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The 2008 Nissan Xterra has 119 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2008 Nissan Xterra has 119 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 40 complaints, typically surfacing around 114,386 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Xterra | 845 | 6 |
| 2006 Xterra | 780 | 5 |
| 2007 Xterra | 557 | 2 |
| 2008 Xterra (this page) | 119 | 8 |
| 2009 Xterra | 19 | 5 |
| 2010 Xterra | 38 | 6 |
| 2011 Xterra | 24 | 2 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 114,386 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 8 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Coolant mixed into transmission causing electronic module to burn out. This caused vehicle to stop operating correctly and would not allow engine to restart.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan xterra. The contact stated that the air bag warning light flashed and remained illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was to be inspected and diagnosed. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 08v690000 (air…
Plastic tray that the battery sits on broke, causing the bar that holds the battery in place to arch over and set the plastic fuse holder on the battery to catch fire. The vehicle stalled the died. I saw what I thought was "steam" coming from under the hood. I popped to hood…
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and making a right turn, she heard an abnormal sound while depressing on the brake pedal. The contact stated that the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) & the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning lights…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Nissan Xterra has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2008 Nissan Xterra is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Powertrain: 40 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 83,000–156,000 mi; Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average; 8 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 40 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 114,386 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 119 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 114,386 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 40 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 114,386 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 114,386 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 119 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.