RoadVitals

2001 Nissan Xterra Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Jun 1, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 150 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Nissan Xterra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 1, 2019

CAR FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT REPLACED. THE DEAD UNIT HAD A HOLE THROUGH IT'S PLASTIC WHICH SHOWED A CORRODED ELECTRICAL TAB. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE CORROSION FROM A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC AS STATED IN CAMPAIGN# 04V230000, BUT MORE LIKE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MELTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC, WHICH THEN ALLOWED CORROSION. NISSAN HOTLINE TOLD ME THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY, BUT COULDN'T SAY IF THE UNIT WAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11217267
Incident
May 20, 2019
ElectricalFuel system
Filed May 6, 2015

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND PAID 4000 DOLLARS FOR IT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING AND THE FUEL PUMP WASN'T COMING ON. AFTER SEARCHING FOR THE POWER ISSUE I DISCOVERED THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT WHICH IS THE TOP TO THE GAS TANK ITSELF. MEANING THE SERVICE HOLE OF THE TANK ACCESS IS THE TOP PART OF THE SENDING UNIT. THE SENDING UNIT HAS 4 FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS AND 4 ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. TWO FUEL CONECTIONS AND 2 ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS PLUG INTO THE TOP SIDE OF THE SENDING UNIT AND THEY ROUTE THROUGH THE PLASTIC MOLDED SENDING UNIT AND CONNECTIONS ARE MADE IN THE BOTTOM SIDE. BASICALLY FUEL AND ELECTRICITY ROUTE THROUGH THIS UNIT INTO THE TANK. THE POWER WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP BURNED AND MELTED THE CONECTION INSIDE THE MOLD AND BURNED THE PLASTIC ALL AROUND THE CONNECTION PLUG WHERE THE POWER GOES TO THE GAS TANK. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE 00' AND 02' SENDING UNITS WERE RECALLED BUT NOT MY 01'. THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT TO RIDING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A TICKING TIME BOMB UNDER MY CHILDREN'S SEATS. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN BUT I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THEM SO I AM REACHING OUT TO THE TRANSPORTATION SAFTEY AUTHORITIES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10715043
Incident
May 4, 2015
Mileage
138,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 6, 2011

I OPENED CASE # [XXX] WITH NISSAN REGARDING THE FAILURE OF ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE NISSAN XTERRA I PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF BOURNE (MA) IN 2000 ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD. THAT IS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS GARAGED AND USED AND ONLY HAS 67K MILES ON IT. THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN ACTING UP FOR QUITE SOME TIME (MANY YEARS) NOW AND THE VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY USED ONLY IN THE SUMMER. THERE WAS A WINDOW REGULATOR WARRANTY EXTENSION (PU307) ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS REJECTED THE CLAIM SINCE IT IS BEYOND THE WARRANTY EXTENSION PERIOD EVEN THOUGH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM SINCE IT ONLY APPLIED TO "WARM WEATHER" STATES. I'D LIKE TO ESCALATE THIS CLAIM TO ENCOURAGE NISSAN TO PICK UP THE COST OF PARTS AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THE WINDOW GET STUCK IN THE UP OR DOWN POSITION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10423990
Incident
Aug 25, 2011
Mileage
67,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 21, 2011
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10378190
Incident
Jan 17, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 5, 2010

INSTRUMENT GAUGE FAILURE. SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, ODOMETER, HEAT, AND FUEL GAUGES ALL GO TO ZERO. THIS OCCURS USUALLY ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR IS RUNNING AND/OR THE TEMPERATURE IS VERY WARM OUTSIDE. SUV CONTINUES TO RUN 'NORMALLY' WHEN THIS OCCURS, BUT THIS CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD IN NOT KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE SPEED OR FUEL LEVEL WHEN DRIVING. TYPICALLY, THE GAUGES RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING AND PARKED IN A 'COOL' SPACE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS, BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE NO SOLUTION AVAILABLE OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353919
Incident
Aug 4, 2010
Mileage
67,188 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 29, 2009
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MINUTES ON THE TURNPIKE AND PULLED OFF FOR GAS, THE SECOND I TURNED OFF THE CAR SMOKE STARTED TO POUR INSIDE FROM THE FRONT AREA AND ALSO POURING FROM THE UNDER HOOD AREA. THIS TURNED INTO AN ACTUAL FIRE NEXT TO A GAS PUMP. FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED TO PUT IT OUT . ENGINE TOTALLY BURNED UP AND HOOD ETC... *TR

NHTSA ID
10278740
Incident
Jul 26, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 6, 2007
Fire reported

