 2000 XTERRA OWNER, HE SITED THE SAME FAULT ON HIS VEHICLE. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THE FAULT IS WIDE SPREAD. I THEN TALKED WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND THEY ALL AGREED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHOULD NOT FAI…
Read full complaint
I WAS TRANSPORTING A MECHANIC TO A JOB SITE, WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTED A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. AFTER TALKING WITH ANOTHER 2000 XTERRA OWNER, HE SITED THE SAME FAULT ON HIS VEHICLE. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THE FAULT IS WIDE SPREAD. I THEN TALKED WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND THEY ALL AGREED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH THAT FREQUENCY AT THOSE MILES. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT NISSIAN HAS PROBLEMS NOT JUST WITH THE XTERRA BUT ALSO EARLIER MODELS OF THE FRONTER. STATISTICAL AND MECHANICAL EVIDENCE SUGGETS A DEFECT IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO WHEN CONSUMER WOULD PUT VEHICLE INTO FIRST GEAR IT MADE A LOT OF NOISE. THEN, IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR, BUT IT WOULD SLIP OUT AGAIN. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, SHE HAD TO HOLD IT IN GEAR. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR. CONSUMER WILL BE TAK…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO WHEN CONSUMER WOULD PUT VEHICLE INTO FIRST GEAR IT MADE A LOT OF NOISE. THEN, IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR, BUT IT WOULD SLIP OUT AGAIN. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, SHE HAD TO HOLD IT IN GEAR. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR. CONSUMER WILL BE TAKING THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT FELT THIS VEHICLE WAS TOO NEW FOR TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION. *AK AFTER THE TESTING THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CLUTCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TC
CONTINUING POOR CLUTCH OPERATION. PEDAL OFTEN BINDS; HAD TO RELEASE PEDAL FULLY TO GET CRUISE CONTROL TO OPERATE; PEDAL IS NEARLY TO THE FLOOR AT FIRST START ON COLD MORNING. JUST SPENT $1200 TO REPAIR CLUTCH. DEALER CLAIMS BINDING CLUTCH IS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER 2000 XTERRA OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM …
Read full complaint
CONTINUING POOR CLUTCH OPERATION. PEDAL OFTEN BINDS; HAD TO RELEASE PEDAL FULLY TO GET CRUISE CONTROL TO OPERATE; PEDAL IS NEARLY TO THE FLOOR AT FIRST START ON COLD MORNING. JUST SPENT $1200 TO REPAIR CLUTCH. DEALER CLAIMS BINDING CLUTCH IS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER 2000 XTERRA OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM EARLIER IN THEIR OWNERSHIP AND HAD THE PEDAL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY...MY THOUGHT IS THE BINDING CLUTCH IS CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS...*JB
Official recalls
304V230000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
May 24, 2004
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SIX CYLINDER ENGINES AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOUR OR SIX CYLINDER ENGINES, THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT CAN DEVELOP A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TERMINAL STRIP TO CORRODE UNDER SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF CORROSION OCCURS, THE TERMINAL STRIP COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP OPERATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: IN THE FOLLOWING STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT. THESE STATES ARE CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THE OTHER STATES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE SENDING UNIT FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE UNIT. IF THERE IS NOT CORROSION, THE DEALER WILL APPLY SEALANT TO THE TERMINAL HOUSING TO HELP PREVENT CORROSION IN THE FUTURE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
03V307000 · Wheels
Aug 22, 2003
2000 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 15, 1999, AND FEBRUARY 29, 2000. THE ALLOY WHEELS USED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND COULD DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE WHEEL SPOKES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SPOKE CRACKS DEVELOP, THE WHEEL COULD FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING HUB, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE FOUR ALLOY WHEELS WITH XTERRA SE MODEL BRIGHT ALLOY WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SPARE TIRE STEEL WHEEL IS NOT AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED THROUGH NISSAN'S WEB SITE AT WWW.NISSANUSA.COM.
00V288000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Oct 2, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT. " THESE VEHICLES COULD HAVE A SHIFT CABLE LOCK PLATE THAT IS TOO BRITTLE AND CAN BREAK. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER AND THE "PRNDL" INDICATOR MAY MOVE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE TRANSMISSION COULD SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION, BUT THE GEAR INDICATED ON THE DISPLAY MAY DIFFER FROM THE GEAR ENGAGED IN THE TRANSMISSION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DRIVER SELECTS 'DRIVE' AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN 'REVERSE', A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE LOCK PLATE.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration