2003 Nissan Xterra Problems, Recalls & Reliability
97 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Nissan Xterra, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 17/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Fuel system leads the reports, typically around 78,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2003 Nissan Xterra has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2003 sits among all Xterra years
What owners report
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 69 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 57,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 18,000 and 108,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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…
Fix: 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…
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SIX CYLINDER ENGINES AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOUR OR SIX CYLINDER ENGINES, THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT CAN DEVELOP A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TERMINAL STRIP…
Fix: IN THE FOLLOWING STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT. THESE STATES ARE CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA,…
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR AXLE HOUSING DUE TO INADEQUATE SEALING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE FOR WATER INTRUSION AND ANY AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. THE ABS SENSOR WILL BE RESEALED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
48 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and visibility & wipers — are on file for the 2003 Nissan Xterra. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2003 Xterra TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Nissan Xterra reliable?
The 2003 Nissan Xterra drew 97 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 17/100, scored against the model's worst year (2005).
What are the most common 2003 Nissan Xterra problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Nissan Xterra are fuel system (15 complaints), engine (13), and brakes & stability (12).
At what mileage do 2003 Nissan Xterra problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Nissan Xterra problems around 57,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 18,000 and 108,000 miles.
Does the 2003 Nissan Xterra have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Nissan Xterra. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.