Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 15 of 24 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
24 reports
22,000 miles · Feb 8, 2013
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED A FAULTY CLUTCH WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED A FAULTY CLUTCH WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 22,000.
NHTSA ODI #10496864
56,000 miles · Dec 7, 2012
Suspension
PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING FOUND TO BE BROKEN AT INSPECTION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. OFF WARRANTY AT 57,000 MILES AND A WEEK LATER DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON 65MPH ON HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS CRASH,. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP- WRIGHT NISSAN IN WEXFORD PA OPENLY ADMITS ITS A …
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PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING FOUND TO BE BROKEN AT INSPECTION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. OFF WARRANTY AT 57,000 MILES AND A WEEK LATER DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON 65MPH ON HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS CRASH,. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP- WRIGHT NISSAN IN WEXFORD PA OPENLY ADMITS ITS A DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE AND THERE IS NO WAY I COULD HAVE DONE THIS AS THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD AND ITS THE PRO-4 OFFROAD VERSION OF THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN, YET I WAS OFF 36K WARRANTY AND STILL HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I AM REQUESTING A RECALL ON THOSE PARTS. IT IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10487701
16,200 miles · Mar 19, 2012
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD IN MY 2011 NISSAN XTERRA PRO 4X MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCKED AS IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DRIVEN THAT SAME PART AT LEAST ONE DOZEN TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN AREAS THAT ARE VERY ROCKY WITHOUT ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS HIT BOTTOM ON O…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD IN MY 2011 NISSAN XTERRA PRO 4X MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCKED AS IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DRIVEN THAT SAME PART AT LEAST ONE DOZEN TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN AREAS THAT ARE VERY ROCKY WITHOUT ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS HIT BOTTOM ON OCCASION AND HAS DENTS AND SCRATCHES TO THE EFFECT. WHEN THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD ROLL OVER WITHOUT CORRECTION IN DRIVING AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE DEPLOYMENT. THERE WAS NO IMPACT THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE INCIDENT DAY YET THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS A FACTOR IN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10452293
1,200 miles · Jan 21, 2011
Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS B.F. GOODRICH, TIRE LINE, RADIAL LONG TRAIL, DOT NUMBER AP72FB313610 AND THE SIZE WAS P265/70/R16 11PMCS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRES BUT THEY W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS B.F. GOODRICH, TIRE LINE, RADIAL LONG TRAIL, DOT NUMBER AP72FB313610 AND THE SIZE WAS P265/70/R16 11PMCS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE REASON THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,200.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER AND THE ENGINE OIL FILTER TO THE ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO BELOW SPECIFICATION STRENGTH. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY BREAK AT THE OIL FILTER ATTACHMENT POINT AND CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE OIL LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2012. 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2011 Nissan Xterra Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year