The 2010 Nissan Xterra's low safety profile includes 5 recall campaigns and 38 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

10E0190002010-20-05

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

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 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

View at NHTSA

10V2080002010-14-05

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

View at NHTSA

10V4010002010-10-09

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

View at NHTSA

View all 5 recalls

23V0670002023-10-02

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.

A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

View at NHTSA

10V1150002010-24-03

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

NISSAN HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2010 TO MARCH 13, 2010. ON SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FASTENERS SECURING THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MODULE, AND ALSO THE FASTENERS SECURING THE STEERING SHAFT POSITIONING BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TRAJECTORY MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THE FASTENERS COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITIONING BRACKET INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2010 Nissan Xterra has accumulated 38 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with air bags leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Air Bags8

02Power Train5

03Electrical System4

04Service Brakes2

05Air Bags,engine1

38 total across 1 model years (2010–2010)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Nissan Xterra Fuel Economy

17–18mpg combined

15-16city

20-21hwy

$2,450-$2,600/yr

With 4 configurations tested, the 2010 Nissan Xterra ranges from 17 to 18 MPG combined. That's a 1 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Xterra 2WD - Manual 6-spd

18mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

16 city20 hwy~$2,450/yr-1/10 Poor

Xterra 2WD - Automatic 5-spd

17mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

15 city21 hwy~$2,600/yr-1/10 Poor

Xterra 4WD - Automatic 5-spd

17mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel Drive

15 city20 hwy~$2,600/yr-1/10 Poor

Xterra 4WD - Manual 6-spd

17mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel Drive

16 city20 hwy~$2,600/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2010 Nissan Xterra

31States

26%in top 3

If you're near Colorado, you're in luck: 10% of listings are there. But with 31 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

COColorado

2310%

CACalifornia

198%

TXTexas

188%

AZArizona

177%

WAWashington

125%

NCNorth Carolina

125%

FLFlorida

125%

DEDelaware

94%

UTUtah

94%

GAGeorgia

94%

MDMaryland

73%

OROregon

73%

PAPennsylvania

73%

DCWashington DC

73%

CTConnecticut

52%

ILIllinois

42%

INIndiana

42%

NHNew Hampshire

42%

NJNew Jersey

42%

MIMichigan

42%

MOMissouri

42%

OHOhio

42%

MA3

ID3

MN3

NY3

WI3

KY3

NV2

OK2

TN2

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2010.

2010 Nissan Xterra: Questions Buyers Ask

Pricing, reliability, and ownership answers

Is the 2010 Nissan Xterra a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 2010 Nissan Xterra. There are 5 recalls to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 2010 Nissan Xterra?

Yes, 5 recalls on record. The good news: recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Check the safety report for specifics, and always run the VIN before buying.

What's the gas mileage of the 2010 Nissan Xterra?

Fuel economy ranges from 17 to 18 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $172 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 2010 Nissan Xterra?

AIR BAGS problems top the list with 38 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.

How does the 2010 compare to other Nissan Xterra years?

Each Nissan Xterra model year has different pricing, recall counts, and owner satisfaction patterns. Compare all available years on the Nissan Xterra overview page.