RoadVitals

2005 Nissan Xterra Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
20
Latest Aug 4, 2022
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.
2%
of 845 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.
1
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 forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Nissan Xterra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 4, 2022

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 ID
11477659
Incident
Jul 27, 2020
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 21, 2020

CAR CUTS OFF WHEN DRIVING AND WHILE CAR IS IDLED. FUELS STOPS REPEATEDLY WHEN REFUELING.

NHTSA ID
11365644
Incident
Aug 15, 2019
Mileage
121,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 3, 2018

TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ID
11076067
Incident
Jan 15, 2018
Mileage
180,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 9, 2016

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED UPLOADED DOCUMENT.

NHTSA ID
10904916
Incident
Sep 7, 2016
Mileage
145,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 31, 2016

VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND IS UNABLE TO START. WITH VEHICLE IN OFF STATE THERE IS NOT CONTROL OVER SPEED, BRAKING, STEERING. NISSAN IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AFTER DIAGNOSIS. CODE P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.

NHTSA ID
10899850
Incident
Aug 13, 2016
Mileage
116,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Aug 7, 2015

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 ID
10747008
Incident
Aug 1, 2015
Mileage
116,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 25, 2015

UNEXPECTEDLY, TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL. APPLYING GAS JUST REVVED ENGINE. THEN STRONG JERK AND BACK INTO GEAR. HAPPENING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HAD IT GONE ON LONGER OR I NOT BEEN ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE, THIS COULD HAVE TRIGGERED A MAJOR PILE UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678755
Incident
Jan 3, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 24, 2014

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND CAR QUITS STEERING WAS DIFFICULT HIT A CURB. THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN CAME BACK ON? HAS DONE THIS TO ME SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL I PARKED IT NOW. DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKY NO VEHICLES WERE AROUND ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627832
Incident
Aug 21, 2014
Mileage
111,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 18, 2014

COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. LUCKILY I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND THERE WERE CARS SLOWING AHEAD OF ME I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE SLOWLY TO A STOP WHILE I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE STEER. I HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY THE HELP OF OTHERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE PINNACLE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR HAS TO BE FULLY REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY VALVE . NISSAN SAID THE VALVE THAT CONNECTS THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION BROKE ALLOWING COOLANT AND ANTI FREEZE TO MIX TOGETHER AND IMMEDIATELY CATASTROPHICALLY DESTROYING BOTH COMPONENTS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEIR WAS A CLASSACTION SUIT FOR THIS VERY REASON THAT WAS SETTLED BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF I HAD BEEN IN A FREEWAY SITUATION. NISSAN HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS REASON. I HAVE HAD EVERY RECALL PART FOR THIS VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND IT HAS BEEN KNOWN DUE TO THE # OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PARTICULAR PART BEING FAULTY BUT A RECALL NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF NISSAN. I AM EXPECTED TO COVER THIS WITH A DEDUCTIBLE OF $2500.00 AT NO FAULT OF MY OWN . I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE MAINTAINED ALL NECESSARY/RECCOMENDED SERVICE OUTLINED BY NISSAN UP TILL L THIS FAILURE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
10615459
Incident
Jun 23, 2014
Mileage
85,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 19, 2014

THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THEN IT WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS. AFTER THAT IT GOT STUCK IN 1ST AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. IT IS CURRENTLY STUCK IN 3RD OR 4TH AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS A RED BROWN FOAMY COLOR. IT IS GIVING A CODE OF P1754. *TR

NHTSA ID
10573324
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Mileage
131,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 20, 2014

