Short answer
Among Nissan Xterra model years through 2024, 2013, 2014 and 2015 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2008 has the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Nissan Xterra: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 16 (2000–2015)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 21
- Fewest recalls
- 2013, 2014 and 2015 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2008 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (11)
Nissan Xterra Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2014 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2013 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2012 | 2 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Suspension |
| 2011 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Suspension |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment |
| 2008 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2006 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2005 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Trailer hitches |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Steering, Trailer hitches |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Steering, Suspension |
| 2002 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Steering |
| 2001 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Suspension |
| 2000 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Wheels |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20150 recalls
- 20140 recalls
- 20130 recalls
- 20122 recalls
- 20112 recalls
- 20104 recalls
- 20093 recalls
- 20086 recalls
- 20071 recall
- 20063 recalls
- 20053 recalls
- 20042 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20025 recalls
- 20013 recalls
- 20003 recalls
Nissan Xterra: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Nissan Xterra recalls are air bags (11), fuel system, gasoline (7), suspension (5), engine and engine cooling (4) and equipment (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Nissan Xterra Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Nissan Xterra?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Nissan Xterra model years have the most recalls?
2008 has the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Xterra", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy