Is the Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen reliable?

Our reliability score for the Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen is 7/10 (70/100), which puts it as reasonably reliable. Expect ordinary maintenance plus a few known issues by 150,000 miles. RepairPal rates it 3.5/5.

How much does it cost to own a Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen per year?

Total estimated annual ownership cost for a Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen is approximately $2,294 for a 25-year-old male driver. This includes fuel at current US average prices, insurance, scheduled maintenance, tires, and oil changes. The 40-year-old female estimate is $2,084.

What is the Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen gas mileage?

EPA combined fuel economy for the Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen is 17 MPG, with 15 MPG city and 20 MPG highway.

What years does the Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen cover?

This generation of the Nissan Xterra was sold from 2005 to 2015.

Is the Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen safe?

Our safety score for the Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen is 8/10 (80/100), which means it is reasonably safe, with most modern active safety features. IIHS rates the crash protection acceptable. NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Is the Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen a good first car?

Not according to our criteria. Good first cars need a safety score 7.5+, insurance under $2,200/yr for a 25-year-old male, repairability score 7.0+, low rollover risk, and compact dimensions. The Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen misses on at least one of these.

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Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen

05-15 · Nissan Xterra

79out of 100

The Nissan Xterra 2nd Gen is a no-frills body-on-frame 4x4 with real off-road capability — buy the right year and it will run for 200k miles.

Scores last updated: January 1, 2025

Score breakdown

70/ 100Reliability×3.0 86/ 100True Annual Cost×1.5 80/ 100Safety×1.0 75/ 100Practicality×3.0 100/ 100Repairability×1.5

58/ 100Long-Distance Comfort

72/ 100Enthusiast Appeal

Strong repairability and reasonable costs. Safety and reliability docked for the cooling system risk on early years. Best value in 2014-2015.

Our take

What it really is

A proper body-on-frame 4x4 SUV with real off-road hardware — skid plates, locking rear differential, and 9.5 inches of ground clearance.

Why it's on this list

The Xterra is one of the last affordable body-on-frame 4x4s with a V6. The 2014 and 2015 models have a redesigned cooling system that eliminates the worst risk. Prices stay low because it is old-school.

The honest trade-offs

The radiator coolant mixing with transmission fluid is a critical failure on 2005-2012 models. This destroys the transmission. Inspect the transmission fluid color before buying any pre-2013.

What to buy and what to avoid

The 2014 or 2015 for the revised cooling system. If buying earlier, verify the radiator is not the original unit and check transmission fluid for a milky appearance.

Annual cost of ownership

Regular fuel. Body-on-frame simplicity. Avoid 2005-2012 if you cannot verify radiator condition.

Fuel (12k mi)

$1,950 (USD)^[5]

Maintenance

$514 (USD)^[1]

Tires (prorated)

$480 (USD)

Insurance (25yr male)

$1,220 (USD)^[8]

Insurance (40yr female)

$1,010 (USD)^[8]

Total (25yr male)

$2,294 (USD)

Total (40yr female)

$2,084 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined

17^[5]

MPG city / hwy

15 / 20^[5]

Tank

21.1 gal^[5]

Engine

4.0L V6

Horsepower

261 hp

Torque

281 lb-ft

Seats

Cargo (behind 2nd row)

18.8 cu ft

Cargo max

65.7 cu ft

Tow capacity

5,000 lbs

Ground clearance

9.5"

Stock tires

265/70R16

Body

SUV

Rear seats

60/40 split

Safety

NHTSA overall

4/5 ★^[2]

Rollover risk

26%^[2]

IIHS rating

Acceptable^[4]

ESC standard

Driver assists

None

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity

Low

Frame rust risk

Low

Salt belt impact

Moderate

Frame holds up well. Check wheel arches and rockers in salt belt. Cooling system components are more critical than rust.

Known issues by mileage

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

Radiator coolant mixing with transmission fluidSafety-critical$4,000 (USD)

2005-2012 especially. Destroys the transmission. Inspect trans fluid color before buying.

Best and worst years

Best years

2014Redesigned cooling system eliminates radiator-to-transmission failure risk
2015Final year; best-sorted version; revised cooling system confirmed

Years to avoid

2005First year; most radiator coolant-transmission failures reported
2006Coolant mixing issue widespread; avoid unless radiator verified replaced
2007Coolant issue still present; confirm radiator history
2009Elevated reported cases of coolant/trans fluid mixing

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost

$514 (USD)^[1]

Industry avg annual cost

$652 (USD)^[1]

RepairPal rating

3.5/5^[1]

Unscheduled visits/yr

0.4^[1]

Severe issue probability

14%^[1]

250k-mile survival

38%^[7]

Repairability

Headlight type

Halogen

DIY replacement cost

$20 (USD)

At major retailer

Yes

Headlight benchmark

10/10

Body-on-frame Xterra shares running gear with the Frontier. Cooling system parts are the main concern for 2005-2012 models.

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

[1]dataset
RepairPal
Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability
[2]government
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings
[3]government
NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes
[4]dataset
IIHS Safety Ratings
Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status
[5]government
EPA Fuel Economy Guide
MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size
[6]forum thread
CarComplaints
Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band
[7]dataset
iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used
[8]publication
Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Nissan Xterra?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist