2013 Nissan Xterra recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

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

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

Recent owner complaints

• Suspension

  THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER HEAVILY LOADED AND WAS ALWAYS DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS. THE BOTTOM LEAF IN EACH OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF ONE ANOTHER. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE BROKEN LEAF AND HAD IT REPAIRED BEFORE THE BROKEN PIECE OF LEAF COULD COME OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE SECOND TIME THE BROKEN PIECE OF LEAF CAME OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING STRAIGHT ON A PAVED CITY STREET. THE BROKEN PIECE MUST HAVE HIT THE TIRE BECAUSE IT FLEW UP AND STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A TIRE TO BLOW OUT, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, OR HIT A PEDESTRIAN. THE BROKEN PIECE OF LEAF WAS 13.5 INCHES LONG AND WEIGHED ABOUT 2.5 POUNDS - CERTAINLY…

  Jun 3, 2019 · 150,000 miles
• Service brakes

  VERY SOFT BRAKE PEDAL OBSERVED PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE OVER PERIOD OF ABOUT 15K / 1 MONTH TRIGGERING INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE ESPECIALLY DURING WET CONDITIONS AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS OCCASIONALLY PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR PRIOR TO VEHICLE COMING TO COMPLETE STOP. HOT PADS/ROTORS OBSERVED DURING EVEN COLD AND OR WET CONDITIONS ABOVE NORMAL UNTIL AT HIGHWAY SPEED BRAKES OVERHEATED TRIGGERING CALIPERS TO CEASE UP AT A STOP AT APPROX. 90K (3+ WEEKS AFTER ORIGINAL OBSERVATION OF OCCASIONAL SOFT PEDAL) AT LOW SPEEDS PEDAL APPEARED TO BE SLIGHTLY SOFT, HOWEVER AT HIGHER SPEEDS ABOVE 35-40 UPWARDS OF 60-65 THE ISSUE BECAME VERY NOTICEABLE ESPECIALLY DURING HEAVY RAIN OR WET ROAD CONDITIONS…

  Dec 28, 2018 · 90,000 miles
• Engine

  WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY, DISENGAGED SPEED CONTROL USING BRAKE, BUT DID NOT ORIGINALLY TURN IT OFF TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER BETTER IN TRAFFIC NEAR A CITY. VEHICLE ORIGINALLY SLOWED DOWN, BUT AFTER RELEASING BRAKE IN 3 SECONDS, CAR SPED UP ON ITS OWN WITH AN ACCELERATION PROFILE GREATER THAN THE ONE WHEN YOU ARE SETTING THE SPEED. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT TO QUIT WITH THIS BEHAVIOR AND FINALLY HIT THE CANCEL AND OFF BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE OFF AND NO CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS WERE ON. THIS DID NOT HELP THE SITUATION. WHEN BRAKE WAS ON, VEHICLE QUIT ACCELERATION, SO WITH BRAKE ON, PULLED ON TO SHOULDER AND PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK AND…

  Sep 18, 2018 · 19,150 miles
• Power trainCrash1 injury

  MY 2013 NISSAN XTERRA PRO4X ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITH ME STANDING NEXT TO IT. IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. IT REVERSED RAPIDLY AND CAUGHT ME UNDER IT. I SUFFERED PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE IN MY ARM AND EXTREME SCARING ON BOTH LEGS. AFTER IT RAN ME OVER, IT CRASHED INTO MY GARAGE. NISSAN REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT I AM AFRAID OF. *TR

  Jul 9, 2014 · 10,284 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.