2010 Nissan Xterra Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Nissan Xterra.

20092011
Complaints
58
Crashes
9
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2010 Nissan Xterra Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#111 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:97,933 mi
Crash-related:2
#210 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:90,451 mi
Crash-related:2
#38 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:111,840 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2010 Nissan Xterra.

Airbags
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
97,933
Transmission / Drivetrain
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
90,451
Electrical Faults
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
111,840
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2010 Nissan Xterra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2010 Nissan Xterra

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~458,325 vehicles.

23V067000Air Bags:frontal
~404,690 affected

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.

10V401000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
~7,948 affected

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.

10V208000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
~41,649 affected

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

10V115000Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive · Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector
~4,038 affected

NISSAN HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2010 TO MARCH 13, 2010. ON SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FASTENERS SECURING THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MODULE, AND ALSO THE FASTENERS SECURING THE STEERING SHAFT POSITIONING BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

Other Nissan Xterra Years

2010 Nissan Xterra — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2010 Nissan Xterra reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2010 Nissan Xterra has 58 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 11 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2010 Nissan Xterra?
Top reported problems: Airbags (11 complaints, avg 97,933 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (10 complaints, avg 90,451 mi); Electrical Faults (8 complaints, avg 111,840 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2010 Nissan Xterra?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 99,189 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2010 Nissan Xterra?
NHTSA complaints for the 2010 Nissan Xterra include 9 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2010 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 458,325 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2010 Nissan Xterra?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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.

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