MY 16 YEAR SON WAS DRIVING HOME AT 11:00 PM ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN, WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION POWER. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AND GOT IT INTO 3RD GEAR. IT WOULD NOT WORK IN DRIVE. HE PROCEEDED VERY SLOWLY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE UNTIL HE WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION POWER. HE HAD TO CONTINUE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON THE HIGHWAY MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET IT HOME THAT EVENING. HE CONTINUED VERY SLOWLY WITH HIS FLASHING LIGHTS ON. IT SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO BE TOWED. THANKFULLY, IT DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR IS BLACK AND IT WAS VERY DARK. IT WOULD'VE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND HIM TO REACT ON THE INTERSTATE. MY SON'S SAFETY WAS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE THE RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM NISSAN IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP12004). IT REQUIRED A NEW RADIATOR, A NEW TRANSMISSION AND A NEW TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AS THIS WAS ALL RUINED WITH THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS $4632.97 INCLUDING THE TOW CHARGE. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND EVEN SETTLED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS VERY ISSUE A FEW YEARS AGO. HAD THEY VOLUNTARILY RECALLED THE VEHICLE AND FIXED THE PROBLEM, MY SON WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT IN THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE COSTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MINIMIZED. I DESIRE FOR NISSAN TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS - YOU HAVE RECEIVED LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THE VERY SAME COMPLAINT. PLEASE CONDUCT A RECALL ON THE XTERRA, PATHFINDERS AND FRONTIERS YOU KNOW ARE IMPACTED. WE WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH; THE NEXT FAMILY MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565168
Incident
Jan 24, 2014
Mileage
117,045 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 1, 2014

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND 65MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD JUST BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP & THE VEHICLE WENT DEAD. HAD IT TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED & WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ISSUES CAUSED FROM FAULTY RADIATOR DRAINAGE INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAVE READ OF COUNTLESS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS YEAR VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BY DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. IT WONT BE LONG BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE DUE TO FAILED TRANSMISSION & HITS ANOTHER VEHICLE OR KILLS SOMEONE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10558114
Incident
Dec 30, 2013
Mileage
118,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Oct 24, 2013
Fire reported

JUST BOUGHT AUTO FROM USED CAR DEALER DAY BEFORE. DROVE IT 30 MILES PULLED IN VISITED THEN WENT OUT TO START AUTO. WOULD NOT START TRACED BACK TO BLOWN FUSE, CHANGED FUSE TRIED STARTING AGAIN, BLEW FUSE AGAIN, ONE MORE TIME THEN WHEN AUTO STARTED SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF REPLACING ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM FRYING NARROWED DOWN TO RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION (FUSE THAT BLEW) THE COOLANT HAD BACKED UP AND TORE UP TRANSMISSION. IF IT HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FULL BLOWN FIRE ON A HIGHWAY WITH POSSIBILITY OF HUMAN DAMAGES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10549388
Incident
Jul 7, 2013
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 27, 2013

SUDDENLY THE CAR (AUTOMATIC) WAS REVVING HIGH AND NOT SHIFTING INTO NEXT GEAR AND STARTING MAKING AHIGHER PITCHED NOISE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT THEN CAME ON. I DROVE TO A GAS STATION AND BEFORE FULLY PULLING IN, MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE, REVVED HIGH AND STARTED SMOKING. I HAD TO GET TOWED AND MY CAR IS NOW GOING TO NEED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. NISSAN IS SAYING SINCE I AM PASSED THE EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY OR 100,000 MILES, THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT. CURRENTLY AM BEING TRANSFERRED TO SEE IF SOMEONE ELSE CARES ENOUGH ABOUT NISSANS IMAGE AS WELL AS THEIR DRIVERS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED IT WILL COST $5100 TO REPAIR THIS NISSAN KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10545618
Incident
Sep 25, 2013
Mileage
158,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 3, 2013

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, AS NORMALLY, TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT SLOWING DOWN. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A NISSAN DEALER. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION AND TRANS COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT BUT WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY. I TOOK THE SUV FOR A SECOND OPINION TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. HE CONFIRMED THE FINDINGS OF THE NISSAN MECHANIC AND OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR $4,140.47. I AGREED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC SAID I SHOULD LOOK UP A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT HAS BEEN GENERATED. THAT IS WHY I AM POSTING THIS INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533413
Incident
Jul 30, 2013
Mileage
133,242 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 10, 2013

