IllustrationEVER SINCE I HAD MY 2004 X-TERRA I HAVE TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT LOUD ENGINE NOISE. SOUNDS LIKE A LIFTER OR VALVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. EACH TIME THEY TELL ME ITS NORMAL. I T HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND YET THEY SAY THEY ALL MAKE THE SOUND....THE ENGINE IS LAKE A WASHING MACHINE ITS SO BAD AND LOUD.... *TR
2004 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Xterra do not stand out strongly from 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
180–25K
925–50K
1150–75K
875–100K
10100–150K
10150K+
66 reports with mileage · 18 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.
- Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
6 reportsNISSAN USES FAULTY EQUIPMENT IN THEIR VEHICLES AND ASHLY AT THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT NISSAN ONLY EXPECTS THEIR VEHICLES TO LAST THE 3 YRS OR 36K MILES!! SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD THE A/C COMPRESSOR REPLACES, ALL HEATER HOSSES REPLACED, OIL LEAKS, COOLANT LEAKS, DRIVE BELTS REPLACED AND T…
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NISSAN USES FAULTY EQUIPMENT IN THEIR VEHICLES AND ASHLY AT THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT NISSAN ONLY EXPECTS THEIR VEHICLES TO LAST THE 3 YRS OR 36K MILES!! SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD THE A/C COMPRESSOR REPLACES, ALL HEATER HOSSES REPLACED, OIL LEAKS, COOLANT LEAKS, DRIVE BELTS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. MY CAR LITERALLY BROKE DOWN IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS RETURNING FROM VACATION WITH MY SON, MY DOG AND MY CAT-IF MY TRIP WOULD HAVE 15 MINS. LONGER I WOULD HAVE BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NISSAN DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AT ALL AND DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER OR THEIR SAFETY!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SHE THEN NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE SAME LOCATION UN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SHE THEN NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE SAME LOCATION UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000.
SINCE WEEK I BOUGHT THIS SUV I HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS ABOUT IN PARK AND IN DRIVE YOU HEAR A LIFTER TYPE TICKING NOISE AT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS XTERRA. I FOR SURE THINK IT IS A LIFTER TICK BUT THE DEALER HAS ALWAYS SAID IT IS NOTHING AND NO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. IT HAS NOT GOTTEN LOADER BUT INSIDE BY THE WHEEL WELL AND ALSO INSI…
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SINCE WEEK I BOUGHT THIS SUV I HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS ABOUT IN PARK AND IN DRIVE YOU HEAR A LIFTER TYPE TICKING NOISE AT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS XTERRA. I FOR SURE THINK IT IS A LIFTER TICK BUT THE DEALER HAS ALWAYS SAID IT IS NOTHING AND NO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. IT HAS NOT GOTTEN LOADER BUT INSIDE BY THE WHEEL WELL AND ALSO INSIDE RIGHT ENGINE SIDE YOU CAN HEAR IT. AS I DRIVE YOU CAN ALSO HEAR IT WITH THE WINDOWS UP. THEY AGREE THEY HEAR IT BUT THEY STATE ALL OTHER XTERRA MAKE THE SAME. THEY CLAM IT IS THE NORMAL INJECTOR. I THINK IT IS LIFTERS OR LOSE VALVE THAT THE V6 IS NOTED FOR. I STILL SAY A ENGINE OF THIS PRICE SHOULD BE VERY QUIET AND NOT SOUND LIKE LIFTER NOISE. *NM
FROM THE ONSET OF THE PURCHASE I HAVE BEEN HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE THE MECHANICS AT THE NISSAN REPAIR SHOPS STATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG , HOWEVER THE NOISE GETS WORST WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR , FOR LONGER PERIODS , I HAVE HAD NISSAN SERVICE THE CAR BUT ALL THEY DO IS TIGHTEN THE FAN, THE TIMING TENSIONER PULLEY , Y…
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FROM THE ONSET OF THE PURCHASE I HAVE BEEN HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE THE MECHANICS AT THE NISSAN REPAIR SHOPS STATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG , HOWEVER THE NOISE GETS WORST WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR , FOR LONGER PERIODS , I HAVE HAD NISSAN SERVICE THE CAR BUT ALL THEY DO IS TIGHTEN THE FAN, THE TIMING TENSIONER PULLEY , YET THE NOISE IS STILL THERE, NISSAN NORTH AMERICA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND SO HAS THE DEALER TO THIS DAY THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM , NOR ARE HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT A FAULTY FUEL CLAMP WAS USED WHICH DISENGAGED, CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
Official recalls
210V554000 · Steering:column
Nov 11, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
04V581000 · Trailer Hitches
Dec 15, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCESSORY TOW HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE TOW HITCH TO LOOSEN OR SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE TOW HITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 3, 2005. OWNERS 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.