CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004 Nissan Xterra doesn't seem to have any problem trends. The only thing prospective owners should be aware of are the less-than-perfect (but acceptable) crash test ratings.

There are a very few transmission complaints, but nothing like the huge defect that shows up starting in with the 2005 model year.

1.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
109,172 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Nissan Xterra suspension problems

suspension problem

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2004 Nissan Xterra Owner Comments

problem #7

Oct 172020

Xterra

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Speeds over 60 hits a bump and starts rocking and bouncing

- Moffat, CO, USA

problem #6

Sep 092016

Xterra

  • 125,450 miles
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.

- Scranton, PA, USA

problem #5

Jul 012014

Xterra

  • 160,000 miles
Passenger side rear leaf spring broke while driving on the freeway, almost puncturing gas tank according to the mechanic. The driver's side rear leaf spring broke while driving on city streets. I was advised by my mechanic that this was definitely an item that should not have failed and it is most likely due to defective part, as the metal layered leaf spring should not break. The mechanic advised that since the vehicle is not one that is driven in a manner of off roading, that the failed leaf spring was defective and something that should be investigated by the authorities perhaps, as a recall item. He advised that I should file a complaint and I have reviewed this site to determine that many others have had issue with the leaf springs breaking. Please investigate. Thank you.

- Valencia, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 142011

Xterra

  • 128,138 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #3

Jan 162015

Xterra

  • 170,319 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine service when the mechanic diagnosed that the leaf spring was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,319.

- Gloversville, NY, USA

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problem #2

Jun 162008

Xterra

  • 30,300 miles
All four tires have cracks along the sides of the tires. Also, when I got new tires, a big O tires shop found that the alignment was bad on the permanent structure of the vehicle that can not be adjusted due to it was the __ toe - sai - included angle - and the total toe.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #1

Dec 202005

Xterra

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
1. after two months (4000 miles), I brought it into the dealer for service. They gave an alignment, which took two days because they said it was so far out of alignment. The car still pulled to the right, so I brought it in for service multiple times, and they always stated that they couldn't duplicate the problem. On 11/17/05, a non-dealership mechanic give an alignment. Again, they required that they keep my car for two days because the alignment was so messed up, and ultimately they said they could not align it. I took it to another independent mechanic, who claimed he aligned it, on 11/23/05. It still wasn't driving properly so I called the corporate headquarters, who told me to take it to a dealer. I paid for an alignment there on 12/1/05. However, the spec sheet they gave me showed that the sai was still out of spec. I took it to another dealer for service, and paid for yet another alignment on 12/13/05. However, the spec sheet they gave me showed that the caster and sai were out of spec. The service manager discovered the front end was raised too high, so they lowered it and gave another alignment, and the sai is still out of spec. The spec for sai ranges from 10.3 to 11.3 degrees, and my most recent alignment shows 9.64 on the left and $10.24 on the right. When I drove the vehicle brand new off the lot, it wasn't driving properly. At the time, I thought it would be easily fixable and no big deal. But the problem hasn't been resolved yet. The first alignment took two days, and it continued to pull after the alignment. It has always pulled, and the steering wheel twists when driving over bumps or when braking (even on flat surfaces.) 2. after three alignments in the past two months, my vehicle is still out of spec. No one is able to align it within spec. It is dangerous for a vehicle to be out of alignment because it does not allow the driver full control.

- King George, VA, USA

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