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Light NHTSA footprint — 38 owner complaints and 6 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2010 Nissan Xterra has 38 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 10 complaints (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Xterra | 557 | 2 |
| 2008 Xterra | 119 | 8 |
| 2009 Xterra | 19 | 5 |
| 2010 Xterra (this page) | 38 | 6 |
| 2011 Xterra | 24 | 2 |
| 2012 Xterra | 16 | 2 |
| 2013 Xterra | 4 | 0 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
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: airbags is flagged severe on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 6 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — 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.
I was traveling at 25 (no more than 30) MPH when another vehicle collided with mine. The other vehicle did clip the middle 1/3 and entire passenger side of my xterra. The hood was crushed to the first third of the front passenger wheel well, transmission and radiator fluids were…
Airbag light flashes when light is reset it flashes again after a few miles horn doesn't work unable to warn other drivers & pedestrians
When outside temperature falls below 40 degrees xterra will not start. Vehicle is stationary and not parked in a garage. Battery was replaced 11 months ago trying to fix the same problem. No other major issues with vehicle ever. Vehicle just towed yesterday dealer will not be…
Driver's door lock either stays locked and you are unable to exit the vehicle, or, the lock does not latch so the door swings open. This happed both while parked and while driving.
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.
An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Nissan Xterra is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2010 Nissan Xterra is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 6 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 airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 10 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 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 7.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 38 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. 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 airbags, with 10 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. 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 38 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, 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.