2009 Nissan Xterra Owner Complaints

I took my car to complete Recall NumberPC945, I was told that my car has an issue with the driver side air Bag - Clockspring Assembly / Spiral Cable: REPLACE SPIRAL CABLE - C1163/B1049 and also another issue related to the driver side airbag that is under the steering wheel. I was quoted over $2000 to fix the issue. The recall is to replace the decal over the airbag and I think the issue is bigger than that, the issue is the airbag clock spring/ spiral cable that malfunctions and not only the plastic plate. A quick Google search will show you that this is a known issue that impacts thousands of Xterra owners. Nissan is fraudulently just replacing the plastic Nissan Emblem when the issue is way bigger than that and could cause bodily harm to the driver if the air bag doesn't deploy.

NHTSA ID

11722570

Incident

Mar 6, 2026

Cracked cooler tube caused transmission oil & coolant to mix causing transmission failure.

NHTSA ID

11430763

Incident

May 4, 2021

A FAULTY RADIATOR CAUSED MY TRANSMISSON AND COOLANT TO LEAK TOGETHER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. NOW MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ID

11340619

Incident

Jun 23, 2020

Mileage

260,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS 1 OWNER TRADE IN 4/11/19. AS OF 5/9/19 I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PRONOUNCED ISSUES WITH LOSING POWER AROUND 40 MPH . DIAGNOSTICS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE COOLING COIL WHICH RESULTED IN COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM UNDER THE CLASS ACTION REQUIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY. AS I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HONESTLY AFRAID TO FIND OUT SINCE I STILL OWE 5000 DOLLARS ON THE CAR I PUT OFF GETTING THE DIAGNOSTICS. THE FINAL STRAW CAME WHEN I WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND LOST POWER TRYING TO MERGE INTO FAST TRAFFIC. I FINALLY CALLED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTICS ON 5/31/19 AND TOOK THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT ON 6/4/19. I WAS TOLD THERE MAY BE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS THE NEXT DAY 6/5/19 AND NISSAN IS REVIEWING MY CLAIM. I AM PRAYING THEY WON'T DENY IT BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTICS WERE COMPLETED A COUPLE BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE EXTENSION EXPIRED ON 5/31/19.

NHTSA ID

11219416

Incident

May 30, 2019

Mileage

98,600 mi

I TOOK MY XTERRA IN BECAUSE IT CONSTANTLY BLEW HOT AIR. UPON INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED OF THE TSB ISSUED BY NISSAN THAT THE RADIATOR TUBES CAN CRACK AND MIX COOLANT WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THAT I WAS LOW ON COOLANT BECAUSE OF THAT. THE TECH INFORMED ME THAT THE LEAK WAS MINIMAL BUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACES ASAP. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND LINES FLUSHED AND ALSO HAD TO TAKE MY CAR INTO A TRANS EXPERT TO FLUSH AND INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

11203345

Incident

Feb 13, 2018

Mileage

103,000 mi

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE LAST YEAR I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE BREAK SYSTEM OF MY NISSAN XTERRA. WHEN USING THE BREAKS THE ANTI LOCK BREAK SYSTEM (ABS) WONT WORK AND THE VEHICLE TAKES LONER TO STOP. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BREAKS ALL THE WAY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS BUT NO ONE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, INCLUDING AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER REPAIR SHOP.

NHTSA ID

11171459

Incident

Dec 18, 2018

Mileage

3 mi

RADIATOR INTERNAL FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID

11083706

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

Mileage

104,000 mi

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE, WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN RUSH-HOUR IN AUGUST IN PHOENIX, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND LOST ALL POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION, I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HAD FAILED AND SPRAYED FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE,-THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH ZERO WARNING AND NO SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY HOUSE AND INSPECTED FURTHER, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID AT 120K I NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR A WARRANTY COVERED REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. I'M NOW FACING A REPAIR BY MYSELF OR PAY A MECHANIC TO FIX AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ID

10896965

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DISENGAGED AND DAMAGED THE RING AND PINION; OVERHAUL REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,485.

NHTSA ID

10765231

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

41,485 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE AC FAILED AND THE BLOWER AMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

10765122

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

Mileage

109,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V690000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10716124

Incident

May 13, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AFTER ENGINE STARTUP AND CONTINUES TO BLINK UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. SENT EMAIL TO NISSAN IN DEC 2013 REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND THEY INDICATED "A REVIEW OF OUR SYSTEM INDICATES THAT THE ABOVE-REFERENCED VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE CAMPAIGNS." I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A NISSAN ISSUE WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN AIR BAG SENSOR RECALLS IN 2005, 2006, 2007 ,2008 ,2009, AND 2010. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577708

Incident

Dec 30, 2013

Mileage

73,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSOR HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10512085

Incident

Apr 11, 2013

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR HATCH AND REAR BUMPER WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REAR BUMPER AND HATCH DOOR NEEDED TO BE PULLED OFF IN ORDER TO BE SANDED AND RE-PAINTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505773

Incident

Dec 5, 2012

Mileage

45,000 mi

TIMING CHAIN GUIDES ARE WORN AND ARE NOW UNSTABLE AND CAN CAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK WHICH WILL RUIN ENGINE. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS CHANGED TO A NEW PART IN 2010. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME 1500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A PART THAT COST 2 DOLLARS WHEN THEY KNEW ABOUT IT WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN SO MANY TIMES TO DIAGNOSE!!!!! THERE ARE COUNTLESS TIMING CHAIN ISSUES WITH OTHER OWNERS THENEWX.ORG YOU WILL FIND TONS OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453861

