Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | 10% | 0 miles |
| 2012 | 4 | 25% | 2,000 miles |
| 2011 | 6 | 25% | 54,000 miles |
| 2010 | 5 | 13% | 84,000 miles |
| 2009 | 4 | 21% | 103,000 miles |
| 2008 | 31 | 26% | 100,000 miles |
| 2007 | 160 | 29% | 105,000 miles |
| 2006 | 209 | 27% | 107,000 miles |
| 2005 | 280 | 33% | 102,000 miles |
| 2004 | 14 | 17% | 80,000 miles |
| 2003 | 13 | 18% | 108,000 miles |
| 2002 | 32 | 20% | 89,000 miles |
| 2001 | 17 | 11% | 89,000 miles |
| 2000 | 35 | 16% | 74,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I recently had a diagnosis of radiator coolant mixing with transmission following my vehicle being towed bc I lost power while driving with no warning signs. I was given an estimate for repairs of $5000. I had the extended warranty but wasn't told of the radiator issues w Xterra. My vehicle mileage is 128,000. Just past the 100,000 mileage mark. I just read an article that states this is a known issue with Nissan Xterra where lawsuits were filed. I just paid $7000 loan in full. I would not have done this had I known I would need this $ to repair my vehicle.
Vehicle's engine seized while being operated at a low rate of speed. Reason given by dealership when towed in was no oil in the engine however there was no warning light for either oil or engine issue displayed at any time leading up to engine failure. There had been a previous oil leak approximately 10 months earlier which had been repaired. There had been no incidents in the interim and no indication of issues. There was a recall related to the oil filter and engine but according to Nissan, my vehicle was not subject to the recall. I was forced to pay in advance of work being started for a full engine replacement despite the fact that I had only 4 months left on my 39 month lease.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, an engine oil leak was present. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the oil connector bolt and O-ring seal needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not replaced. The contact was aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V592000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The vehicle was driving just fine, then about a month later the heat gauge started to fluctuate, i replaced the radiator caps, thermostat...it ran good for another month, started to overheat....i made sure water was in radiator and overflow...about a month went by the gauge started to fluctuate again, now there is water in my oil, meaning a cracked head gasket...this is the 2nd vehicle ive purchased that the same thing has hapoened to.
My air bag quit working. The light started going off. I took it to Nissan and they said I had to pay to have the light turned off before they would fix the recall. I could not afford to pay to have the light turned off. The line connecting to my transmission and radiator has failed. Transmission fluid is leaking into my radiator and coolant is leaking into my transmission. Both must be replaced. The repair shop looked up the recall and said that was why this happened. I cannot afford thousands of dollars to have this repaired. My car is 10 years old with 163k miles.
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 get inside the vehicle a second time to apply the brake but was not able to due to the car lurching forward again.. On the third "lurch" it continued to drive forward, hitting my mother's parked car and pushing it back approximately 3-4 feet into the back wall of her carport. Finally, the engine died and I was able to restart it, back it away from my mother's car, and assess the damage to her vehicle and my body. I purchased this used vehicle 12 days ago.
I took my Xterra in because it constantly blew hot air. Upon inspection I was informed of the TSB issued by Nissan that the radiator tubes can crack and mix coolant with transmission fluid and that I was low on coolant because of that. The tech informed me that the leak was minimal but needed to be replaces asap. The radiator was replaced and lines flushed and also had to take my car into a trans expert to flush and inspect the transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to lose power and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road where it began to smoke under the hood. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the head gasket failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The contact called royal Nissan at [phone] (located at 9325 airline hwy, baton rouge, la 70815) and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 34416631. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 Infiniti fx, model year 2012 Infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 Nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 Nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 Nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 Nissan nv vehicles.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on January 30, 2012. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 armada, titan, Infiniti qx56 and model year 2005-2006 frontier, pathfinder and xterra vehicles. The intelligent power distribution module (ipdm) assembly contains an engine control module (ECM) relay that has a diode for electrical current noise reduction.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ECM relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on December 6, 2010. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Xterra years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (280), 2006 (209), 2007 (160), 2000 (35) and 2002 (32) model years. Engine complaints make up 33% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Nissan Xterra engine problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 11V-592 (engine and engine cooling, Dec 19, 2011); 10V-517 (engine and engine cooling, Oct 28, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Xterra engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 101,000 miles; 8% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cooling system › radiator assembly (41 mentions), followed by the cooling system (39).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.