2008 Nissan Xterra problems
Owners have filed 174 complaints about the 2008 Nissan Xterra with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 27% of them — the clear leader, ahead of air bags at 13.2%.
Complaints174
Crashes11
Fires6
Injuries6
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 27.0% · 47
Air bags 13.2% · 23
Engine 13.2% · 23
Electrical system 6.3% · 11
Fuel system, gasoline 5.2% · 9
Fuel/propulsion system 5.2% · 9
Engine and engine cooling 4.6% · 8
Unknown or other 4.6% · 8
Severity
Of those complaints, 11 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire and 6 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 8 model years of the Nissan Xterra in this data, 2008 draws comparatively few complaints; 2005 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 8 in the last three years against 26 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 95,000 miles.
In owners' own words
My Xterra is currently un-driveable due to the fact that the radiator fluid leaked into the transmission, which caused me the blow my transmission while I was merging on to the highway, which almost caused an accident due to an extreme lost of power. After this happened to me, that is when I found out that this is a very common problem with make model and year of my vehicle. Nissan has done nothing to help. Power train · reported at 160,000 miles
Radiator fluid leaked into the transmission which resulted in unrepairable damage to the transmission which require the entire tranmission to be replaced at a significant cost. Not sure when the radiator began leaking fluid into the transmission there were no warning signs incidating that something was wrong until the damage had been done. Power train · reported at 110,000 miles
Timing chain.I would like to send out a letter of complaint on my 2008 Xterra. I'm one of the hundreds with the premature wear of the timing chain shoe and tensioners mentioned in your 2009 service bulletin em09-007; ntb09-128; nov. 16, 2009. Substandard parts. Your customer service was no customer service. Power train · reported at 77,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…