Illustration2005 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL SENSOR ISSUE. THE FUEL SENSOR WILL TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN REFUELING. THE SENSOR WILL READ EMPTY ON A FULL TANK AND THEN SLOWLY CREEP UP TO FULL OVER TIME. THIS IS THE SAME DESCRIPTION OF AN ISSUE AS THE RECENTLY RECALLED 06 NISSAN XTERRA'S. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. *TR
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
242 reportsGAS SENSOR DOES NOT WORK. CAR RAN OUT OF GAS AND ALMOST WAS IN AN CRASH. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE IS FAULTY. AFTER FILLING UP TANK IT READS ZERO FOR SOME TIME UNTIL SLOWLY PROGRESSING TO CORRECT LEVEL. ALSO, WILL SOMETIMES JUST DROP TO ZERO/EMPTY. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER FILLING UP TANK THEN GOES OUT ONCE I REACH ABOUT HALF TO QUARTER TANK (IF THE FUEL GAUGE IS READING CORRECTLY). SOMETIMES …
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THE FUEL GAUGE IS FAULTY. AFTER FILLING UP TANK IT READS ZERO FOR SOME TIME UNTIL SLOWLY PROGRESSING TO CORRECT LEVEL. ALSO, WILL SOMETIMES JUST DROP TO ZERO/EMPTY. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER FILLING UP TANK THEN GOES OUT ONCE I REACH ABOUT HALF TO QUARTER TANK (IF THE FUEL GAUGE IS READING CORRECTLY). SOMETIMES THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR WEEKS - THE CODE READING IS FOR A FAULTY FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. I OWNED THE 2000 XTERRA AND THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WAS RECALLED FOR THAT VEHICLE. *TR
MY 2005 XTERRA GAS GAGE GOES TO EMPTY AND WILL NOT SHOW TRUE AMOUNT IN TANK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON AND I KNOW IT IS FROM THE FILL VALVE FROM THE GAS TANK. I HAD ONE REPLACED ALREADY ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THIS IS A RE OCCURRING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN CONTINUIN…
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MY 2005 XTERRA GAS GAGE GOES TO EMPTY AND WILL NOT SHOW TRUE AMOUNT IN TANK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON AND I KNOW IT IS FROM THE FILL VALVE FROM THE GAS TANK. I HAD ONE REPLACED ALREADY ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THIS IS A RE OCCURRING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN CONTINUING FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS. ALSO THE LATCH FOR THE REAR HATCH SOME TIMES WILL LOCK AND NOT OPEN I ALSO REPLACED THIS ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA WHICH I DON'T DRIVE MUCH AND AT AROUND 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT AND COST ME $1,600 TO REPAIR. NOW AT AROUND 52,000 MILES MY FUELS GAUGE STOP WORKING WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK TO TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN IT AND I SEE NO RECALL ON THESE ISSUES FROM NISSAN .MY BROTHE…
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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA WHICH I DON'T DRIVE MUCH AND AT AROUND 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT AND COST ME $1,600 TO REPAIR. NOW AT AROUND 52,000 MILES MY FUELS GAUGE STOP WORKING WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK TO TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN IT AND I SEE NO RECALL ON THESE ISSUES FROM NISSAN .MY BROTHER HAS A PATHFINDER WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
2005 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL SENSOR FAILURE. 61000 MILES. FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. RAN OUT OF GAS ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH GAS GAUGE SHOWING 1/2 TANK REMAINING. THIS MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN NISSAN 2 MARCH 2010 FUEL SENSOR RECALL EVEN THOUGH PARTS ARE IDENTICAL. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH MY 2007 NISSAN XTERRA AT…
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2005 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL SENSOR FAILURE. 61000 MILES. FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. RAN OUT OF GAS ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH GAS GAUGE SHOWING 1/2 TANK REMAINING. THIS MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN NISSAN 2 MARCH 2010 FUEL SENSOR RECALL EVEN THOUGH PARTS ARE IDENTICAL. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH MY 2007 NISSAN XTERRA AT 63000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS ALSO NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR
FAULTY GAS GAUGE SENSOR. MISS READS GAS AMOUNT ON EVERY FILL UP. WAS LEFT WITH OUT GAS ELEVEN MILES FROM PAVED ROAD WHERE HE COULD NOT FIND ANY HELP IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER. UPDATED 04/17/10
NISSAN 2005 XTERRA'S FUEL SENDING UNIT IS BAD ON THIS VEHICLE CAUSING FUEL GAUGE NOT TO WORK. DEALER WANTS OVER $600 TO FIX AND CLAIMS NISSAN WON'T RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE". IF AN ELDERLY WOMAN RUNS OUT OF GAS ON A DESERTED ROAD, TO ME, THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
FAILURE OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. DRIVING ALONG AND FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY EVEN THOUGH I HAD 3/4 OF A TANK LEFT. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I GET BELOW HALF A TANK OF FUEL. WHEN ITS COLD. SOMETIMES IT COMES BACK UP SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY SHOWING ERROR CODE P0463. THIS REFERS TO A FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THEY LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS AFTER BEING RESET. NOT KNOWING THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY RUN OUT OF FUEL, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE REPAIR COSTS AROUND $600.00…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY SHOWING ERROR CODE P0463. THIS REFERS TO A FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THEY LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS AFTER BEING RESET. NOT KNOWING THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY RUN OUT OF FUEL, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE REPAIR COSTS AROUND $600.00. THE 1ST GENERATION XTERRAS (2000-2004) HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM THAT TURNED INTO A RECALL CAMPAIGN BY NISSAN. BY READING THE BULLETIN BOARDS, THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDESPREAD ON THE 2ND GENERATION XTERRAS (2005-2010), BUT NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET. *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.