IllustrationON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY FUEL TANK ALWAYS READS EMPTY. DEALER STATES ITS A FAULTY FUEL SENSOR BUT WONT FIX FOR FREE. I FOUND ONLINE THAT THIS IS A VARY COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS DIRECTED TO THIS SITE. *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
What owners actually said
845 reports2005 NISSAN XTERRA. GAS GAUGE WORKS SPORADICALLY, NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN TANK. COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THERE IS A RECALL ON NISSAN VEHICLES FOR 2006 AND 2008 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ALL FROM 2005 TO 2010 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
2005 NISSAN XTERRA HAS A PART WHICH ALLOWS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO PASS THROUGH AND BE COOLED IN THE RADIATOR. THIS PART BREAKS, ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND RADIATOR COOLANT TO MIX. THIS RUINS YOUR RADIATOR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT BURNS UP YOUR TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE THE COOLANT RELEASED INTO THE TRANSMISSION THROUG…
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2005 NISSAN XTERRA HAS A PART WHICH ALLOWS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO PASS THROUGH AND BE COOLED IN THE RADIATOR. THIS PART BREAKS, ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND RADIATOR COOLANT TO MIX. THIS RUINS YOUR RADIATOR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT BURNS UP YOUR TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE THE COOLANT RELEASED INTO THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE BUSTED LINE DOES NOT HAVE THE CONSTANCY TO LUBRICATE THE TRANSMISSION PARTS PROPERLY. OVER A VERY SHORT PERIOD YOUR TRANSMISSION IS RUINED. THIS LEADS TO SLIPPING, SHIFTING LATE, AND CAN LEAD TO THE CAR NOT TAKING OFF AT THE ANTICIPATED SPEED FROM A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE OF BEING STRANDED IN THE INTERSECTION. OTHER SYMPTOMS CAN BE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING HOT WHEN STOPPED, A/C BLOWING WARM WHEN STOPPED. I KNOW THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. BY SIMPLY DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "2005 NISSAN XTERRA RADIATOR TRANSMISSION". THE TOP RESULTS CONTAIN LINKS WITH TITLES SUCH AS "2005 NISSAN XTERRA FAULTY RADIATOR DESTROYS TRANSMISSION" AND "2005 NISSAN XTERRA RADIATOR CAUSES TRANSMISSION FAILURE". I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS (MANY) OUT THERE. WE NEED TO ORGANIZE AND GET RESULTS FOR THIS ISSUE. MY MILEAGE MAY BE RELATIVELY HIGH, BUT MANY OTHERS WERE IN THE 50,000 MILE RANGE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $500+ ON THIS ISSUE. NOW THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION, IT COULD BE $5,000! HELP! *TR
I HAD LESS THAN 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS, WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ON MY WAY HOME, I STOPPED BY AUTO ZONE AND HAD THE CODE CHECKED. IT CAME UP WITH PO463, WHICH INDICATED THE FUEL SENDING SENSOR. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND FILLED UP. THE GAUGE APPEARED TO GO TO FULL. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A CO…
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I HAD LESS THAN 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS, WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ON MY WAY HOME, I STOPPED BY AUTO ZONE AND HAD THE CODE CHECKED. IT CAME UP WITH PO463, WHICH INDICATED THE FUEL SENDING SENSOR. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND FILLED UP. THE GAUGE APPEARED TO GO TO FULL. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS RECALLED ON SEVERAL NISSAN MODELS BETWEEN 2000-2004. I TALKED TO THE DEALER, BUT SINCE MY 5 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED THIS MONTH AND I HAVE 63,000 MILES ON MY XTERRA, THE REPAIR WOULDN'T BE COVERED. THE COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE AROUND $600 - $700. I DECIDED TO JUST KEEP UP WITH MY MILEAGE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T RUN OUT OF GAS. SINCE THEN I HAVE DRIVEN 270 MILES. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WENT OFF AROUND 200 MILES, BUT I AM STILL NERVOUS THAT THE UNIT IS MALFUNCTIONING AND IT COULD REOCCUR. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF THIS PROBLEM WAS RECALLED IN PREVIOUS MODELS, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, WHY ISN'T IS BEING RECALLED ON THE 2005-2007 MODELS? *TR