2001 NISSAN XTERRA ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A MAJOR ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT**CW** *JB

NHTSA ID
10195904
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 8, 2007
Fire reported

MAJOR ELECTRICAL FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE ROOM HARNESS , SHORTED THE POWER TRANSIISTOR IN THE DISTRIBUTOR, DESSTROYED THE HOOD RELEASE CABLE AND BURNED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER TUBING, AND ALSO MULTIPLE FUSES AND RELAYS.THIS CONDITION OCCURED DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER CRUSHING THE WIRING FOR THE LEFT FRONT COMBINATION LIGHT UNDER THE AIR FILTER HOUSING AGAINST THE METAL BODY DURING INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY.ALL PARTS RETAINED AND VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSOECTION VEHIICLE CURRENTLY NOT RUNNING.

NHTSA ID
10192749
Incident
Apr 30, 2007
Mileage
98,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 9, 2005

THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE IGNITION WIRING IN MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA FRIED. THE ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY. I WAS THEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THE XTERRA DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE AND IT FRIED BECAUSE OF AN AFTER MARKET ALARM,IT DOESN'T HAVE AN AFTER MARKET ALARM ITS THE SAME AS WHEN I BOUGHT IT,NINE MONTHS PRIOR. THEY ARE GOING TO FIX IT BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW IGNITION WIRE. I'M STILL WONDERING WHY THE FUSES DIDN'T BREAK LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO, PREVENTING THIS WHOLE SITUATION FROM HAPPENING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132174
Incident
Aug 5, 2005
Mileage
83,450 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 30, 2003

FUSE #11 WHICH PROTECTS THE ALTERNATOR/CHARGING CIRCUT AND 4WD/ATP WARNING LIGHT CIRCUTS KEPT BLOWING. WHEN THIS FUSE BLOWS THE ALTERNATOR STOPS WORKING AND THE VEHICLE THEN RUNS OFF THE BATTERY. AND WHEN THE BATTERY DIES 30 MINUTES LATER SO DOES YOUR XTERRA!*AK

NHTSA ID
10048860
Incident
Nov 9, 2003
Mileage
33,995 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 28, 2003

1--AIR CONDITIONER BLOWING HOT AIR CAR IS ONLY 49000 MILES OLD.2-- THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR BROKEN- HAD PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. 3--THE PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT BROKEN-HAD DRIVER SIDE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10043716
Incident
Oct 27, 2003
Mileage
49,100 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Oct 8, 2003

THREE OF THE FOUR POWER WINDOWS ON MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA FAILED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041436
Incident
Oct 4, 2003
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 2003

NISSAN XTERRA'S WINDOW REGULATORS ARE FAULTY. I HAD TWO OF MINE REPLACED IN 2 YEARS AND THE THIRD ONE JUST BROKE. NISSAN ADMITS THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT BUT IS NOT RECALLING THE EQUIPMENT. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT IF I GET IT FIXED. EVERY NISSAN XTERRA USER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND ATLEAST 2 WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON EACH 2001 MODELS. ITS TIME NISSAN RECALLED THE EQUIPMENT.

NHTSA ID
10040956
Incident
Sep 30, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jan 29, 2003
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *TS

NHTSA ID
10005884
Incident
Dec 27, 2002
Mileage
76,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Dec 31, 2002

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 BRAKE REPAIRS AND 3 HORN REPAIRS WITHIN 27,500 MILES, THE VEHICLE DRIVE CROOKED DOWN A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY, IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME IS BENT, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR IS NOT SEALED PROPERLY AND IT LEAKS IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE THE WINDOW IS OPEN, THE DRIVER'S DOOR RATTLES, THE CARPET ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE, THE SUNROOF RATTLES WHEN ITS OPEN AND LEAKS WHEN IT'S CLOSED, THE CONSOLE BOX LID RATTLES AND HAS NEVER FIT PROPERLY, FRONT ROTORS WARPED, BRAKE PADS WERE CRACKED, REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT, A/C BLOWS OUT HOT AIR . NLM

NHTSA ID
568355
Mileage
27,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 26, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON RAINING DAYS THE HORN WONT WORK. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE MODULE SENSOR. TS THE PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED AGAIN. *JG

NHTSA ID
10001533
Incident
Dec 26, 2002
Mileage
15,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 10, 2001

WHILE DRIVING HOME AFTER PURCHASING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER WAS REPLACING FUEL TANK. *AK WEAK BATTERY CAUSED SLOW CRANKING.*ET

NHTSA ID
896089
Incident
Sep 2, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .