My car was running fine and normal but when I tried to start it, nothing happened. I tried to jump the battery and I replaced the starter. After those attempts I had the vehicle towed to a nearby dealership who told me that coolant from the radiator leaked into the transmission and mixed fluid, damaging both the transmission and ECM. Car will not start and the is no communications working. The nissan dealership recommended I get a new radiator, ipdm module, and transmission which was estimated at a cost of $5,500 after parts and labor. I had the vehicle towed to a local repair shop for a second opinion and was told the same thing as the dealer had said.
2005 Nissan Xterra electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 39 of 39, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Driving down road and car quits steering was difficult hit a curb. The car all of a sudden came back on? Has done this to me several times until I parked it now. Dangerous situation. Lucky no vehicles were around me.
The passenger side air bag light started blinking even with the seatbelt on properly. This vehicle had never been in crash once or ever. I am very concern.
Check engine light came on then when I filled vehicle with fuel gauge went to empty and low fuel light came on. Gauge does not come back on u til vehicle is driven from 85 to 125 miles and then takes awhile to reach up to around 3/4 full. Never really sure how much fuel is in tank. Was advised to change the fuel tank cap and did twice but still not working. Have to rely on trip gauge to know if I have enough fuel. This seems risky for an almost 75 year old woman.
Just bought auto from used car dealer day before. Drove it 30 miles pulled in visited then went out to start auto. Would not start traced back to blown fuse, changed fuse tried starting again, blew fuse again, one more time then when auto started smoke came out from under hood. After 3 months of replacing electrical wiring from frying narrowed down to radiator and transmission (fuse that blew) the coolant had backed up and tore up transmission. If it had been on the road there would have been a full blown fire on a highway with possibility of human damages.
Just fill up gas and fuel gauge indicates almost empty. Cannot tell if I still have enough fuel. Dangerous situation if I'm driving and suddenly run out of gas.
Gas gauge has quit working...common problem with these automobiles...why no recall?
I noticed the service engine soon light come on 3/13/2013. Today, 3/15 I took it to the nissan dealership that I get my vehicle serviced at and they told me that the fuel sending unit is malfunctioning and the price to fix it. They also mentioned that they have seen this problem a few times now with other xterra models. I mentioned to them that I cannot afford the repair at this time and they suggested I keep it full and it shouldn't be a problem. I got home and looked up the problem with my vehicle and it seems that a lot of other people are having the same problem, and not only with xterras but with pathfinders and frontiers as well, as they are all based on the same drivetrain. Nissan is not covering this problem even though it seems to be a common issue with its vehicles.
Recently the vehicle has been turning off while in use (driving down the road) and we have to throw it in neutral, crank back up, then put it back in gear. This is not safe. Took it in to get it diagnosed and the scan came back reading the catalytic converters could be going out (2 on each side, pretty sure only one side is affected). Then were told about an ECM relay recall. Mechanics have told us that this can cause the cats to fail. Nissan said to take it to a dealership and see what they say. What?! Of course the nissan dealership is going to replace only the ECM component of the recall and say it won't affect the cats, while other mechanics at non dealer affiliated shops have more than a few times said it can be a direct effect of the ECM. So we have a "case" number with nissan and nissan will "investigate" and let us know if they are willing to pay any towards the repair, or if a recall is issued in the near future we'll get reimbursed for the repair... How about you just make a vehicle without faulty parts and if a faulty part contributes to another part going out, you repair the parts affected.
While driving down a busy los angeles street during rush hour, my car suddenly lost drivability. The engine RPM's increased, but the car would not engage. Nearly got into multiple accidents trying to get to the side of the road. Car was towed to a mechanic where a strawberry milk color liquid was found in the transmission. Was told coolant and transmission fluid mixing was the cause. Required to rebuild transmission, replace radiator and transmission control valve. Repair cost estimated at $5050 plus tax.
I was driving to work a few mornings ago. My car had over a 4th of gas. Then my gas tank drops to below empty then my check engine light turns on. Then it turns off and turns back on continues to move and turns back on all while driving. I pull into a gas station fill up the gas tank then proceed to go home. The car turns back on one last time and when I try and turn it back on it shakes and turns off. Had to tow my car to my home had multiple mechanics come to my home and diagnose my car. I have replaced the fuel pump and yet still does not work. My mechanic told me the problems is deeper and this car and this year is known to have staggering issues. This should be recalled and fixed by nissan not the consumer. I have never had an issue before. Im putting more and more money into a manufacture defect.
