68 of the
4,194 complaints filed about the Nissan Xterra
are about the throttle and cruise control —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
68
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
12
Crashes
1
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
I have a 2005 Nissan Xterra. I am the original owner and have been driving it over 16 years. Two years ago, in 2020 while driving my car on the road and with kids inside (with a 1 year old and a 6 year old child), the car began to shake and turned off (we were stranded in the middle of the road, at a traffic light). Since it was my only means of transportation I kept driving it (no kids inside anymore--which was another HUGE inconvenience having to coordinate and at times pay for babysitters). During my continued usage, it will continue to fail to accelerate causing great danger on the freeway and or on public roads. After a while, I managed to drive it to a transmission shop, who told me they had to either hold onto the car or have it towed--as it was deemed unsafe to drive. Upon inspection, the transmission shop confirmed "coolant bypassed into transmission," among other issues (vehicle does not accelerate, chick engine light is on, etc.) I paid with credit card, $4359.34. Once paid and transmission shop fixed issue, I continued to drive the car with family inside. Now two years later July 2022--I am experiencing the same "vehicle does not accelerate" issue.
NHTSA complaint #11477659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE STALLS AT 100MPH ALSO ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY BRAKES AREN'T BAD BUT IT'S LIKE THEY'RE GOING OUT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOBBLES WHEN STOPPING HARD OR ON WET ROADS ALSO WHEN ACCELERATATING AND DRIVING THE RPM GAUGE WILL JIMP UP FOR A SECOND AND MAKE THE ENGINE SOUND LOUDER WHILE IT DOES IT AND ALSO STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE SOMEWHAT WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS AND BUMPS CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS UP BUT DOESN'T WORK HAPPENS EVERY DAY
NHTSA complaint #11349259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.
NHTSA complaint #11166468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY AIR BAG LIGHT SAYS ON IN THE DASH AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOSE NOT SHOW ANYONE IN THE SEAT . MY CRUSE CONTROL WORKS SOME TIMES IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL NOT WORK IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART IT IT WILL WORK
NHTSA complaint #11151112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY, DISENGAGED SPEED CONTROL USING BRAKE, BUT DID NOT ORIGINALLY TURN IT OFF TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER BETTER IN TRAFFIC NEAR A CITY. VEHICLE ORIGINALLY SLOWED DOWN, BUT AFTER RELEASING BRAKE IN 3 SECONDS, CAR SPED UP ON ITS OWN WITH AN ACCELERATION PROFILE GREATER THAN THE ONE WHEN YOU ARE SETTING THE SPEED. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT TO QUIT WITH THIS BEHAVIOR AND FINALLY HIT THE CANCEL AND OFF BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE OFF AND NO CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS WERE ON. THIS DID NOT HELP THE SITUATION. WHEN BRAKE WAS ON, VEHICLE QUIT ACCELERATION, SO WITH BRAKE ON, PULLED ON TO SHOULDER AND PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WITH KEY IN FULL OFF POSITION. WAITED 20 SECONDS AND RESTARTED CAR AND MADE WAY BACK TO FREEWAY. DID NOT USE SPEED CONTROL ANYMORE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. AT THE TIME THE ODOMETER WAS SHOWING ABOUT 19150 ACTUAL MILES. MADE APPT WITH NISSAN DEALER AND TOOK IT IN. ON WAY TO DEALER, I PUSHED ACCELERATOR HALF-WAY TO THE FLOOR TO SPEED UP QUICKLY AND THE ACCELERATOR SLAMMED ITS WAY TO THE FLOOR. I APPLIED BRAKE AND VEHICLE QUIT ACCELERATING. I DID NOT QUIT BRAKING UNTIL VEHICLE WAS BELOW 40. VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AGAIN WILDLY THE REST OF THE 30 MILE TRIP TO THE DEALER AND I DID NOT PUSH THE PEDDLE VERY HARD THE REST OF THE WAY. KEEP IN MIND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES WERE NOT PUSHED AT ALL DURING THIS INCIDENT AND NONE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS WERE LIT ON THE DASH; THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON EITHER. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY ON THE DASH. I PERSONALLY CONSIDER THIS A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE MODE.
