Is the 2000 Nissan Xterra a bad year?
213 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Xterra years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2000 Nissan Xterra are in line with other Xterra years. Fuel system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Xterra owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 65 (31%) | 51k–89k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 26 (12%) | 55k–104k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (4%) | 37k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 22 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 18 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 16 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 15 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 14 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 213 complaints: 25 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2000 Nissan Xterra: 5
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
On certain pickup trucks equipped with six cylinder engines and sport utility vehicles equipped with four or six cylinder engines, the fuel pump terminal on the fuel-sending unit can develop a crack in the plastic molding. This can cause the terminal strip to corrode under some environmental conditions. If corrosion occurs, the terminal strip could eventually break causing the fuel pump to stop operation. This will result in not being able to start the engine or cause the engine to stop running without warning, which can result in a crash.
2000 Nissan xterra vehicles manufactured between october 15, 1999, and february 29, 2000. The alloy wheels used on these vehicles may not have been properly manufactured and could develop cracks in the wheel spokes. If a sufficient number of spoke cracks develop, the wheel could fail and separate from the mounting hub, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Vehicle description: pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock… If the driver selects 'drive' and the transmission is actually in 'reverse', a vehicle crash could occur.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 21
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Nissan Xterra. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
Identify: A leaking strut or a shock absorber that qualifies for replacement under warranty
Vent control valve replacement
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light on/flashing
Neighbouring years
2001 Xterra: 149 complaints, keep it.
Every Nissan Xterra year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · All Xterra years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Nissan Xterra a bad year?
213 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Xterra years. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Nissan Xterra?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (65), electrical system (26), visibility and wipers (9), transmission and drivetrain (22), engine (18).
How many recalls does the 2000 Nissan Xterra have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 06E026000), Fuel system (NHTSA 04V-230), Wheels (NHTSA 03V-307) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.