NISSAN XTERRA · model year

2015 NISSAN XTERRA

15 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2015NISSANXTERRA carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 3/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2015 XTERRA is power train with 6 filings, followed by suspension (2) and electronic stability control (esc) (1). 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.

NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 2015 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.

15
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

15 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 3/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN6
SUSPENSION2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
PARKING BRAKE1
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SERVICE BRAKES1
STRUCTURE:BODY1

Recent Complaints

20240304STRUCTURE:BODY

Rear passenger side door will not open from the inside or outside. This is apparently a widespread problem for Nissan Xterra rear doors. It creates a safety problem as passengers cannot leave the vehicle in case of an accident.

20220606SERVICE BRAKES

Leaf spring snapped. Large piece of metal was found in the road. Rear shocks were replaced under warranty several years prior. Known weak point of xterras. Dealer replacement costs were astronomical so I upgraded the equipment for the same cost and did the work myself as I am now slightly out of warranty.

20220606SUSPENSION

Leaf spring snapped. Large piece of metal was found in the road. Rear shocks were replaced under warranty several years prior. Known weak point of xterras. Dealer replacement costs were astronomical so I upgraded the equipment for the same cost and did the work myself as I am now slightly out of warranty.

20220228SUSPENSION

The following is an email that I had sent to CSX Risk Management describing what happened with my vehicle on Friday, 2.25.2022. I suspect that a defective leaf spring could have contributed to my accident. This is the passenger side leaf spring. I say this because I had to replace the same leaf spring on a 2011 Nissan Xterra PRO-4X before. I now have a 2015. -- I went over the CSX Railroad Tracks on Three Oaks Road (Northbound, just before Old M-11) in Sawyer last night -- approximately 9:13PM EST. Upon going over the bumpy tracks, it caused my passenger rear wheel to be pushed back into wheel well. The tire was rubbing on the wheel well and it smelled like burning rubber. I'd stopped right away and saw white smoke from the tires. It's looks like the bumpy tracks caused the leaf spring to be damaged or out of place. I can't tell if there are any other damages. My car had to be towed, as it was not drivable. Chikaming Township Police assisted. The police officer, Sargeant Brandon

20220228UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The following is an email that I had sent to CSX Risk Management describing what happened with my vehicle on Friday, 2.25.2022. I suspect that a defective leaf spring could have contributed to my accident. This is the passenger side leaf spring. I say this because I had to replace the same leaf spring on a 2011 Nissan Xterra PRO-4X before. I now have a 2015. -- I went over the CSX Railroad Tracks on Three Oaks Road (Northbound, just before Old M-11) in Sawyer last night -- approximately 9:13PM EST. Upon going over the bumpy tracks, it caused my passenger rear wheel to be pushed back into wheel well. The tire was rubbing on the wheel well and it smelled like burning rubber. I'd stopped right away and saw white smoke from the tires. It's looks like the bumpy tracks caused the leaf spring to be damaged or out of place. I can't tell if there are any other damages. My car had to be towed, as it was not drivable. Chikaming Township Police assisted. The police officer, Sargeant Brandon

20211130PARKING BRAKE

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the emergency brake activated, the emergency brake button was stuck. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was diagnosed that the axles were leaking oil and needed to be replaced. However, there were no axles available for replacement and that there probably not be any available in the future. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

20211130SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the emergency brake activated, the emergency brake button was stuck. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was diagnosed that the axles were leaking oil and needed to be replaced. However, there were no axles available for replacement and that there probably not be any available in the future. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

20180307POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF CLUTCH SLIPPING AT 50,000 MILES: ENGINE WOULD REV UP WHILE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS FULLY OUT, THEN YOU WOULD FEEL IT RE-ENGAGE COMPLETELY AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF WHINING AND SPINNING. I'M A LIFETIME CLUTCH DRIVER (NEARLY 20 YEARS), AND EVERY VEHICLE GOT IN EXCESS OF 150,000 MILES BEFORE NEEDING A NEW CLUTCH. THE SECOND GENERATION XTERRA MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH IS UTTERLY JUNK. DON'T EVER BUY THIS VEHICLE IN MANUAL, OR ANY NISSAN. AFTER OWNING 3 XTERRAS IN MY TIME I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. THIS PREMATURE FAIL IS A MANUFACTURING/OEM DEFECT. PLEASE RECALL!!!

20170323POWER TRAIN

BOUGHT MY X-TERRA BRAND NEW AND WAS TOLD IS HAS A BUMPER TO BUMPER 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, AT 22,000 THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. HAD IT TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT IS SAYING THE CLUTCH IS BAD FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE'VE READ A LOT OF OTHER REVIEWS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL AND WANT TO REPORT IT. BOTH DRIVERS IN OUR HOUSEHOLD ARE EXPERIENCED CLUTCH DRIVER WITH A COMBINED 20+ YEAR EXPERIENCE. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE AND THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND JUST "TOOK THEIR WORD FOR IT" NOTHING WAS REALLY INVESTIGATED AT ALL. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON BOTH ENDS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WE BOUGHT IT FROM THAT IS 4+ HOURS AWAY FROM OUR CURRENT HOME AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD'VE TAKEN CAR OF IT AND FIXED IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE CAN'T HAVE IT TOWED 4+ HOURS AWAY AFTER BEING TAKEN APART. BOTTOM LINE NISSAN HAS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THEIR CLUTCHES, AND IS BLAMING IT ON THE CONSUMERS AND NOT ABIDING TO

Mileage: 22,000

20160626POWER TRAIN

MY NISSAN XTERRA 2005 HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CAUSED BY COOLANT FLUID IN TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION $6,000.00. THIS IS WHAT MY CAR COSTS. IF THEY HAVE TOLD ME BEFORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM I COULD HAVE FIX IT FOR LITTLE MONEY. NOW THEY DON'T ANSWER MY CALLS. SHOULD I THROW MY CAR IN A JUNKER NOW? THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECT FROM THE CAR. THEY NEVER SEND ANY LETTERS REGARDING THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.

