2011 Nissan XTERRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Nissan XTERRA has 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: while driving on a dirt road in my 2011 nissan xterra pro 4x my side curtain airbags deployed and both front seat belts locked as if in an accident. i have driven that same part at least one dozen times before without issue. i have also taken the vehicle in areas that are very rocky without issue. t.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

9 complaints

33%

• WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD IN MY 2011 NISSAN XTERRA PRO 4X MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCKED AS IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DRIVEN THAT SAME PART AT LEAST ONE DOZEN TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN AREAS THAT ARE VERY ROCKY WITHOUT ISSUE. T
• ON MARCH 3 WE STARTED OUR CAR AND THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SHOWING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE INTO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR SERVICE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER ONE SINCE NONE WERE IN STO
• PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 4/25/11 IN MD - MOVED TO AZ IN JUNE2012. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 42,000 MILES - ONE WK AGO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, BLINKS CONTINUOUSLY. TOOK TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER - 92 MILES AWAY- WAS TOLD IT WAS THE SENSOR, THEY HAD NO PART, WOULD COST $2,000 TO REPLACE AN

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

“WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD IN MY 2011 NISSAN XTERRA PRO 4X MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCKED AS IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DRIVEN THAT SAME PART AT LEAST ONE DOZEN TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN AREAS THAT ARE VERY ROCKY WITHOUT ISSUE. T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

22%

• DRIVER'S SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON BUMPY ROAD. FLANGE THAT ATTACHED TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER SEPARATED FROM STAINLESS STEEL PIPING. NOW HEAT AND CARBON MONOXIDE IS PUMPING OUT UNDER DRIVER'S FEET. VERY LOUD. NISSAN SAYS "TOUGH LUCK" - WE ARE NOT PAYING. 54,000 MILES, 7 Y
• DRIVER'S SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON BUMPY ROAD. FLANGE THAT ATTACHED TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER SEPARATED FROM STAINLESS STEEL PIPING. NOW HEAT AND CARBON MONOXIDE IS PUMPING OUT UNDER DRIVER'S FEET. VERY LOUD. NISSAN SAYS "TOUGH LUCK" - WE ARE NOT PAYING. 54,000 MILES, 7 YEARS
• EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED. DEFECTIVE WELD DURING MANUFACTURING PROCESS. ALLOWED HEAT AND EXHAUST GASES EMISSION. SUPERSEDES COMPLAINT NUMBER: 11035945 & COMPLAINT NUMBER: 11035942. NOW I HAVE THE MANIFOLD OFF THE VEHICLE I CAN CLEARLY SEE THE DEFECTIVE WELD.

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

“DRIVER'S SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON BUMPY ROAD. FLANGE THAT ATTACHED TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER SEPARATED FROM STAINLESS STEEL PIPING. NOW HEAT AND CARBON MONOXIDE IS PUMPING OUT UNDER DRIVER'S FEET. VERY LOUD. NISSAN SAYS "TOUGH LUCK" - WE ARE NOT PAYING. 54,000 MILES, 7 Y”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY LEAKED AND THE POSITIVE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY CLAMP BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO LEAK.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE HANDS FREE BLUETOOTH SYSTEM FAILED. WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE SOUND QUALITY WOULD BE IMPAIRED AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM USING THE HANDS FREE OPTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE
• WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY LEAKED AND THE POSITIVE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY CLAMP BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO LEAK.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

2 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS B.F. GOODRICH, TIRE LINE, RADIAL LONG TRAIL, DOT NUMBER AP72FB313610 AND THE SIZE WAS P265/70/R16 11PMCS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO
• BF GOODRICH TIRES ON NEW NISSAN XTERRA ONLY LASTED 32000 MILES ARE THEY KIDDING. *TR

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

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS B.F. GOODRICH, TIRE LINE, RADIAL LONG TRAIL, DOT NUMBER AP72FB313610 AND THE SIZE WAS P265/70/R16 11PMCS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

1 complaints

• PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING FOUND TO BE BROKEN AT INSPECTION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. OFF WARRANTY AT 57,000 MILES AND A WEEK LATER DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON 65MPH ON HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS CRASH,. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP- WRIGHT NISSAN IN W

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

“PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING FOUND TO BE BROKEN AT INSPECTION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. OFF WARRANTY AT 57,000 MILES AND A WEEK LATER DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON 65MPH ON HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS CRASH,. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP- WRIGHT NISSAN IN W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 27 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD IN MY 2011 NISSAN XTERRA PRO 4X MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCKED AS IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DRIVEN THAT SAME PART AT LEAST ONE DOZEN TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN AREAS THAT ARE VERY ROCKY WITHOUT ISSUE. T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: DRIVER'S SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON BUMPY ROAD. FLANGE THAT ATTACHED TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER SEPARATED FROM STAINLESS STEEL PIPING. NOW HEAT AND CARBON MONOXIDE IS PUMPING OUT UNDER DRIVER'S FEET. VERY LOUD. NISSAN SAYS "TOUGH LUCK" - WE ARE NOT PAYING. 54,000 MILES, 7 Y
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY LEAKED AND THE POSITIVE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY CLAMP BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO LEAK.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TIRES: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS B.F. GOODRICH, TIRE LINE, RADIAL LONG TRAIL, DOT NUMBER AP72FB313610 AND THE SIZE WAS P265/70/R16 11PMCS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)