Model year record

2004 Nissan Xterra recalls & problems

The 2004 Nissan Xterra has 3 safety recalls and 84 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is steering (21 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints84filed by owners

Crashes · fires10 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths7 · 0reported in complaints

2004 Nissan Xterra in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

SteeringNov 11, 2010

Column

Recall 10V554000500,552 vehicles

Problem: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
Risk: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

EquipmentJul 3, 2007

Equipment

Recall 07E0460003,500 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.
Risk: THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WHEN THE TOWING VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE TOWING VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER BRAKE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED ABILITY TO STOP AND CONTRIBUTE TO A POSSIBLE CRASH.
Fix: HOPKINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HARNESS WITH A REVISED HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HOPKINS AT 800-835-0129.

Trailer hitchesDec 15, 2004

Trailer hitches

Recall 04V581000131 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCESSORY TOW HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE TOW HITCH TO LOOSEN OR SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE TOW HITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 3, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2004 Nissan Xterra 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2004 Nissan Xterra NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Xterra 2WD

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Xterra V6 2WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Xterra V6 2WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Xterra V6 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Xterra V6 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Xterra V6 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,500/year to fuel

Xterra V6 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,500/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
SteeringColumn; Linkages › Tie rod assembly	21	1	0	2	83,000 mi
SuspensionRear; Rear › Springs › Leaf spring assembly	12	0	0	0	90,206 mi
Electrical systemWiring; Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers	11	0	1	1	69,500 mi
Engine	8	0	0	1	134,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	6	3	0	1	6,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly	6	0	0	0	108,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys; Engine › Gasoline	6	0	2	0	33,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	5	1	0	0	55,000 mi
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior; Power window devices and controls	5	0	0	0	29,485 mi
Unknown or other	5	0	0	0	69,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	5	0	0	0	135,500 mi
Vehicle speed controlCruise control; Accelerator pedal	4	1	0	2	1,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bagsCrash
I have been in three accidents, of decent speed, and my airbags never deployed. I was told to report that.
Jan 1, 2019
Engine
Water pump went out replace water pump motor blown
Jun 1, 2025
Steering
I took my xterra to get inspected 12/27/2024. I was informed I have a recall on this vehicle.
Dec 27, 2024
Air bagsCrash
My vehicle has been in 3 accidents. Being rear-ended at 70MPH, again six months later at 60MPH, then the forward vehicle slammed their brakes, and I hit them at around 30MPH. In any of these accidents, NONE of my airbags deployed.
Jan 6, 2019
Unknown or other
UNKNOWN. Wanting to make a recall appointment that was reported on my SMOG check.
Jan 24, 2022
Steering
THE STEERING WEAL IT'S BECOMING STIFF AND IS BECOMING HARD TO MANEUVER AROUND AND IT MIGHT AFFECT MY DRIVING AND I'M SCARED I MIGHT CRASH AND THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AND OWN AND HAVE NO OTHER MEANS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. I WAS HEADING TO WORK AND I TRIED TURNING ON THE CORNER AND IT JUST BECAME HARD TO STEER THE STEERING WEAL.
Sep 10, 2020
Steering
SPEEDS OVER 60 HITS A BUMP AND STARTS ROCKING AND BOUNCING
Oct 17, 2020 · 150,000 miles
Electrical system
WHEN DRIVING MY XTERRA, IT LOSES POWER AND CUTS OUT ON ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. THERE IS A DECLARATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE WON'T CRANK OR START LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME OVER YEARS THAT THE XTERRA HAS CUT OFF ON ME. ALL DASHBOARD SYSTEMS STOP COMPLETELY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS.
Aug 3, 2020 · 220,715 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.