YearToAvoid

2010 Nissan Xterra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#5 most-complained of 11 Xterra years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2010 Nissan Xterra has 38 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 60 out of 100 — #5 highest of 11 Xterra model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is airbags (11 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes and 3 injuries.

Complaints
38
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15.5 city / 20 hwy

Top 2010 Nissan Xterra problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags11 (29%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain11 (29%)
  3. Electrical System8 (21%)
  4. Engine6 (16%)
  5. Fuel System5 (13%)
  6. Brakes4 (11%)
  7. Other3 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (8%)
  9. Steering2 (5%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (5%)
2010 Nissan Xterra complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2010Feb 2013Dec 2014Apr 2016May 2018Aug 2020Oct 2021
55 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2010 to Nov 2024; peak Dec 2014 (4).

2010 Nissan Xterra recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V067000Feb 10, 2023Airbags404,690 vehicles

    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.

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

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.

  2. NHTSA 10V401000Sep 10, 2010Other7,948 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2010. Owners may contact garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. NHTSA 10V208000May 14, 2010Suspension, Wheels & Tires41,649 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 20, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

See all 4 recalls for the 2010 Nissan Xterra →

2010 Nissan Xterra fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15.5 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Xterra years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Caution70119617
2009Caution5019317
2010Caution6038417
2011Good4024217
2012Good3016217

All Nissan Xterra years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Nissan Xterra a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 Nissan Xterra ranks #5 of 11 among Xterra model years (Complaint Index 60/100, verdict: Caution). It has 38 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Xterra?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (11 complaints), transmission & powertrain (11 complaints), and electrical system (8 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 81,900 miles.
Does the 2010 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2010 Nissan Xterra, most recently reported 2023, covering airbags, other, and suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Nissan Xterra?
EPA rates the 2010 Nissan Xterra at 17 MPG combined (15.5 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.