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2001 Nissan Xterra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Nissan Xterra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

85 reports with mileage · 65 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports

Equipment complaints

4 reports
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83,000 miles · Apr 26, 2007
Equipment

SINCE I BEGAN OWNERSHIP OF MY VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO GET THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HOSES REPLACED 2 TIMES. BOTH TIMES, THE LOW PRESSURE AND HIGH PRESSURE HOSES HAVE CRACKED AND LEAKED FREON. ONE REPLACEMENT OCCURRED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT WHICH OCCURRED WITHIN 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP BUT DID OCCUR OUTSIDE…

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SINCE I BEGAN OWNERSHIP OF MY VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO GET THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HOSES REPLACED 2 TIMES. BOTH TIMES, THE LOW PRESSURE AND HIGH PRESSURE HOSES HAVE CRACKED AND LEAKED FREON. ONE REPLACEMENT OCCURRED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT WHICH OCCURRED WITHIN 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP BUT DID OCCUR OUTSIDE OF 50,000 WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188923

26,500 miles · Jul 21, 2004
EquipmentStructureCrashInjury

I AM CURRENTLY RECUPERATING FROM AN SUV ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. A TRUCK RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA XE. THE XTERRA ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE ROOF CRUSHING IN ON ME, BREAKING THE WINDOWS OUT. WHEN IT STOPPED TUMBLING, IT WAS UPSIDE DOWN AND CONTINUED SLIDING DOWN THE ROAD ON THE ROOF. W…

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I AM CURRENTLY RECUPERATING FROM AN SUV ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. A TRUCK RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA XE. THE XTERRA ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE ROOF CRUSHING IN ON ME, BREAKING THE WINDOWS OUT. WHEN IT STOPPED TUMBLING, IT WAS UPSIDE DOWN AND CONTINUED SLIDING DOWN THE ROAD ON THE ROOF. WHEN THE ROOF CAVED I WAS CRUSHED DOWN AND MY HEAD WENT TOWARD THE DOOR. MY HAIR, WHICH WAS BARELY SHOULDER LENGTH, WENT OUTSIDE THE WINDOW AND WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE ROOF AND THE ROAD. I WAS SLIDING UPSIDE DOWN, AT AN ANGLE, BEING HELD BY MY SEATBELT, MY HAIR TRAPPED BETWEEN THE ROOF OF THE NISSAN AND THE ROAD, WITH MY HAIR BEING RIPPED OUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST I WAS TRAPPED BY MY REMAINING HAIR. WITNESSES LIFTED THE VEHICLE UP OFF MY HAIR TO FREE ME. THIS WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE THAT HAS CAUSED ME INJURY BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. THE LINK BELOW IS TO OUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATION'S WEBSITE WITH DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN MORE DETAILS OR PHOTOS PLEASE CONTACT ME. THE TELEVISION REPORTER CONTACTED US AND EMAILED PICTURES FROM THE CRASH SITE. MY HUSBAND ALSO TOOK PHOTOS AT THE WRECKER LOT WITH OUR DIGITAL CAMERA. HTTP://WWW.FIRSTCOASTNEWS.COM/NEWS/NEWS-ARTICLE.ASPX?STORYID=19812 IF YOU WISH TO CALL AND SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH ME MY HOME NUMBER IS (904) 388-2476. THANK YOU, GAYE SCHMIDT JACKSONVILLE FL *LA

NHTSA ODI #10082385

42,300 miles · Sep 28, 2003
Equipment

POWER WINDOW MOTOR & REGULATER FAILURE, ALL WINDOWS. THE WINDOW MOTOR AND REGULATER HAVE FAILED MANY TIMES. NOW MY TRUCK IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND FAILED AGAIN. MANY PEOPLE ON MANY ONLINE FORUMS ALSO REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10040842

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2001
Equipment

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ROTATE TIRES, AND DISCOVERED THAT SCISSOR TYPE JACK WILL NOT RAISE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO CHANGE TIRES. CONSUMER CONTACTED NISSAN, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #894639

Official recalls

3

04V230000 · 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.

02V299000 · Suspension:rear

Nov 12, 2002

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR AXLE HOUSING DUE TO INADEQUATE SEALING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE FOR WATER INTRUSION AND ANY AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. THE ABS SENSOR WILL BE RESEALED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 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.

02V300000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Nov 12, 2002

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE DOES NOT MEET THE SEALING PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS SUCH AS HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND WHEN WINTER GRADE GASOLINE IS BEING SOLD, FUEL COULD SPILL FROM THE FILLER INLET AS THE TANK IS BEING FILLED. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 10, 2002. 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.

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

2

DP03005 · Brake Rotor Warpage

Opened Jul 11, 2003 · Closed Jul 29, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

MR. KENT JONES OF KERNERSVILLE, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION TO NHTSA BY E-MAIL DATED JULY 1, 2003, REQUESTING NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES.THE PETITIONER ALLEGED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS IN THESE VEHICLES WERE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE ROTORS OVERHEAT AND WARP FROM NORMAL USAGE.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATABASE FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING MY 2001 THROUGH MY 2003 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES IDENTIFIED ONLY TWO REPORTS RELATED TO BRAKE ROTOR WARPING; ONE FOR A MY 2001 AND ONE FOR A MY 2002.THE COMPLAINT FOR THE MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA WAS REPORTED BY THE PETITIONER.BRAKE ROTOR WARPING CAN RESULT IN BRAKE PULSATION AND SHAKING WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED.BRAKE PULSATION, TIRE OR SUSPENSION VIBRATION, AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS ARE AN OBVIOUS ANNOYANCE TO THE DRIVER, BUT GENERALLY DO NOT CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF A VEHICLE.FURTHERMORE, EVEN IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, ANY POTENTIAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WILL BE NEGLIGIBLE. THEREFORE, THIS CONDITION DOES NOT NORMALLY CONSTITUTE A SAFETY DEFECT, EVEN IF IT OCCURS WITH FAR MORE OFTEN FREQUENCY. IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF AN ALLEGED SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER IN THE MY 2002 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN INVESTIGATION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

PE02052 · Fuel Spill During Refueling

Opened Jun 20, 2002 · Closed Dec 3, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

No summary supplied.