Correction: I misspoke about the Xterra having an optional sunroof, as many of you have pointed out. It must have been the Pathfinder that I was thinking of in the moment.
As a 2015 pro 4 x manual transmission owner...........BRING IT BACK.....BRING IT BACK.....BRING IT BACK......BRING IT BACK...........NO SERIOUSLY SUCH A GREAT TRUCK
The interior isn't chincy... it's durable. It's made to last a long time, even with rough use. It's also easier to keep clean. It's made to be a rugged vehicle, not a luxury vehicle. The last thing I want in a true rugged off-road vehicle is soft touch interior parts. Those will be worn out in short order. I will say that the one place I hate having the hard plastic is in the rear cargo area, good luck keeping your groceries (or whatever else) from sliding all over the back of the vehicle! I actually bought the factory cargo organizer accessory to help with that.
Ive had my 06 for 13 years, done land scaping and grounds keeping out of it, and have hauled all kinds of stuff. Can confirm the interior is durable as hell, mines also a 6 speed manual so I can pretend it's a racecar.
Have a 2007 Off-Road with a 6-speed manual. Yeah, gas mileage is poor. Still, I've had no problems with my Off-Road. The manual transmission means I haven't had to worry about SMOD. Back in 2010, we had a "snowmageddon" event where I live. I was the only one who made it to work (yeah, I was about 30 minutes late, but I had the office to myself) I've never been stranded. The car always starts. An unanticipated plus? The manual transmission is an excellent auto theft deterrent. Who drives stick shift anymore? Love my Off-Road.
I've got an 06 with a manual, guy knocked a couple grand off it because it had been on his lot for months and apparently everyone noped when they saw the stick. My last 20 years have all been in manual vehicles so didn't hurt my feelings.
And speaking of oh-so-critical cup holders ... nice thing about the front cup holders is you can pull out the rubber inserts to make them work with wide 32-oz Nalgene bottles. That was a very intentional outdoors feature put in by Nissan's San Diego design team. Oh and the first aid kit in the rear hatch was another idea along the same lines.
I got a 2002 Nissan Xterra 3.3L v6 and the owner did not take very good care of it. But with lots of blood sweat tears money and time. She had been running super good. Actually just took her to Oklahoma. Very reliable as long as it’s taken care of
Kudos....bought an 03 used in 07 with around 70k miles. It's a 4x4 with 5 speed manual. Sold it at 241k last year when driver door hinge mounts wore out. Guy is still driving it. One of my favorite daily drivers. If I had a complaint, it would be the $800 spent on front brake job. Something to do with having to pull front drive shafts. Also replacing spark plug closest to firewall requires a pro or an act of God.
Sounds like you should have bought a Cadillac suv instead of a rig that was actually designed to use off-road. I love how easy the clean up after a weekend off-roading through some pretty serious terrain that a stock 4Runner wouldn’t dare attempt. Love my 2012 Xterra PRO X4 and after owning several 4x4s.
I chose a 2011 Pro-4X w/ leather seats for $27,500, over an equivalent 4Runner for $44K (Fukushima accident year). I test drove both top off-road models. There was no comparison, the Xterra was just better. I thought the 4Runner would be bigger inside. The driver's seat was actually more cramped. The 2bd Gen Xterra frame is built on a high tensile strength, fully boxed Titan ladder frame. Toyotas have C-channel frames that have to be reinforced for real off-roading. I've beat the hell out of mine, and it still looks 4 years old.
I have a 2012 Xterra and I love most things about it. It has been very reliable, it can tow, it can handle rugged terrain. Biggest downside is MPG, not as big of a deal in 2012, but now gas is over $4 in most places, so long trips you definitely feel it.
TBH the simplistic "un-updated" interior is what draws me to this and the 4runners. No fancy crap that adds layers of extra stuff to fail down the line. No glossy fancy facades inside you have to take extra care not to scratch. No overly complex air ride suspension that inevitably fails way earlier than it should and costs a small fortune to fix or even convert to a more reliable component. It does what it does and does nothing more and I really wish more cars nowadays offered that kind of simplicity for the average joe.
Had a 2012 Pro4x. Best vehicle I've ever owned and was sad to trade her in. Took me anywhere I needed to go out in the woods/camping and yes, with a good set up you can sleep 2 comfortably in the back.
I've got a 2013 Pro4x with 90K miles, 2-1/2" lift, aftermarket rear hitch bumper w. spare tire carrier, etc. The P4X passenger seat will fold down flat to carry long items and create more room for tall sleepers. Also, the smaller Coleman Action Packers will fit perfectly behind the front seats of any version Xterra to extend the deck at the proper height for more sleeping room. Xterras are very comfy for sleeping compared to the folded rear seats of FJ Cruisers which aren't level with the rear deck . Nissan marketing at the time touted how easy it was to clean the interior front/rear after off-roading. It was never about cushiness for glampers. BTW, you didn't mention the stadium seating of the rear seats. Helps prevent car sickness and more comfy for those passengers. The leaf springs help carry heavy loads and most off-roaders will remove the rear anti-sway bars. Slap an ARB rear diff cover on, replace the thin P4X skid plates with after market plates, add BFG KO2 tires, and you'll have an affordable rig for exploring. And with the clearance, it's easy to change most fluids yourself.
Don’t forget the rear diffs will blow seals if the differential breather gets clogged. Which is very common on these and Frontiers, and Titans. A lot of people reroute the breather behind the taillight.
The rear diff on my 2000 Toyota Tacoma TRD (rear locker) blew at 61,000 miles. I had to argue with Toyota Corporate to get them to cover like 60% of the rear diff replacement. I've had my 2911 Xterra Pro-4X for 12 years, and I've beat the living shit out of it. The drivetrain is still in pristine condition. I even took it through deep mud on several occasions. I never did any of that with my 2000 Tacoma TRD, yet the rear diff still failed. I actually had a dealer check out my differential breather stems after going through mud a few times. They said nothing got in. All that said, if you plan to off-road through water or mud, it's probably a good idea to reroute the differential breathers to a higher height. Personally I stay away from mud and water. Why you may ask? Well, while the vehicle was under full warranty, mud caked all over the AC condenser, which is mounted to the main engine radiator. Despite getting a detail, they were too stupid to wash the mud off the AC condenser, and my dealer was way too stupid to figure it out. They literally replaced every part of the AC system, with no improvement. Finally, someone smart enough to rub 2 sticks together, realized the AC condenser was caked with mud. The lesson is that if you don't know your vehicle inside and out, stay away from dangerous off-road obstacles.
i have a 2011 pro4x and i have not had any issues my X is 171,000 a lot of highway miles. only problems i have had is front breaks and cam shaft sensors. no major problems thankfully, i've driven my X all around florida and up to south Carolina, it['s been a reliable monster love my x
Ive had camshaft sensor issues as well. I have gotten the bad sensor code, replaced both and still had the engine shut off on me. Im researching the bigger problem, any ideas?
Dont risk losing your transmission, you can bypass the radiator and use only the transmission cooler, its a quick fix people do it in like 20 minutes. Or you can also use an aftermarket transmission cooler and entirely bypass the factory one. Though, the transmission cooler in itself is not the issue, the radiator is where the breaking happens. Plenty of videos around youtube to show you how to bypass the radiator and avoid a transmission failure.
These are the best kept secret while everyone is running around buying old Toyotas for crazy prices. If you think the 2nd gen Xterras are clunky, wait till you drive a 1st gen. I personally love the feeling. Its a constant reminder that the truck was made for serious use rather than picking kids up from school. This experience is best paired with a manual gearbox which also eliminates the SMOD problem.
Went to the junkyard and found the original first aid kit for the rear hatch and also a rear carpeted floor mat with the xterra logo and a cargo privacy screen
I bought a '15 P4x with a 6 speed standard transmission about 8 months ago... It had been pretty much dogged so I've been slowly upgrading components... and I have to say, I love this truck! I believe that's why is has leaf springs, it's basically a Frontier with an SUV body on it. The ride suffers a bit but parts are much easier to come by. Next I'll be replacing the leafs with OME's and installing SPC uca's... All in all, I'd be game to try and take my X almost anywhere.
I bought a 2011 S model last year. I really like it, the rear seat bottoms are removable and the seat backs fold flat. I just put a cooler behind the drivers' side to support my feet, throw down my sleeping mat/bag and I'm ready for bed. I finally got around to hitting some dirt roads and easy trails last weekend. We had a blast. If you plan to take yours off-road, consider removing the side steps and mud flaps, the flaps will get ripped off.
I have a 2011 S and 2012 Pro4X , I have them for their simplicity, reliability and capability. My GF and I have to drive off-road in our daily commute to work, stock Xterras with mud terrains work perfect for this.
I purchased my 2006 Xterra around 2014 with around 114,000 miles from a Nissan Dealer. I’m glad to have purchased the extended warranty because same week while driving it started vibrating and took it to the dealer and they found the “Milk Shake Problem” in the transmission. So I ended getting a new transmission and a few new accessories that goes with the cooling system at hardly any cost to me because of the warranty I purchased. It was a almost $6,000 repair job and I only ended paying like $100 on something it didn’t cover. I sure dodge one. Ever since 2014 me and my family have been RV’ing towing our almost 3,600 lbs RV around the country while on vacation. My Xterra now has like 195,000 miles and I’ve changed my tires to all terrain, alternator, Catalytic Converters, Driver Side Wheel Hub Assembly, and tried keeping up with the maintenance. She’s still going strong.
I own a 01 and a 12 pro-4x, the 01 has over 300,000 and is my trail rig with only routine maintenance like the timing belt being done to it.. My 2012 pro-4x has 96k and trouble free as well so far. I really like the xterra's they are very dependable and are great offroad.
I have a 06 and do a lot of off roading in the deserts of southern California and Sierra Nevada mountains that can be VERY dusty. The hard plastic interior is exactly what I need to do a good cleaning. I have had the gray interior looking light tan, being covered with a substantial layer of the local particulates and when I get home the shop vac makes short work of the cleanup. The evap cannister inlet hose is stuck into the frame member and will eventually suck in dust ect. I removed that hose and got a section of vacuum hose and ran it up behind the driver's side tail light and put a small filter on it and no problems for many dusty years now. It did ride rough when new but a front strut replacement with radflo units and rear shocks made it ride wonderful on and off road. (kind of expensive though) I have always loved the looks. From the factory it looks like and off roader, not a converted soccer mom car.
Xterras are some of the better over lander SUVs out there. Built good and very reliable and do very good off road. Averaging 16 to 18 mpg, my 2006 does same as a 4 runner, same as a Ford explorer, same as most any other same size suv. Just look at all the outdoor videos of overland builds. Very reliable v6 with timing chain after 2004. 2004 and earlier have timing belt. And most of roaders want solid axles with leaf springs !
The Toyota Four Runner was not the competitor to the Xterra. The FJ Cruiser was. My 2008 SE had Bluetooth. You are missing the adjustable rear cargo tie down eyes for securing cargo with a net or straps. The fan clutch may be locking because you are actually having a lot of heat coming through your radiator, as it is designed to operate. In 165K miles, I've never experienced this and I live in a desert. I did replace mine at 85K miles when I also preventatively replaced the radiator and thermostat due to the extended radiator warranty running out, the OEM fan clutch has been flawless. In fact, the only thing that has failed on mine throughout its life (and I bought mine new) was the driver's door window regulator. This has been the single most reliable vehicle I've owned, and I regularly beat the crap out of it off-road and in the snow. Nissan extended the warranty to address the SMOD issue, and smart owners replaced the radiator preemptively soon after the warranty expired. It only affected a small percentage of Nissans (including Frontiers) from one of their suppliers that had poor quality control on the brazing on the transmission cooler heat exchanger interior to the radiator. Cantilevered off it's inlet and outlet pipes, stresses caused the brazes to crack. In your case, check to see if your coolant is leaking out your pressure caps or the overflow bottle. There should be a chalky residue left where its evaporating out.
Drive a 2008 Pathfinder LE V8 4 x 4. Longer than the Xterra with more interior comforts. Second owner, no accidents, never off road. Have a CIA and Bully Dog tuner and produce about 335 hp, 405 tq. Same transmission as the V6, but different clutch packs. Beefed up drivetrain of course. Installed inner coil airbags in the rear for about $100 and provides further diving stability. Pulls like a train, extremely smooth, and refined. Performed routine and proactive maintenance. After 4 years of ownership and 160k on the clock, it's been extremely reliably👍
Steering would be like new with new tie rods. I replaced mine at 200k miles on my 2006.They just wear down. Just the inner ones needed replacement. I put in leather seats. Looks and feels awesome. There is no need to rush. Driving right gets me over 21 mpg highway.
