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#BS-2004-NISXTE-5BEC2004 Nissan Xterra
Based on reports from 110 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 110 complaints, 12 crashes, 4 fires, and 3 recalls.
Top reported problems
coolant leaks
2 complaints • Severity 8/10
radiator crack leaked fluid into transmission
2 complaints • Severity 10/10
transmission failure
2 complaints • Severity 10/10
Preview: What's in your full report
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
17 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 63K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (23 reports) • Median: 63K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Steering (17 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2004 Nissan Xterra: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Steering Issues
Steering complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2004 Nissan Xterra, with 17 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 62,640 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 63K-mile mark.
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2004 Nissan Xterra, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Fuel System Issues
Fuel System complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2004 Nissan Xterra, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Suspension Issues
Suspension complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2004 Nissan Xterra, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Nissan Xterra. Recent trend: increasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (3 recalls)
TRAILER HITCHES
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCESSORY TOW HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
EQUIPMENT
CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.
STEERING:COLUMN
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Nissan Xterra is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.
2004 Nissan Xterra vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD)
This vehicle
110
Class avg
375
Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical sport utility vehicle - 2wd vehicles. A good sign.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 110 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Nissan Xterra Model Years
View all Nissan Xterra years →2004 Nissan Xterra: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Nissan Xterra?
Is the 2004 Nissan Xterra reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2004 Nissan Xterra problems?
Does the 2004 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
What mileage do Nissan Xterra problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
What if the report isn’t useful?
Get the Full 2004 Nissan Xterra Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 110 owner reports. Know before you buy.