2013 Nissan Xterra

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Engine2
2. Fuel/propulsion system1
3. Power train1
4. Service brakes1
5. Suspension1
6. Vehicle speed control1

Latest complaints

• Jun 4, 2019ID150,000 mi
  Suspension
  This vehicle was never heavily loaded and was always driven on paved roads. The bottom leaf in each of the rear leaf springs broke within one year of one another. The first time I noticed the broken leaf and had it repaired before the broken piece of leaf could come out of the assembly. The second…

  This vehicle was never heavily loaded and was always driven on paved roads. The bottom leaf in each of the rear leaf springs broke within one year of one another. The first time I noticed the broken leaf and had it repaired before the broken piece of leaf could come out of the assembly. The second time the broken piece of leaf came out of the assembly while the vehicle was travelling straight on a paved city street. the broken piece must have hit the tire because it flew up and struck the bottom of the vehicle. this could potentially cause a tire to blow out, hit another vehicle, or hit a pedestrian. the broken piece of leaf was 13.5 inches long and weighed about 2.5 pounds - certainly dangerous if it hit a pedestrian. The picture shows the leaf assembly with the broken piece of the bottom (i.e., third) leaf re-inserted and slightly rotated toward the tire as it may have appeared before the piece came out of the leaf spring assembly.

• Feb 5, 2019OR90,000 mi
  Service brakes
  Very soft brake pedal observed progressively getting worse over period of about 15K / 1 month triggering increased braking distance especially during wet conditions and at higher speeds occasionally pedal goes almost to the floor prior to vehicle coming to complete stop. Hot pads/rotors observed…

  Very soft brake pedal observed progressively getting worse over period of about 15K / 1 month triggering increased braking distance especially during wet conditions and at higher speeds occasionally pedal goes almost to the floor prior to vehicle coming to complete stop. Hot pads/rotors observed during even cold and or wet conditions above normal until at highway speed brakes overheated triggering calipers to cease up at a stop at approx. 90K (3+ weeks after original observation of occasional soft pedal) at low speeds pedal appeared to be slightly soft, however at higher speeds above 35-40 upwards of 60-65 the issue became very noticeable especially during heavy rain or wet road conditions or if vehicle sat for more than a few hours. issue with soft pedal started around 75K and continued until about 90K until calipers ceased on rotors as noted. had I not exited and came to a stop vehicle could have locked up all 4 wheels at highway speeds causing serious injury. shop diagnosed issue to be faulty hcu within the ABS module manufactured by ate. a very similar issue with a recall noted already by nissan in 16/18 select model vehicles where hcu can leak causing a short in the ecu triggering a fire but this issue IS not observed or recognized on prior model year or vehicles nor does nissan recognize that the hcu appears to be the root cause due to faulty seals. final diagnosis: a faulty ABS seal on one of the valves caused the piston to stick and the valve to remain in the open position reducing pressure that would normally go back into the main lines down to the calipers which in turn caused the soft pedal syndrome. the mil on the dash for the ABS and traction control never turned on until after failure and cease up of calipers. ABS module manufactured by ate. ford also notes a very similar problem with same manufactured ABS modules by ate .

• Sep 20, 2018SC19,150 mi
  Engine · Fuel/propulsion system · Vehicle speed control
  While traveling on a freeway, disengaged speed control using brake, but did not originally turn it off to be able to maneuver better in traffic near a city. Vehicle originally slowed down, but after releasing brake in 3 seconds, car sped up on its own with an acceleration profile greater than the…

