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2005 Nissan Xterra recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 3 US recalls for the 2005 Nissan Xterra, and 4 in Canada. Owners filed 845 complaints with NHTSA, most often about power train.

3US recalls
0urgent recalls
845owner complaints
–overall crash rating

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Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (3)

Engine and engine cooling

2010-10-28 · campaign 10V517000 · 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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Air bags: frontal

2008-12-29 · campaign 08V690000 · 242,720 vehicles

NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.

Risk and remedy

Risk: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Trailer hitches

2005-10-05 · campaign 05V458000 · 12,500 vehicles

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A NISSAN ACCESSORY TOW HITCH, INADEQUATE QUALITY OF SOME WELDED JOINTS IN THE HITCH ASSEMBLY MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE HITCH FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING USED TO TOW.

Risk and remedy

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRAILER SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TOW HITCHES. ON OCTOBER 17, 2005, OWNERS WERE SENT AN INTERIM LETTER ADVISING THEM NOT TO USE THE TOW HITCH UNTIL IT CAN BE REPAIRED. ANOTHER LETTER WAS SENT OUT ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005, NOTIFYING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Canadian recalls (4)

Show 4 Canadian recalls

Airbag

2023-02-10 · campaign 2023-053

Issue: On certain vehicles, the plastic emblem on the steering wheel airbag cover could detach and become a projectile when the airbag inflates in a crash. Note: This recall is for certain vehicles that had the steering wheel airbag replaced. Safety Risk: Projectiles in the occupant compartment could increase the risk of an injury. Corrective Actions: Nissan will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering wheel airbag cover.

Engine

2010-10-28 · campaign 2010-373

On certain 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. In certain instances, this oxidation could cause engine performance issues (hesitation, rough engine idle, slow start/no-start condition), and engine stalling at low engine speeds which may result in a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the Engine Control Module (ECM) relay.

Airbag

2008-12-22 · campaign 2008-454

On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage, the front Crash Zone Sensor (CZS) may rust internally. This could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front airbags during a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of personal injuries or death in certain crash conditions. Correction: Dealers will replace the Crash Zone Sensor.

Other

2005-10-05 · campaign 2005-290 · 646 vehicles

Affects certain genuine accessory trailer hitches installed by Nissan dealers on 2005 Xterra vehicles. Inadequate quality of some welded joints in the hitch assembly may result in failure, possibly allowing the towed unit to separate from the towing vehicle. Correction: Dealers will replace all suspect genuine Nissan hitches.

Owner complaints (845)

Owners filed 845 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Xterra (7 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries reported). Among 16 model years of this model, it ranks #1 for the most complaints (median 84).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Power train412
Fuel system, gasoline242
Engine and engine cooling167
Engine114
Fuel system, other49
Electrical system39
Fuel/propulsion system32
Unknown or other25

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Nissan Xterra.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2005 Nissan Xterra 4-DR––––

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2005 Nissan Xterra version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
Xterra 2WD 4.0 L Automatic 5-spd142016$4,200
Xterra 2WD 4.0 L Manual 6-spd152117$3,950
Xterra 4WD 4.0 L Automatic 5-spd141916$4,200
Xterra 4WD 4.0 L Manual 6-spd151917$3,950
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.