NHTSA vehicle safety data

2000 Nissan Xterra Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2000 Nissan Xterra has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 214 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Nissan dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2000 Nissan Xterra, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2000 Nissan Xterra owner complaints

Owners have filed 214 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Nissan Xterra, describing incidents dated December 15, 1999 to September 15, 2024.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 66 complaints
Engine 35 complaints
Electrical System 26 complaints
Power Train 22 complaints
Air Bags 15 complaints
Service Brakes 14 complaints

Of the 214 complaints on file, 25 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 214 complaints, owners report 26 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11615875 · Filed September 22, 2024
Unknown
ODI #11614949 · Filed September 16, 2024
My car keeps stalling out like it's not getting gas.
ODI #11614688 · Filed September 15, 2024
My car dies out while driving. I've replaced so many parts already and it keeps leaving me stranded.

Read all 214 complaints

Owner-reported

2000 Nissan Xterra mileage at failure

126 of the 214 complaints on file for the 2000 Nissan Xterra give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Fuel/Propulsion System	Median 70,000 miles	Middle half 50,000–90,000 miles	Based on 48 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS

NHTSA #09E012000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2009 · SABERSPORT

Potentially affected: 16,270 vehicles

Owners notified May 11, 2009

Defect description

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E026000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2006 · PRO-A MOTORS, INC.

Potentially affected: 61,944 vehicles

Owners notified April 3, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO PRO-A MOTORS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

NISSAN/FUEL SENDING UNIT

NHTSA #04V230000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump · NHTSA notice

Reported May 24, 2004 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 586,196 vehicles

Owners notified June 28, 2004 · Vehicles built March 4, 1999 – March 15, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SIX CYLINDER ENGINES AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOUR OR SIX CYLINDER ENGINES, THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT CAN DEVELOP A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TERMINAL STRIP TO CORRODE UNDER SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.

Safety consequence

IF CORROSION OCCURS, THE TERMINAL STRIP COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP OPERATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

IN THE FOLLOWING STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT. THESE STATES ARE CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THE OTHER STATES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE SENDING UNIT FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE UNIT. IF THERE IS NOT CORROSION, THE DEALER WILL APPLY SEALANT TO THE TERMINAL HOUSING TO HELP PREVENT CORROSION IN THE FUTURE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

NISSAN/ALLOY WHEEL CRACKS

NHTSA #03V307000 · Wheels · NHTSA notice

Reported August 22, 2003 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 31,700 vehicles

Nissan campaign RU301 · Owners notified September 15, 2003 · Vehicles built October 15, 1999 – February 29, 2000 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

2000 NISSAN XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 15, 1999, AND FEBRUARY 29, 2000. THE ALLOY WHEELS USED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND COULD DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE WHEEL SPOKES.

Safety consequence

IF A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SPOKE CRACKS DEVELOP, THE WHEEL COULD FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING HUB, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE FOUR ALLOY WHEELS WITH XTERRA SE MODEL BRIGHT ALLOY WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SPARE TIRE STEEL WHEEL IS NOT AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED THROUGH NISSAN'S WEB SITE AT WWW.NISSANUSA.COM.

Notes

ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

NISSAN/FMVSS 102/SHIFT CABLE LOCK PLATE

NHTSA #00V288000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported October 2, 2000 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 76,652 vehicles

Owners notified November 6, 2000 · Vehicles built November 1, 1999 – April 17, 2000 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT. " THESE VEHICLES COULD HAVE A SHIFT CABLE LOCK PLATE THAT IS TOO BRITTLE AND CAN BREAK. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER AND THE "PRNDL" INDICATOR MAY MOVE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE TRANSMISSION COULD SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION, BUT THE GEAR INDICATED ON THE DISPLAY MAY DIFFER FROM THE GEAR ENGAGED IN THE TRANSMISSION.

Safety consequence

IF THE DRIVER SELECTS 'DRIVE' AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN 'REVERSE', A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE LOCK PLATE.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 6, 2000.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISAN AT 1-800-647-7261.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2000 Nissan Xterra 4-DR. 4x4

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

214 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Nissan Xterra.

Steering; Unknown or Other; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11615875

Incident: September 3, 2024 · Filed: September 22, 2024

Unknown

Power Train; Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11614949

Incident: September 11, 2024 · Filed: September 16, 2024

My car keeps stalling out like it's not getting gas.

Steering; Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11614688

Incident: September 15, 2024 · Filed: September 15, 2024

My car dies out while driving. I've replaced so many parts already and it keeps leaving me stranded.

