2011 Nissan Xterra Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2011 Nissan Xterra has a complaint index of 40, ranking 7th out of 11 model years, and carries a "Good" verdict relative to other Xterra years. It has 24 complaints and 2 recalls, with airbags the top problem area at 38% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #7 of 11 Xterra years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 24
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 16 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2011 Nissan Xterra problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags9 (38%)
- Engine6 (25%)
- Electrical System4 (17%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (13%)
- Brakes1 (4%)
- Fuel System1 (4%)
- Steering1 (4%)
- Structure & Body1 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Passenger-side airbag warning light blinks spontaneously and the sensor fails even though the vehicle was never in a collision.
- Side curtain airbags have deployed unexpectedly while driving on dirt roads or rough terrain, with seat belts locking as if in a crash.
- Rear leaf springs have broken, including a case where a spring failed at highway speed after an earlier leaf spring had already broken on the other side.
- Tires have blown out or worn out prematurely, including a rear tire blowout at highway speed and B.F. Goodrich tires lasting only 32,000 miles.
- The battery has leaked, corroding the positive electrical wiring and clamp, with the problem recurring after a clamp replacement.
- Owners report a faulty clutch causing loss of acceleration and stalling at a stop light.
2011 Nissan Xterra recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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 driverÂs 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.
- NHTSA 11V592000Dec 19, 2011Engine14,718 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak.
Risk: If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
2011 Nissan Xterra fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 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.
2011 compared with other Xterra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Nissan Xterra reliable?
- Relative to other Xterra model years, the 2011 rates "Good" with a complaint index of 40, ranking 7th out of 11 years tracked by NHTSA complaint data.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Xterra?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 38% of complaints, followed by engine issues at 25% and electrical system issues at 17%, according to NHTSA complaints.
- Does the 2011 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2011 Xterra: one for a driver's airbag cover emblem that can crack and detach, and one for engine connector bolts, both non-"do not drive" campaigns.
- What is the median mileage for airbag complaints on the 2011 Xterra?
- The median mileage at failure for airbag-related complaints on the 2011 Xterra is 42,432 miles.
- How does the 2011 Xterra compare to other years?
- The 2011 Xterra's complaint index of 40 is far lower than earlier years like 2005 and 2006, which scored 90 and 100 and carry "Avoid" verdicts, though it's higher than the 2014 and 2015 "Best" years.