AI Damage2011 Nissan Xterra: common problems
Owners of the 2011 Nissan Xterra filed 24 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 24
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 38% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 21% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 4 Tires 8% of all complaints
- 5 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- Air bags: 9 complaints (38% of all).
- Engine: 5 complaints (21% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (17% of all).
- Tires: 2 complaints (8% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (4% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: 4WD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 24 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 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.
The airbag warning light started flashing. I took the car to Valley Nissan in Longmont, Colorado where I was told that they need to replace the AirBag Diagnosis Sensor and the RH side Airbag Module. Valley Nissan said that these parts were no longer being produced, so they could not complete this repair.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale.
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 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…
Hole in exhaust system due to weld failure in support clamp The problem is reoccurring every year over a 3 1/2 year period
Everything I tried would not extinguish it, connecting releasing and reconnecting the passenger seatbelt, turning the passenger side airbag off and on a couple of times. So I decided to check on recalls and found three of the four complaints for this make/model are for this same problem.
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.
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 old.
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 7,585 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Xterra has 172 complaints (18 years in the data). This year has 24, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
- Xterra 2000214 sources
- Xterra 2001150 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 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 2011 Nissan Xterra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 24. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (21%), airbag warning light (17%), seat belts (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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.