Electrical System

ODI #11454910

Incident: March 1, 2022 · Filed: March 2, 2022

The engine service soon have been on for quite some time now. I tried to take it to several Smog places to get it smogged , and the mechanic have told me that the Smog scanner cannot read the computer of my car.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11383398

Fire

Incident: December 9, 2020 · Filed: December 14, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE SHOULDER WHERE THEY GOT OUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND POURED WATER ONTO THE VEHICLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE HOWEVER THE FIRE INCREASED SLIGHTLY. THE CONTACT STATED BIGGER EFFORTS WERE MADE FROM HER AND ANOTHER DRIVER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE 241,496.

Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11349705

Crash

Incident: June 17, 2020 · Filed: August 16, 2020

IMMEDIATELY AFTER I EXITED MY BUILDING GARAGE AND MADE RIGHT TURN ON CITY STREET ON A CLEAR SUMMER DAY AFTERNOON THE ENGINE SOUND BEGAN ROARING AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING. I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE FORCIBLY HITTING ON THE BRAKES, SHIFTING GEARS TO NEUTRAL, TURNING OFF THE ENGINE BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ON GOING AND RAN-AWAY UNCONTROLLABLY TILL I MADE TWO LEFT TURNS AND ENDED UP ON A SIDE WALK WITH THE REAR TIRE BLOWN OUT AND THE CAR STOPPED AFTER COLLIDING WITH SOME PUBLIC UTILITY BOX. THE VEHICLE HAS INCOMPLETE RECALL #R0402 AND NHSTA RECALL #04V-230 REGARDING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THERE WAS A LOCAL POLICE REPORT #200057082. SUSPECTED CAUSES COULD BE FLAWS IN THE VEHICLE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT PRODUCED FAULTY SIGNAL OF FULLY DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Service Brakes

ODI #11321193

Incident: April 15, 2020 · Filed: April 15, 2020

I WAS 47 MPH IN A 45 MPH ROAD AND THE GUY BEHIND ME ILLEGALLY PASSED ME BY DRIVING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL HE WAS ABLE TO PASS ME CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND SWERVE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11166468

Crash

Incident: November 1, 2018 · Filed: January 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10863885

Fire

Incident: May 8, 2016 · Filed: May 9, 2016

ON SATURDAY I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BUT IT WENT AWAY QUICKLY AND I COULDN'T FIND ANY SOURCE IN THE VEHICLE, SO I ASSUMED I JUST DROVE PAST SOMETHING THAT SMELLED BADLY. ON SUNDAY THE SMELL RETURNED, STRONGER. I STOPPED AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH AS I RAN TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. ONCE THE SMOKE CLEARED AND THERE WAS NO CONCERN OF A FIRE BREAKING OUT I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE AND FOUND THE "SMART ENTRANCE CONTROL UNIT," WHICH IS MOUNTED TO THE FAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE DASH AND CONTROLS THE POWER LOCKS AND KEYLESS ENTRY, TO BE NOTICEABLY HOT. I UNPLUGGED THIS BOX AND REMOVED IT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE BOX HAD HEAT VISIBLE DAMAGE ON ITS EXTERIOR. I OPENED THE BOX TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND FOUND A LARGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT I BELIEVE WAS A METAL OXIDE VARISTOR WAS THE SOURCE OF THE HEAT/SMOKE/POSSIBLE FIRE, AND NEARBY COMPONENTS SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT HEAT DAMAGE. I THINK THAT THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A COMPUTER MODULE MAY BE A SAFETY DESIGN FLAW. IF I HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE ODOR AND PULLED OVER AND QUICKLY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS COMPUTER IS POWERED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, SO IT COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND CAUSED A HOUSE FIRE AS WELL. I CHECKED EVERY FUSE IN THE VEHICLE AND ALL FUSES ARE THE CORRECT AMPERAGE (NOBODY HAS INSTALLED A HIGHER CURRENT FUSE IN PLACE OF A LOWER CURRENT ONE). IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION IS INADEQUATE TO INTERRUPT POWER TO THE COMPUTER IF IT FAILS. MY POWER LOCKS/KEYLESS FUNCTIONED UP UNTIL THE INCIDENT AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE KEYLESS ENTRY COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER'S PART LABEL READS AS FOLLOWS: CONT ASSY'SMART ENTRANCE PART NO. 28595 7Z000 UTA PART NO. 601-1190-001 FCC ID: KOBUTAHZR

Wheels

ODI #10788122

Incident: November 3, 2014 · Filed: November 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Other Nissan Xterra model years

Check your 2000 Nissan Xterra VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Nissan Xterra at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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