CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005-2007 Xterra appears to have a widespread defect where coolant leaks into the transmission, causing transmission failure around 90,000 miles. Repair costs are typically upwards of $3,500.

The same defect exists in the Pathfinder & Frontier as well. And according to the New York Times & a class action lawsuit, the defect actually extends through 2010 model year. More info here.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,210 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Nissan Xterra fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2005 Nissan Xterra Owner Comments (Page 2 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #217

Oct 052010

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Service engine light came on and fuel gauge completely unreliable. Fuel gauge would read empty with full fuel and then change to various readings.

- La Verne, CA, USA

problem #216

Nov 302011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
Fuel level sending unit fails with a P0463 stored in self-diagnosis. This is the same as the open recall for 06-08 in tsb ntb07-069B. However mine is an 05 and if you look on the web, ,,,,,,this is a common problem with Xterra S from 05-09 not just 06-08. Nissan is not being helpful, and running out of fuel in the middle of the road is not good, nor is the $500+ dollars they want to fix this!!

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #215

Dec 012011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
I have a 200D Xterra that I bought new at the end of 2005. Recently the gas gauge stopped working. I would fillit up than he gas light comes on along with service engine soon. Next day gas gauge reads 3/4 full than never moves. Nissan wants to charge $450 just so happens my extended warranty ran out 10-15-11 and I have over 72,000 miles on it.

- Simpsonville, SC, USA

problem #214

Oct 012011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 129,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Started hearing a rumble strip sound while on smooth pavement. Vehicle started shifting harder, with slight vibrations. Before I could take it in, I was involved with a hit in run in a parking lot. Nissan said the upper and lower radiator hoses were soaked in transmission fluid. Manager said it had been leaking for some time. He said I needed a new radiator, and transmission cost of 6500. Nissan updated their radiators because they new it was a defective part, but refuse to take care of damage they have caused. See link www.nissanassist.com/web/radiator/faqs.php?menu=22

- Stevenson, AL, USA

problem #213

Oct 022006

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 36,800 miles
Fuel level sensor failed 800 miles out of warranty; causes driver to have no idea of fuel level. Creates dangerous possibility of running out of fuel on highways, in traffic, etc. Without motor running, power steering and power brakes do not work, creating even higher risk of accident. Very common issue on 2005 Xterra; should have been a recall.

- Browns Mills, NJ, USA

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problem #212

Nov 142011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • miles
Fuel gauge, fuel sending unit is not working properly.

- Burnsville , NC, USA

problem #211

Oct 012011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The fuel level sensor is not working correctly causing an unsafe fuel indication reading.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #210

Nov 042011

Xterra

  • miles
I had 1/4 of a tank of gas and went to fill up. After filling up my gas tank, I turned on the car, at which point the needle did not register the full tank. After driving a couple miles, the check engine light came on. After returning home and doing research, I went online to X.nissanhelp.com after performing a search, I came across many others who have experienced the same problem. Apparently it has something to do with the fuel sending unit. A similar problem was found on the 2000-2004 Xterra models and a recall was performed when the vehicle would stop after not getting any fuel, posing a great danger. It seems that something in the unit is faulty and will corrode over time. There is a general consensus that everyone who is having the problem is experiencing the same thing after having the vehicle for over 2 yrs and with around 39K-59K. If this problem existed in previous models, and it was recalled, the 2005-2007 Xterras, frontiers, and pathfinders should get this fixed at no charge to the customer!! why wait for accidents and possible deaths, especially since the problem lies in an integral part of the vehicle. Cost of repair ranges from $300-600.

- College Station, TX, USA

problem #209

Oct 122011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 70,893 miles
The fuel level sensor error code is on due to a part failure and this is a known fault that occurs frequently and has safety concerns due to possibility of running our of fuel.

- Vail, CO, USA

problem #208

Oct 212011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 89,700 miles
After my "service engine soon" light was activated, I proceeded to take my Nissan Xterra to the Nissan dealership in hawthorne, ca, to have it checked out. Nissan charged me $129 for a diagnostic test, which found an error code of P0463. That error coded indicated that the fuel level sensor was malfunctioning. I declined to pay $570 to have it repaired. In doing some research on the internet, I found that several Nissan vehicles, especially its trucks and SUVS, have suffered from this product defect. I would greatly appreciate it if Nissan rectified the situation by recalling vehicles or covering my charge for repairs.

