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Nissan XterraModel year report

2011 Nissan Xterra Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
54,000miles, 15 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.0L 6-cyl RWD · 16 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Nissan Xterra (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2011 Nissan Xterra. The part named most often is air bags, with 9 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine (5) and electrical system (4). 15 of the complaints include a mileage, and 47% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 54,000 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 99 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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: Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Purchased vehicle in march 2018 with the passenger seat airbag alert flashing on the instrument panel. Everything I tried would not extinguish it, connecting releasing and reconnecting the passenger seatbelt, turning the passenger side airbag off and on a couple of times. So I decided to check on recalls and found three of the four complaints for this make/model are for this same problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11080806, filed 2018-03, 115,858 miles

Engine: “Driver's side exhaust manifold broke while driving slowly on bumpy road. Flange that attached to catalytic converter separated from stainless steel piping. Now heat and carbon monoxide is pumping out under driver's feet. Very loud. Nissan says tough luck - we are not paying. 54,000 miles, 7 years old.”

NHTSA complaint #11035945, filed 2017-10, 54,000 miles

Electrical system: “Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle's mileage was approximately 129,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was approximately 188,000 in 2022.”

NHTSA complaint #11677288, filed 2025-07

Mileage when problems were reported

47% of the 15 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 32,000 and 56,000 miles.

7%0–1020%10–2520%25–5033%50–757%75–10013%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (15 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 54,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

20122014420172020202342025
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 2011 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 · SUV 4WDnot rated———3 · 25.6% risk
Xterra · SUV RWDnot rated———3 · 24.6% risk

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 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 2WD4.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162218$3,700
Xterra 4WD4.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic152017$3,950
Xterra 4WD4.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual162017$3,950

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 2011 Nissan Xterra → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

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. 99 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 99 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

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Nissan Xterra have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2011 Nissan Xterra as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Nissan Xterra is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 9 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine with 5.

Has the 2011 Nissan Xterra been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Nissan Xterra get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Nissan Xterra (Xterra 2WD, 4.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Nissan Xterra reported?

Among the 15 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 54,000 miles and the middle half falls between 32,000 and 56,000 miles; 47% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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.