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FaultScore report

2014 Nissan Xterra problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2014 Nissan Xterra with NHTSA between 2014 and 2026. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 12 of 15 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Nissan Xterra All 2014 cars
A

FaultScore 19/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Nissan Xterra.

How this is worked out

The numbers

15

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

42,090 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

50%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 3 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 85 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 3
Against the median year of the Nissan Xterra. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 85
50% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2014 compares with every other Nissan Xterra

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2014 Nissan Xterra

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Suspension 3 20.0%

Median failure at 41,590 miles

Airbags 3 20.0%

Median failure at 79,500 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 6.7%
Stability & Traction Control 1 6.7%

Median failure at 147 miles

Seats 1 6.7%

Median failure at 25,000 miles

Tires 1 6.7%

Median failure at 98,454 miles

Lights 1 6.7%

Median failure at 77,000 miles

Brakes 1 6.7%

Median failure at 147 miles

Steering 1 6.7%

Median failure at 24,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 6.7%

Median failure at 86,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 1 6.7%

Median failure at 147 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 3 25.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 16.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 8.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 8.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 5 41.7%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jul 2014 peak 4 Jul 2026

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Durango, CO

AIR BAGS

The side curtain airbags on my 2014 Nissan Xterra deployed unexpectedly, without any collision or impact. Nissan's Dispute Resolution Programs team is currently investigating (Incident #56613207). I was currently driving and luckily was able to pull over without any further issues but it could've been much worse if there was heavier traffic on the road. The vehicle was taken to a Nissan dealership for inspection following the unexpected deployment. Nissan's Technical Specialist attempted to download the Event Data Recorder (EDR) data during that visit but encountered an error and was unable to retrieve it. es. Nissan's Incident Investigation Specialist and a Technical Specialist have been involved through Nissan's Dispute Resolution Programs (Incident #56613207). No there were never any warnings or any dash lights to give warning. It was an immediate and unexpected airbag deployment.

NHTSA complaint #11747910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,454 miles Lakeland, FL

TIRES

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Xterra equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Discoverer A/T3, Tire Size: P265/70/R16, DOT Number: Not Provided. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side tire had exposed wires. In addition, the tire was bulging on the sidewall. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21T002000 (Tires) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The tire was a replacement tire. The tire failure mileage was 19,700 and the vehicle failure mileage was 98,454.

NHTSA complaint #11452153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,181 miles Poland, NY

SUSPENSION

LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE 12/7/2017 REPLACE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE 4/25/2019 - WILL BE REPLACED IN MAY 2019

NHTSA complaint #11203821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,000 miles South Lyon, MI

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY STUCK ON HEADLAMPS NOT TURNING OFF WHEN ON 'AUTO' SETTING

NHTSA complaint #11128848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,000 miles South Lyon, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY STUCK ON HEADLAMPS NOT TURNING OFF WHEN ON 'AUTO' SETTING

NHTSA complaint #11128848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Topeka, KS

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY TRUCK HAS A SUSPENSION ISSUE FOR SQUEAKY NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THEM BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T INCLUDED. THE TRUCK IS SITTING DOWN AT THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER NOW TO HAVE BOTH FIXED. HOW CAN THIS STUFF THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED AND NOW APPLIES TO MY TRUCK BE EXCLUDED FROM RECALL REPAIRS THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ALSO HAD 4 BAD SENSORS. IT IS THERE NOW TO BE FIXED. AGAIN MY VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FOR EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL IS FOR.

NHTSA complaint #11128438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Topeka, KS

SUSPENSION

MY TRUCK HAS A SUSPENSION ISSUE FOR SQUEAKY NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THEM BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T INCLUDED. THE TRUCK IS SITTING DOWN AT THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER NOW TO HAVE BOTH FIXED. HOW CAN THIS STUFF THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED AND NOW APPLIES TO MY TRUCK BE EXCLUDED FROM RECALL REPAIRS THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ALSO HAD 4 BAD SENSORS. IT IS THERE NOW TO BE FIXED. AGAIN MY VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FOR EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL IS FOR.

