2001 Nissan Xterra problems
Owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Nissan Xterra. Wipers, windshield & visibility is the most reported problem area, at 22% of complaints. Next are fuel system (17%) and electrical system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 197 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 18 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 66,000 miles 109 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 24 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 20 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 15 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 23 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Of the 109 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 66,000 miles. For wipers, windshield & visibility specifically, the median reported mileage is about 40,000 miles (27 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 18 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 15 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Nissan Xterra with enough data (137 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I was traveling at approximately 35 MPH when a vehicle pulled out of a business parking lot, the vehicle failed to yield, causing me to collide with her driver door. My concern is that my airbag in my 2001 nissan xterra failed to deploy causing me to hit the steering wheel with my chest. I contacted nissan and the results were that I failed to properly decelerate; this was the cause for the failure.
Vehicle hit a light pole on passenger's side near headlight, radiator pushed back about 6 inches. Neither airbag deployed. Consumer suffered neck/ back, and head injuries. Vehicle at dealership at this time, may be totalled.
While driving 45 MPH, consumer was involved in a head on collision. Upon impact none of the airbags depl0yed, causing minor injuries to driver.
Since the vehicle was purchased brand new from nissan, hot air from the engine constantly pours through the ventilation system and into the cabin area, even when the air is turned off.
The xterra started missing and hesitating (engine) eventually dying and not restarting. The missing and hesitation occurred while underway on a busy 4 lane divided highway, but thankfully made it home before dying and not restarting. Missing and hesitation occurred while traveling straight on and while stopped at red lights.