The best and worst Nissan Xterra years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Nissan Xterras old enough to judge (2005–2015), the 2012–2015 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2005–2008 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2015 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2005 Nissan Xterra · 98.3 per 10,000 sold (7.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Transmission cooler and fluid overheating, typically around 104,000 miles; then fuel pump and sending unit.
2006 Nissan Xterra · 103.0 per 10,000 sold (7.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Fuel pump and sending unit, typically around 68,000 miles; then cooling system: radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan.
2007 Nissan Xterra · 100.1 per 10,000 sold (7.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Fuel pump and sending unit, typically around 63,000 miles; then transmission cooler and fluid overheating.
2008 Nissan Xterra · 32.2 per 10,000 sold (2.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Transmission cooler and fluid overheating, typically around 110,049 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
Years with the fewest complaints
2012 Nissan Xterra · 8.6 per 10,000 sold (0.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Manual clutch, flywheel and hydraulics, typically around 1,782 miles.
2013 Nissan Xterra · 2.3 per 10,000 sold (0.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: ABS module and wheel speed sensors, typically around 90,000 miles.
2014 Nissan Xterra · 6.1 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 77,000 miles.
2015 Nissan Xterra · 9.4 per 10,000 sold (0.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Coil and leaf springs.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Nissan Xterra year: 13.2 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Nissan Xterra?
Among Nissan Xterras old enough to judge (2005–2015), the 2006 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 103.0, about 7.8× a typical Nissan Xterra year. The 2005 and 2007–2008 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Nissan Xterra?
The 2013 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Nissan Xterras from 2005–2015: 2.3, against 13.2 for a typical year. The 2012 and 2014–2015 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2006 Nissan Xterra?
The most-reported problem on the 2006 Nissan Xterra is fuel pump and sending unit, typically around 68,000 miles.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.