I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE TRUCK STARTING HAVING A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM, BUT I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE MY CAR STILL WAS RUNNING. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO 4/1/10 WHERE I WOULD PUT A FULL TANK OF GAS AND THE FUEL READER WOULD SHOW THAT IS WAS STILL EMPTY. ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO ON 7/28/10 I WAS ABOUT TO GET FR…
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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE TRUCK STARTING HAVING A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM, BUT I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE MY CAR STILL WAS RUNNING. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO 4/1/10 WHERE I WOULD PUT A FULL TANK OF GAS AND THE FUEL READER WOULD SHOW THAT IS WAS STILL EMPTY. ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO ON 7/28/10 I WAS ABOUT TO GET FREEWAY, THANK GOD THAT I HAD NOT GET ON FREEWAY WAY WHEN OUT OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK STARTING SHAKING AND THEN EVENTUALLY DIED. I WAS STUCK A TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR ABOUT 10 MINS. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND PUSHED GAS BUT STILL NO LUCK. UNTIL A 3RD TIME TRIED IT AND THEN IT STARTED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I REALIZED I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I TOOK IT TO MY EXPERT MECHANIC AND THE SAID IT WAS A CONTROL MODULATOR AND TOLD ME THAT IS WAS GOING TO BE $1,000.00. AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE I AM NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THAT, BUT I NEED MY VEHICLE RUNNING. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT CAN WE DO AND IF THERE WILL BE A RECALL. I ALSO SAW THERE ARE MANY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE THAT OWNS A NISSAN XTERRA 2005. *TR
WENT TO THE GAS STATION TO FULL UP MY XTERRA. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE GAUGE READ 1/4 OF A TANK. I WENT BACK THROUGH THE LINE AND GOT ONLY $1.00 MORE WORTH OF GAS BEFORE THE ATTENDANT SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY FULL. OVER THE DAY THE GAUGE STARTED TO CREEP BACK UP UNTIL IT READ FULL. ONE DAY LATER THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LI…
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WENT TO THE GAS STATION TO FULL UP MY XTERRA. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE GAUGE READ 1/4 OF A TANK. I WENT BACK THROUGH THE LINE AND GOT ONLY $1.00 MORE WORTH OF GAS BEFORE THE ATTENDANT SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY FULL. OVER THE DAY THE GAUGE STARTED TO CREEP BACK UP UNTIL IT READ FULL. ONE DAY LATER THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO KNECHT'S TO HOOK IT TO THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. CAME BACK ERROR CODE PO463 "FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT HIGH INPUT." APPARENTLY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS XTERRA AND PATHFINDER OWNERS AROUND THE 44000 MILE MARK OR THE 57000 MILE MARK. MY XTERRA JUST TURNED OVER 44,000 MILES. *TR
2005 NISSAN XTERRA - FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILURE. *TR
FUEL SENDING UNIT, SHOWS I HAVE 1/4 TANK OF FUEL BUT WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY. CAUSING MY CAR TO DIE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES AS THE GAUGE/FUEL SENDING UNIT IS FAULTY SHOWING THE INCORRECT UNIT. *TR
THE GAS GAUGE ON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA DOES NOT WORK. THIS MEANS, EVEN THOUGH I FILL UP MY TANK, IT SHOWS THAT MY CAR IS ON EMPTY. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AS AT ANY GIVEN TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I HAVE ENOUGH GAS TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTING SINCE IT FIRST OCCURRED. I'VE HAD THIS PRO…
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THE GAS GAUGE ON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA DOES NOT WORK. THIS MEANS, EVEN THOUGH I FILL UP MY TANK, IT SHOWS THAT MY CAR IS ON EMPTY. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AS AT ANY GIVEN TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I HAVE ENOUGH GAS TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTING SINCE IT FIRST OCCURRED. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 6+ MONTHS! I KNOW OF OTHER XTERRA OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. A RECALL IS DEFINITELY CALLED FOR. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE VEHICLE NO LONGER READS PROPERLY INDICATING INACCURATE LEVELS OF GASOLINE. *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.