NHTSA complaint #11130508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANYTHING AUTOMOTIVE (LOCATED AT 1228 E RIVER RD, DIXON, IL 61021; (815) 285-3035) WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BACK SEAT WAS CATCHING FIRE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-647-7261 AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. CASE NUMBER: 27261028 WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL IN 2004 FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY OR THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS FAULTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #11002467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM LOW TO HIGHER. VEHICLE STALLS WHEN GOING ABOVE 40MPH WITHOUT WARNING OFTEN. ALSO, IT IS HARD TO SOMETIMES INCREASE SPEED OR DRIVE AT A CONSTANT MPH SPEED SUCH AS WHEN GOING THROUGH RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. WHEN TRAVELING -15 MPH AND TRYING TO A CELEBRATE ONTO FREEWAY ETC THE ENGINE STALLS AND JERKS, AND THE RPMSPINS VERY HARD AND ROUGH WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THROTTLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE ACCELERATION WHEN GIVEN GASSED PEDAL DOES NOT INCREASE AND DECREASE SPEED ACCORDINGLY, WHICH GIVES A COMPLETE LACK OF CONTROL OVER DRIVING VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH SECURING BACK ROW SEATBELTS HENCE, MY INCREASED CONCERN OF OUTCOME SHOULD AN UNFORTUNATE COLLISION OCCURR WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10958659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE TO NORMAL SPEED EVEN WHEN PRESSING PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE PAST 15 MPH THE ENGINE REVS REALLY HARD AND JERKS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. I STALLED OUT ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. IT IS HARD TO CONTROL SPEED WHEN TRYIN TO INCREASE OR DECREASE ACCELERATION. THE PEDAL FEELS INCONSISTENT WITH THE THROTTLE AND/ OR RPM AND IS VERY HAZARDOUS. WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE IN LOW SPEEDS IN RESIDENTIAL AREA OR PARK THE PEDAL ARELY MOVES AND IF GIVEN THE SLIGHTEST GAS IT WILL SHUT OFF E FINE OR TAKE OFF AND DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN YOU STOP ACCELERATION, OR BRAKE AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD POWER STEERING COLUMN FIXED AND AIR INTAKE FLOW HOSE REPLACED, I KEEP GETTING ERROR CODES THAT COME AND GO: P0122, P0128, AND P0123. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE SIMILAR RECALLS FOR OTHE MODEL AND YEAR OF NISSAN, AND WHEN I INQUIRE A OUT THE ISSUE TO NISSAN RECALL DEPT. THEY SAY THE PREVIOUS RECALL FOR GAS RESPONSE UNIT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE HOWEVER, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS ISSUE I AM HAVING. I JUST BOUGHT THIS TRUCK TO DRIVE MY CHILD TO SCHOOL AND I'M AFRAID THIS WILL CAUSE AN A CIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED SOON HOWEVER, I AM CERTAIN THIS IS A MANUFACTUR DEFECT RELATED TO FUEL LINE OR THROTTLE SINCE THE LOSS OF ACCELERATION IS EXTREMELY NOTICEBLE TO OTHE NISSAN OWNERS AND I HOPE IT IS INVESTIGATED AS CURRENT RECALLS NEED TO BE EXPANDED OR INVESTIGATED FOR THE NISSAN XTERRA AND POSSIBLY ALL NISSAN VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR REPORTED ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10958658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED AND BATTERY KEEPS DYING EVEN THOUGH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TEST GOOD. WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED I CANNOT ACCELERATE GRADUALLY, THE CAR REVS REALLY HARD AND PULLS HARD WHEN TRYING TO INCREASE SPEED. ONCE I DRIVE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND PICKUP SPEED THE BRAKES ARE LOOSE AND HARD TO COME TO A STOP, AND THE PEDAL DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING OR REDUCING SPEED. I RECENTLY WAS GOING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH TRYING TO REDUCE SPEED TO PREPARE TO EXIT, AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF, ALL DASH LARD LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO COAST AND THEN GET A PUSH FROM SOMEONE TO GET INTO THE EXIT LANE AND COAST TO THE GAS STATION.
