2003 Nissan XTERRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
72 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 53 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 72 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 23.6% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 16.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
Steering: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Air Bags: 7; Engine: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Electrical System: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 5; 2004: 15; 2005: 6; 2006: 1; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 9; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010817 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
A NEWLY PURCHASED NISSAN XTERRA 2003 WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND DID A 180 DEGREE TURN AT 60 MPH ON A DRY DAY, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE LIGHTLY APPLIED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,155 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024916 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT STATED THE REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEWOUT. GENERAL GRABBER AW P265/70R16. *AK BRAKES AND STEERING WERE INOPERABLE PRIOR TO TIRE BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060232 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
BRAKE PEDAL FADED TO THE FLOOR,WHILE TRYING TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT.RESULTING IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT.WHEN I MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH MY EMPTY PASSANGER SEATS DID.ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS AND THE OFFICERS THAT RESPONDED DID NOT TICKET ME FOR FAILURE TO STOP,NISSAN INSISTS THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN OPERATOR ERROR.SINCE THIS ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD MY STEREO REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE HAD WORK DONE ON MY STEERING COLUMN DUE TO GRINDING NOISES AND BOTH MOTORS IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099191 · 2004-11-02 (November 2, 2004)
THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS, THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AGAIN, MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER AGAIN WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER TO AIR THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,053 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193754 · 2007-06-19 (June 19, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCESS HATCH ABOVE THE GAS TANK SEAL IS CORRODED SO BADLY, THAT IT WILL NOT FILL PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS EMISSION VAPORS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND ON JUNE 17, 2007, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WILL COST $1,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 129,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,425.
Owner-reported narrative. 129,425 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372517 · 2010-12-27 (December 27, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE; THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR AND THE SENDING UNIT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP) BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10397018 · 2011-04-21 (April 21, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V554000 (STEERING:COLUMN), THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER SYSTEM WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276178 · 2009-07-09 (July 9, 2009)
PURCHASED MASTERCRAFT COURSER A/T2 265/70R16 TIRES 9/13/2007, TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR SHIMMY, WAS INFORMED THAT BELTS IN TIRES SHIFTED, BROUGHT TO TOWN FAIR TIRE IN WESTFIELD, MA. BALANCED TIRES SENT ME ON MY WAY, WENT BACK 2 WEEKS LATER FOR SAME PROBLEM, WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN, HOWEVER IT STILL COST ME $322.01 WITH OLD TIRES BEING PRORATED. I ONLY HAD 12000 MILES ON THE TIRES AND IF IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN SHOULDN'T THE TIRES BEEN COVERED UNDER A RECALL OR WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY. I DID CHECK FOR RECALLS DIFFERENT SIZE TIRE H…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10483883 · 2012-11-09 (November 9, 2012)
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 NISSAN XTERRA NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE RADIATOR FLUID HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130783 · 2005-09-09 (September 9, 2005)
DT: CONTACT STATED 2003 NISSAN XTERRA CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 5-27-05. CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, WITHIN ONE MINUTE THE HOOD WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN SHE FIRST SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND THE CORPORATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS CALLED AND SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, BUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. DEALER SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130783 at NHTSA ↗