  While traveling on a freeway, disengaged speed control using brake, but did not originally turn it off to be able to maneuver better in traffic near a city. Vehicle originally slowed down, but after releasing brake in 3 seconds, car sped up on its own with an acceleration profile greater than the one when you are setting the speed. Tried several times to get it to quit with this behavior and finally hit the cancel and off button on the steering wheel. All cruise control lights on the dash were off and no check engine warnings were on. This did not help the situation. When brake was on, vehicle quit acceleration, so with brake on, pulled on to shoulder and placed vehicle in park and immediately shut the engine off with key in full off position. Waited 20 seconds and restarted car and made way back to freeway. Did not use speed control anymore for the remainder of the trip. At the time the odometer was showing about 19150 actual miles. Made appt with nissan dealer and took it in. On way to dealer, I pushed accelerator half-way to the floor to speed up quickly and the accelerator slammed its way to the floor. I applied brake and vehicle quit accelerating. I did not quit braking until vehicle was below 40. Vehicle did not accelerate again wildly the rest of the 30 mile trip to the dealer and I did not push the peddle very hard the rest of the way. Keep in mind the cruise control switches were not pushed at all during this incident and none of the cruise control lights were lit on the dash; the check engine light was not on either. The dealer was not able to find anything wrong with the vehicle and said they should replace the cruise control switch assembly on the dash. I personally consider this a very dangerous failure mode.

• Nov 14, 2014CO10,284 miCrash1 injury
  Engine · Power train
  My 2013 nissan xterra pro4x accelerated on its own with me standing next to it. It IS a manual transmission and the emergency brake was on. It reversed rapidly and caught me under it. I suffered permanent nerve damage in my arm and extreme scaring on both legs. After it ran me over, it crashed into…

  My 2013 nissan xterra pro4x accelerated on its own with me standing next to it. It IS a manual transmission and the emergency brake was on. It reversed rapidly and caught me under it. I suffered permanent nerve damage in my arm and extreme scaring on both legs. After it ran me over, it crashed into my garage. Nissan refused to take any responsibility for what happened and now I am stuck with a vehicle that I am afraid of. *tr

