Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2001 Nissan Xterra Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls — runs 4.4× the fleet median for that category across the 409 model-years tracked on this site.
150Complaints
5Recalls
15Crashes
5Fires
11Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls (22.7% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls complaints here are 4.4× the median for that category across the 409 model-years tracked on this site.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 34 · 22.7% | No official action | — |
| Wheels | 10 · 6.7% | No official action | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump | 9 · 6% | Recalled | Recall 04V230000 · Recall 02V300000 |
| Electrical System | 8 · 5.3% | No official action | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 · 5.3% | Recalled | Recall 04V230000 · Recall 02V300000 |
| Engine | 6 · 4% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 150 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 5 campaigns
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
NHTSA campaign 04V230000 · 2004 · reported 05/24/2004
IF CORROSION OCCURS, THE TERMINAL STRIP COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP OPERATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
NHTSA campaign 02V300000 · 2002 · reported 11/12/2002
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS SUCH AS HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND WHEN WINTER GRADE GASOLINE IS BEING SOLD, FUEL COULD SPILL FROM THE FILLER INLET AS THE TANK IS BEING FILLED. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:rear
NHTSA campaign 02V299000 · 2002 · reported 11/12/2002
THIS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“WINDOW REGULATORS ALL HAVE BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ON MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA.”NHTSA complaint 10347825 — filed 08/06/2010 · VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
“ON MY 2001 NISSAN XTERRA, THE WINDOWS ARE NEARLY INOPERABLE ON FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THEY STARTED OUT SLOWLY AND GETTING STUCK HALF THE…”NHTSA complaint 10347507 — filed 08/05/2010 · VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
“HEARD A SAND ON GLASS SOUND WHEN ROLLING UP MY 3 OF MY WINDOWS AND NOW DRIVER, PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK.”NHTSA complaint 10259751 — filed 02/24/2009 · VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Nissan Xterra?
Visibility:power window devices and controls issues are the most-reported category, cited in 34 of 150 NHTSA complaints (22.7%), followed by wheels (10), fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump (9), electrical system (8). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2001 Nissan Xterra have?
150 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 15 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, and 11 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2001 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2001 Nissan Xterra's reported problems?
2 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
