2010 Nissan Xterra recalls and problems

The 2010 Nissan Xterra has 4 recalls and 38 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is air bags.

Pictured: a 2009 model; the 2010 may differ in details. Photo: 2009 Nissan Xterra by IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2010 compares

Average

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 16 Xterra model years — 10th most.

4recalls

38complaints

4crashes

0fires

3injuries

83,800median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Air Bags

Feb 10, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V067000 · 404,690 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.

Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the driverÂs airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Equipment

Sep 10, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V401000 · 7,948 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling certain vehicles that were equipped with a garmin nuvi model 750 navigation system. The batteries contained in the affected GPS units can overheat.

Original NHTSA wording

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on September 16, 2010. Owners May contact garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Suspension

May 14, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V208000 · 41,649 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 titan, armada, QX56, frontier, xterra, and pathfinder vehicles manufactured from November 19, 2009 through March 3, 2010. The lower control link assembly has two cylindrical collars forming the inboard attachment points to the chassis. Due to an improper welding process some collars May contain welds that do not meet strength specifications.

Original NHTSA wording

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

Risk: If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Nissan will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on May 20, 2010. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Air Bags

Mar 24, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V115000 · 4,038 vehicles

Problem: Nissan has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain model year 2010 frontier, pathfinder, and xterra vehicles manufactured from February 22, 2010 to March 13, 2010. On some of the potentially affected vehicles, the fasteners securing the passenger front air bag module, and also the fasteners securing the steering shaft positioning bracket May not have been tightened to the proper torque specification.

Original NHTSA wording

NISSAN HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2010 TO MARCH 13, 2010. ON SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FASTENERS SECURING THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MODULE, AND ALSO THE FASTENERS SECURING THE STEERING SHAFT POSITIONING BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the passenger front air bag deployment trajectory might be affected. The fasteners could possibly come out of the steering column positioning bracket increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TRAJECTORY MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THE FASTENERS COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITIONING BRACKET INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the steering column and the passenger front air bag fasteners and any missing fasteners will be replaced and all loose fasteners will be retightened to the proper torque specifications free of charge. The safety recall began on April 19, 2010. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Unknown or other3

Electronic Stability Control1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Transmission Failures

DP12004 · opened Jun 11, 2012 · closed Oct 22, 2016

Summary

On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

2010 vs. other Nissan Xterra years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2010. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2010 Nissan Xterra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2010 Nissan Xterra, the latest from Feb 10, 2023 (air bags). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Xterra?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention air bags (11), power train (11), electrical system (8). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.