IllustrationTHE SIDE MIRRORS OF MY 2004 NISSAN X-TERRA SHOW MARKEDLY DISTORTION OF IMAGES. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONVECTION OF THE RIGHT MIRROR. IT IS MOST PROBABLY RELATED TO FAULTY GLASS MANUFACTURING. SPECIALLY THE LEFT MIRROR IS NOT OPTICALLY FLAT. *JB
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
What owners actually said
84 reportsALB LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES THEN STAYED ON . DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ITEM THAT MAKES ANTI BRAKES WORK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE. NOW WHEN I STOP SUDDENLY MY BRAKES LOCK AND I LEAVE TIRE MARKS. ALSO WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT PEDAL WILL HOLD FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN GOES TO FLOOR. I NEED A VEHICLE I CAN TRUST BOTH ME AND M…
Read full complaint
ALB LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES THEN STAYED ON . DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ITEM THAT MAKES ANTI BRAKES WORK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE. NOW WHEN I STOP SUDDENLY MY BRAKES LOCK AND I LEAVE TIRE MARKS. ALSO WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT PEDAL WILL HOLD FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN GOES TO FLOOR. I NEED A VEHICLE I CAN TRUST BOTH ME AND MY HUSBAND ARE DISABLED VETERANS. ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SUGGESTION: THE DRIVERS SEAT AFTER A PERSON ADJUSTS IT. THE LEVER ON SEAT RUBS ON CENTER CONSOLE WILL WEAR HOLE IN CONSUL. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A EASY FIX. JUST DOUBLE CHECK THAT NO MATTER WERE SEAT IS POSITIONED OR SIZE OF PERSON IT SHOULD NOT RUB CENTER CONSOLE.*AK
CRUISE CONTROL ERRATIC BEHAVIOR, STALLING, EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION UNDER STAGGERED AMOUNTS, SLUGGISHNESS. *JB
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT GRADE THAT WENT TO THE STREET. CONSUMER OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, PUT LEFT FOOT ON THE CLUTCH, TURNED THE KEY, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. CONSUMER EXPECTED THE VEHICLE TO JILT FORWARD AND STALL WHEN FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE CLUTCH , BUT INSTEAD, IT JILTED, THEN SURGED…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT GRADE THAT WENT TO THE STREET. CONSUMER OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, PUT LEFT FOOT ON THE CLUTCH, TURNED THE KEY, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. CONSUMER EXPECTED THE VEHICLE TO JILT FORWARD AND STALL WHEN FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE CLUTCH , BUT INSTEAD, IT JILTED, THEN SURGED FORWARD AT 25 MPH UP THE DRIVEWAY, DRAGGING THE CONSUMER. CONSUMER'S HANDS WERE STILL ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NEVER DEPRESSED. VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE , BUT THE REAR WHEEL CONTINUED TO TURN. TWO INSURANCE ADJUSTERS CAME OUT AND INSPECTED THE DAMAGE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT AFTER THE FRONTAL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THEN THEY WILL INSPECT VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION, AND THEN CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*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.