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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Nissan XTERRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

19 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

66,550 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 19 complaints (26.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting736.8%
Braking behavior315.8%
Steering behavior315.8%
Electrical and battery issues15.3%

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.

Air Bags
5
Power Train
5
Engine
3
Electrical System
2
Service Brakes
2
Structure:Body
2
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
Electrical System:Horn
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags5
Power Train5
Engine3
Electrical System2
Service Brakes2
Structure:Body2
Air Bags:Side/Window1
Electrical System:Horn1

Air Bags: 5; Power Train: 5; Engine: 3; Electrical System: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 3 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.

2009
1
2010
2
2011
1
2012
1
2013
2
2014
1
2015
3
2016
1
2018
1
2019
3
2020
1
2021
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20102
20111
20121
20132
20141
20153
20161
20181
20193
20201
20211
20261

2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10324759 · 2010-04-09 (April 9, 2010)

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 3…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324759 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10896965 · 2016-08-18 (August 18, 2016)

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 AWAR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10896965 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10295705 · 2009-12-14 (December 14, 2009)

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 ODOM…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,247 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295705 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10765122 · 2015-09-18 (September 18, 2015)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10765122 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10358512 · 2010-09-30 (September 30, 2010)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358512 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10409192 · 2011-06-28 (June 28, 2011)

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 M…

Owner-reported narrative. 27,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409192 at NHTSA ↗