2005 Nissan Xterra reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2005 Nissan Xterra — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,175
- 16 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN
- 354 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 11 reported crashes · 14 injuries · 11 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#293
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Nissan median
+953
median 222 across 220 Nissan records
Vs 2003-2007
+895
median 280 complaints in 857 records
Top component share
35%
Power Train: 406 complaints
What owners report fails — 2005 Nissan Xterra
- POWER TRAIN 354
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 237
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 123
- ENGINE 114
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 52
1 recall on record for the 2005 Nissan Xterra
- NHTSA 10V517000 · 2010 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2005 Nissan Xterra
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2005 Nissan Xterra units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Nissan Xterra reliable?
NHTSA has 1,175 consumer complaints on record for the 2005 Nissan Xterra and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is power train (354 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2005 Nissan Xterra units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Xterra?
Owners most often report problems with: power train (354), fuel system, gasoline (237), engine and engine cooling (123), engine (114). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2005 Nissan Xterra?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.