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Nissan XterraModel year report

2003 Nissan Xterra Problems

Complaints
72filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
72,700miles, 52 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 3.3L 6-cyl RWD · 15 city / 19 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Nissan Xterra (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2003 Nissan Xterra most often report problems with the brakes and steering, often describing the pedal or ABS behaving unexpectedly and the wheel becoming hard to turn. Fuel-system complaints cluster around the fuel sending unit and fuel tank filler area, with stalling, hard starting and fuel leaks. Window regulators, airbag non-deployment and cooling/overheating come up regularly as well.

  1. Steering

    Hard steering / steering loss

    • 11 complaints (15%)
    • median 101,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2021

    Complaints describe the steering wheel becoming stiff or difficult to turn, sometimes suddenly, at city speeds and on curves. Several owners say the dealer could not reproduce the problem or offered no further help, and some mention power-steering fluid loss or a hose replacement. One owner reports the stiffness continued after the steering-column recall repair. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 30,000 to over 150,000 miles.

    Recall 10V5540002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Drive at low speed and on full turns to feel for stiffness or binding, and check the lower steering column joint for corrosion. Ask whether the 10V554000 steering-column recall work was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When I was driving on freeway, the steering wheel of my car got hard to maneuver. I pulled very hard. I had to take my car to the dealer and they said they have to replace the hose from the steering wheel, the steering liquid is poured. And it costs me $ 500 to repair my car. I think it's a manufacturer's defect in the steering fluid hose.”

    NHTSA complaint #10415118, filed 2011-07, 101,000 miles

    “I drove the vehicle on a freeway under construction with one finished new pavement lane. When I was changed the other old lane to the new one, the wheel suddenly got out of control and spun from one lane to the other and ended in the midium bumped into barriers. Lately I contacted with Nissan and question if this is associated with the recall r1037. They denied.”

    NHTSA complaint #10460065, filed 2012-05, 30,000 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brakes not stopping as expected / ABS behavior

    • 11 complaints (15%)
    • median 53,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2017

    Owners describe the brake pedal fading to the floor, brakes locking or engaging unexpectedly, and the ABS activating without warning, in some cases with the ABS light staying off. A few mention a caliper sticking or a pad separating from its holder. Dealers in several complaints reported they could not duplicate the condition. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, including in wet or snowy conditions.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test braking on a wet or loose surface and listen for ABS cycling, and have the front calipers and pad retention checked. Ask for brake service records.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Brakes failed and the ABS didn't work until I almost hit another car in front of me. The ABS triggers without any notice and has cause me to merge onto the other lane. Cause my car does not stop. The ABS light doesn't go on so the manufacturer Nissan told me they couldn't find any problems with it. And its sitting at a local trustworthy mechanic shop where it will be fixed for the service brakes air-antilock brake failure. Please help with a rapid recall so my family could get reimbursed for the huge expense of fixing a manufacturer problem. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10423988, filed 2011-09, 56,000 miles

    “Brake pedal faded to the floor,while trying to stop for a red light.resulting in a three car accident.when I made contact with the car in front of me my airbag did not deploy although my empty passanger seats did.although there were no skid marks and the officers that responded did not ticket me for failure to stop,Nissan insists that everything checks out and that it must have been operator error.since this accident I have had my stereo replaced under warranty I have had work done on my steering column due to grinding noises and both motors …”

    NHTSA complaint #10060232, filed 2004-03, 3,600 miles
  3. Fuel system

    Fuel pump / sending unit stalling and no-start

    • 11 complaints (15%)
    • median 70,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2004–2021

    Complaints describe the vehicle stalling or failing to restart after fueling, traced in several cases to a cracked or corroded fuel sending unit or connector. Some owners had the recall repair (04V230000) performed and report the problem returning later. Others say they were told their vehicle was not covered by the recall. Reported from about 24,000 up to 190,000 miles, often noticed around refueling.

    Recall 04V230000

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel sending unit recall (04V230000) was completed, and check for a fuel smell or hard starting right after filling the tank.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We were driving on vacation and the car stopped. It started back up and then after a couple of miles stopped again. We were stranded and didn't get home for three days.I have take codes off the engine and it showed a 0462 code. Went back to get Xterra with a car dolly and dolly broke and car came undone. This unfortunate incident was a direct result of a bad sending unit.”

    NHTSA complaint #10608227, filed 2014-07, 108,000 miles

    “Fuel pump power steering abs O2 sensors yes it's available for inspection upon requests car shut off while driving at 70 miles an hour on a highway due to fuel pump because my VIN number is not with all the other 2003 Nissan xterra's that have recalls on all of the same problems I have just for some reason my car has zero recalls which is ridiculous and not believable so yes my life was put at risk I took it to an independent service my mechanic because I can't take it to a dealer because all the parts that are broken and that need …”

    NHTSA complaint #11428152, filed 2021-08
  4. Air bags

    Airbags not deploying in a collision

    • 9 complaints (13%)
    • median 18,000 mi at 1.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2022

    Several owners report that airbags did not deploy in a front-end or rollover impact, in some cases while the passenger-side bag did deploy from an empty seat. Complaints describe collisions at moderate speeds and resulting injuries, but do not identify a diagnosed cause. Mostly reported at lower mileage, under about 25,000 miles, though later reports exist.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check that the airbag warning light behaves normally at startup, and confirm the vehicle has not been in an unrepaired collision. Ask about any prior SRS service.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving 50 MPH driver lost control of the vehicle. A technician determined that upper ball joint on driver's side broke. The air bags did not deploy during this accident. The technician indicated that he had never seen ball joint fail this way before.”

