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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 →
845Owner complaints

Model-year median: 78

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
157
200272
200384
2004845
2005780
2006557
2007119
2008
Compare all Xterra years →

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

What owners reported most

Power Train
412Fuel System, Gasoline
242Engine And Engine Cooling
167Engine
114Fuel System, Other
49
All reported categories
Electrical System
39Fuel/propulsion System
32Unknown Or Other
25Air Bags
19Vehicle Speed Control
12Steering
10Electronic Stability Control (esc)
8Suspension
8Equipment
6Structure
4Visibility
4Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes
3Trailer Hitches
3Child Seat
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Engine complaints

114 reports
Clear category filter
93,000 miles · Jul 5, 2012
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT AND MADE LOUD NOISES WHILE DRIVING. CAUSED THE CAR TO SHAKE BUT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL. FAILED PART IN RADIATOR ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE INTO TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO RADIATOR. COMPLETE FAILURE OF RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED. KNOW ISSUE FROM NISSAN WHO…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT AND MADE LOUD NOISES WHILE DRIVING. CAUSED THE CAR TO SHAKE BUT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL. FAILED PART IN RADIATOR ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE INTO TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO RADIATOR. COMPLETE FAILURE OF RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED. KNOW ISSUE FROM NISSAN WHO DID NOTHING TO COMMUNICATE TO VEHICLE OWNERS ON RISKS OR PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE AS WELL AS NO OWNERSHIP FOR FIXING THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464302

128,345 miles · Jun 27, 2012
EnginePower Train

FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN APRIL 2011 - WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN ABOUT 15-20 MPH. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS "INTERNAL FAULT IN VALVE BODY" AND REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $156…

Read full complaint

FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN APRIL 2011 - WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN ABOUT 15-20 MPH. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS "INTERNAL FAULT IN VALVE BODY" AND REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $1568 AND A WEEK WITHOUT A VEHICLE; WENT IN TO DEALERSHIP ON 4/20 AND I PICKED IT UP ON 4/27. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN JUNE 2012 - WHILE DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE, ON A BUSY STREET, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN ABOUT 20 MPH. THIS TIME I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS "FLUID IS FULL, BUT IS BLACK AND BURNT, DIPSTICK FOR THE TRANS IS CRUSTY LOOKING..." THE TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED ALL FAULTY PARTS, INCLUDING THE VALVE BODY. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $3865 AND ELEVEN DAYS WITHOUT A VEHICLE; WENT IN TO TRANSMISSION SHOP ON 6/15 AND I PICKED IT UP ON 6/26. IN FOURTEEN MONTHS, I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY EACH TIME, A VERY EXPENSIVE PART. IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE MANUFACTURER PATCHES THE VEHICLE, INSTEAD OF FIXING IT, NOT TO MENTION CHARGES THE OWNER FOR THEIR DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463272

114,423 miles · Jun 27, 2012
EnginePower Train

FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN APRIL 2011 - WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN ABOUT 15-20 MPH. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS "INTERNAL FAULT IN VALVE BODY" AND REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $156…

Read full complaint

FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN APRIL 2011 - WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN ABOUT 15-20 MPH. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS "INTERNAL FAULT IN VALVE BODY" AND REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $1568 AND A WEEK WITHOUT A VEHICLE; WENT IN TO DEALERSHIP ON 4/20 AND I PICKED IT UP ON 4/27. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN JUNE 2012 - WHILE DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE, ON A BUSY STREET, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN ABOUT 20 MPH. THIS TIME I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS "FLUID IS FULL, BUT IS BLACK AND BURNT, DIPSTICK FOR THE TRANS IS CRUSTY LOOKING..." THE TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED ALL FAULTY PARTS, INCLUDING THE VALVE BODY. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $3865 AND ELEVEN DAYS WITHOUT A VEHICLE; WENT IN TO TRANSMISSION SHOP ON 6/15 AND I PICKED IT UP ON 6/26. IN FOURTEEN MONTHS, I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY EACH TIME, A VERY EXPENSIVE PART. IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE MANUFACTURER PATCHES THE VEHICLE, INSTEAD OF FIXING IT, NOT TO MENTION CHARGES THE OWNER FOR THEIR DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463271

86,000 miles · May 1, 2012
EngineFuel System, Other

VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE IS REPORTING WRONG INFORMATION, SHOWS EMPTY WHEN FULL AND A HALF TANK WHEN EMPTY. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYS ON. VERY DANGEROUS BARELY MADE IT TO GAS STATION. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10457039

Official recalls

3

10V517000 · 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

1

DP12004 · 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.