2004 Nissan Xterra problems
Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Nissan Xterra. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. Next are engine (13%) and fuel system (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 110 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 63,000 miles 88 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 | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 12 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 8 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 9 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Of the 88 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 63,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 83,000 miles (18 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Nissan Xterra with enough data (48 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 nissan xterra. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH around a bend when he lost control of the steering. The vehicle was then suddenly flipped driver side up. The contact and all the passengers in the vehicle were transported to the hospital via ambulance. The contact sustained a contusion to the brain and the rear seat passenger sustained injuries to the leg. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted in regards to the failure.
On 9/11/2016, while attempting to park my 2004 nissan xterra, there was a terrible accident. I pulled in front of a maechanics bay at firestone in newport news, va. While parking my SUV, with my foot firmly on the brake, the SUV rapidly accelatred and drove through the building and badly injured a mechanic standing in the bay. I was braking as hard as I could, and the SUV kept accelarting and would not stop. I did not have my foot on the gas pedal.
Since week I bought this SUV I have made complaints about in park and in drive you hear a lifter type ticking noise at the passenger side of this xterra. I for sure think it is a lifter tick but the dealer has always said it is nothing and no not worry about it. It has not gotten loader but inside by the wheel well and also inside right engine side you can hear it. As I drive you can also hear it with the windows up. They agree they hear it but they state all other xterra make the same.
Vehicle overheated while driving down the highway. Upon inspection, an approximately 4in crack was noticed on the top of the radiator, passenger side, near the thermostat. Replacement of the radiator was required.