After fueling the car, the fuel level indicator either shows the tank as empty or a random level (never full, although the tank was just filled). The level from then on is always unreliable and fluctuates at random levels; there is no way to know what is the level of fuel in the tank at any time. I am afraid that the car will run out of fuel without me knowing and stop the car in the middle of a highway or while crossing train tracks. This happens all the time, the indicator never shows full when I fill up the tank. It shows empty or 1/4 full and then after a couple of days the level goes up to a level that I know it is too high for the amount of driving that I have done.
I was driving my car after a long trip, I had about a quarter tank left. I parked my car and when I returned to use it to run an errand I began to drive. My gas tank needle went all the way to below empty then my check engine light turned on as well. I have looked up this issue and found out there were multiple complaints about the exact same thing that happened to me. This is a nissan issue that should not be taken out of pocket from the consumer. Especially since there is a long history regarding this exact same problem.
May 2012. I was driving the vehicle to work, the day the "service engine soon "light initially came on. 30 minutes later, yellow fuel indicator light came on, vehicle was not out of gas, had approx. 1/2 tank. I was concerned about the fuel light, so I immediately drove to a nearby gas station and filled up to a full tank of gas. Afterwards, fuel engine light remained on and gauge still showed empty. Only after driving it for several days, fuel light finally went off, service engine soon remained on. Since this initial incident every time I put fuel in the vehicle, the tank still shows empty and takes several days of driving to show where I filled it up. I recently took the vehicle for a diagnostic test and it showed problems in the fuel sensor/fuel pump. I also visited my local nissan dealer and they said, that I was not turning the gas cap enough after fueling up. I always ensure that I turn the gas cap several times at least 4 turns, until several clicks are heard when securing the gas cap after fueling. I am sure this was not the problem. I am very concerned as I drive a good distance to work, on graveyard shifts. This is the 1st major problem, I have had with my nissan xterra and unfortunately it does not show as a recall. I feel unsafe driving the vehicle as I do not know when it will run out of fuel particularly on freeways and busy intersections. I often have small children as passengers and this concerns me the most.
My husband and I purchased our 2005 nissan xterra, 17 miles young. Exactly one month after we purchased, the rear differential went out and was covered under warranty. No problems for a few years, until we noticed that the gas gauge was not giving accurate readings, we had to watch our odometer count to make sure we didn't run out of gas, which is a very scary thought when you have two young children. This happened when we had approximately 80000 miles on the truck and $600 to repair. Shortly after, the transmission was acting up and the heater wasn't working. No why wasn't that working? Apparently, nissan thought it would be a cool trick to have the radiator leak into the transmission.... Brilliant business plan they have. Took the truck in and had to pay $5800 to have the transmission, radiator and computer all replaced. This financial hardship was in fact a hardship. One that shouldn't have had to happen had nissan provided quality parts and provided stellar service. I will sue nissan for this major safety issue, blog/facebook my little heart away about how insincere of a company nissan is and never ever-ever-ever give them a positive recommendation.
Fuel level sensor failed 800 miles out of warranty; causes driver to have no idea of fuel level. Creates dangerous possibility of running out of fuel on highways, in traffic, etc. Without motor running, power steering and power brakes do not work, creating even higher risk of accident. Very common issue on 2005 xterra; should have been a recall.
After my "service engine soon" light was activated, I proceeded to take my nissan xterra to the nissan dealership in hawthorne, ca, to have it checked out. Nissan charged me $129 for a diagnostic test, which found an error code of p0463. That error coded indicated that the fuel level sensor was malfunctioning. I declined to pay $570 to have it repaired. In doing some research on the internet, I found that several nissan vehicles, especially its trucks and suvs, have suffered from this product defect. I would greatly appreciate it if nissan rectified the situation by recalling vehicles or covering my charge for repairs.
