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Nissan Xterra

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Nissan Xterra • Engine Problems • Brake Problems • Defective Gas Shutter Valve • Wheel Bearings • Overseas Military Warranty • Just Falling Apart --- • Other Nissan Products

Besides being spelled oddly and looking slightly off-balance, the Xterra manages to infuriate a growing number of its owners. Common problems include a faulty valve that splashes gas back out of the filler spout, defective wheel bearings, touchy brakes and, in too many cases, a deluge of parts flying off as the thing rattles down the street.

Or, as Bob of Tyrone PA put it (4/30/03):
Xterra is junk -- leaking fluid from rear and front axle (5 times). Weather strip falls off back door, paint is bubbling off of trunk, when I tow a small boat the whole car shimmies.

Here are a few of the more recent complaints we've received:

Tom of Fayetteville, NY November 16, 2009

Filled up the tank on my 2005 Nissan Xterra and the next morning when driving to work the "Service Engine Soon" light went on. I called the Nissan dealer to get the code and they wanted to charge me 89. I had it done for "free" elsewhere and was given a code of P0463 (Fuel sending unit needs replacing).

Did a lot of searching online and found this to be a BIG problem with several Nissan models, mostly all just out of warranty with low mileage. Mine only has slightly over 34,000 miles on it! I am in the process of seeing if Nissan will cover this but from what it looks like, they don't tend to stand behind their products. I contacted Consumer Affairs and the dealer and am waiting to hear back from both. Again, I don't expect to get any help.

This is an expensive problem to fix and should have been rectified by now with all the complaints out there. There should be a recall for this. I don't know why Nissan can get away with making shoddy parts like this? This is the first Nissan I have owned and will definitely be the last if this is how Nissan handles what seems to be an ongoing issue. They should take a lesson from Honda!

Will of Weatherford, OK October 19, 2009

2005 Nissan X-Terra. Fuel guage has bottomed out and low fues light comes on. does not show accurate readings. we have to set the trip meter everytime we fill up so that we know where we are in relation to how much fuel we have. Needless to say, Nissan will not stand behind their product. There has been a service bullitin issued for quite some time on this problem, but, as of yet, there has not been a recall. Please, everyone file a complaint so that they will be forced into a recall.

Susan of Gray, ME October 15, 2009

The engine warning light has stayed on and the fuel gauge stopped registering at the same time, at just over 30,000 (end of warranty!). I called national Nissan to report and was told to call dealership and have them verify problem, which they did. The wanted me to pay the 100 to diagnose. I said no way, that the guy at national service headquarter did not mention any charge. I won and did not pay anything. However, my vehicle light is still on and am driving without accurate gas gauge reading. Am irritated and am waiting for enough complaints to force a recall.

Ramey of Columbus , GA September 29, 2009

My '06 Nissan Xterra is not gauging how much fuel is in the tank. When it hits half a tank it will drop down to empty. We have been using mileage to tell when we need to fill our tank up for a while now which is getting bothersome.

Janet of Chestnut Hill, MA August 6, 2009

We have a 2006 Nissan XTerra with a "check engine" light that will not go off. We have been to two different Nissan dealerships to try to get it repaired. After spending almost 3000.00 for repairs including a new catalytic converter and a new gas gauge, Nissan wants 5200 for a new transmission. Meanwhile, they will not guarantee that the "check engine" light will ever go off, no matter what repairs are done. The car is now at an independent mechanic; the rental car has cost us over 600.00 while the car is in the shop. We contacted Nissan customer service with e-mails & phone calls and were told "tough luck". The payments still cost us 480 p/month. I am recommending that you never, ever buy a Nissan. You'll go broke trying to fix it, not to mention the stress, aggravation and emotional duress!

kristine of Wharton, NJ July 13, 2009

My Nissan xterra is having a common fuel sensor problem that many Nissans (frontier, pathfinder and xterras) are having. The problem is demonstrated by the fuel gauge not working properly (hence you have no idea how much fuel you have in your car), check engine light showing and the Distance till empty function not working on the vehicle. One simply needs to do an internet search and you will get many hits to see that this exact issue is a common problem and is notated on many auto forum sites, msn auto, yahoo auto and motor trend auto sites.

The cost of the repair ranges from 300-500 and the cost is mostly for the labor of this repair since the fuel tank needs to be removed in order to fix the issue. When I called to inquire about this fuel sensor issue and any recall for this problem, a rep (Heidi F. ext 41587) at Nissan Consumer Affairs gave me an open recall number for the repair (#R0807).

In addition, I had emailed Nissan about this issue, gave very specific details about the fuel sensor problem and in a response from Nissan was given the same recall number #R0807. I made an appointment for 7/13 to have this fuel sensor issue and another recall issue (airbag/crash sensor) taken care of and was surprised and very upset to be told by the dealer that the recall number that the Nissan Consumer Affairs dept gave me for the fuel sensor issue was not for the common fuel sensor issue but for the air bag/crash sensor issue recall that I already knew about. The dealer would not repair the fuel sensor issue under a recall as I was told by Nissan that they would do, since they were not notified by Nissan that there was a recall for the fuel sensor. I was mislead by the Nissan Consumer Affairs Department. When I came home from the Nissan dealer, I called the Nissan Consumer affairs again, told them I was misled,again told them that this is a common problem, told them that in a search online it is shown it is a common problem and even that there was even a tech bulletin (NTB07-069a) issued by Nissan for this very fuel sensor problem that affects numerous vehicles.

I requested to speak with a supervisor and was basically told by the rep. that this issue would not be taken care of by Nissan even though it was a very common problem. A supervisor is supposed to call me within 4-8hours to discuss but I am not hopeful that this will be taken care of after the events that have occured. WHen I was waiting at the dealership to have the airbag/crash sensor recall issue fixed, the mechanic at the dealership told me that the fuel sensor problem is a very common problem on the xterra, frontier and pathfinder vehicles and basically, good luck in getting Nissan to take care of it! In addition to the dealership telling me this was a common problem and the numerous complaints online about this problem, the mechanic that does my yearly inspections stated that he is aware of this fuel sensor being a problem on several of the Nissan trucks and SUVs.

Christopher of Greenville, MI June 8, 2009

I own a 2003 XTerra. I have never had a problem with it, except for the recall. That was fixed when I was on vacation in Virginia. I cannot recall the name of the dealership. But, Kudos to them. Even though we spent the best day (weather-wise) at Nissan. They did a great job. So, no, I have no complaints.

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