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

problem #207

Sep 222011

Xterra

  • 37,689 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2005 Xterra with 38K miles, "service engine soon" light came on, took it to the dealership, hooked it up to the computer, diagnosis is a bad fuel sending unit $600 to replace. I'm just over the extended warranty but dealership cannot help. The sending unit and gasket are $200. $400 for labor seems a bit steep. At what point in time will Nissan recall this issue?

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #206

Oct 102006

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 36,800 miles
Fuel sending unit died at 36800 miles; approximately 800 miles out of warranty. Nissan later admitted fault (over 5 years later) and extended warranty to 72000 miles as it applies to that part, but my vehicle was well past that mileage by that point. Vehicle now fails NJ inspection because obd II code is returned for faulty fuel level sensor.

- Browns Mills, NJ, USA

problem #205

Jul 202011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • miles
"I had 1/4 of a tank of gas and went to fill up. After filling up my gas tank, I turned on the car, at which point the needle did not register the full tank. After driving a couple miles, the check engine light came on. I went directly to the dealer and was told that it was a fuel sending unit/sensor and that it was no longer covered after 30K miles. After returning home and doing research, I went online to X.nissanhelp.com after performing a search, I came across many others who have experienced the same problem. Apparently it has something to do with the fuel sending unit. A similar problem was found on the 2000-2004 Xterra models and a recall was performed when the vehicle would stop after not getting any fuel, posing a great danger. It seems that something in the unit is faulty and will corrode over time. There is a general consensus that everyone who is having the problem is experiencing the same thing after having the vehicle for over 2 yrs and with around 39K-49K. If this problem existed in previous models, and it was recalled, the 2005-2007 Xterras, frontiers, and pathfinders should get this fixed at no charge to the customer!! why wait for accidents and possible deaths, especially since the problem lies in an integral part of the vehicle. Cost of repair ranges from $300-600."

- West Jordan, UT, USA

problem #204

Sep 272011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 94,125 miles
Had a P0463 code come up for fuel level sensor a circuit high input. I understand that this is very common on second generation Nissan.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #203

Sep 162011

Xterra

  • 88,000 miles
Engine light service soon is on the car is starting to stall. Out of warranty but while researching this is a know issue for Nissan Xterras.

- Paterson, NJ, USA

problem #202

Sep 152010

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
The fuel level sensor on my 2005 Nissan Xterra stopped working as I was driving to work. The dealership wants $500 to fix the sensor which was a known problem and recalled on earlier and later models of this truck. And is also a common problem for other Xterra owners. Please recall this part. Fuel level sensors last much longer than this is other makes and models of vehicles.

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #201

Sep 012011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that the check engine light would illuminate sporadically and the fuel gage would read inaccurately. The dealer diagnosed that the fuel sending unit was defective and would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but denied any assistance with repair to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 97,000 and the current mileage 98,000. Updated 11/29/11 the consumer stated a recall was issued for his make and model, but not the year, as well as other models. Updated 12/12/11

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #200

Sep 072011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 102,584 miles
This morning the fuel level sensor on my 2005 Nissan Xterra stopped working as I was driving to work. The dealership wants $500 to fix the sensor which was a known problem and recalled on earlier models of this truck. And is also a common problem for other Xterra owners. Please recall this part. Fuel level sensors last much longer than this is other makes and models of vehicles.

- Centreville, VA, USA

problem #199

Sep 042009

Xterra 6-cyl

  • miles
Teenage daughter ran out of gas at night while gauge registered nearly a full tank! she was under the impression that her father must have recently filled the tank, which obviously was not the case. The gauge registers full when it's not and empty when it's not! received "code pewee fuel censor a too high" after researching, I see that this is, and has been, an issue with Xterras! and for older generations there was a recall. However for this model we were not notified of any issue thereby putting my daughter at risk.

- Thornville, OH, USA

problem #198

Aug 272011

Xterra

  • 70,000 miles
Dte (distance to empty) indication flashes "---". vehicle "service engine soon" light illuminated. Code PO463, fuel level sensor a circuit input high is stored in memory. According to internet searches and circuit diagram, believed to be fuel level sensor (in-tank).

- Aiken, SC, USA

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