    NHTSA complaint #10067379, filed 2004-05, 18,000 miles

    “Driver side airbag failure in a front end collision at speeds of 30-40 MPH. Drivers airbag did not deploy while the empty passengers did. Complete brake failure resulting in a three car accident. 2003 Nissan Xterra 3,700 miles.”

    NHTSA complaint #10045652, filed 2003-11, 3,700 miles
  5. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Power window regulators failing

    • 6 complaints (8%)
    • median 5,350 mi at 1.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2007

    Owners describe windows that stop working, roll up very slowly, or stay down, affecting several windows over time. Complaints mention repeated regulator replacement and, in one case, a dealer acknowledging a known regulator problem without a recall remedy. Reported from very low mileage (under 10,000) up to about 85,000 miles.

    What to check: Operate every window through a full cycle and listen for slow travel or grinding. Ask whether any regulators have been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a problem with the front windows of my Nissan Xterra, I bought the car two months ago and the front windows stopped working twice already. I was told by the service manager that there is a problem with the window regulators in the xterras and that Nissan does not have a recall or even has a solution to this problem other than having to change the same part over and over. As we all know we buy new cars for their dependability not because we like the payments!”

    NHTSA complaint #10041694, filed 2003-10, 1,000 miles

    “I own a 2003 Nissan Xterra with 7400 miles on it. On wednesday, february 25, 2004, I attempted to roll down my windows and all four windows were powerless. I called conicelli Nissan service in conshohocken, pa immediatley and brought it in for service the next day (february 26, 2004). During the first service check, the technician could not duplicate the concern and did not fix anything. On february 27, 2004, the exact same thing happened to my windows. This time my front, right, driver-side window was down and I was not able to get it up. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10060387, filed 2004-03, 7,100 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic inspect the brakes, steering column joint and fuel sending unit, and confirm which recalls (10V554000, 04V230000) have been completed on the specific vehicle. Service records for steering and fuel-pump work are worth reviewing before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 72 consumer complaints for the 2003 Nissan Xterra. 52 of the complaints include a mileage, and 35% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,700 miles. Of all complaints, 16 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 10 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 38 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (3), Vehicle speed control (3), Exterior lighting (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Wheels (2).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “When fueling my 2003 Nissan Xterra gas unexpected back washes out of the fuel filler. I was covered in gas along with the vehicle and surrounding ground. A recall was for the 2001 Nissan Xterra for the identical problem. I would like the recall to cover the 2003 Nissan Xterra. The problem and part failure is identical in both cases. The failing part is the fuel tank inlet shutter valve.”

NHTSA complaint #10340344, filed 2010-06, 146,000 miles

Brakes: “Steering inputs very slower to respond, huge noise, could not make turn easily, it is happening every year since 2008 even after I serviced the vehicle and changed the parts, previously problem started with u- turns and now wide turns, left and right turns also. …”

NHTSA complaint #10390968, filed 2011-03, 54,000 miles

Steering: “I was driving to work one day and while I was turning corners I felt it was getting harder to steer. I stop at the red light and when drove off again I was going maybe 5-10 MPH, I turned left and I was going to straighten the car up the car started to swurve and bear to the left. I tried to regain control but the car would not respond I ended up crashing into a pole.”

NHTSA complaint #10840315, filed 2016-03, 142,000 miles

Air bags: “Product defect. No summary listed (Nissan). While the consumer was driving down a smoothly paved road she suddenly lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle veered sharply across the yellow lines and flipped end over end at least twice. The vehicle landed upside down on the opposite side of the road facing in the opposite direction. The air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer's sent an employee of an engineering firm as an unbiased third party. The engineer determined that there was no impact to the ball joint to cause a failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #10066480, filed 2005-01, 18,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

35% of the 52 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 24,000 and 117,520 miles.

15%0–1013%10–256%25–5015%50–7515%75–10025%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (52 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 72,700 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’0415’07’10’13’16’19’22
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Nissan Xterra. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Xterra · sedan not rated4 / 4——2

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Nissan Xterra version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Xterra 2WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual172219$3,550
Xterra V6 2WD3.3L 6-cyl5-speed manual151917$3,950
Xterra V6 2WD3.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic151916$4,200
Xterra V6 2WD3.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141715$5,500
Xterra V6 2WD3.3L 6-cyl5-speed manual141815$5,500
Xterra V6 4WD3.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200
Xterra V6 4WD3.3L 6-cyl5-speed manual151916$4,200
Xterra V6 4WD3.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141715$5,500
Xterra V6 4WD3.3L 6-cyl5-speed manual141715$5,500

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2003 Nissan Xterra → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 38 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 38 bulletins →

Other model years of the Nissan Xterra

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20151066,0000—18—Not enough data
20141068,0900—18—Not enough data
2012164,2912—18—Rising
20112454,0002—18—Rising
20103881,9004—18Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20091966,5503—18—Falling
200811995,0006—17Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
200755789,4681—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200678081,4603—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200584588,6843—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20048459,0002—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20037272,7003—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200215780,0005—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200115065,0003—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200021472,0003—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Nissan Xterra model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Xterra?

Owners of the 2003 Nissan Xterra most often report problems with the brakes and steering, often describing the pedal or ABS behaving unexpectedly and the wheel becoming hard to turn. The issues reported most often: Hard steering / steering loss; Brakes not stopping as expected / ABS behavior; Fuel pump / sending unit stalling and no-start.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Nissan Xterra have?

NHTSA recorded 72 consumer complaints for the 2003 Nissan Xterra as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Nissan Xterra is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 16 complaints (22% of the total), followed by brakes with 12.

Has the 2003 Nissan Xterra been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Nissan Xterra get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Nissan Xterra (Xterra V6 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 15 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Nissan Xterra reported?

Among the 52 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,700 miles and the middle half falls between 24,000 and 117,520 miles; 35% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.