2003 Nissan Xterra: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2003 Nissan Xterra. The newest campaign is 10V554000. NHTSA received the report on 11 Nov 2010. The NHTSA record gives the component Steering / Column. NHTSA has 72 complaints on file for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation names this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 10V554000, in the NHTSA record

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.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

3 campaigns, newest first. 1,229,748 units in total.

10V554000Received 11 Nov 2010. 500,552 units.
Steering / Column
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
The shaft may break which could result in loss of steering control during these low speed maneuvers increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number R1037. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Dec 2010.
04V230000Received 24 May 2004. 586,196 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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 to corrode under some environmental conditions.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If corrosion occurs, the terminal strip could eventually break causing the fuel pump to stop operation. This will result in not being able to start the engine or cause the engine to stop running without warning, which can result in a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, tennessee, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. In the other states, the dealer will inspect the fuel pump terminal on the sending unit for corrosion. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the unit. If there is not corrosion, the dealer will apply sealant to the terminal housing to help prevent corrosion in the future. Owner notification began on june 28, 2004. Owners should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Report filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Jun 2004.
02V299000Received 12 Nov 2002. 143,000 units.
Suspension / Rear
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This can result in corrosion and eventual failure of the wheel bearing. If this occurs, the wheel assembly could separate from the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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 10, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Report filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number R2019. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 10 Dec 2003.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

72 complaints, 97 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

2003 Nissan Xterra
All 2003 vehicles

2003 Nissan Xterra: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	2003 Xterra	All 2003 vehicles	Xterra, all years	Mentions
Steering	123.7	48.1	26.2	12
Air Bags	103.1	83.7	42.7	10
Fuel System, Gasoline	103.1	35.2	175.3	10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	92.8	56.4	13.6	9
Structure	82.5	64.3	12.4	8
Engine and Engine Cooling	72.2	74.5	106.8	7
Engine	61.9	29.5	89.4	6
Visibility	51.5	38.7	18.6	5
Electrical System	51.5	122.8	49.8	5
Fuel/Propulsion System	51.5	16.2	55.1	5

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 20.

Complaints that report a crash: 16
Complaints that report a fire: 2
Injuries in the complaints: 10
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 26 Sep 2022

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 2003 Nissan Xterra, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2004, with 15 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 2003 Nissan Xterra
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
DP03005	Defect petition	BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE	Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Rotor	11 Jul 2003	29 Jul 2003

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 2003 Nissan XterraThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 2003 Nissan Xterra: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/nissan/xterra/2003/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2003 Nissan Xterra?: 1,229,748 units in 3 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Nissan Xterra have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns for the Nissan Xterra, model years 2000 to 2015. 3 of them name the 2003 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 2003 Nissan Xterra name most often?: Steering: 12 of 97 component mentions, or 123.7 per 1,000. For all 2003 vehicles the figure is 48.1 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2003 Nissan Xterra open?: No. The 1 investigation that names this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.