10 of the 97 complaints about the 2003 Nissan Xterra are about the airbag system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 18,000 miles.
10
Complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS
My son missed a sharp turn going approx 40 mph. Went up an embankment, off a 4 ft retaining wall and struck a guard rail with the front passenger side of the xterra. Airbags failed to deploy.
NHTSA complaint #11486339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10916137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A SLIGHTLY SNOW COVERED ROAD WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ICE. MY SPEED WAS LOW ABOUT 15-20 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR STARED SLIDING SIDEWAYS TOWARD ANOTHER CAR HEADING TOWARD ME. MY FOUR-WHEELED DRIVE WAS ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. I MANAGED TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY OF THE OTHER CAR BUT I COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES DID NOT HELP AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND. I TRAVELED AT LEAST 80 FEET HITTING TREES AND BUSHES UNTIL A SET OF TREES STOPPED MY CAR. THE CRASH TOTALED MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10498397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL*- THE CONTACT STATEDON THE 2003 NISSAN XTERRA THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 40 MPH IN FOG, AT NIGHT, WHEN ITBSTRUCK A DEAR. THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT.
NHTSA complaint #10182401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10074401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. A TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINT ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS ACCIDENT. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN BALL JOINT FAIL THIS WAY BEFORE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10067379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
PRODUCT DEFECT. NO SUMMARY LISTED (NISSAN). *AK *SC *JB WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN A SMOOTHLY PAVED ROAD SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED SHARPLY ACROSS THE YELLOW LINES AND FLIPPED END OVER END AT LEAST TWICE. THE VEHICLE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER'S SENT AN EMPLOYEE OF AN ENGINEERING FIRM AS AN UNBIASED THIRD PARTY. THE ENGINEER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE BALL JOINT TO CAUSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER IGNORED HIS FINDINGS AND DENIED THE CONSUMER'S CLAIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NM
NHTSA complaint #10066480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
BRAKE PEDAL FADED TO THE FLOOR,WHILE TRYING TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT.RESULTING IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT.WHEN I MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH MY EMPTY PASSANGER SEATS DID.ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS AND THE OFFICERS THAT RESPONDED DID NOT TICKET ME FOR FAILURE TO STOP,NISSAN INSISTS THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN OPERATOR ERROR.SINCE THIS ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD MY STEREO REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE HAD WORK DONE ON MY STEERING COLUMN DUE TO GRINDING NOISES AND BOTH MOTORS IN MY REAR WINDOWS ARE FAILING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED,AND THIS IS JUST WITH 7200 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE, NOT TO MENTION THAT EVERY TIME I GET OUT OF THE CAR THE BRAKES SMELL HOT AFTER ASHORT OR LONG DRIVE AND WHEN I GET IN IT THE SQUEAL AND GRIND UNTIL THEY GET NICE AND HOT AND START TO SMELL.AND ALL THIS IS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW IS THE 12.5 MILES PER GALLON THAT I'M GETTING CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL ALSO? I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE IS A WEB SITE LIKE THIS THAT PROTECTS PEOPLE LIKE ME AND THE OTHERS THAT PURCHASED THESE ALL TOGATHER LOW QUALITY,OVERPRICED, NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS CARS.AND JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO RECOURSE,IT MAKES MY DAY!!
NHTSA complaint #10060232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE DRIVER TRIED TO AVOID A CRASH BY HITTING A WALL HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT WITH THE WALL, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10047773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT SPEEDS OF 30-40 MPH. DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE THE EMPTY PASSENGERS DID. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT. 2003 NISSAN XTERRA 3,700 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10045652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.