NHTSA complaint #11128438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Athol, MA

POWER TRAIN

MY VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY BUCK AND LOSE DRIVE POWER. MOSTLY NOTICED AT SLOW SPEEDS, BUT ALSO DOES IT ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY LIKE PEOPLE REPORTED IN THE 2014 CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST NISSAN FOR SEVERAL OF THE 2014 NISSAN MODELS (SPECIFICALLY, THE PATHFINDER) IT IS CONCERNING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL COMPLETELY GO CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA complaint #11053826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 82,000 miles Billings, MN

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN NISSAN MANUFACTURER SAFETY CAMPAIGN NOTICE IN REFERENCE TO THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (DENNY MENHOLT BILLINGS NISSAN 2100 KING AVE W, BILLINGS, MT 59012) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING SENSOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIR. A WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SENSOR WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO THE COST OF THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

NHTSA complaint #11004882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Henderson, NV

SEATS

THE DRIVERS SEAT WASN'T LOCKING INTO PLACE FULLY. IT WOULD CLICK AND THEN IF YOU MAKE STOPS WHEN DRIVING IT SLIDES AND CLICKS AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SEAT WAS LOOSE AND SAID IT WAS FIXED, A WEEK LATER IT STARTED DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. NO LOCKING FULLY UNTIL YOU CAME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING THEN IT SLIDES FORWARD AND CLICKS AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME WAS TOLD "IT'S NORMAL, ALL OUR VEHICLES DO IT" NO OTHER SEAT IN MY XTERRA, OR ANY OTHER NISSAN I'VE BEEN IN HAVE DONE THIS...

NHTSA complaint #10851502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Sayreville, NJ

STEERING

THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT MY XTERRA AND FOUND THAT A NUT WELDED TO THE FRAME FROM THE INSIDE HAS BROKEN FREE OF THE FRAME. THIS IS CAUSING MY SUSPENSION NOISE/ISSUE. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO FIX MY PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS WAITING ON NISSAN TO GIVE THE GO AHEAD TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS BUT THEY/I CAN'T GET NISSAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPAIRS. THE NOISE IS GETTING WORSE AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL LEAD TO A SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT HANDLED SOON. THE LAST I HAVE HEARD WAS ON AUGUST 13TH THE DEALERSHIP WAS WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM NISSAN BUT SEVERAL CALLS TO NISSAN HAS TURNED UP NOTHING I CAN'T EVEN TALK TO A SUPERVISOR OR ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10760287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Sayreville, NJ

SUSPENSION

THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT MY XTERRA AND FOUND THAT A NUT WELDED TO THE FRAME FROM THE INSIDE HAS BROKEN FREE OF THE FRAME. THIS IS CAUSING MY SUSPENSION NOISE/ISSUE. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO FIX MY PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS WAITING ON NISSAN TO GIVE THE GO AHEAD TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS BUT THEY/I CAN'T GET NISSAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPAIRS. THE NOISE IS GETTING WORSE AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL LEAD TO A SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT HANDLED SOON. THE LAST I HAVE HEARD WAS ON AUGUST 13TH THE DEALERSHIP WAS WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM NISSAN BUT SEVERAL CALLS TO NISSAN HAS TURNED UP NOTHING I CAN'T EVEN TALK TO A SUPERVISOR OR ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10760287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147 miles Clarkston, MI

ENGINE

WHEN ACCELERATING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, VEHICLE STARTS TO BUCK, ABS LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE SHUTS OFF. SPEED WAS ~ 30MPH. MILEAGE IS 147.

NHTSA complaint #10616710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147 miles Clarkston, MI

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN ACCELERATING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, VEHICLE STARTS TO BUCK, ABS LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE SHUTS OFF. SPEED WAS ~ 30MPH. MILEAGE IS 147.

NHTSA complaint #10616710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147 miles Clarkston, MI

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN ACCELERATING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, VEHICLE STARTS TO BUCK, ABS LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE SHUTS OFF. SPEED WAS ~ 30MPH. MILEAGE IS 147.

NHTSA complaint #10616710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.