The 2004 Nissan Xterra has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Steering stiffness, binding and play.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Nissan Xterra.
STEERING
14 NHTSA complaints · 2008-01 → 2021-01
“STEERING BINDS WHEN COMING TO COMPLETE LEFT TURN, WILL NOT RETURN WHEN MOVING FORWRD UNLESS MANUALLY ASSISTED, NOW STEERING GEAR STARTING TO LEAK”
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL CAMPAIGN 10V554000, STEERING COLUMN”
“WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER”
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
10 NHTSA complaints · 2010-10 → 2016-06
“2004 NISSAN XTERRA. CONSUMER STATES FUEL TANK IS RUSTED OUT AND THE SMELL OF GAS IS APPARENT”
“I SMELL GAS INSIDE THE CAR, I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE GAS TANK IS ALL RUSTED ON TOP, CAUSING THE GAS TO SPILL OUT”
“FLANGE AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS CORRODED AND FUMES ARE ESCAPING FROM THE GAS TANK EVERY TIME I FUEL UP MY VEHICLE”
SUSPENSION
5 NHTSA complaints · 2008-03 → 2015-06
“AT 39,000 MILES, RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING SNAPPED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS”
“REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE ON VEHICLE”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEAF SPRING WAS FRACTURED”
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
4 NHTSA complaints · 2015-02 → 2018-05
“VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY”
“THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BAR FOR MY NISSAN XTERRA HAS RUSTED OUT”
“I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR BECAUSE OF A CRACK NEAR THE CAP”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
4 NHTSA complaints · 2004-09 → 2009-10
“BRAKE LINE CRACKED, FLUID LEAKED WHICH WAS AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE”
“ON 10/26, STARTED VEHICLE FOR TRIP TO WORK, BRAKE PEDAL SUNK AGAIN, BRAKE LIGHT ON STEADY RED”
“THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON HER VEHICLE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3 NHTSA complaints · 2005-12 → 2009-08
“FROM THE ONSET OF THE PURCHASE I HAVE BEEN HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE THE MECHANICS AT THE NISSAN REPAIR SHOPS STATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG”
“SINCE WEEK I BOUGHT THIS SUV I HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS ABOUT IN PARK AND IN DRIVE YOU HEAR A LIFTER TYPE TICKING NOISE AT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS XTERRA”
“EVER SINCE I HAD MY 2004 X-TERRA I HAVE TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT LOUD ENGINE NOISE”
AIR BAGS
3 NHTSA complaints · 2014-03 → 2025-08
“THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
“My vehicle has been in 3 accidents”
“I have been in three accidents, of decent speed, and my airbags never deployed”
POWER TRAIN
4 NHTSA complaints · 2004-09 → 2007-10
“ON MAY 9,2007 I SHIFTED THE 2004 NISSAN XTERRA FROM P ARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD 10 FEET”
“I OWN A NISSAN XTERRA 2004 IT WAS IN PARK AND ROLLED BY ITSELF FROM FLAT TO DOWN A DRIVE HITTING A MOVING CAR THEN GOING DOWN A CLIFF INTO A TREE”
“VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$360–$500
Shop
~$255–$355
DIY
~$80–$180
CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
127 crashes 1990–2024
How the 127 occupant deaths break down
83
driver deaths
44
passenger deaths
127
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
10
complaints mentioning a crash
3
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Nissan Xterra reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.