2010 Nissan XTERRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan XTERRA has 58 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: i have a 2010 nissan xterra i bought in aug 2010. i am constantly having to bring it into the dealership for repairs with same 3-4 issues. it now has apprx 8000 miles and needs a new set of tires which nissan is refusing to change. the gas gauge is constantly not working, does not read properly, i .

8 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

12 complaints

21%

• I HAVE A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA I BOUGHT IN AUG 2010. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS WITH SAME 3-4 ISSUES. IT NOW HAS APPRX 8000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW SET OF TIRES WHICH NISSAN IS REFUSING TO CHANGE. THE GAS GAUGE IS CONSTANTLY NOT WORKING, DOES NOT READ PROPERLY, I
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND JERK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE DRIVE SHAFT IN PLACE WERE DETACHED AND CAUSING THE DRIVE S
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND JERK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE DRIVE SHAFT IN PLACE WERE DETACHED AND CAUSING THE DRIVE S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I HAVE A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA I BOUGHT IN AUG 2010. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS WITH SAME 3-4 ISSUES. IT NOW HAS APPRX 8000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW SET OF TIRES WHICH NISSAN IS REFUSING TO CHANGE. THE GAS GAUGE IS CONSTANTLY NOT WORKING, DOES NOT READ PROPERLY, I ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

11 complaints

19%

• I WAS TRAVELING AT 25 (NO MORE THAN 30) MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH MINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE DID CLIP THE MIDDLE 1/3 AND ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY XTERRA. THE HOOD WAS CRUSHED TO THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM THE SUV
• UNABLE TO FIND THE AIRBAG RECALL.
• MY AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT MY AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN DISABLED BECAUSE OF A FAULT IN THE SPIRAL CABLE IN MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY TOLD ME THE PART COST $460 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELTS TO BE DEACTIVATED. THEY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I WAS TRAVELING AT 25 (NO MORE THAN 30) MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH MINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE DID CLIP THE MIDDLE 1/3 AND ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY XTERRA. THE HOOD WAS CRUSHED TO THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM THE SUV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA. DURING COLD TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
• MY ECU ON MY NISSAN XTERRA WAS SUPPOSEDLY SHORTED DUE TO A LOOSE OR DAMAGED CABLE. WITH MY INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CABLE WAS NOT LOOSE, YET I STILL HAD PROBLEMS. THE ISSUE HAPPENED WHEN I HAD PARKED MY VEHICLE TO RUN AN ERRAND. WHEN I RETURNED, I STARTED UP MY VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED
• WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 40 DEGREES XTERRA WILL NOT START. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND NOT PARKED IN A GARAGE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED 11 MONTHS AGO TRYING TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM. NO OTHER MAJOR ISSUES WITH VEHICLE EVER. VEHICLE JUST TOWED YESTERDAY DEALER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE UNT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA. DURING COLD TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

• MY 2005 XTERRA IS HAVING SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED 2006 XTERRA WITH THE FUEL GAUGE AND RUNNING OUT OF GAS...BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET MINE FIXED COSTING NEARLY $500.00....THE 2005 XTERRAS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AS MANY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE
• I HAVE A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA I BOUGHT IN AUG 2010. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS WITH SAME 3-4 ISSUES. IT NOW HAS APPRX 8000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW SET OF TIRES WHICH NISSAN IS REFUSING TO CHANGE. THE GAS GAUGE IS CONSTANTLY NOT WORKING, DOES NOT READ PROPERLY, I
• I AM WRITING TO REPORT REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE, AN XTERRA 2010. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RISK OF CRASH AND DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE - SLOW ACCELERATION ON SURFACE STREETS AFTER LIGHT CHANGES ? THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. - SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN ENTERING THE EXPRES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY 2005 XTERRA IS HAVING SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED 2006 XTERRA WITH THE FUEL GAUGE AND RUNNING OUT OF GAS...BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET MINE FIXED COSTING NEARLY $500.00....THE 2005 XTERRAS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AS MANY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

5 complaints

• I AM WRITING TO REPORT REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE, AN XTERRA 2010. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RISK OF CRASH AND DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE - SLOW ACCELERATION ON SURFACE STREETS AFTER LIGHT CHANGES ? THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. - SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN ENTERING THE EXPRES
• I STARTED THE CAR TO LET IT WARM UP. THE MANUAL GEARSHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. AS I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, IT LURCHED FORWARD AND I ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE. IT LURCHED A SECOND TIME BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET INSIDE. I ATTEMPTED TO G
• I WAS TRAVELING AT 25 (NO MORE THAN 30) MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH MINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE DID CLIP THE MIDDLE 1/3 AND ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY XTERRA. THE HOOD WAS CRUSHED TO THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM THE SUV

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I AM WRITING TO REPORT REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE, AN XTERRA 2010. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RISK OF CRASH AND DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE - SLOW ACCELERATION ON SURFACE STREETS AFTER LIGHT CHANGES ? THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. - SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN ENTERING THE EXPRES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 58 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: I HAVE A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA I BOUGHT IN AUG 2010. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS WITH SAME 3-4 ISSUES. IT NOW HAS APPRX 8000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW SET OF TIRES WHICH NISSAN IS REFUSING TO CHANGE. THE GAS GAUGE IS CONSTANTLY NOT WORKING, DOES NOT READ PROPERLY, I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS TRAVELING AT 25 (NO MORE THAN 30) MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH MINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE DID CLIP THE MIDDLE 1/3 AND ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY XTERRA. THE HOOD WAS CRUSHED TO THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM THE SUV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN XTERRA. DURING COLD TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: MY 2005 XTERRA IS HAVING SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED 2006 XTERRA WITH THE FUEL GAUGE AND RUNNING OUT OF GAS...BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET MINE FIXED COSTING NEARLY $500.00....THE 2005 XTERRAS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AS MANY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)