Reliability & cost of ownership
Nissan Xterra Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Nissan Xterra? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Nissan Xterra problems by model year
59 recall entries across 14 model years and 3,099 owner complaints across 17 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 3 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Nissan Xterra, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- power train1,032 complaints
- fuel system, gasoline721 complaints
- engine and engine cooling440 complaints
- engine375 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system231 complaints
- electrical system204 complaints
- air bags177 complaints
- fuel system, other139 complaints