2005 Nissan Xterra: fuel pump failure

Filed Nov 19, 2021 · Electrical, Fuel system · 200,000 miles · TX · fire

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Xterra. The contact that while stopped at a traffic light the vehicle stalled. The contact was immediately able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle kept stalling. The contact restarted the vehicle however while entering a parking garage the vehicle stalled again. After several attempts the vehicle restarted. The contact emphasized that the failure was most evident while stopped or driving at slower speeds. On one occasion the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The contact connected a DTC scanner and retrieved a fault code regarding the fuel gauge sensor that was contacted to the submersible fuel pump. The contact stated that after removing the fuel tank from the vehicle and while changing the internal fuel tank submersible fuel pump, he became aware that the positive wire of the wiring harness on top of the fuel pump and the fuel pump housing above were both charred. The contact was concerned that excessive heating and sparking had caused the failure. The contact purchased a new fuel pump to replace the defective one. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Filed May 4, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 500 miles · NC

I purchased a brand new 2005 xterra 1/2006 with 10 miles!!!! I paid 28,000 for this vehicle and worst vehicle I never had!!! I only service this vehicle at the dealership!!!! I had so many issues with this new truck!! The check engine light keeping on at from the very beginning and when I took it to the dealership said nothing was wrong! Over time, this was a complete lemon!! The vehicle had to replace a radio, 6 batteries, 3 alternators, hoses leaking, oil leaking within 3 years purchasing a new truck, fuel sensor replaced, fuel pump replaced, 1 cal.conventor replaced, and worst of all transmission issues!! The truck will not go up hills and when I took it to 2 different places said that the radiator was leaking into the transmission and nissan knew about this and never said nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only took my truck to the dealership and they never said a thing! I could replaced the radiator long time again to avoid the transmission going out!! 5,500 repair job!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is poor quality truck with all the issues I had since I brought it brand new !! My acura have 241,000 and never had any of these issues that I purchased used!! I contact the corp office and they will never do anything! The nissan dealerships around the country knows the issues with these nissan cars and never say a thing!! I will never purchase a another nissan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They will not stand behind their product!! 4 of my friends with nissan (xterra, pathfinder, and maxima) the transmission went out within 6 months of each other!!!

Filed May 2, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 85,000 miles · CT

Approximately 4 months ago my engine light came on. We took it to nissan and it was the fuel pump. That was $700, then 2 weeks later the engine light came back on we took it to nissan and it was the catalytic converter, that was $1800. Here we are 4 months later engine light comes back on we take it to nissan and now I'm told it is the radiator and transmission. This is going to cost $2500.00! I come to find out that there is a defect with the radiator and transmission and nissan has known about this since 2007. My complaint is if nissan knew about a defect, and in my opinion a safety hazard, then why didn't they recall the defected parts? Why is the consumer being penalized for a defect? Nissan needs to recall these known defective parts and fix them!

Filed Aug 16, 2012 · Electrical, Fuel system · 88,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Jun 18, 2012 · Electrical, Fuel system · 103,600 miles · NC

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.

Filed May 1, 2010 · Fuel system · 57,000 miles · TX

Summary: 2005 nissan xterra fuel gauge reading empty when full and slowly rising back to the correct display level then dropping to mid-level displaying incorrectly. Service engine light comes on and stays on sometimes turning off and on at odd times. This event happens everyday and I have now relied on the tripometer to tell my fuel level. Prior events leading to malfunction: I was driving on a 9 hour long trip during winter. I was about 4 hours into the trip and my fuel gauge oddly dropped to empty so I filled up but no change occurred. On the way up it started to work again so I figured it was a fluke and trusted the gauge. My car stalled about 8 hours in and I had to wait in the cold for 2 hours for aaa. Repairs made: no repairs were made but I have looked for quotes on the repair and I keep getting different answers to the problem. One said the fuel gauge sensor needs to be reset (200 dollar fee) and another said the fuel pumps need to be replaced (700 dollar fee). Similarities to common recall: the issue I have is so common to the federal safety agency campaign id number: 10v075000 recall. This recall is on the 2006 and 2008 nissan xterra, frontier, and pathfinder. It involves: the molded fuel tank shells can deform, causing the fuel sender float arm to contact an embossment molded into the tank shell causing the instrument panel fuel gauge to show that the vehicle has approximately one quarter tank when the fuel tank is empty. I have no doubt that we 2005 xterra owners are having the same issue, and online that is the consensus. Thank you very much for your time and work resolving this issue.

Filed Apr 10, 2010 · Fuel system · 68,000 miles · CA

I own a 2005 nissan xterra. My check engine light came on about 2 months ago. I used a code reader to read the problem and it stated it was the fuel level sensor failing. I cleared the code from the computer and filled my gas tank and the levels seemed half way accurate. The check engine light came on once more just recently. After much research, I have found it to be a faulty fuel sensor gauge that is an all in one fuel pump, filter, and sensor unit. Feel free to research this yourself. Nissan has had fuel pump and filter issues with 2005+ truck/ SUV models. I believe they recalled them in the eastern us, but not here in the west. It appears to me that it is a defective part on the car. They claim it is not covered under warranty and is a "wear and tear" item. This is ridiculous! It is a part that should last over 125k miles... But not. They need to fix the problem they created. It will cost me $600 dollars to fix it! In this economy its impossible for me! Basically you can run out of fuel anywhere at any time if the sensor is not functioning correctly. This can cause an accident or cause you to get stranded in a bad part of town. Both of which are life threatening.

Filed Jun 30, 2009 · Fuel system · 43,000 miles · AZ

2005 nissan xterra. At 40000 miles it is common for this model to have the fuel level sensor fail. This can cause disabled vehicles due to vehicles running out of gas. This is a common problem with this model vehicle and the manufacturer is aware of the problem but refuses to assist or even warn owners of the potential problems. Nissan recalled 2001-2003 models for the same issue, but continue to use the same faulty part. Nissan or a mechanic must removed the gas tank to get to the fuel pump and the fuel level sensor. It even requires a special tool to remove this unit. Total cost of repair between $550 & $600 for a $90.00 part.

Filed Apr 8, 2009 · Electrical, Fuel system · 42,000 miles · UT

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.

Filed Apr 1, 2009 · Fuel system · 51,000 miles · NC

I own a 2005 nissan xterra and recently my fuel gauge has been reading 1/2 tank full, then out of no where, it drops to empty. Upon refilling the tank (15gal worth) the gauge remains on empty w/ the "check engine light" on. After some driving the gauge eventually returns to the proper location, and the process continues every time. I've read a few discussion boards on the subject and it seems to be very common on nissan SUV's and alot of complaints concerning the fuel pump/sending unit.

Filed Jan 23, 2009 · Fuel system · 77,000 miles · TX

Same fuel gauge problems other owners are complaining about and the lack of support from nissan. Ours would read empty and low fuel light comes on below 1/2 tank of gas. Took it to a nissan dealer and $741.00 later the fuel sender/fuel pump was replaced. This is my wife's vehicle and I would hate the thought of her being stranded thinking she had plenty of fuel and it runs out of gas. I guess nissan does not think of this. There should definitely be a recall on these fuel senders and issue some kind of credit or check for the owners who have already had the vehicle repaired at their expense.

Filed Jan 9, 2009 · Fuel system · 47,000 miles · GA

2005 xterra fuel pump level indicator, module, check engine light issues. Almost everyone that has this vehicle is having the same issues.