YearToAvoid

2011 Nissan Xterra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#7 most-complained of 11 Xterra years

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

The 2011 Nissan Xterra has 24 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 40 out of 100 — #7 highest of 11 Xterra model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is airbags (9 complaints, 38% of the total).

Complaints
24
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
16 city / 20 hwy

Top 2011 Nissan Xterra problems

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

  1. Airbags9 (38%)
  2. Engine6 (25%)
  3. Electrical System4 (17%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (13%)
  5. Brakes1 (4%)
  6. Fuel System1 (4%)
  7. Steering1 (4%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (4%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)
2011 Nissan Xterra complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2011Feb 2013Oct 2014Oct 2017Sep 2020May 2023Jul 2024
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2011 to Sep 2025; peak Sep 2020 (3).

2011 Nissan Xterra recalls

2 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 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

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
2009Caution5019317
2010Caution6038417
2011Good4024217
2012Good3016217
2013No verdict204017

All Nissan Xterra years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Nissan Xterra a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Nissan Xterra ranks #7 of 11 among Xterra model years (Complaint Index 40/100, verdict: Good). It has 24 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Xterra?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (9 complaints), engine (6 complaints), and electrical system (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 54,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2011 Nissan Xterra, most recently reported 2023, covering airbags and engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Nissan Xterra?
EPA rates the 2011 Nissan Xterra at 17 MPG combined (16 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.