10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,316 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.

2010 Nissan Xterra drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2010 Nissan Xterra Owner Comments

problem #10

Jun 012019

Xterra

  • miles

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

No warning lamps had my vehicle repeatedly looked at was told that my vehicle had no transmission warninfsigns was told by mechanic to replace the radiator I replaced the radiator and then the vehicle stopped running now I have transmission fluid mixed with my radiator fluid and the vehicle doesn't run at all I repeatedly took it back to the shop Tobe fixed was told igot a bad radiator yet I know it wasn't bad I contacted my insurance company everyone failed to inform me that this vehicle had aknown transmission problem by Nissan and failed to disclose it to

- Tryon, OK, USA

problem #9

Oct 132020

Xterra

  • miles
This is a compliant for the well known radiator issue. Ours ruptured and ruined the transmission costing us about $6K in repairs.

- Centennial , CO, USA

problem #8

Jul 032020

Xterra

  • 180,000 miles
At a little over 180,000 miles need a new rear differential. Read on an Xterra forum the spthider gears were not heat treated properly by the manufacturer which causes rear differentials to fail.the vehicle was never driven off road or towed anything. It should not have failed.

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #7

Feb 022017

Xterra

  • miles

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

Cracked radiator leaking coolant into the transmission. When it mixes with the transmission fluid, it ruined transmission and radiotor. Over an $4000 bill!

- Gilbertsville, PA, USA

problem #6

Feb 062016

Xterra

  • 107,000 miles
My ECU on my Nissan Xterra was supposedly shorted due to a loose or damaged cable. With my initial inspection of the vehicle, the cable was not loose, yet I still had problems. The issue happened when I had parked my vehicle to run an errand. When I returned, I started up my vehicle and attempted to drive. There was no power and the engine would not accelerate over 5 mph. Not wanting the vehicle to breakdown on a busy road, I backed up and parked the vehicle. I attempted to restart the vehicle, but this time the starter would crank, but would not turn over. After attempting to start it a few times, I disconnected the batteries and reconnected the batteries. Still, the vehicle would crank and not turn over. I called a tow truck, and they brought the vehicle to Firestone. Firestone told me that the battery cables had shorted and destroyed teh ECU/ECM. I was quoted 1500 for a piece of equipment that should last the life of the vehicle. The vehicle is only 5 years old. This sounded like a very intensive process, so I had the vehicle towed to Nissan. Again, they said it was the ECU/ECM. Nissan told me that the cables, the battery and the ECU needed to be replaced. Nissan has had past issues with 2010 vehicles shorting out and destroying the ECU's. I believe that it is Nissan's faulty electrical systems or poorly constructed ECU's that is causing the damage. For such an expensive piece of equipment to be rendered useless by having an imporper battery connection seems problematic and potentially unsafe. It is problematic, due to teh history of Nissan's cables becoming corroded due to their battery position. Likewise, there have been many consumer complaints that the battery terminals are poorly made, resulting in vehicle failure. This can be dangerous, for if the battery terminals fail, it can cause the vehicle to stop functioning, even when it has been started.

- El Paso, TX, USA

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problem #5

Sep 252015

Xterra

  • 151,000 miles
July 2015, car quit steering no warning. Turned out to be rack and pinion went out.cost $1900 to replace. Then September 2015 car just quit because the transmission was not working, had to totally replace with a new one was non repairable. Cost was $4970 machanic said reason was that engine coolant mixed in with transmission fluid.

- Holiday Island, AR, USA

problem #4

May 242015

Xterra

  • 49,000 miles

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

Manual clutch failed without warning at freeway speed, with only 49,000 miles driven. Primary and secondary vehicle drivers have owned and driven multiple manual clutch vehicles for many years. Vehicle was purchased new and received all services from dealer. Driver was lucky to be able to get vehicle off freeway. Internet posts indicate Xterra manual clutch failures at this mileage are common, because clutch mechanism used by Nissan is designed for much lighter Nissan vehicles.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #3

Dec 222014

Xterra 4WD 6-cyl

  • 83,800 miles
I was traveling at 25 (no more than 30) mph when another vehicle collided with mine. The other vehicle did clip the middle 1/3 and entire passenger side of my Xterra. The hood was crushed to the first third of the front passenger wheel well, transmission and radiator fluids were leaking from the SUV, grill was obliterated, front passenger headlight was crushed into the battery (that leaks due to the accident), and the front bumper was impinging the front passenger wheel from freely moving. The airbags should have deployed, but did not. The vehicle is not drivable and had to be towed. I am filing this complaint because I believe that the severity of impact should have resulted in airbag deployment.

- Mount Vernon, IL, USA

problem #2

Jan 102014

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 37,200 miles
I started the car to let it warm up. The manual gearshift was in neutral and the emergency brake was engaged. As I got out of the vehicle, it lurched forward and I attempted to get back into the vehicle to apply the brake. It lurched a second time before I was able to get inside. I attempted to get inside the vehicle a second time to apply the brake but was not able to due to the car lurching forward again.. on the third "lurch" it continued to drive forward, hitting my mother's parked car and pushing it back approximately 3-4 feet into the back wall of her carport. Finally, the engine died and I was able to restart it, back it away from my mother's car, and assess the damage to her vehicle and my body. I purchased this used vehicle 12 days ago.

- Barre, VT, USA

problem #1

Feb 232012

Xterra 4WD 6-cyl

  • 25,160 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while driving 3 mph, the vehicle started to make a loud noise and jerk violently. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle he noticed that the bolts that held the drive shaft in place were detached and causing the drive shaft to become loose. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who verified the failure and replaced the bolts. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 25,160 and the current mileage was 25,360. Updated 04/23/12

- Fraser, CO, USA

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