Problems · by component
2005 Nissan Xterra electrical system problems
39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Xterra cite electrical system, 5% of all 845 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
39
5% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled inadvertently on several occasions. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road on several occasions. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact continued driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V517000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.”
“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.…”
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME. GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY EVEN AFTER YOU FILL IT UP COMPLETELY. DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0463, FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT ACCURATELY STATE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO NISSAN AND NHTSA. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT IN THE TANK OR HOW MANY MILES YOU CAN GO. THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR CERTAIN 2006, 2007 AND 2008 XTERRAS. NOT SURE WHY IT HASN'T BEEN FOR THE 2005 MODEL YEAR AS IT IS THE SAME ISSUE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "ECM" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BATTERY AND CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,000.”
“VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND IS UNABLE TO START. WITH VEHICLE IN OFF STATE THERE IS NOT CONTROL OVER SPEED, BRAKING, STEERING. NISSAN IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AFTER DIAGNOSIS. CODE P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.