Power Train. Review the 231 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 136 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

63 reports

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Mileage unknown · May 25, 2021

Fuel/propulsion System

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Aprox. three years ago, I reported a problem with the fuel gauge not giving true readings. After taking the car to be tested, I was advised that the sending unit was faulty, and the mechanic believed that there was a recall on the matter (he had heard of many people having the same problem). After doing online research, I came across hundreds, if not thousands of Xterra owners reporting the same problem. I called Nissan, and I was advised that there were no recalls on this matter. That does not make sense, for it seems obvious, based on my research, that this--among other common problems (such as the Airbag light coming on)--are very prevalent, and seem to be due to a manufacturing/design problem.

NHTSA ODI #11418553

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2021

Fuel/propulsion System

EXACT SAME ISSUE AS ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 10V075000 IS APPLICABLE TO MY 2007 NISSAN XTERRA AS WELL. NISSAN MUST RECALL THE PART ON 2007 XTERRAS AS WELL. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED ISSUE BY OTHER CUSTOMERS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11395208

136,000 miles · Mar 12, 2020

Fuel/propulsion System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL, HOWEVER, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. FUEL WAS ADDED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT VISITED THE MCLARTY NISSAN OF BENTON LOCATED AT (19960 I-30, BENTON, AR 72019) AND WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #11317760

116 miles · Dec 1, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

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A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK I REPORTED THIS FUEL LEVEL PROBLEM I BELIEVE IN JULY, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS XTERRA 2007 (WE HAVE TWO A 2005 AND THIS 2007) SHE DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE ON THE I-30 INTERSTATE WHEN THE XTERRA JUST CUT OUT, LOOKING AT THE DASH SHE SAID IT HAS FUEL ABOUT A 1/4 TANK , SHE SAID SHE JUST MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE SAFETY LANE WHEN STOPPED. I WENT TO HER AIDE TO FIND THE CHECK ENGINE LITE ON AND IT WOULDNT START, I TOOK A TWO FOOT PIECE OF TWO BY FOUR AND WRAPPED THE TANK AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS EMPTY AND WHATS FUNNY THE GAUGE INSIDE NOW READS EMPTY..GOT HER GAS AND I DROVE IT HOME. I REPORT THIS TO YOU GUYS AND NEVER HEARD A WORD BACK ABOUT THIS. IN FACT THE COMPLAINT DOESY SHOW UP IN YOUR LISTING EXPLAIN THAT! I'IM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND DONE MY FAIR SHARE OF FAILURE ANALYSIS IN MY CAREER AND WHATS GOING ON WITH THIS XTERRA IS A HEAT RELATED CONDITION. 1. THE PUMP IS SPRING LOADED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP CONTACT WITH THE TANK TO PICKUP FUEL. 2. THE TANK BEING MADE OF POLY MATERIAL PLASTIC EXPANDS CAUSING THE THE PUMP TO JACK SCREW IN HE DIRECTION OF THE SPRING WHICH ROTATES THE SENDING UNIT PICK ARM TO LODGE IT SELF AGAINST THE THE TANK EMBOSSMENT AND NOT ALLOWING THE ARM TO COME TO REST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. I FOUND OUT THIS CONFIRM THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL NOTICE FOR 2006 AND 2008 BNUT WHY NOT THE 2007 ITS SAME DAM CONFGURATION ,SAME PARTS ,SAME TANK, ,07,08 PART NUMBER17202-9BM2A, SENDER 25060-ZZ00A, PUMP IS THE SAME 17040-ZS00A, SO WHY WASNT THE 2007 INCLUDED IN THE RECALL A TYPING ERROR :SUMMARY 10V75500 READS":NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 " SHOULD HAVE READ MODELS 2006,2007 AND MODEL YEAR 2008. HOW COULD YOU GUYS MISS THIS? DONT YOU EVER DO A CHECK ON "WHERE USED" WITH XXXX MODELS? IF A PART IS USED BY THE SAME TYPE OF UNIT IT WILL ALSO HAVE THE SAME FAILURE OCCURE .

NHTSA ODI #11283159

19,844 miles · Nov 29, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

I KELP VEHICLE REGULARLY MANTIANCED SHUT IT OFF ONE EVENING NEXT MORNING IT WOULD START WHEN FINALLY STARTED IT WOULDN'T PULL IN 1ST GEAR. TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT A CRACK HAD ACCURED AND THERE WAS COOLANT MIXED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID .SO 3 DAYS AFTER I PD IT OFF ON A 3 YR PAYMENT PLAN IT BROKE DOWN ON ME…

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NHTSA ODI #11282818

116,000 miles · Oct 26, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

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FOR THE PAST YEAR AND INTERMITTEDLY THIS SUV HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR THAT SOMETIMES WORKS AND OTHER TIMES DOESNT WORKS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE GUAGE WAS REPORTING THAT SHE HAD A 1/4 TANK OF FUEL BUT WAS OUT OF GAS WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE FORCING HER TO MAKE A DRIVE ACROSS BOTH LANES TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS ON THIS VEHICLE. I POINTED OUT TO HIME THAT THERE WAS FOR THE YEAR BEFORE VEHICLE AND THE YEAR AFTER WHY THERE WASNT WHEN THE SETUP ON THIS GAUGE IS THE SAME SYSTEM WITH A SPRING LOADED PUMP AND LEVEL ARM IN THE YEARS IN THE RECALL" IT THE SAME DAM SYSTEM" THAT THE RECALL CALLS OUT IN 05,06 AND 08 BUT NOT THE 2007 ?WHO AT NTSB DIDNT LOOK AT THE SAME AS PART BEING THE PROBLEM AND A WHERE USED AND SHOULD HAVE FORCED THE RECALL ON THE SYSTEM AND YEARS USED. WE HAVE SINCE STOPPED DRIVING THE XTERRA BUT TELL THE GAS LEVEL IN THE TANK OR ESTIMATE FUEL USED, AND FILLING THE TANK DOESNT ALWAYS SOLVE THE PROBLEM, IT WILL STILL SHOW A 1/4 OF A TANK UNTIL YOU CLIMB UNDER THE VEHICLE AND BANG THE TANK TO FREE UP THE SENDING UNIT..

NHTSA ODI #11271194

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2019

Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

WHEN I FILL MY 2007 NISAN XTERRA SUV WITH GAS THE GAS REGISTER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL NOT SHOW FULL UNTIL I HAVE DRIVEN IT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AND THEN IT WILL REGISTER FULL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON WHEN I GO TO FILL IT UP.

NHTSA ODI #11268356

75,000 miles · Sep 19, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT LEVEL OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED, THE GAUGE REGISTERED "EMPTY". THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED SOUTH COLORADO SPRINGS NISSAN AT 719-493-9586 (LOCATED AT 1333 SOUTH ACADEMY BLVD., COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80916) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A BROKER AND NOT A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT NISSAN DID NOT MAKE MISTAKES WITH RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #11256736

138,750 miles · Jul 13, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL SENSOR

NHTSA ODI #11231632

72,000 miles · Apr 14, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AND IT DID NOT REGISTER TO FULL IT STAYED ON EMPTY AND THE GAS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. I LOOKED THIS UP AND SEEN THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE YEAR AND MODEL WITH THE FUEL SENDOR.

NHTSA ODI #11196167

Official recalls

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.

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

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)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Power Train:automatic Transmission

Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter

Power Train