NISSAN XTERRA · model year

2004 NISSAN XTERRA

110 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004NISSANXTERRA carries 110 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 4 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 XTERRA is steering with 17 filings, followed by engine (8) and suspension (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 2004 XTERRA, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

110
Complaints
12
Crashes
4
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

110 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING17
ENGINE8
SUSPENSION7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
AIR BAGS4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
SUSPENSION:REAR3
STEERING:COLUMN3
WHEELS3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL2

Recalls (3)

04V58100015/12/2004

TRAILER HITCHES

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCESSORY TOW HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

10V55400011/11/2010

STEERING:COLUMN

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MO

07E04600003/07/2007

EQUIPMENT

CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035,

Recent Complaints

20250809CrashAIR BAGS

I have been in three accidents, of decent speed, and my airbags never deployed. I was told to report that.

20250605ENGINE

Water pump went out replace water pump motor blown

20241227STEERING

I took my xterra to get inspected 12/27/2024. I was informed I have a recall on this vehicle.

20230609CrashAIR BAGS

My vehicle has been in 3 accidents. Being rear-ended at 70MPH, again six months later at 60MPH, then the forward vehicle slammed their brakes, and I hit them at around 30MPH. In any of these accidents, NONE of my airbags deployed.

20220401UNKNOWN OR OTHER

UNKNOWN. Wanting to make a recall appointment that was reported on my SMOG check.

20210101STEERING

THE STEERING WEAL IT'S BECOMING STIFF AND IS BECOMING HARD TO MANEUVER AROUND AND IT MIGHT AFFECT MY DRIVING AND I'M SCARED I MIGHT CRASH AND THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AND OWN AND HAVE NO OTHER MEANS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. I WAS HEADING TO WORK AND I TRIED TURNING ON THE CORNER AND IT JUST BECAME HARD TO STEER THE STEERING WEAL.

20201017STEERING

SPEEDS OVER 60 HITS A BUMP AND STARTS ROCKING AND BOUNCING

Mileage: 150,000

20201017SUSPENSION

SPEEDS OVER 60 HITS A BUMP AND STARTS ROCKING AND BOUNCING

Mileage: 150,000

20201017WHEELS

SPEEDS OVER 60 HITS A BUMP AND STARTS ROCKING AND BOUNCING

Mileage: 150,000

20200804ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING MY XTERRA, IT LOSES POWER AND CUTS OUT ON ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. THERE IS A DECLARATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE WON'T CRANK OR START LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME OVER YEARS THAT THE XTERRA HAS CUT OFF ON ME. ALL DASHBOARD SYSTEMS STOP COMPLETELY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS.

Mileage: 220,715

20200804ENGINE

WHEN DRIVING MY XTERRA, IT LOSES POWER AND CUTS OUT ON ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. THERE IS A DECLARATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE WON'T CRANK OR START LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME OVER YEARS THAT THE XTERRA HAS CUT OFF ON ME. ALL DASHBOARD SYSTEMS STOP COMPLETELY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS.

Mileage: 220,715

20200804STEERING

WHEN DRIVING MY XTERRA, IT LOSES POWER AND CUTS OUT ON ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. THERE IS A DECLARATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE WON'T CRANK OR START LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME OVER YEARS THAT THE XTERRA HAS CUT OFF ON ME. ALL DASHBOARD SYSTEMS STOP COMPLETELY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS.

Mileage: 220,715

20200505POWER TRAIN

COOLANT IN TRANSMISSION! BOUGHT NEW IN MARCH OF 2015. WAS DRIVING ON I-10 IN BILOXI AND IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE A BURNT RUBBER SMELL AND IT STARTED SMOKING! PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF IT! LEFT ME AND MY DAUGHTER STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY! *TR

Mileage: 168,000

20191007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE REGISTERING IMPROPERLY. ONLY SHOWS 3/4 TANK UPON FILLING TANK FULL AND WILL NOT DROP UPON USAGE OF FUEL. GAUGE HAS ONLY DROPPED ONCE SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

20191007FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE REGISTERING IMPROPERLY. ONLY SHOWS 3/4 TANK UPON FILLING TANK FULL AND WILL NOT DROP UPON USAGE OF FUEL. GAUGE HAS ONLY DROPPED ONCE SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

20190923EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY LIT AS IF YOU WERE PRESSING THE BRAKE EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS OFF, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET EITHER SO YOU CAN TURN IT ON BUT WILL NOT ENGAGE. IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'VE FASHIONED A SPACER TO SLIDE IN BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND SWITCH SO THEY'LL GO OFF WHEN I'M NOT DRIVING. I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS IF THERE IS A RECALL TO THIS OR IF I HAVE TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THE PART MY SELF.

Mileage: 130,000

20190916STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COURTESY NISSAN (1777 N CENTRAL EXPY, RICHARDSON, TX 75080) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V554000 (STEERING). AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABLE TO TURN THREE INCHES TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, BUT THE WHEELS FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER BECAUSE COURTESY NISSAN HAD LOST THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000.*PM CONSUMER STATED DEALER WANTED THE VEHICLE TO BE LEFT A THE DEALER FOR 2 WEEKS BUT CONSUMER COULD NOT, WITHOUT A LOANER, DUE TO WORK.*JB

Mileage: 212,000

20190312UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE CHANGED MY FUEL PUMP 11 TIMES IN TWO YEARS SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT

Mileage: 50,000

20190218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

GOT INTO MY CAR ONE DAY AND UPON TRYING TO CRANK IT , WHEN TURNING THE KEY IT HESITATED TO CRANK AND FINALLY DID SO. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, WHEN I LEFT MY CAR WOULD JUST NOT CRANK. NO CLICKS. LIGHTS WORK FINE. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH SECURITY, BATTERY. JUST REPLACED THE STARTER AROUND OCT OF LAST YEAR.

20190218UNKNOWN OR OTHER

GOT INTO MY CAR ONE DAY AND UPON TRYING TO CRANK IT , WHEN TURNING THE KEY IT HESITATED TO CRANK AND FINALLY DID SO. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, WHEN I LEFT MY CAR WOULD JUST NOT CRANK. NO CLICKS. LIGHTS WORK FINE. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH SECURITY, BATTERY. JUST REPLACED THE STARTER AROUND OCT OF LAST YEAR.

Compare 2004NISSANXTERRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 NISSAN XTERRA have?
The 2004 NISSAN XTERRA has 110 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 4 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 NISSAN XTERRA?
Yes, the 2004 NISSAN XTERRA has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is TRAILER HITCHES. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 NISSAN XTERRA?
The most-complained component for the 2004 NISSAN XTERRA is STEERING with 17 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and SUSPENSION.
Is the 2004 NISSAN XTERRA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.