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BrakesPart report

2003 Nissan Xterra Brakes Problems

Complaints
12about this part
Share
17%of 72 total for the year
Median mileage
44,540miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Nissan Xterra, 17% of the 72 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,540 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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 in my rear windows are failing and need to be…”

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

“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

“Front right brake froze in the on position while driving impeding acceleration and braking capacity. Brake also caused smoke. This occurred on two occasions. After first occurrence the brake pads were replaced and braking cylinder seemed to be working. After second occurrence the brake cylinder was replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10134383, filed 2005-08, 57,000 miles

“Parking brake failure and undetermined engine noise - on 2 occasions, the parking brake hold became loose and caused the vehicle to roll backward. It was repaired twice in less than 6 months, both times saying the some type of washer that holds a cable had become loose. The parking brake tension would become very loose before the failures. There is an additional engine noise issue that has not been resolved after 4 visits to the dealer while under warranty. …”

NHTSA complaint #10178698, filed 2007-01, 7,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2015220%
2014110%
2010411%
2009211%
20081311%
200761%
200691%
200540%
200467%
20031217%
20022818%
200196%
2000147%

Other parts of the 2003 Nissan Xterra

Fuel system
16 complaints
Steering
12 complaints
Air bags
10 complaints
Engine cooling
7 complaints
Body and structure
7 complaints
Engine
6 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaints
Electrical system
4 complaints
Tires
4 complaints
Suspension
3 complaints
Vehicle speed control
3 complaints
Exterior lighting
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Nissan Xterra

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology