7.3% of complaints about the 2004 Nissan Xterra came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (21 complaints), typically at 9.3 yr or about 83,000 miles.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.
THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WHEN THE TOWING VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE TOWING VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCESSORY TOW HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
THIS COULD CAUSE THE TOW HITCH TO LOOSEN OR SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA WHICH WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2004. HE NOTICED A LEAK SIMILAR TO OIL IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE LEAK WAS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND WOULD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 49,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AROUND A BEND WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SUDDENLY FLIPPED DRIVER SIDE UP. THE CONTACT AND ALL THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONTUSION TO THE BRAIN AND THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULTY TO MANEUVER. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 0V554000 (STEERING:COLUMN). THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.