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 11007001VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2005-2013 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA; DRIVER AIR BAG COVER CAMPAIGN ID #: PC945 and PC948 APPLIED VEHICLES: 2005-2013 Frontier (D40) 2005-2012 Pathfinder (R51) 2005-2013 Xterra (N50) Check Service COMM or Dealer Business Systems (DBS) National Service History to confirm campaign eligibility. INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary safety recall campaign on certain specific model year 2005-2012 Pathfinder, and 2005-2013 Frontier and Xterra vehicles to inspect and, if necessary, replace the Driver Air Bag Cover. This service will be performed at no charge to the customer for parts or labor. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Nissan has assigned identification number PC945 and PC948 to this campaign. This number must appear on all communication and documentation of any nature dealing with this campaign. DEALER RESPONSIBILITY It is the dealers responsibility to check Service COMM or Dealer Business Systems (DBS) National Service History for the campaign status on each vehicle falling within the range of this voluntary safety recall which for any reason enters the service department. This includes vehicles purchased from private parties or presented by transient (tourist) owners and vehicles in a dealers inventory. Federal law requires that new vehicles in dealer inventory which are the subject of a safety recall must be corrected prior to sale. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While federal law applies only to new vehicles, Nissan strongly encourages dealers to correct any used vehicles in their inventory before they are retailed.
• 11004962VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 11004961CAN COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 11004960CAN COMMUNICATION CODES DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 11001201WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 11001194REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 11001191WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10243708DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10239062SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury, do not directly spray Silicone-based lubricant or grease, or inadvertently overspray Silicone-based lubricant or grease onto any interior electrical components. These types of lubricants can be detrimental to the proper operation of electrical components.
• 1023906012 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V battery testing. These recommendations are expected to promote uniformity during the connection process, therefore reducing the number of incorrect Test with DCA and Replace results. HINT: If 12 volt batteries are allowed to discharge for a prolonged period of time, battery life may be drastically reduced. This condition may lead to premature battery replacement and customer dissatisfaction. IMPORTANT: CPX-900 is now an accepted testing tool to use along with or in place of the DSS-5000 CPX-900 operating instructions are found at: https://nissancpx900.midtronics.com/ DSS-5000 operating instructions are found at: https://nissandss5000.midtronics.com/ DCA-8000 is now a required testing tool to be used for all warranty replacement decisions. The DCA-8000 is also a more efficient charger than previously available, and will charge any available 12 volt lead acid battery safely and accurately as long as all precautions and inputs are made correctly. The DCA-8000 operating instructions are found at: https://nissandca8000.midtronics.com/
• 10235710INTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10235707VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10235698HEADLAMP, FOG LAMP, OR REAR COMBINATION LAMP FOGGING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10233896ABS/VDC CAN DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10232658REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10232657WHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10232656WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10232652DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10208953DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10208948EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10208946CAN COMMUNICATION NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10206391STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10206373CLEANING FRONT OR REAR COMBINATION LAMP ASSEMBLIES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
• 10194184Fuel Filler Cap tether clip service information
• 10192840SERVICE INFORMATION Temporary tire Flat Spotting is common on New Dealer In-Stock vehicles that have not been occasionally moved. Flat Spotting can occur after the vehicle has been parked (not moved) for a few days, or longer. In most cases it is temporary. In extreme cases it can be permanent. Vehicles should be moved every 30 days, in one direction only, enough to rotate the tires 90 (see Figure 1). Moving vehicles as shown will prevent tire Flat Spotting. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192821SERVICE INFORMATION Replacement 5-speed rear wheel drive Automatic Transmission (A/T) assemblies and replacement control valves (valve bodies) now come with blank Transmission Control Modules (TCMs). Blank TCMs come without software and must be programmed (not reprogrammed) and then configured after they are installed. When ordering a replacement A/T or control valve, use the Nissan electronic parts information systems to obtain the correct software program part number See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192813SERVICE INFORMATION If the configuration of the Audio/Navigation unit has not been completed correctly, some of the symptoms that may occur are: * Intermittent or no back up camera operation * No steering wheel switch response to audio inputs * No volume response from volume knob * Volume very loud or very quiet and adjustment is overly sensitive * Equalizer is adjusted so that Bass control is at maximum all the time * DTC U1000 for AVM C/U could be present If the above symptoms occur: * Confirm the configuration of the Audio/Navigation unit is correct. NOTE: Correct configuration of the appropriate control unit will restore correct operation. Audio/Navigation unit configuration is outlined starting on page 2. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192801SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement "Certification Label" or "VIN Plate / Label" may be needed. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192787SERVICE INFORMATION If the clip for the fuel filler cap tether becomes lost or is detached for any reason, it is no longer necessary to replace the fuel filler cap. The clip or "pin" is now available as a separate service part. NOTE - Do not replace the fuel filler cap if only the pin is needed. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192750SERVICE INFORMATION Occasionally customers may notice water vapor or fog in the headlamps. The information, illustrations, and flow chart in this bulletin are provided to help you in determining if an incident for water/condensation in the headlamps is normal or not. Nissan?s new vehicle limited warranty does not cover physically damaged (cracked or broken) headlamps. All current headlamp assemblies are vented to the atmosphere (not sealed). - This is necessary to allow for expansion and contraction of air from temperature "variations" (warmer or colder) without damage to the headlamp. - Moisture in the air sometimes "travels" into and out of the headlamp assembly through these vents. - Certain environmental conditions may cause moisture to condense. - The fogging/cloudiness should disappear over time when the headlamp is in a dry environment. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192727SERVICE INFORMATION The purpose of this bulletin is to give Nissan dealers guidelines to help determine if windshield breakage is covered under warranty or is the customer?s responsibility. Nissan North America (NNA) is not responsible for damage to glass that is a result of objects striking or scratching the glass. However, NNA is responsible for manufacturing issues such as distorted glass and cracks that are due to improper installation or damage to the glass during vehicle assembly. NNA typically does not find any type of cracks in the windshield due to stress after the dealership PDI. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192687SERVICE INFORMATION Design and process changes have been made to improve battery voltage at dealer receipt. Our goal is to deliver vehicles to customers with a 12 volt battery in excellent condition. Proper dealership storage and maintenance of vehicle 12 volt batteries is essential to insuring good battery operating life and customer satisfaction. Dealers are responsible for maintaining vehicles in their inventory. 12 volt batteries in vehicle inventory should always be kept at a full charge to prevent excessive discharge during storage and so they are ready for delivery to customers at any time. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192677SERVICE INFORMATION Windshield "foreign material" that is on the surface of the glass in some cases can be cleaned off with a very particular type and grade of steel wool. * Most any foreign material on the surface of the Windshield can be cleaned off by using #0000 super fine steel wool. >The #0000 grade super fine steel wool can be found in most hardware stores. Please see this bulletin for further details.
• 10192661SERVICE INFORMATION: The Navigation (NAVI) SD Map Data Cards are not interchangeable between the two versions of NAVI units offered in Nissan vehicles that use this type of map data. * If the wrong SD Map Data Card is used, the NAVI will display an update screen (Figures 1 and 2, reference only) and will only accept Cancel. * If this screen is displayed, install the correct SD Map Data Card, found in table A on page 2, and the NAVI unit will return to correct operation. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192650IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states HomeLink will not operate or has improper operation. ACTIONS 1. To significantly reduce unnecessary repairs, make sure: a. The vehicle is not in "Transit Mode" (if equipped). - Not in Transit Mode: With the turn signal switch is in the OFF (center) position, turn the ignition from OFF to ON. If the turn signal indicators stay OFF (do not illuminate), the vehicle is not in Transit Mode. b. The "Extended Storage Switch" (if equipped) is in the "Customer Delivery" position (pushed in). - The Extended Storage Switch is located on the fuse block that is located in the interior of the vehicle. 2. Confirm the customer is familiar with the HomeLink programming procedure located in the vehicle?s owner?s manual. 3. Test HomeLink operation with special tool HomeLink Transmitter Tester J-41540. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192638SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has compiled Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and Low Tire Pressure Warning System (LTPWS) information for: - Basic diagnosing of TPMS/LTPWS systems - Radio frequency interference causing a "No Data" (C1708, C1709, C1710, C1711) condition - Sensor leaks - Moving TPMS/LTPWS wheel assemblies from one vehicle to another and TPMS/LTPWS sensor registration - Air pressure changes with altitude and ambient temperatures - Aftermarket tire sealers - Aftermarket wheels - Inflating/deflating tires with TPMS/LTPWS sensors See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192615SERVICE INFORMATION The information in this bulletin is provided to help ensure correct diagnosis and repair of fluid leaks. All fluid leaks, when properly diagnosed, should be repaired (whether under warranty or customer pay) to ensure proper vehicle operation. However, certain normal operating conditions can be misdiagnosed as a leak requiring repair. Unnecessary repair or replacement of parts in connection with incorrectly diagnosed "leaks" can negatively impact customer satisfaction, be time consuming and costly, and if not performed correctly can lead to future repairs. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192597SERVICE INFORMATION When servicing run flat tires or low profile tires: - Special equipment and procedures are required to avoid damage. - Specifically, Tire Pressure Monitor transmitters (TPMS sensors) can be damaged when improperly dismounting and mounting tires. - TPMS sensors becoming damaged during mounting or dismounting tires are not covered under warranty. - To avoid such damage, ensure that the tire changer being used and the operator of the tire changer is capable of servicing run flat and low profile tires. - Operator?s manuals for such tire changers must be followed. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192591SERVICE INFORMATION After ECM reprogramming, the Calibration Verification Number (CVN) needs to be automatically calculated prior to State emissions testing (also known as Inspection Maintainence, I/M, or SMOG testing depending upon location). Allowing the vehicle to idle for 22 minutes will allow for faster CVN calculation. It is recommended that customers utilize this method if the vehicle needs to be tested for emissions soon after ECM reprogramming. See this bulletin for further detail.
• 10192574SERVICE INFORMATION The appearance of painted alloy wheels can be damaged if acidic cleaners are used. DO NOT use Chrome Wheel Cleaner on Painted Wheels. Many chrome wheel cleaners have acidic ingredients. Make sure to follow all instruction in the Appearance and Care Section of the Owner?s Manual. Damage to wheel appearance due to the use of inappropriate chemicals or cleaning products is not covered under warranty. See this bulletin for further detail.

Every Nissan Xterra model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.