NHTSA complaint #10958662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 9/11/2016, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY 2004 NISSAN XTERRA, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I PULLED IN FRONT OF A MAECHANICS BAY AT FIRESTONE IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA. WHILE PARKING MY SUV, WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, THE SUV RAPIDLY ACCELATRED AND DROVE THROUGH THE BUILDING AND BADLY INJURED A MECHANIC STANDING IN THE BAY. I WAS BRAKING AS HARD AS I COULD, AND THE SUV KEPT ACCELARTING AND WOULD NOT STOP. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDNET, THE SUV WAS AT A TOTAL STOP WHILE SHIFITNG IT INTO PARK. IT WAS LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT OF FIRESTONE ON WARWICK BLVD. IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA. THIS VECHILE WAS IN AS NEW CONDITION WITH ONLY A LITTE OVER 12,000 MILES. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING, ANTOTHER VECHILE IN THE BAY, THE DRIVER OF THE SUV, AND SEVERE INURIES TO THE MECHANIC STANDING ON THE FLOOR OF THE BAY. AGAIN, AT NO POINT , WAS THE DRIVERS FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE DRIVER WAS BRAKING THROUGHOUT THIS INCIDENT AND COUD NOT STOP THE VECHILE. WHAT IS LEFT OF THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED IN THE GEICO LOT ON PRODUCTION DRIVE IN YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA.
NHTSA complaint #10907542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY FAMILY AND I WAS GOING DOWN A BIG HILL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT TO THE LOWEST GEAR ON ITS OWN ALMOST STOPPING US DEAD IN ITS TRACKS 20 MPH AND WE WAS ON THE INTERSTATE MAKING BIG SEMI TRUCKS LOCKING BRAKES AND ALMOST HITTING US RUNNING 70 PLUS MPH. MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK,SO WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SHUT IT OFF AND WE WAS FINE AGIN.I TOOK IT HOME AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN THE RADIATOR , THEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THOUSANDS OF NISSANS ARE HAV ING THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT YET NO RECALLS!!! IT ALMOST COST OUR LIVES FOR A COMPANY TO SORRY TO FIX THEIR PRODUCT! SO WHAT DO I DO IM SCARED TO DRIVE IT HELP ASAP
NHTSA complaint #10854217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2006 NISSAN XTERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS STRUGGLING FOR WAYS TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT TO NO AVAIL SHE WAS FORCED TO TRY AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE LANE OF OTHER VEHICLE. THE THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND IT FINALLY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10836167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ACCELERATOR STARTED NOT SWITCHING GEARS AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. THE FLUID FROM THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED INTO THE RADIATOR AND BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $4,000 TO GET FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10789803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, WITH ONE FOOT ON THE CLUTCH, AND ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE STILL, MY XTERRA BEGINS ACCELERATING IN REVERSE THOUGH MY FEET WERE ON THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ONLY. MY XTERRA'S BRAKES ONLY STOPPED MY VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10777894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015, WHILE DRIVING FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA, ON A SPEED LIMIT OF 55, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND TRANSMISSION WONT ENGAGED WHILE ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL, RPM WAS GOING TO THE HIGHER NUMBER/RED ZONE AND CAR WILL NOT MOVE FASTER UP TO THE NOTED SPEED LIMIT. WHEN WE STOP AT THE LIGHT, AND THE LIGHTS TURN GREEN, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AND MAKE LOUD NOISE AND RPM GOING HIGHER TO THE RED ZONE NUMBERS. THIS CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND US BACK UP BECAUSE OF SPEED TOO SLOW IN A 55-MILE PER HOUR SPEED. I WAS AFRAID IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING A 200-MILE TRAVEL FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA. I READ THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT NISSAN VEHICLES ABOUT RADIRATOR WATER LEAKS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING THE PRICE TRANSMISSION EXPERTS, THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE COST TO REPAIR WILL COST $4,400.00 I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NISSAN PAY THE REPAIR COST.
NHTSA complaint #10760589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN FACT IT INVOLVES MULTIPLE YEARS AND MODELS. THE RADIATOR CRACKS AND LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION RUINING BOTH. THEY ENTERED INTO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BUT SET THE BAR SO HIGH THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET. THIS CAR TECHNICALLY HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR A 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLE YET MISSES THE TOP PARAMETER BY 16,000 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE .
NHTSA complaint #10747008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.