Worst 2005 Nissan Xterra Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Gasoline Fuel System
Engine & Cooling
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Nissan Xterra.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 354 | — | 2 | 109,667 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 237 | 1 | — | 67,018 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 123 | — | — | 107,048 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 114 | — | 2 | 111,542 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 52 | — | — | 93,100 mi | |
| Fuel System, Other | 40 | — | — | 60,853 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 37 | — | 2 | 91,132 mi | |
| Fuel System | 32 | — | — | 84,497 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 23 | — | — | 88,725 mi | |
| Airbags | 16 | 2 | — | 84,847 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 16 | — | 1 | 98,265 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 12 | — | — | 119,840 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 10 | 2 | — | 95,414 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 8 | — | 1 | 87,843 mi | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 8 | — | — | 65,500 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | 1 | — | 82,597 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Trailer Hitches | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Driveline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Nissan Xterra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2005 Nissan Xterra
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~747,480 vehicles.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.
Other Nissan Xterra Years
2005 Nissan Xterra — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2005 Nissan Xterra reliable?
What are common problems with the 2005 Nissan Xterra?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Nissan Xterra?
How safe is the 2005 Nissan Xterra?
Does the 2005 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2005 Nissan Xterra?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Xterra reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2005 Nissan Xterra
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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