There are 11 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2003 Nissan Xterrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT CASA NISSAN (5855 MONTANA AVE, EL PASO, TX) PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM) THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADDED SEALANT TWICE BEFORE; HOWEVER, THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED DURING THE FINAL VISIT. THE REMEDIES FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO NISSAN OF LAS CRUCES (1801 S MAIN ST, LAS CRUCES, NM, 88005), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 28820775. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
I WAS PUMPING GAS AND IT BACKED UP AND SPLASHED ALL OVER MY EXPOSED SKIN AND CLOTHING. BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP FUEL LEVEL SENDER IS MALFUNCTIONING GAS SPILLS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO FILL MY TANK. *TR
NISSAN PUT OUT A RECALL ON THE 2003 FUEL SYSTEMS IN REGARDS TO CORRISON THAT COULD OCCUR TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE FUEL SYSTEM DID CORRODE, CAUSING US TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A NEW TANK, NEW FUEL PUMP. THIS RECALL WAS FOR SALT AREAS, THAT WOULD BE IN MA. WHAT WAS DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM DID NOT. *TR
THE CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ACCELERATING PROPERLY DUE TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM OR GASOLINE DELIVERY THERE IS A VIBRATING SOUND AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE GAS PEDAL. AND THE GASOLINE SMELL IS TERRIBLE. THE GAS PEDAL IS VERY LOOSE AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AT THIS TIME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE; THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR AND THE SENDING UNIT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP) BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP). A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
WHEN FUELING MY 2003 NISSAN XTERRA GAS UNEXPECTED BACK WASHES OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER. I WAS COVERED IN GAS ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SURROUNDING GROUND. A RECALL WAS FOR THE 2001 NISSAN XTERRA FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THE RECALL TO COVER THE 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE PROBLEM AND PART FAILURE IS IDENTICAL IN BOTH CASES. THE FAILING PART IS THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCESS HATCH ABOVE THE GAS TANK SEAL IS CORRODED SO BADLY, THAT IT WILL NOT FILL PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS EMISSION VAPORS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND ON JUNE 17, 2007, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WILL COST $1,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 129,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,425.
THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS, THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AGAIN, MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER AGAIN WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER TO AIR THE VEHICLE. *JB
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL 04V230000 REPAIRS ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP, 10 MINUTES LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE AGAIN, AND CURRENTLY THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR A FUEL CANISTER THAT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE AT FIRST.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026