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KLUNK
KLUNK

2004 Nissan Xterra

The Verdict

77 Solid Pick

The 2004 Nissan Xterra has 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (36 complaints) and engine (25 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 77/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Xterra, consider the 2013 model year which has 95% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2013 has 95% fewer complaints

View the 2013 Nissan Xterra dashboard →

77

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

04V581000 TRAILER HITCHES

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCESSORY TOW HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

Risk

THIS COULD CAUSE THE TOW HITCH TO LOOSEN OR SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE TOW HITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 3, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported Apr 11, 2026

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200052144310020
200173728483
2002592832476
2003231111252
200436611256
200537122588196
200653535557130
200729329367129
2008712244629
200922744
2010631397
2011301371
201220455
201311020
201450311
201522006

By Category

Body
36
Engine
25
Electrical
11
Brakes
6
Transmission
6

By Severity

1
32
2
38
3
1
4
13

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 4

I have been in three accidents, of decent speed, and my airbags never deployed. I was told to report that.

11mo ago
Engine 2

Water pump went out replace water pump motor blown

13mo ago
Body 2

I took my xterra to get inspected 12/27/2024. I was informed I have a recall on this vehicle.

18mo ago
Electrical 4

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.

37mo ago
Body 2

UNKNOWN. Wanting to make a recall appointment that was reported on my SMOG check.

52mo ago
Body 1

THE STEERING WEAL IT'S BECOMING STIFF AND IS BECOMING HARD TO MANEUVER AROUND AND IT MIGHT AFFECT MY DRIVING AND I'M SCARED I MIGHT CRASH AND THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AND OWN AND HAVE NO OTHER MEANS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. I WAS HEADING TO WORK AND I TRIED TURNING ON THE CORNER AND IT JUST BECAME HARD TO STEER THE STEERING WEAL.

67mo ago
Body 1

SPEEDS OVER 60 HITS A BUMP AND STARTS ROCKING AND BOUNCING

70mo ago
Engine 2

WHEN DRIVING MY XTERRA, IT LOSES POWER AND CUTS OUT ON ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. 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.

72mo ago
Transmission 2

COOLANT IN TRANSMISSION! BOUGHT NEW IN MARCH OF 2015. WAS DRIVING ON I-10 IN BILOXI AND IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE A BURNT RUBBER SMELL AND IT STARTED SMOKING! PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF IT! LEFT ME AND MY DAUGHTER STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY! *TR

75mo ago
Engine 2

FUEL GAUGE REGISTERING IMPROPERLY. ONLY SHOWS 3/4 TANK UPON FILLING TANK FULL AND WILL NOT DROP UPON USAGE OF FUEL. GAUGE HAS ONLY DROPPED ONCE SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

82mo ago
Electrical 1

WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY LIT AS IF YOU WERE PRESSING THE BRAKE EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS OFF, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET EITHER SO YOU CAN TURN IT ON BUT WILL NOT ENGAGE. IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'VE FASHIONED A SPACER TO SLIDE IN BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND SWITCH SO THEY'LL GO OFF WHEN I'M NOT DRIVING. I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS IF THERE IS A RECALL TO THIS OR IF I HAVE TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THE PART MY SELF.

83mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COURTESY NISSAN (1777 N CENTRAL EXPY, RICHARDSON, TX 75080) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V554000 (STEERING). AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABLE TO TURN THREE INCHES TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, BUT THE WHEELS FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER BECAUSE COURTESY NISSAN HAD LOST THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000.*PM CONSUMER STATED DEALER WANTED THE VEHICLE TO BE LEFT A THE DEALER FOR 2 WEEKS BUT CONSUMER COULD NOT, WITHOUT A LOANER, DUE TO WORK.*JB

83mo ago
Body 1

I HAVE CHANGED MY FUEL PUMP 11 TIMES IN TWO YEARS SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT

89mo ago
Electrical 2

GOT INTO MY CAR ONE DAY AND UPON TRYING TO CRANK IT , WHEN TURNING THE KEY IT HESITATED TO CRANK AND FINALLY DID SO. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, WHEN I LEFT MY CAR WOULD JUST NOT CRANK. NO CLICKS. LIGHTS WORK FINE. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH SECURITY, BATTERY. JUST REPLACED THE STARTER AROUND OCT OF LAST YEAR.

90mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

91mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXTRA STRENGTH JUST TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

92mo ago
Engine 1

2004 XTERRA HAD BEEN LOW ON RADIATOR FLUID AND NEEDED TOPPING UP EACH WEEK, THEN EACH DAY. AFTER FILLING WITH WATER AND COOLANT NIGHT BEFORE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT ON HWY. CAR SAT IN SUN ALL DAY, THEN OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. HAD TOWED TO WORK ON IT. REPLACED SPLIT RADIATOR HOSE WHERE DRIPPING OCCURS AND REFILLED CAR RADIATOR, NO LEAKING APPARENT. NEXT DAY, DROVE ON HWY TO WORK. AT 65-75 MPH CAR BEGAN MAKING CLICKING/TAPPING NOISES FROM ENGINE. WENT UPHILL TOWARDS INTERCHANGE AND CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY, STEAM (OR SMOKE) CAME FROM UNDER HOOD AS I CAREFULLY CROSSED FREEWAY TO EXIT, ALL LIGHTS CAME ON ON DASH AND SMOKE OR STEAM POURED INTO THE CAR THROUGH AIR VENTS. I HAD LOST ALL POWER AND POWER STEERING, BUT I STEERED IT SAFELY TO HWY SERVICE ROAD STREET WITH PARKING LOT. CAR WAS SMOKING UNDER HOOD, STEAM OR SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF VENTS AND ALL LIGHTS REMAINED ON ON THE DASH. UNDER THE HOOD, THE A/C CONDENSER OR RADIATOR HAS A 5" BREAK ON TOP OF IT. WHEN I PUT WATER IN THE RADIATOR IT POURS THROUGH SEVERAL PLACES WHERE HOSES CONNECT (GASKETS AND SEALS, I PRESUME). HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT EVER AGAIN, BUT NOW I CAN'T GET TO WORK OR PICK MY KIDS UP FROM SCHOOL ANYMORE AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT OR PAY FOR REPAIRS SINCE I CAN'T GET TO WORK.

99mo ago
Body 2

STEERING IS SLOPPY. STEERING WHEEL HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY. THERE IS A LOT ON THIS TOPIC ACROSS THE INTERNET FORUMS.

106mo ago
Electrical 1

I TOOK MY VECHICLE TO ACE AUTO AND HE CLAIM HE FIXED IT GAVE ME A LIST THE SECOND TIME BUT NOT THE FIRST TIME IT SAT THERE FOR A YEAR THAN I GOT IT OUT FOR 2 MONTHS BACK IN AGAIN ITS GOES REAL SLOW BACK FIRES NOW AND STERRING WHEEL LOCKED ONE DAY NOW ITS ACTING LIKE IT DONT HAVE POWER TO IT.EVERYTIME YOU GO SPPEED LIMIT THE STEERING LOCKS IT SHAKES AND NOT ENOUGH POWER TO GO BARELY GO UP THE HILL TOO.

115mo ago
Brakes 4

ON 9/11/2016, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY 2004 NISSAN XTERRA, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I PULLED IN FRONT OF A MAECHANICS BAY AT FIRESTONE IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA. WHILE PARKING MY SUV, WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, THE SUV RAPIDLY ACCELATRED AND DROVE THROUGH THE BUILDING AND BADLY INJURED A MECHANIC STANDING IN THE BAY. I WAS BRAKING AS HARD AS I COULD, AND THE SUV KEPT ACCELARTING AND WOULD NOT STOP. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDNET, THE SUV WAS AT A TOTAL STOP WHILE SHIFITNG IT INTO PARK. IT WAS LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT OF FIRESTONE ON WARWICK BLVD. IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA. THIS VECHILE WAS IN AS NEW CONDITION WITH ONLY A LITTE OVER 12,000 MILES. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING, ANTOTHER VECHILE IN THE BAY, THE DRIVER OF THE SUV, AND SEVERE INURIES TO THE MECHANIC STANDING ON THE FLOOR OF THE BAY. AGAIN, AT NO POINT , WAS THE DRIVERS FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE DRIVER WAS BRAKING THROUGHOUT THIS INCIDENT AND COUD NOT STOP THE VECHILE. WHAT IS LEFT OF THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED IN THE GEICO LOT ON PRODUCTION DRIVE IN YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA.

119mo ago

84 total

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