IllustrationSPEEDS OVER 60 HITS A BUMP AND STARTS ROCKING AND BOUNCING
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
Wheels complaints
3 reportsI WAS DRIVE MY NISSAN XTERRA IN IN HIGHWAY AND MY CAR START TO SHAKE AND WITH IN 15 MINUTE 3 LUG NUT OUT OF 6 CAME OUT AND OTHER THREE ABOUT TO LOOSE. IT WAS SCARY. I ANYHOW APPROACHED TO CAR REPAIR SHOP AND LEARNED THAT MY FRONT WHEEL BEARING GONE BAD. I JUST FOUND THAT NISSAN XTERRA 2012 HAS RECALL FOR SIMILAR BEARING ISSU…
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I WAS DRIVE MY NISSAN XTERRA IN IN HIGHWAY AND MY CAR START TO SHAKE AND WITH IN 15 MINUTE 3 LUG NUT OUT OF 6 CAME OUT AND OTHER THREE ABOUT TO LOOSE. IT WAS SCARY. I ANYHOW APPROACHED TO CAR REPAIR SHOP AND LEARNED THAT MY FRONT WHEEL BEARING GONE BAD. I JUST FOUND THAT NISSAN XTERRA 2012 HAS RECALL FOR SIMILAR BEARING ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING WHILE SUCH INCIDENCE ON HIGHWAY AND I KEEP LOSING FAITH ON SUCH MOST RELIABLE NISSAN BRAND NAME THEREFORE, I WOULD SINCERE REQUEST TO PLEASE INCLUDE XTERRA 2004 MODEL FOR THIS RECALL TOO. THANKS
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 NISSAN XTERRA THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE ROTOR AND MY VEHICLE SUNK DOWN AND CONTINUED TO SKID FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE DETACHED TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING I OBSERVED THAT TWO LUG NUTS HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE VEHICLE'S TIR…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 NISSAN XTERRA THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE ROTOR AND MY VEHICLE SUNK DOWN AND CONTINUED TO SKID FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE DETACHED TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING I OBSERVED THAT TWO LUG NUTS HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE VEHICLE'S TIRES HAD NOT HAD ANY SERVICE DONE TO THEM RECENTLY AND IT IS STILL A MYSTERY AS TO WHY THE WHEEL DETACHED. IT IS STILL UNKNOWN AS TO WHAT THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO INSPECT THE DETACHED TIRE AS IT WENT INTO A MARSHLAND AND WAS LOST. *TR
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.