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT 23 JUNE 2011 LOCATION: PLEASANT VALLEY TRAIL, PANAMINT MOUNTAINS, DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CA TIME: APPROXIMATELY 6 PM I WAS DRIVING ON A POPULAR 4X4 TRAIL ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK ON THE EVENING OF 23 JUNE 2011. I WAS ALONE AND CRAWLING DOWN A STEEP DECLINE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, LOW RANGE, IN 1ST GEAR. I MADE A TRANSITION FROM ONE SET OF DEEP RUTS TO ANOTHER. THE CAR ROCKED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND BACK. THE MOTION WAS ABRUPT, BUT NOT VIOLENT IN ANY WAY, AND THE SAME MOTION THAT ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT TRAVELS ON THIS POPULAR TRAIL WOULD FACE. ON COMPLETION OF THE ROCKING MOTION THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT MY FACE WAS AGAINST THE WINDOW CHECKING MY SIDE CLEARANCE ON THE ROAD. MY ELBOW WAS RESTING ON THE WINDOW SILL, AND I WAS STEERING WITH ONE HAND AT THE 9 O'CLOCK POSITION AND THE OTHER AT THE 5 O'CLOCK POSITION. ON DEPLOYMENT MY FACE WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT FRONT AND SIDE, LEAVING ME WITH FACIAL PAIN, BRUISING, A BLOODY NOSE, AND RINGING EARS. THE ARM RESTING ON THE WINDOW SILL WAS FORCED DOWN AND FORWARD, LEVERING MY SHOULDER UP AND FORWARD. I WAS DAZED AND DISORIENTED FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE SEATBELT PRE-TENSIONER FIRED, PULLING THE BELT TIGHT ENOUGH AROUND MY PELVIS TO LEAVE BRUISES AND PAIN. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN FIRST GEAR, LOW RANGE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN I PULLED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, IF I HAD BEEN IN 4 WHEEL HIGH RANGE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE LIKELY CONTINUED DOWNHILL AND GONE OVER THE EMBANKMENT AND DOWN A 400' 60 DEGREE SLOPE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PRODUCT DESIGN ERROR AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FAR GREATER INJURIES OR DEATH. THE MOTION THAT SET OFF THE DEPLOYMENT WAS ONE THAT I HAVE HAD ON HUNDREDS OF OCCASIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES IN MY MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF OFF ROAD DRIVING EXPERIENCE. IT OCCURRED ON A POPULAR TRAIL USED BY THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES EACH YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10409192

Incident

Jun 23, 2011

Mileage

27,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE HORN BUT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE FOR IT TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE HORN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10358512

Incident

Apr 20, 2009

Mileage

500 mi

PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE IN 2ND GENERATION NISSAN XTERRA. CLUTCH BURNT OUT AT UNDER 5000 MILES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW IN 4WD LO. I HAVE 20 YEARS MANUAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE, AND HAVE NEVER BURNED OUT A CLUTCH. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS A WEAR ITEM. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM - SOME WITH TRANSMISSION DISENGAGING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WHICH COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS ON A HIGHWAY. MANY HAVE DESCRIBED CLUTCH AS "EXPLODED" OR "TOTALLY SHREDDED" WHEN TAKEN APART. WE BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE NISSAN DUMPED THE 350 Z CLUTCH, WHICH IS MADE FOR A LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTS CAR, INTO A HEAVY AND POWERFUL 4WD. THIS CLUTCH IS UNDERPOWERED FOR THE 265 HP XTERRA. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM, YET IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. MORE INFO AND DETAILS OF THE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE CAN BE FOUND AT EDMUNDS.COM UNDER THE NISSAN XTERRA CLUTCH PROBLEM POST. NISSAN HAS BEEN TOTALLY INCONSISTENT IN ITS PARTIAL, COMPLETE, OR LACK OF REIMBURSED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324759

Incident

Jan 15, 2010

Mileage

4,950 mi

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2009 NISSAN XTERRA ON JUNE 5, 2009. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE FOLLOWING DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO KNOWN REASON: BRAKE, ABS, SLIP, TIRE SENSOR & VDC. ODOMETER FAILS TO OPERATE, MILEAGE NEEDLE RETURNS TO THE START POSITION AND DOES NOT SHOW SPEED, AND FAILS TO REGISTER MILES COVERED WHEN THE ODOMETER FAILS. CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR ELECTRONIC FAILURE WITH THE FOLLOWING ODOMETER READINGS AND DATES: 849 ON 6/22/2009, 1374 ON 7/7/2009, 4082 ON 8/10/2009, 8123 ON 11/9/2009 AND 8247 ON 11/24/2009. THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS WERE MADE: REPLACED ABS ACTUATOR, REPLACED ODOMETER, REPLACED ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND REPLACED ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MODULE. ON THE LAST OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN WITH DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OR FIX THE PROBLEM AND INSTRUCTED US TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY SERVICE OR REPAIR. THE WARNING LIGHTS AND FAILURE OF OPERATING SYSTEMS MAKE THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE AN INDICATION OF THE FAILURE OF BRAKES & TIRE SENSORS. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THE ELECTRONICS FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295705

Incident

Nov 24, 2009

Mileage

8,247 mi