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2008 Nissan Xterra: common problems and reliability
One of the worst Xterra years.
One of the Nissan Xterra years to avoid. All Xterra years
119 owner complaints, most about power train. 8 recalls.
Should I buy a 2008 Xterra?The 2008 Nissan Xterra has 119 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 8 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and air bags. Owners most often flag "strawberry milkshake of death" (smod) radiator failure (2005-2010 automatics): radiator internal failure mixes coolant and transmission fluid, leading to automatic transmission destruction.
Safety record for the 2008 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2008 Nissan Xterra vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Xterra years only. How we score it
Is 2008 a good year for the Xterra?
Across the 16 Xterra model years we track, complaint volume runs from 4 (2013) to 845 (2005). With 119 complaints, the 2008 Xterra sits above the model's median of 84.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2008 Xterra
suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Campaign 10E019000NISSAN 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.
fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank
Campaign 10V075000NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 FRONTIER, XTERRA AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE MOLDED FUEL TANK SHELLS CAN DEFORM, CAUSING THE FUEL SENDER FLOAT ARM TO CONTACT AN EMBOSSMENT MOLDED INTO THE TANK SHELL CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE TO SHOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER TANK WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.
equipment:other:labels
Campaign 08V045000NISSAN IS RECALLING 5,523 MY 2008 TITAN, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.' THE TIRE PLACARD LISTS AN INCORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.
air bags:frontal
Campaign 08V690000NISSAN 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, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Show 4 more recalls
equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)
Campaign 10V401000NISSAN 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.
service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Campaign 07V528000ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM/VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (ABS/VDC) ACTUATOR IS DESIGNED WITH ONE BALL IN THE VALVE SECTION. SOME ABS/VDC ACTUATORS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH MORE THAN ONE BALL IN THE VALVE.
service brakes, air:antilock:control unit/module
Campaign 07E105000CERTAIN CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE ABS AND ESC CONTROL MODULES SOLD FOR INSTALLATION ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME OF THE HYDRAULIC VALVES IN THE ESC MODULE WERE BUILT WITH EXTRA CHECK BALLS.
air bags:frontal
Campaign 23V067000Nissan 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.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is strongly bifurcated by generation and specific model years.
- Very frequent"Strawberry Milkshake of Death" (SMOD) Radiator Failure (2005-2010 Automatics)
Radiator internal failure mixes coolant and transmission fluid, leading to automatic transmission destruction.
- RecurrentTiming Chain Guide/Tensioner Failure (2005-2010)
Plastic guides wear out, causing chain slack, potential timing jump, and catastrophic engine interference failure. Typically occurs around 60k-80k miles (97k-129k km).
Owner insights cover all generations of the Xterra. See the full Xterra owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Xterra listings typically run $9,407–$14,399 across 2000 to 2015 model years.
Other Xterra model years
Compare every Xterra year side by side to see how 2008 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Xterra against its rivals
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