I have a 2005 xterra service. Fuel tank was not 1/4 tank and filled it up - had to stop at the store anyway so I gassed up. Anyway, driving down the road, I looked down and my fuel gauge is on empty and the light on. Interesting, I thought. Then the check engine comes on later. I was thinking some kind of gas pocket or something so I got home and un did the gas cap, and disconnect the battery. Engine light and fuel level still on and the unit is failure to read fuel gauge.
*** ipdm and double catalytic converter failure in 2005 nissan xterra *** my 2005 nissan xterra engine once shut down as I am driving on a busy street; I had to let the xterra coast a short distance without power to pull over and stop my SUV to the side of a safer section of the road. I could not immediately restart the car. After waiting about 15 minutes, I was eventually able to restart and drive the SUV. The problem, however never went away. Periodically the engine will shut off without warning. It finally got to the point where the car would not start at all. I had to have the car towed twice, including a tow to a nissan dealership in santa monica. The incident began in april 2010. In may 2010, the nissan dealer in santa monica checked the problem and indicated that the ipdm had to be replaced. This was an expensive repair. Shortly after the ipdm was replaced, 1 of 2 catalytic converters in the xterra failed and had to be replaced. 6 months later (december 2010), the other catalytic converter failed. I believe the ipdm issue is severe. I believe the ipdm issue is also associated with (and likely to be the cause of) the failure of catalytic converters in the vehicle. In my case, it is double failure since both catalytic converters failed 6 months apart from each other. Failure of the catalytic converter is an environmental concern.
Engine stopped while moving causing instant decelaration, cars following had to take evasive action found defective ECM unit by nissan dealership
Fuel gauge faulty. Reads higher than normal. Could cause driver to run out of fuel. Service engine code p0463 fuel sensor.
Fuel gauge stuck at 3/4 tank after fuel up. Needle will not move and is inaccurate. Several other report same issue related to fuel sending units on nissan trucks and SUV's 2005-2008.
Inaccurate fuel gauge leading to inaccurate fuel readings; the gauge may show gas left when tank is actually empty or vice versa; all digital dash readings and components short out or completely stop working including mileage readings; have to continually fill up with gas to ensure I have enough to run the vehicle; I have run out of gas while traveling at 80 miles per hour on the highway several times, this is a very serious safety hazard; I have two small children traveling with me and do not need to run out of gas on the side of the highway. This vehicle has never been in an accident but has had this problem for over a year.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 nissan xterra. While driving 25 MPH the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who stated that the main computer stopped working and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer denied the contacts request to cover the repair costs. The ECM is currently being repaired by the dealer. The contact is concerned about the safety issue since the failure could have caused a crash to occur. The failure mileage was 59,500.
Fuel level sensor and the instrument panel control module . The truck die any where my truck in long island expressway(495) west in the left lane I believe that all nissan 2005 xterra the should call for this cane of problem is very dangerous.
Hi I have a 2005 nissan xterra. These vehicles are having major problems with the fuel sending unit, located in the gas tank on the fuel pump. The symptoms are that one day out of the blue, with low miles on the vehicle, the gas gauge stops working or becomes inaccurate. On the odb ii, it shows as po463. Nissan will not cover and this is unsafe, as you have to "guess" by mileage how much fuel is left. Mine went out and I fixed it myself as I was concerned with safety of running out of fuel at a bad time.
There was no specific event leading up to failure; I purchased my certified pre-owned '05 xterra 4 months ago and drove it up until yesterday without problem. When I turned on my vehicle after work, my "service engine soon" light was on. I stopped to fill up with gas on my way home, and noticed my gas gauge would not pass the 3/4 tank position. Eventually, after driving about 50 miles or so, my gas gauge (sometimes) returns to its normal position. The "service engine soon" light always remains on. At this point, no corrective measures have been taken. But in doing my research, all signs point towards this being a fuel sending unit problem that is common in both 01-04 nissan vehicles (for which there was a recall) and 05-present nissan vehicles (for which there has been no recall).
2005 nissan xterra had an electrical wire problem. Consumer states that the vehicle fire completely destroy it.
Check engine light comes on, gas gauge does not work. Vehicle only has 61,000 miles and just went over the extended warranty. Looking it up on the internet, sounds like a major defect as other numerous complaints.
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