Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2010 Nissan Xterra Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints: 11about this part
Share: 29%of 38 total for the year
Median mileage: 66,400miles
Trend: Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2010 Nissan Xterra, 29% of the 38 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,400 miles. 2 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.

“My ecu on my Nissan Xterra was supposedly shorted due to a loose or damaged cable. With my initial inspection of the vehicle, the cable was not loose, yet I still had problems. The issue happened when I had parked my vehicle to run an errand. When I returned, I started up my vehicle and attempted to drive. There was no power and the engine would not accelerate over 5 MPH. Not wanting the vehicle to breakdown on a busy road, I backed up and parked the vehicle. I attempted to restart the vehicle, but this time the starter would crank, but would not turn over. …”

NHTSA complaint #10837486, filed 2016-02, 107,000 miles

“I started the car to let it warm up. The manual gearshift was in neutral and the emergency brake was engaged. As I got out of the vehicle, it lurched forward and I attempted to get back into the vehicle to apply the brake. It lurched a second time before I was able to get inside. I attempted to get inside the vehicle a second time to apply the brake but was not able to due to the car lurching forward again.. On the third lurch it continued to drive forward, hitting my mother's parked car and pushing it back approximately 3-4 feet into the back wall of her carport. …”

NHTSA complaint #10559437, filed 2014-01, 37,200 miles

“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 SUV, grill was obliterated, front passenger headlight was crushed into the battery (that leaks due to the accident), and the front bumper was impinging the front passenger wheel from freely moving. The airbags should have deployed, but did not. The vehicle is not drivable and had to be towed. …”

NHTSA complaint #10668192, filed 2014-12, 83,800 miles

“I have a 2010 Nissan Xterra I bought in aug 2010. I am constantly having to bring it into the dealership for repairs with same 3-4 issues. It now has apprx 8000 miles and needs a new set of tires which Nissan is refusing to change. The gas gauge is constantly not working, does not read properly, I finally had to prove it to them this past week after complaining numerous time and having them, replace the gas sensor one . The engine hesitates at apprx 40 miles an hour, one of these days I am afraid I will be hit from behind when I step on the gas and it does not go. …”

NHTSA complaint #10394082, filed 2011-04, 2,500 miles

“At a little over 180,000 miles need a new rear differential. Read on an Xterra forum the spthider gears were not heat treated properly by the manufacturer which causes rear differentials to fail.the vehicle was never driven off road or towed anything. It should not have failed.”

NHTSA complaint #11352131, filed 2020-08, 180,000 miles

Related service bulletins

10199142Jun 2, 2021VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2010 4WD NISSAN ARMADA, FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, TITAN, XTERRA; FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT Service Campaign ID # PC036 is no longer active. ï· Repair orders…
10192821May 10, 2016SERVICE INFORMATION Replacement 5-speed rear wheel drive Automatic Transmission (A/T) assemblies and replacement control valves (valve bodies) now come with blank Transmission…
10192615Aug 6, 2015SERVICE INFORMATION The information in this bulletin is provided to help ensure correct diagnosis and repair of fluid leaks. All fluid leaks, when properly diagnosed, should be…
10192524Feb 6, 2015SERVICE INFORMATION When diagnosing possible power steering gear (rack and pinion steering rack, or steering rack) leak issues, it may appear the steering rack is leaking when…
10192474Nov 20, 2014SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if the…
10192203Jul 2, 2013IF YOU CONFIRM: * The idle seems low or the idle is rough when the A/C compressor is on or when the A/C compressor turns on. And * No other ECM DTCs are present. ACTION: Confirm…
10192051Oct 12, 2012Nissan has decided in the interest of customer satisfaction, to further extend the warranty for the Radiator Assembly on all 2005-10 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra vehicles…
10043950Apr 10, 2012Nissan: ecm replacement procedures with consult iii plus. Applies to all 2004 and later (does not apply to leaf/ev) vehicles.

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

Year	Complaints	Share of year
2015	6	60%
2014	1	10%
2012	6	38%
2011	1	4%
2010	11	29%
2009	6	32%
2008	47	40%
2007	231	41%
2006	268	34%
2005	412	49%
2004	6	7%
2003	2	3%
2002	6	4%
2001	6	4%
2000	22	10%

Other parts of the 2010 Nissan Xterra

Air bags
11 complaints Electrical system
8 complaints Fuel system
5 complaints Brakes
4 complaints Engine
4 complaints Other or unknown
3 complaints Steering
2 complaints Body and structure
2 complaints Electronic stability control
1 complaints Engine cooling
1 complaints Suspension
1 complaints Tires
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2010 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