Mileage: 100,000

20160427POWER TRAIN

AFTER 30000 MILES NEEDS A NEW CLUTCH BOUGHT USED AT 24000 MILES IN NOV. 2015. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. SO THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THE WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. IT WENT OUT AFTER PARKING AT HOME LUCKLY. THE 2006 XTERRA HAD CLUTCH PROBLEMS AND SOME OF THE OTHER MODLES PATHFINDER HAD SOME CLUCTCH PROBLEMS.

20151228POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO PAST RADIATOR LEAK, SAME AS COMPLAINT ON FILE

Mileage: 126,000

20150628ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

NISSAN XTERRA 2015 PURCHASED ON 3/14/2015. ODOMETER AT 4200 MILES. VEHICLE HAS LOSS OF POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. VDC DASH INDICATOR TURNS ON. SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY METALLIC GRINDING NOISE AS IF THE ABS SYSTEM HAS TURNED ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ALWAYS ON DRY ASPHALT PAVEMENT. USUALLY AFTER A 90 DEGREE TURN. ALTHOUGH HAS ALSO HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY FOR A SECOND OR TWO WHEN MODERATELY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP CONTROL. CHECKED TIRE PRESSURES AND IT IS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS (I.E. 38-40 PSI) THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES PRIOR FOR SHORTER INTERVALS. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE SINCE IT HAS NOW SUBSEQUENTLY OCCURRED TWO TIMES ON 6/28/2015 FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS EACH TIME. NOTE, I HAVE VIDEO RECORD OF BOTH OCCURANCES ON 6/28/2015 OF THE DASH PANEL AND ROADWAY SHOWING THE PROBLEM, VDC INDICATOR LIGHT, ACCOMPANYING GRINDING NOISE, AND LACK OF ACCELERATION. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MPH AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO

Mileage: 4,200

20150628POWER TRAIN

NISSAN XTERRA 2015 PURCHASED ON 3/14/2015. ODOMETER AT 4200 MILES. VEHICLE HAS LOSS OF POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. VDC DASH INDICATOR TURNS ON. SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY METALLIC GRINDING NOISE AS IF THE ABS SYSTEM HAS TURNED ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ALWAYS ON DRY ASPHALT PAVEMENT. USUALLY AFTER A 90 DEGREE TURN. ALTHOUGH HAS ALSO HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY FOR A SECOND OR TWO WHEN MODERATELY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP CONTROL. CHECKED TIRE PRESSURES AND IT IS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS (I.E. 38-40 PSI) THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES PRIOR FOR SHORTER INTERVALS. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE SINCE IT HAS NOW SUBSEQUENTLY OCCURRED TWO TIMES ON 6/28/2015 FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS EACH TIME. NOTE, I HAVE VIDEO RECORD OF BOTH OCCURANCES ON 6/28/2015 OF THE DASH PANEL AND ROADWAY SHOWING THE PROBLEM, VDC INDICATOR LIGHT, ACCOMPANYING GRINDING NOISE, AND LACK OF ACCELERATION. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MPH AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO

Mileage: 4,200

20150628VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

NISSAN XTERRA 2015 PURCHASED ON 3/14/2015. ODOMETER AT 4200 MILES. VEHICLE HAS LOSS OF POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. VDC DASH INDICATOR TURNS ON. SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY METALLIC GRINDING NOISE AS IF THE ABS SYSTEM HAS TURNED ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ALWAYS ON DRY ASPHALT PAVEMENT. USUALLY AFTER A 90 DEGREE TURN. ALTHOUGH HAS ALSO HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY FOR A SECOND OR TWO WHEN MODERATELY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP CONTROL. CHECKED TIRE PRESSURES AND IT IS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS (I.E. 38-40 PSI) THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES PRIOR FOR SHORTER INTERVALS. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE SINCE IT HAS NOW SUBSEQUENTLY OCCURRED TWO TIMES ON 6/28/2015 FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS EACH TIME. NOTE, I HAVE VIDEO RECORD OF BOTH OCCURANCES ON 6/28/2015 OF THE DASH PANEL AND ROADWAY SHOWING THE PROBLEM, VDC INDICATOR LIGHT, ACCOMPANYING GRINDING NOISE, AND LACK OF ACCELERATION. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MPH AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO

Mileage: 4,200

Compare 2015NISSANXTERRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2015 NISSAN XTERRA have?
The 2015 NISSAN XTERRA has 15 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2015 NISSAN XTERRA?
The 2015 NISSAN XTERRA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 3/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 NISSAN XTERRA?
The most-complained component for the 2015 NISSAN XTERRA is POWER TRAIN with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC).
Is the 2015 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. The 2015 NISSAN XTERRA has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. 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.