2010 Nissan XTERRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
81,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 38 complaints (28.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 21.1% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 13.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 10.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
Air Bags: 11; Power Train: 10; Electrical System: 8; Engine: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10494832 · 2013-01-26 (January 26, 2013)
I AM WRITING TO REPORT REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE, AN XTERRA 2010. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RISK OF CRASH AND DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE - SLOW ACCELERATION ON SURFACE STREETS AFTER LIGHT CHANGES ? THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. - SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN ENTERING THE EXPRESSWAY, CAR SHIFTS GEARS SLOWLY ? THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, - CAR FILLS WITH KEROSENE OR EXHAUST SMELL FOR A SHORT TIME, EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ? THIS OCCURS OCCASIONALLY, - CAR REVVED UP FOLLOWED BY A SWEET SMELL (LIKE COOLANT/ANT…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10668192 · 2014-12-24 (December 24, 2014)
I WAS TRAVELING AT 25 (NO MORE THAN 30) MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH MINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE DID CLIP THE MIDDLE 1/3 AND ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY XTERRA. THE HOOD WAS CRUSHED TO THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM THE SUV, GRILL WAS OBLITERATED, FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS CRUSHED INTO THE BATTERY (THAT LEAKS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT), AND THE FRONT BUMPER WAS IMPINGING THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FROM FREELY MOVING. THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT. THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559437 · 2014-01-11 (January 11, 2014)
I STARTED THE CAR TO LET IT WARM UP. THE MANUAL GEARSHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. AS I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, IT LURCHED FORWARD AND I ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE. IT LURCHED A SECOND TIME BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET INSIDE. I ATTEMPTED TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME TO APPLY THE BRAKE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DUE TO THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD AGAIN.. ON THE THIRD "LURCH" IT CONTINUED TO DRIVE FORWARD, HITTING MY MOTHER'S PARKED CAR AND PUSHING IT BACK APPROXIMATELY 3-4 FEET INTO THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565074 · 2014-02-20 (February 20, 2014)
VEHICLE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD DUE TO REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKING FLUID CONTAMINATING PARKING BRAKE SHOES. ISSUE IS COVERED UNDER TSB VIA NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10033306, BUT NISSAN WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY DESPITE BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10837486 · 2016-02-22 (February 22, 2016)
MY ECU ON MY NISSAN XTERRA WAS SUPPOSEDLY SHORTED DUE TO A LOOSE OR DAMAGED CABLE. WITH MY INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CABLE WAS NOT LOOSE, YET I STILL HAD PROBLEMS. THE ISSUE HAPPENED WHEN I HAD PARKED MY VEHICLE TO RUN AN ERRAND. WHEN I RETURNED, I STARTED UP MY VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE. THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH. NOT WANTING THE VEHICLE TO BREAKDOWN ON A BUSY ROAD, I BACKED UP AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THIS TIME THE STARTER WOULD CRANK, BUT WOUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10837486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10789013 · 2015-11-07 (November 7, 2015)
JULY 2015,CAR QUIT STEERING NO WARNING. TURNED OUT TO BE RACK AND PINION WENT OUT.COST $1900 TO REPLACE . THEN SEPTEMBER 2015 CAR JUST QUIT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING, HAD TO TOTALLY REPLACE WITH A NEW ONE WAS NON REPAIRABLE. COST WAS $4970.00 MACHANIC SAID REASON WAS THAT ENGINE COOLANT MIXED IN WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Owner-reported narrative. 151,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10789013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11011608 · 2017-07-31 (July 31, 2017)
MY AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT MY AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN DISABLED BECAUSE OF A FAULT IN THE SPIRAL CABLE IN MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY TOLD ME THE PART COST $460 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELTS TO BE DEACTIVATED. THEY TOLD ME TO FIX IT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A SAFETY FEATURE SUCH AS AN AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE A WARRANTY EXPIRATION. WHEN I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T HAVE THE $460 THEY SAID MAKE SURE YOU WEAR YOUR S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11011608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156769 · 2018-12-07 (December 7, 2018)
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-15 MPH. IMMEDIATE LOSS OF BRAKES, ACCELERATION, AND POWER STEERING. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE 405 FWY/SEPULVEDA PASS AREA DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR IN STOP-GO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD, AND SHUT OFF VEHICLE. WAITED 1 MINUTE AND VEHICLE RESTARTED WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES ON DRIVE TO WORK. FROM A REVIEW OF ONLINE RESOURCES THIS LOOKS EERILY SIMILAR TO ISSUE OUTLINED IN PRIOR RECALL ISSUED BY NHTSA LISTED UNDER NTB10-137. THIS IS SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS, AND COULD EASI…
Owner-reported narrative. 173,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11277460 · 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)
INTERMITTENT STALLING ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS 98,700 MILES ON IT AND HAS NOT HAD ANY OTHER ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS. ON THE FIRST OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, GOING BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH, TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE START TO SLOW DOWN, LOST POWER STEERING AND ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED (CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, AIRBAG, SEATBELT, ETC.) BUT THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON. PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION. RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY WITH NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277460 at NHTSA ↗