2008 Nissan XTERRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
95,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 119 complaints (36.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 42 | 35.3% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 10.9% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 43 |
| Engine | 23 |
| Air Bags | 20 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
Power Train: 43; Engine: 23; Air Bags: 20; Electrical System: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Service Brakes: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 18
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 14 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 9; 2010: 10; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 9; 2014: 6; 2015: 20; 2016: 11; 2017: 12; 2018: 8; 2019: 12; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 42 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10288848 · 2009-10-18 (October 18, 2009)
2008 NISSAN XTERRA CLUTCH FAILURE. 2008 NISSAN XTERRA, NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD AND EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL. THE 6SPD MANUAL CLUTCH OF THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED AT 29,000 MILES AND 2 YEARS OF ON THE ROAD DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED GOING UP A SNOWY HILL AND I WAS STRANDED ALMOST SLIDING DOWN OFF A RAVINE. AFTER RESEARCH IT IS VERY APPARENT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL ALL DRIVERS REPORTING EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. NISSAN WILL NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE OR UNDER DESIGNED COMPONENT OF THE MAJOR DRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10288848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446868 · 2012-02-06 (February 6, 2012)
THE COOLING SYSTEM IS CONTAMINATED W/OILY SUBSTANCE, TRANSMISSION FLUID. TRANS. IS MAKING LOUD NOISES, JUMPS OUT OF GEAR @ HWY SPEEDS, DRIVE TRAIN MAKING A 'RUMBLY' GRINDING SOUND, CAR DANGEROUSLY PULLS DOWN VERY QUICKLY TO MUCH LOWER SPEED WHEN PRESSURE RELEASED FROM ACCELERATOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 96,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259477 · 2009-02-20 (February 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…
Owner-reported narrative. 57 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284163 · 2009-09-16 (September 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
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297108 · 2009-12-28 (December 28, 2009)
PLASTIC TRAY THAT THE BATTERY SITS ON BROKE, CAUSING THE BAR THAT HOLDS THE BATTERY IN PLACE TO ARCH OVER AND SET THE PLASTIC FUSE HOLDER ON THE BATTERY TO CATCH FIRE. THE VEHICLE STALLED THE DIED. I SAW WHAT I THOUGHT WAS "STEAM" COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED TO HOOD FROM INSIDE AND SAW FLAMES. I GOT OUT AND TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT SINCE THE LATCH IS SMALL AND BLACK. I GOT MY GRANDKIDS OUT OF THE CAR AND TRIED ONCE MORE TO OPEN THE HOOD. I FINALLY GOT IT OPENED AND REALIZED THE BATTERY WAS ON FIRE. I POURED …
Owner-reported narrative. 32,213 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236898 · 2008-08-04 (August 4, 2008)
THE GAS GAUGE READS ABOUT 1/8 OF A TANK AND MY TRUCK RUNS OUT OF GAS BEFORE THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM EACH TIME BUT THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER I ENDED UP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE FUEL SENDING UNIT THEY REPLACED THAT AND THEY ALSO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON THE LAST 2 OCCASIONS. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES SINCE 06/13/08 THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS ON 07/23/08. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,648 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10654136 · 2014-11-11 (November 11, 2014)
IN PREPARING TO TRAVEL, I WENT TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK. UPON GETTING BACK INTO MY VEHICLE AND TURNING IT ON MY GAS GAGE DROPPED TO "0" AND THE FUEL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON , INDICATING THAT THE TANK WAS EMPTY, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE WAS WRONG. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER, AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOME. ON 10/1/14, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN, DESCRIBED INCIDENT TO SERVICE CLERK. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL SENDER FLOAT AND WOULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10654136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10370994 · 2010-12-16 (December 16, 2010)
THE VDC AND SLIP LIGHT ARE CONSTANTLY ON WHEN THE BATTERY HAS EITHER DIED, OR HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. ONCE THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED THE VDC IS OFF AND THE SLIP SYSTEM IS OFF AS WELL. AFTER THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED ONCE AGAIN THE VDC, SLIP SYSTEM, AND NOW MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS NOW CONSTANTLY FLASHING AND ILLUMINATED. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IT GIVES YOU A VERY VAGUE DESCRIPTION OF HOW TO RESET THIS LIGHT. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE MANUFACTURE TO BE RES…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,330 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370994 at NHTSA ↗