IllustrationCAR CUTS OFF WHEN DRIVING AND WHILE CAR IS IDLED. FUELS STOPS REPEATEDLY WHEN REFUELING.
2005 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Xterra years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Xterra are substantially higher than 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
210–25K
8025–50K
15950–75K
21575–100K
261100–150K
34150K+
770 reports with mileage · 75 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.
- Power Train. Review the 412 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 242 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 167 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports6 injury reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
8 reportsPLEASE SEE ATTACHED UPLOADED DOCUMENT.
VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND IS UNABLE TO START. WITH VEHICLE IN OFF STATE THERE IS NOT CONTROL OVER SPEED, BRAKING, STEERING. NISSAN IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AFTER DIAGNOSIS. CODE P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.
DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND CAR QUITS STEERING WAS DIFFICULT HIT A CURB. THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN CAME BACK ON? HAS DONE THIS TO ME SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL I PARKED IT NOW. DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKY NO VEHICLES WERE AROUND ME. *TR
JUST BOUGHT AUTO FROM USED CAR DEALER DAY BEFORE. DROVE IT 30 MILES PULLED IN VISITED THEN WENT OUT TO START AUTO. WOULD NOT START TRACED BACK TO BLOWN FUSE, CHANGED FUSE TRIED STARTING AGAIN, BLEW FUSE AGAIN, ONE MORE TIME THEN WHEN AUTO STARTED SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF REPLACING ELECTRICAL WIRING FR…
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JUST BOUGHT AUTO FROM USED CAR DEALER DAY BEFORE. DROVE IT 30 MILES PULLED IN VISITED THEN WENT OUT TO START AUTO. WOULD NOT START TRACED BACK TO BLOWN FUSE, CHANGED FUSE TRIED STARTING AGAIN, BLEW FUSE AGAIN, ONE MORE TIME THEN WHEN AUTO STARTED SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF REPLACING ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM FRYING NARROWED DOWN TO RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION (FUSE THAT BLEW) THE COOLANT HAD BACKED UP AND TORE UP TRANSMISSION. IF IT HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FULL BLOWN FIRE ON A HIGHWAY WITH POSSIBILITY OF HUMAN DAMAGES. *TR
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, AS NORMALLY, TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT SLOWING DOWN. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A NISSAN DEALER. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR, TR…
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THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, AS NORMALLY, TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT SLOWING DOWN. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A NISSAN DEALER. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION AND TRANS COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT BUT WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY. I TOOK THE SUV FOR A SECOND OPINION TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. HE CONFIRMED THE FINDINGS OF THE NISSAN MECHANIC AND OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR $4,140.47. I AGREED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC SAID I SHOULD LOOK UP A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT HAS BEEN GENERATED. THAT IS WHY I AM POSTING THIS INCIDENT. *TR
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BETWEEN 55 AND 75 MPH, INCONSISTENTLY BUT ALWAYS SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT NISSAN IS NON EXISTENT. THEY DO NOT RETURN CALLS,AND ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT CUSTOMER SAFETY DEALERS ARE A-HOLES, THEY DO NOT SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS, ONLY WANT TO CHARGE A LOT OF MONEY AND THEN 1/2 THE TIME WI…
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STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BETWEEN 55 AND 75 MPH, INCONSISTENTLY BUT ALWAYS SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT NISSAN IS NON EXISTENT. THEY DO NOT RETURN CALLS,AND ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT CUSTOMER SAFETY DEALERS ARE A-HOLES, THEY DO NOT SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS, ONLY WANT TO CHARGE A LOT OF MONEY AND THEN 1/2 THE TIME WILL NOT ACTUALLY FIX WHAT WAS WRONG. AT LEAST THE ONE IN MARYLAND WHICH I GO TO (JONES) I HAVE HEARD OF THEM TAKING YOUR CAR IN AND ACTUALLY TAKING PARTS OFF OF IT TO PUT ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S CAR, THEN PUTTING BAD PARTS BACK ON YOUR CAR AND RELEASING IT TO YOU AS WELL AS NOT DOING ANYTHING AND CHARGING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AS IF THEY DID DO SOMETHING. CROOKS. *TR
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROL MODULE . THE TRUCK DIE ANY WHERE MY TRUCK IN LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY(495) WEST IN THE LEFT LANE I BELIEVE THAT ALL NISSAN 2005 XTERRA THE SHOULD CALL FOR THIS CANE OF PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Official recalls
310V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Oct 28, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
08V690000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 29, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
05V458000 · Trailer Hitches
Oct 5, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A NISSAN ACCESSORY TOW HITCH, INADEQUATE QUALITY OF SOME WELDED JOINTS IN THE HITCH ASSEMBLY MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE HITCH FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING USED TO TOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRAILER SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TOW HITCHES. ON OCTOBER 17, 2005, OWNERS WERE SENT AN INTERIM LETTER ADVISING THEM NOT TO USE THE TOW HITCH UNTIL IT CAN BE REPAIRED. ANOTHER LETTER WAS SENT OUT ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005, NOTIFYING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR. OWNERS MAY 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
1DP12004 · Transmission Failures
Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.