FaultScore

2004 Nissan Xterra electrical problems

11 of the 110 complaints about the 2004 Nissan Xterra are about the electrical system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 69,500 miles.

D

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 7 63.6%
Wiring 2 18.2%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 9.1%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 1 9.1%

Electrical System across every Nissan Xterra year

2000 26 13.8%
2001 20 10.6%
2002 13 6.9%
2004 11 5.8%
2005 39 20.6%
2006 41 21.7%
2007 28 14.8%
2008 11 5.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 220,715 miles Charlotte, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #11343229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmer, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #11266928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ochlocknee, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #11180721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 116,000 miles Garland, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #11097726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,450 miles Scranton, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10947220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY STARTER 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS TO SHOW ALSO. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR BECAUSE OF A CRACK NEAR THE CAP. I HAD A HOSE THAT GOES THROUGH MY DASH WITH THE HOT WATER EXPLODE ON ME AND BURN MY HAND PRETTY BAD. MY RADIATOR SEEMS TO EVAPORATE COOLING FLUID ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE HAD A PRESSURE TEST IT IS HOLDING PRESSURE. AND NOW MY WARNING BELL IS NO LONGER WORKING. MY BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD 5 TIMES BECAUSE NO WARNING SOUND TO TELL ME I LEFT MY LIGHTS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10717539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,138 miles NEW Orleans, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE REPLACED MY STARTER 3 TIMES. MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE A SHORT OR FAULTY WIRING I'M SURE BECAUSE WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE GOTTEN TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS AS A RESULT I HAVE A EXPIRED BRAKE TAG I CANT GET A NEW ONE BECAUSE THE WIRING WILL COST TO MUCH. MY UV JOINT BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY. THAT PART THEY TELL ME IS NOT A COMMON BREAKING PART. NISSAN CHARGES OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR THAT. I'M TOLD MY WIRING IS BAD AFTER I REPLACE MY STARTER 2 MONTHS AGO. THEY SENT ME A RECALL FOR MY COLUMN STEERING AND I HAD IT REPAIRED BUT IT STILL IS A SLIGHT HASSLE TO CHANGE GEARS. I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER TELLING ME THEY ARE BUYING 2004 NISSAN XTERRA'S BUT WHEN I CALLED THE SALES MAN SAYS IT'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE XTERRA'S THAT'S JUST A SALES STUNT. I THINK ITS A BUNCH OF BULL NISSAN KNOWS THEY DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB WITH THESE 2004"S.

NHTSA complaint #10716718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Pittsburgh, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THERE WAS A BREAK-IN OF MY CAR AND THE DOME LIGHT WAS LEFT ON. THE DOME LIGHT APPARENTLY SHORT-CIRCUITED AND BURNED OFF. THE HOT LIGHT FELL ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE TRUCK IS NOW TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10142216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,000 miles Worcester, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA complaint #10133116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,761 miles Ligonier, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

PROBLEMS WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 5 TIMES TO REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ECM. THE VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10129042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 900 miles Bath, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

THE FUSES WERE BURNING. WHEN REMOVING THE FUSE ONE COULD SEE SPARKS. DEALER REPLACED THE FUSES, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA complaint #10106736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Nissan Xterra problems

← Full 2004 Nissan Xterra report