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2010 Nissan Xterra: common problems and reliability
An average Xterra year.
38 owner complaints, most about air bags. 6 recalls.
Should I buy a 2010 Xterra?The 2010 Nissan Xterra has 38 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and power train. 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 2010 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2010 Nissan Xterra vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Xterra years only. How we score it
Is 2010 a good year for the Xterra?
Across the 16 Xterra model years we track, complaint volume runs from 4 (2013) to 845 (2005). With 38 complaints, the 2010 Xterra sits below 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 2010 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.
equipment
Campaign 10E043000MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
steering:gear box:shaft sector
Campaign 10V115000NISSAN 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.
suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Campaign 10V208000NISSAN 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.
Show 2 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.
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 2010 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Xterra against its rivals
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