RoadVitals

2008 Nissan Xterra Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
13
Latest Dec 21, 2021
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 119 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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Nissan Xterra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 brake

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

Brakes
Filed Dec 21, 2021

The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and making a right turn, she heard an abnormal sound while depressing on the brake pedal. The contact stated that the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) & the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 07E105000 (Service Brakes, Air) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID
11444535
Incident
Sep 1, 2021
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 2021

The brake master cylinder failed multiple times, leaving the system in bypass mode. The resulting delay in braking led to potential collision on multiple occasions.

NHTSA ID
11436359
Incident
Oct 9, 2021
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 13, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED FALSE READINGS. THE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD LESS FUEL THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENT. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID
11243511
Incident
Jul 10, 2019
Mileage
73,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 9, 2017
Crash reported

WHEN THE BREAKS IS PRESSED IN AN EMERGENCY TO STOP IT PUSHES THE VEHICLE FORWARD AND DOES NOT STOP WHEN IT SHOULD.

NHTSA ID
11053679
Incident
Dec 6, 2017
Mileage
4,697 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 16, 2015

VEHICLE FRONT BRAKES OVERHEAT. WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL AT ANY RATE BRAKES WILL SOFTEN CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL HAVING TO PULL OVER FOR FEAR OF SAFETY. WHEN BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY DEALER THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AT 75% AND SHOULD BE WORKING FINE. EVERY TIME I BRAKE GOING DOWN HILL I FEEL SOFTNESS IN BRAKES. BRAKES ALSO WILL START TO SMELL AFTER BRAKING DOWNHILL.

NHTSA ID
10790758
Incident
Nov 1, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 11, 2015

4WD AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON FEELS LIKE AIR IN THE LINE. PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR

NHTSA ID
10715576
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
134,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO CAUTIOUSLY RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07E105000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR) AND 07V528000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID
10713540
Incident
Apr 15, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND VDC WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10618918
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jul 17, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A FILM OF OIL ON THE REAR BRAKE SHIELDS. LATER WHILE UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO LOCK THE BRAKES BY DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 10 MPH AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THEN PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED TWO SEPARATE DEALERS AND NEITHER OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING GEAR OIL FROM THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND AXLE SEALS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,600.

NHTSA ID
10466002
Incident
Jul 10, 2012
Mileage
88,600 mi
BrakesTires & wheels
Filed Mar 9, 2011

TODAY, WITH JUST OVER 19,000 MILES ON MY 2008 XTERRA , I HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. BOTH ROTORS WERE BADLY GROOVED ESPECIALLY ON THE INSIDE SURFACE AND THE INSIDE PADS WERE NEARLY COMPLETELY WORN. I HAD JUST HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED 2 MONTHS AGO AT MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. IT MAKES ME WONDER HOW MY INSPECTION WAS REALLY DONE AND ALSO THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS THAT NISSAN IS USING IN IT CARS, AS I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BREAK PADS MUCH LESS ROTORS UNDER 20,000 MILES. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. TWO OF THEM HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING AIR. I ALSO HAD READINGS OF LOW PRESSURE WHEN THE TIRES HAD JUST BEEN INFLATED TO THE PROPER SETTING AND THE LIGHT REFUSED TO TURN OFF. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY TIRES WERE JUST UNDER INFLATED. I DID NOT BELIEVE THEIR EXPLANATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10389666
Incident
Mar 8, 2011
Mileage
19,265 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 5, 2010

ON AN '08 NISSAN XTERRA S WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES, THE RIGHT FRONT INNER BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY WORN DOWN AND MADE METAL TO METAL CONTACT WITH ROTOR, RUINING THE ROTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING BADLY TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ONLY THE INNER PADS WERE AFFECTED,THE OUTER BRAKE PADS LOOKED LIKE NEW, SHOWING THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS STUCK ON THE BRACKET. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 2 INNER PADS, LEFT AND RIGHT, WERE STUCK IN THE BRACKET, WHICH STOPS THE CALIPER FROM FLOATING OR MOVING. AT 17,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY INVOICE SAYS "BOTH INNER PADS STUCK IN CALIPERS". *TR

NHTSA ID
10317238
Incident
Feb 18, 2010
Mileage
17,535 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 16, 2009

MULTIPLE NISSAN DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR A SAFETY PROBLEM ON MY CAR AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS. VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL AND ABS FAIL WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUE TO COME ON RANDOMLY. OCCASIONALLY THEY GO OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BUT THE FIRST 4 EVENTS LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNTIL THE DEALER WORKED ON THE CAR. NISSAN IS STALLING IN ADDRESSING VEHICLE BUYBACK OR ANY SOLID RESOLUTION. I AM STUCK WITH A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE SAFELY AT THIS TIME, AND HAVE ASKED NISSAN TO TAKE IT BACK SINCE THEY CANNOT FIX IT IN OVER A YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284163
Incident
Oct 8, 2008
Mileage
9,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Feb 20, 2009

2008 NISSAN XTERRA, CHRONIC FAILURES OF THE VDC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ALSO CAUSING FAILURES IN ABS AND AIR BAGS 7 REPAIR ATTEMPTS SINCE PURCHASED NEW 6 MONTHS AGO INCLUDING COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR ADJUSTMENTS, REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND REPLACEMENT OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. THESE FAILURES CAUSE TOTAL FAILURE IN MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC SAFETY SYSTEMS REPRESENTING A SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE OR BODILY HARM. MULTIPLE INCIDENTS - THE DATE BELOW REPRESENTS DATE OF BRAND NEW PURCHASE WHICH WAS THE DAY OF THE FIRST MALFUNCTION FOR ME. THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED A MALFUNCTION AT THE TIME OF THE PDI (BUT DID NOT DISCLOSE THIS AT THE TIME OF SALE TO MY GREAT OUTRAGE). *TR

NHTSA ID
10259477
Incident
Aug 29, 2008
Mileage
57 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .