2008 Nissan Xterra reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2008 Nissan Xterra — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 174
- 10 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN
- 43 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 11 reported crashes · 6 injuries · 6 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,896
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Nissan median
-48
median 222 across 220 Nissan records
Vs 2006-2010
-98
median 272 complaints in 785 records
Top component share
25%
Power Train: 43 complaints
What owners report fails — 2008 Nissan Xterra
- POWER TRAIN 43
- ENGINE 23
- AIR BAGS 20
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9
3 recalls on record for the 2008 Nissan Xterra
- NHTSA 23V067000 · 2023 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
- NHTSA 10V401000 · 2010 · EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- NHTSA 10V075000 · 2010 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2008 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 2008 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 2008 Nissan Xterra reliable?
NHTSA has 174 consumer complaints on record for the 2008 Nissan Xterra and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is power train (43 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2008 Nissan Xterra units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Xterra?
Owners most often report problems with: power train (43), engine (23), air bags (20), electrical system (10). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2008 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.