Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2004 Nissan Xterra. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗STEERING COLUMN LOWER SHAFT
- Summary
- NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
- Consequence
- THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN/TOW HITCH
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCESSORY TOW HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD CAUSE THE TOW HITCH TO LOOSEN OR SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE TOW HITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 3, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (84)
84 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 84 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 20 | 23.8% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 13.1% |
| Suspension | 11 | 13.1% |
| Engine | 8 | 9.5% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 8.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 7.1% |
| Power train | 6 | 7.1% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 7.1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 6% |
How 2004 compares with other Xterra years
Best and worst Xterra years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 214 | 3 |
| 2001 | 150 | 3 |
| 2002 | 157 | 5 |
| 2003 | 72 | 3 |
| 2004 | 84 | 2 |
| 2005 | 845 | 3 |
| 2006 | 780 | 3 |
| 2007 | 557 | 1 |
| 2008 | 119 | 6 |
| 2009 | 19 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 468 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 23 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 19 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 18 / 15 | $5,500 | 593 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 / 17 / 15 | $5,500 | 593 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2004 Xterra for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2004 Nissan Xterra FAQ
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Xterra have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 10V554000 (steering), 04V581000 (trailer hitches). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2004 Nissan Xterra problems?
Owners filed 84 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (20), Electrical system (11), Suspension (11) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2004 Nissan Xterra get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 17 city, 23 highway and 19 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2004 Xterra compare with other years?
Among the 2000–2009 Nissan Xterra model years at least five years old, the 2009 drew the fewest complaints (19) and the 2005 the most (845). The 2004 drew 84. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.