The Lemon Index
2004
20062nd generation
About average · most complaints: fuel system, gasoline
45 owner complaints, first 3 years 16–17 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2005 Jeep Wrangler 1282005 Toyota 4Runner 532005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 190
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2005 Nissan Xterra
- Transmission failure108 complaintsmostly at 87,000–116,000 miles (140,000–186,000 km)
- Engine stalling52 complaintsmostly at 76,000–114,000 miles (122,000–183,000 km)
- Coolant leak / overheating37 complaintsmostly at 80,000–120,000 miles (129,000–193,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 845 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Nissan Xterra (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 35,000 and 55,000 miles (56,000–89,000 km) (the middle half of the 33 complaints, of all 45 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 10V517000 (engine), 10E019000 (suspension) and 08V690000 (airbags) done? It has 6 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Nissan sent dealers 90 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Rear axle seal leaks”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Nissan's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 45 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 35K to 55K miles (56K to 89K km) on the car (33 of all 45 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Differentials front and rear are under engineered and break extremely easily. Transfer case also wouldn't shift into 4 wheel drive.
2005 Nissan Xterra owner · NHTSA complaint 10195055
More owner reports
2005 Nissan Xterra, check engine light comes on at 1/4 tank of fuel. Gives trouble code p0463. After checking with other owners on internet, this is a wide spread problem that the manufacture is not taking responsibility to fix.
NHTSA complaint 10227388
Fuel sender unit failure - sudden failure while on freeway. No check engine light or warning of failure proceeding the actually failure. Sudden loss of power of the vehicle while at highway speed.
NHTSA complaint 10241705
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 90 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Rear axle seal leaks
- A remanufactured automatic transmission supplied by ATC Drivetrain is installed in an APPLIED
- Nissan; special automatic transmission fluid requirement
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 6
- Engine · recall issued 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES.
- Suspension · recall issued 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 A…
- Airbags · recall issued 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS…
Show all 6 recalls
- Equipment · recall issued 2007
CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE.
- Trailer hitches · recall issued 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A NISSAN ACCESSORY TOW HITCH, INADEQUATE QUALITY OF SOME WELDED JOINTS IN THE HITCH ASSEMBLY MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE HITCH FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING USED TO TOW.
- Trailer hitches · recall issued 2005
CERTAIN VALLEY INDUSTRIES HITCH-CLASS III RECEIVER TRAILER HITCHES P/N 82850 MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 2005 SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2005 NISSAN XTERRA PASSENGER VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedTransmission failures2012–2016
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,550–$3,750 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 4.0L 6-cyl.
Every Nissan Xterra year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2005 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/nissan-xterra/?y=2005" title="Nissan Xterra reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="399" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/nissan-xterra/2005/">Lemon Index</a> (2005 Nissan Xterra reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2005 Nissan Xterra reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 90; 100 is average, lower is better). The Nissan Xterra year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2010.
What are the most common 2005 Nissan Xterra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel system, gasoline (56%), transmission & drivetrain (11%) and fuel system, other (9%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 Nissan Xterra have?
6 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Nissan Xterra get?
16 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 Nissan Xterra problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 35,000 and 55,000 miles (56,000–89,000 km) (the middle half of the 33 complaints, of all 45 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2005 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2005 Nissan Xterra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 Nissan Xterra cost in fuel a year?
About $3,550 to $3,750 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 Nissan Xterra have?
4.0L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Xterra year is better than the 2005?
Nearby, the 2008 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2010 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works