AI Damage2001 Nissan Xterra: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Nissan Xterra filed 150 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 150
- involving a crash
- 15
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 29% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- 5 Wheels 7% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- Visibility: 43 complaints (29% of all).
- Fuel system: 24 complaints (16% of all).
- Electrical system: 17 complaints (11% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 11 complaints (7% of all).
- Wheels: 11 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 150 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Major intrusion on front end after a motor vehicle accident without air bag deployment. This occurred on the highway after sliding on ice and being hit head on by a ford f150.
While driving on the mass turnpike, the front wheel came off the car. This is the second time. First time, in 2013, in school parking lot, different side but also a front wheel. We bought the car used from a nissan dealership in august 2012 for my 19 year old son. The car is hardly driven as he is away in college.
In addition, if I hit a bump, the rear wheels jerk/skips when it makes contact back with the ground.
The xterra rolled over several times with the roof crushing in on me, breaking the windows out. When it stopped tumbling, it was upside down and continued sliding down the road on the roof. When the roof caved I was crushed down and my head went toward the door.
While traveling on interstate 75 in florida, the passenger side rear tire blew out. The car veered to the left and the front passenger bumper slammed into the guard rail in the median. The car spun around several times until the rear passenger section slammed into the guard rail. The car then stopped.
When pressing the brakes, a small woman's foot can apply equal pressure to the accelerator causing the car to move forward instead of stopping. Both pedals are positioned paralelly, only 2'1/4" appart.
Vehicle hit a light pole on passenger's side near headlight, radiator pushed back about 6 inches. Neither airbag deployed. Consumer suffered neck/ back, and head injuries. Vehicle at dealership at this time, may be totalled.
While driving about 50 mph vehicle was involved in a head on collision, hitting a guardrail, and on second impact hitting a vehicle head-on. Upon impact, frontal air bags did not deploy.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,636 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 7% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Xterra has 172 complaints (18 years in the data). This year has 150, about average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
- Xterra 2000214 sources
- Xterra 2002157 sources
- Xterra 200372 sources
- Xterra 200484 sources
- Xterra 2005845 sources
- Xterra 2006780 sources
- Xterra 2007557 sources
- Xterra 2008119 sources
- Xterra 200919 sources
- Xterra 201038 sources
- Xterra 201124 sources
- Xterra 201216 sources
- Xterra 20134 sources
- Xterra 201410 sources
- Xterra 201510 sources
- Xterra 201630 sources
- Xterra 99993 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Nissan Xterra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, fuel system, electrical system. Total complaints: 150. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (30%), fuel system, fuel smell (7%), stalls while driving (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Nissan Xterra?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2001 Nissan Xterra from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2001 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.