2009 Nissan XTERRA: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453861 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505773 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512085 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 73,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577708 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-12-29 (December 29, 2008)

NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.

Consequence: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2010-09-10 (September 10, 2010)

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2023-02-10 (February 10, 2023)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.

Consequence: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.