VehicleVerdict

2010 Nissan Xterra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2010 Nissan Xterra is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 6 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 58 owner complaints run below the Xterra median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across transmission (12), airbags (11), and electrical system (9), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

58

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

1

Investigations

9

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2010 compare to other Xterra years?

See all Xterra years to avoid →

What are the most common 2010 Nissan Xterra problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission1221%
Airbags1119%
Electrical System916%
Engine59%
Fuel System59%
Brakes47%
Other35%
Steering23%
Body & Structure23%
Suspension23%
Tires & Wheels23%
Speed Control12%

Does the 2010 Nissan Xterra have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

23V067000AirbagsFebruary 10, 2023 · 404,690 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.

10V401000Electrical SystemSeptember 10, 2010 · 7,948 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10E043000OtherSeptember 3, 2010 · 294 units

Defect

MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Consequence

AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.

Remedy

MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.

10E019000SuspensionMay 20, 2010 · 1,873 units

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. 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.

Consequence

IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10V208000SuspensionMay 14, 2010 · 41,649 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10V115000AirbagsMarch 24, 2010 · 4,038 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TRAJECTORY MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THE FASTENERS COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITIONING BRACKET INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG FASTENERS AND ANY MISSING FASTENERS WILL BE REPLACED AND ALL LOOSE FASTENERS WILL BE RETIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

I WAS TRAVELING AT 25 (NO MORE THAN 30) MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH MINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE DID CLIP THE MIDDLE 1/3 AND ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY XTERRA. THE HOOD WAS CRUSHED TO THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 22, 2014 · crash

THE NISSAN WAS IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THERE WERE 4 PEOPLE IN CAR WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY AND THOSE TWO PEOPLE RECEVED INJURIES BUT NOT LIFE THREATING. THE DRIVERS SIDE WHERE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · August 24, 2023 · crash

WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 40 DEGREES XTERRA WILL NOT START. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND NOT PARKED IN A GARAGE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED 11 MONTHS AGO TRYING TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM. NO OTHER MAJOR ISSUES WITH VEHICLE EVER. VEHICLE JUST TOWED YESTERDAY DEALER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE UNTIL…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 15, 2016

I WAS TRAVELING AT 25 (NO MORE THAN 30) MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH MINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE DID CLIP THE MIDDLE 1/3 AND ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY XTERRA. THE HOOD WAS CRUSHED TO THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 22, 2014 · crash

MY 2005 XTERRA IS HAVING SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED 2006 XTERRA WITH THE FUEL GAUGE AND RUNNING OUT OF GAS...BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET MINE FIXED COSTING NEARLY $500.00....THE 2005 XTERRAS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AS MANY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · August 1, 2010

2010 Nissan Xterra — common questions

Is the 2010 Nissan Xterra reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 58 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Xterra year, with 6 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2010 Xterra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (12 complaints), airbags (11 complaints), electrical system (9 complaints).

Does the 2010 Nissan Xterra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2010 Nissan Xterra. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2010 Nissan Xterra under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Nissan Xterra years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Xterra years to avoid are 2005, 2006, 2007, 2000, 2002, 2001, 2008. The cleanest record among Xterra years belongs to 1999.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.