AI Damage2004 Nissan Xterra: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Nissan Xterra filed 84 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 84
- involving a crash
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 24% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 13% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- Steering: 20 complaints (24% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (13% of all).
- Suspension: 11 complaints (13% of all).
- Engine: 8 complaints (10% of all).
- Fuel system: 7 complaints (8% of all).
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 cyl
- 3.3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 84 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I have been in three accidents, of decent speed, and my airbags never deployed. I was told to report that.
My vehicle has been in 3 accidents. Being rear-ended at 70MPH, again six months later at 60MPH, then the forward vehicle slammed their brakes, and I hit them at around 30MPH. In any of these accidents, NONE of my airbags deployed.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, back and a concussion. The contact was transported to the hospital from the scene and a police report was filed. The vehicle was ruled as destroyed and was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
While driving my 2004 nissan xterra the front driver's side tire detached from the rotor and my vehicle sunk down and continued to skid for approximately 200 feet before coming to a stop. The detached tire caused damage to an oncoming vehicle. After stopping I observed that two lug nuts had been sheared off.
While driving 10 mph and applying the brakes, the vehicle jerks and continues to proceed. In addition, the brakes make a loud grinding noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they could not duplicate the failures.
No one at nissan or allstate can explain why it rolled! Nissan blew me off saying it can happen what concerns me is that if it could just roll like that why did the air bags deploy? There explanation well--- it was in park! So how can if it is in park no keys can it roll forward then down????
Consumer opened the driver's side door, put left foot on the clutch, turned the key, and vehicle rolled backward. Consumer expected the vehicle to jilt forward and stall when foot was removed from the clutch , but instead, it jilted, then surged forward at 25 mph up the driveway, dragging the consumer.
There is a declaration and then the vehicle won't crank or start leaving me stranded. This is not the first time over years that the xterra has cut off on me. All dashboard systems stop completely when it happens. I have no control over the car when it happens.
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 3,956 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Xterra has 172 complaints (18 years in the data). This year has 84, below average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
- Xterra 2000214 sources
- Xterra 2001150 sources
- Xterra 2002157 sources
- Xterra 200372 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 2004 Nissan Xterra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, electrical system, suspension. Total complaints: 84. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (14%), smoke, burning smell, fire (8%), fuel system, fuel smell (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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.