SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
84Owner complaints

Model-year median: 78

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2004 Nissan Xterra

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 84 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Steering: 20 reports
  • Electrical System: 11 reports
  • Suspension: 11 reports
  • Engine: 8 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 6 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
150
2001157
200272
200384
2004845
2005780
2006557
2007
Compare all Xterra years →

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

What owners reported most

Steering
20Electrical System
11Suspension
11Engine
8Engine And Engine Cooling
6
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
6Power Train
6Fuel/propulsion System
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Unknown Or Other
5Visibility
5Air Bags
4Vehicle Speed Control
3Wheels
3Equipment
2Structure
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Service Brakes
1Tires
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Equipment complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
62,640 miles · Jun 2, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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 T…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10272677

13,971 miles · Sep 28, 2005
EquipmentVisibility

2004 XTERRA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS REASON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ONE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A DEFECTIVE RIGHT DOOR. THE RADIO ALSO DOES NOT WORK. *TS WHEN THE POWER WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULA…

Read full complaint

2004 XTERRA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS REASON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ONE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A DEFECTIVE RIGHT DOOR. THE RADIO ALSO DOES NOT WORK. *TS WHEN THE POWER WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. BOTH FRONT WINDOW RUN CHANNELS WARPED TWICE AND CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO JUMP WHEN THEY WERE ROLLED DOWN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138839

Recall campaigns

2

10V554000 · 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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.