THE CAR WHO WAS BEHIND ME ALMOST GOT ME BECAUSE ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR SPEED LOWER DRAMATICALLY, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN AND LEFT IT THERE, THEY CALL ME AND TOLL ME IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO COST ME REPAIR IT $7,500 WITH LABOR AND PARTS, THEY HAVE THE GODS TO TELL ME THAT IS BETTER TO SELL IT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT WORTH FIXING IT, THAT CAR COST ME $37,000 BRAND NEW TO AT LEAST HAVE IT FOR 10 YEARS I BEEN CHANGING THE OIL FREQUENTLY SO I HAVE NO PROBLEMS, BUT NISSAN IS ONE OF THE WORSE CAR EVER SOLD, MY FRIEND HAD AN 2004 ALTIMA AND AFTER 5 YEARS EVERYTHING WAS FAILING ON THAT CAR WORSE THAN MY X TERRA, I SWEAR I WILL NEVER BUY NISSAN AGAIN IS BAD INVESTMENT FOR THE MONEY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10515936
Incident
Jun 7, 2013
Mileage
126,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 24, 2012

IN MARCH 2012 MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000 WHEN DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN RUMBLE CAUSING ME TO SWERVE AND IMMEDIATELY REDUCE SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I REGULARLY SERVICE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD MY RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID AND THIS MIGHT HAVE DAMAGED MY TRANSMISSION. SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND PRESENTLY STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. IT APPEARS THIS IS COMMON IN THE 2005 LINE OF X-TERRAS, PATHFINDERS, ETC. SINCE MY CAR WAS OVER 80,000 MILES THE RADIATOR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT I AM STILL TO DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THIS DEFECTIVE RADIATOR AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY. WHAT IS MORE CAUSE FOR ALARM IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF IT AND FIND THEMSELVES IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT OR EVEN WORSE A FATALITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10467249
Incident
Mar 16, 2012
Mileage
91,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 17, 2011

I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO A SOCCER GAME AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO PAST 20 GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALER A FEW MONTHS EARLIER B/C I WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PAST 45MPH. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE AND TO CONTINUE DRIVING. MY CAR HAD 72000 AT THAT POINT. THEY DID NOT ADVISE ME OF THE POTENTIAL RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR LET ME KNOW THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENED FROM 60000 TO 80000 MILES. *TT

NHTSA ID
10425836
Incident
Aug 31, 2011
Mileage
78,200 mi
Driver assistanceSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 13, 2010

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BETWEEN 55 AND 75 MPH, INCONSISTENTLY BUT ALWAYS SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT NISSAN IS NON EXISTENT. THEY DO NOT RETURN CALLS,AND ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT CUSTOMER SAFETY DEALERS ARE A-HOLES, THEY DO NOT SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS, ONLY WANT TO CHARGE A LOT OF MONEY AND THEN 1/2 THE TIME WILL NOT ACTUALLY FIX WHAT WAS WRONG. AT LEAST THE ONE IN MARYLAND WHICH I GO TO (JONES) I HAVE HEARD OF THEM TAKING YOUR CAR IN AND ACTUALLY TAKING PARTS OFF OF IT TO PUT ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S CAR, THEN PUTTING BAD PARTS BACK ON YOUR CAR AND RELEASING IT TO YOU AS WELL AS NOT DOING ANYTHING AND CHARGING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AS IF THEY DID DO SOMETHING. CROOKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10360242
Incident
Mar 1, 2006
Mileage
7,500 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Dec 24, 2009

FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROL MODULE . THE TRUCK DIE ANY WHERE MY TRUCK IN LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY(495) WEST IN THE LEFT LANE I BELIEVE THAT ALL NISSAN 2005 XTERRA THE SHOULD CALL FOR THIS CANE OF PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296925
Incident
Dec 18, 2009
Mileage
59,000 mi

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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