HVAC vent under the front seat dude, and this guy hates the car, wish they were selling it again i would buy it again I have a 2013 got it at 36 and now it has 124 thousand miles on it…Nissan bring it back please
I have a 2012 and put a very plush grass turf in the back secured with heavy gauge magnets, so that I can pull it out easily when I need to. My dog has grip and it’s soft enough to sleep on if stuck somewhere.
My 08 Xterra SE has a fuel economy indicator and fog lights that came standard just thought I'd let you know some of them do have it and mine is a daily driver and I love driving it absolutely no issues extremely reliable vehicle.😊
hmm I have an '08 S Trim, and mine doesnt have a fuel economy indicator.. unless Im totally blind and a doofus (which is possible).... where is it in yours?
15:10 for most vehicles that seem to be mysteriously losing coolant there may be a small hole or crack in the hose that is capable of holding the water when the engine is cooled down but when it is at operating temperatures the pressure rises and that could force water out the small leak. One way to test it is if you can partially take off your radiator cap, most caps have two stages when taking the cap off and then drive around to see if the water level changes. Be aware with out pressure the coolant will have a lower boiling point.
I'd like to see these "multiple reports, cause Gen2 Xterra never had a sunroof. I never heard of issues on the gen1 sunroof, especially not cracking, and never hearing about them exploding.
You're right, PMOD (Pink Milkshake of Death) is used interchangeably with SMOD. It just looks like a pink milkshake and it's a common problem with every Nissan that utilizes the same engine block up till late 2010. (Frontiers and Pathfinders too) I'm pretty sure (correct me if I'm wrong) that Nissan also improved the quality of the timing chains/tensioners/guides after 2011, and could go as up to 200k before they needed service (presuming oil changes and regular maintenance were done accordingly) Though oddly enough I changed my '06 Pathfinder's at 155k. I got my 2015 X last week and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. (Guess I'm a bit fond of the VQ40DE) Great review!
I believe you are correct!! From what I hear, the ‘11-‘15 didn’t have the timing chain issues. But I’ve been talking to a few people recently (after I filmed this video) and they had the SMOD issues on their 2013 and 2011’s. So I’m not so sure that Nissan actually fixed the issue.
2010 X off-road. Bought with 63k miles, now at 134k miles. Basic maintenance, changed out struts, brakes and tires… that’s it. Only issue I had was a gas cap that didn’t seal properly and put up a check engine light. New gas cap fixed it.
My 05 has an MPG in the onboard trip computer. It’s not real time, just uses the average fuel consumption and fuel gauge. The SMOD issue is easily handled by running the transmission cooler line to the dedicated transmission cooler and bypassing the radiator all together. The ride is flinty, reminds me of the ride of a pickup truck. But 4Runners ride pretty rough if you ask me. The rear cupholder break super easy but the aftermarket replacements are $20. The radio is great sounding but an 05 doesn’t even have an aux plug. Have to use one of those cigarette lighter doohickeys. The cats are a weak point. If you live in a inspection state I suggest not letting any engine misses or rough idle go for long. It will ruin the cats in short order. Also they take the bad 16 mpg down to truly tragic 10 mpg pretty easily. Which also reminds me of a pickup truck. There’s a lot of Xterras with over 200k on the odometer and they just look cool with the stepped roof and integrated rack.
I'm genuinely considering getting an xterra now. I had a 2019 frontier and it was by far the best truck I've ever had (the interior looked identical to this lol). Nissan is doing a horrible job with updating their stuff in north america but mehh. Its a cheap rugged suv and thats what i loved about the frontier, it was just a truck and it knew it, it didn't try to fool you by riding like a small car that happens to be tall, it didn't have any nonsense driving aids aside from hill assist. Fuel economy was pretty much the main reason we got rid of the frontier those 4.0 engines are notorious for horrible mileage. Now i just want an older 4x4 that doesn't cost a fortune so these are on my mind.
Oh Yee of little faith!!!! The u joints don't have grease nipples because they are of the "solid trunnion" variety. Not to mention the built in mounting rack in the trunk, the first aid kit that mounts inside the liftgate, a factory locker in the offroad and pro4x models. Rockford fosgate stereo with a sub woofer... So you can't hear the 4runner behind you breaking on trail.... Six speed available....
I have an '08 that I bought new with the off road package, automatic. Even though we have new/newer vehicles in our little fleet, this is still my daily driver. It has never failed to get from point A to point B. As far as fuel consumption, it has a drinking problem...lol. On the interstate, it's 11 gallons of fuel for every 120 miles driven. Is it perfect?..No. It currently has 150K miles on it. It has a slight lift, BFG TKO load range E tires, which increased fuel consumption...a little. Load range E tires are heavy.
I have a 2007 Nissan xterra with 143k miles runs excellent but did have to change out the catalytic converter as well at 140k other than that car runs perfect
Although a great idea and design it's execution is flawed and the cost cutting measures obviously apparent for a Japanese product. Nissan had a very tough decade when these came out with various warranty repairs and premature break downs. Maybe if the Xtera was on todays Pathfinder platform it would do better 🤷🏽♂️ Non the less it should be very capable and fare better after needed repairs and meticulous maintenance ✌🏽♥️
Awesome video!! Learned a lot about these just from this video. From experience I can confirm that leaf springs do significantly limit the suspension travel. Leaf springs were never made for that though. They can hold a lot of weight but can't articulate a lot. Thus why trucks use them. Same goes for torsion bars. And wow that is impressive performance for a V6! As for the tuna thing... Hahaha I'm surprised you did it and have no tips on getting that smell out lol
Thanks Cristian! Right, I can totally understand why medium or heavy duty trucks use leafs, for payload capacity. Buuuuuut an off-road focused SUV? Yeah, it must have just been to save on production costs. Thanks for stunt driving for the video dude! 👌🏼
@@NotSoHandyCarGuy Yeah exactly they probably already had those or very similar ones and were like eh it's good enough throw them on haha And lol anytime! Made a great thumbnail for you
Have a 2013 P4X 6spd manual, bought new and has 80k miles on it. Replaced EVAP canister and solenoids, and have the crank position sensor go out. Easy fixes both, the cam position sensors should also be replaced when doing the cam sensor. These were difficult as I have large hands, ultimately had the dealer do them and it cost $$$…and I supplied the new sensors! Otherwise the Xterra has been very reliable with regular maintenance and is my wife’s daily. Overall good car that we will continue to drive till it’s dead..
When did you change your trans fluid and rear diff fluid. I paid a decent amount of money to have a 2012 pro-4x 6 speed with 40k miles shipped to me from colorado. I'm assuming I should change manual trans fluid and rear diff fluid at 50k miles, and I've heard many people say to just use the OEM nissan fluid and not anything aftermarket other than possibly redline.
2010 Xterra 174,000 miles I have had pretty much no where near the problem you spoke about The rust on the rear bumper is a problem I do have It has started burning oil little 13 years old so age is what I’m racking that up too
By 2012, all the big kinks got worked out. For pre-2012, make sure the trans/radiator SMOD issue gets sorted, and take care of the rear differential breather thing and you’re good. Also, just an fyi, I don’t believe the 2nd gen Xs have sunroofs at all. I adore my 2014 S 4x4, which is my daily driver. She’s REALLY thirsty but is amazing otherwise. I’ll never sell her. 110k on the clock problem-free and gunning for 300k.
Thanks for the comment! That’s what I though too, but I’m not so sure anymore that there’s a hard cutoff for the SMOD issue. My friend/mechanic had tranny failure in his ‘13 because of SMOD. Good luck with the truck!!
@@NotSoHandyCarGuy SMOD only applied to 2005-2010 Xterra/Frontiers. 2011-2015 are unaffected. I would expect that something is amiss if reported outside of those model years.
I have had my 13' since Dec. Xterra does not like aftermarket parts like thermostats. It caused me a headache and caused the premature replacement of my water pump. I do have foglights on mine. My mechanic looks for the mystery coolant leaks too. I ended up dumping Bars Leaks Cooling System Repair of the 2-part kind, just the blue part was put in, and no coolant was lost afterward. I also own a 2003 Xterra for 10.5 years with 300,000 miles on it. Overall, Xterra is a good car, and I recommend the 2nd gen over the 1st due to the upkeep cost .
Thanks for the comment! What trim 2nd gen is it? Yeah! From my research it seems that the coolant issues are the most common problems with the 2nd gens. Always liked the styling of the 1st though.
@@NotSoHandyCarGuy It's an S model. Both are silver in color. The first Gen has more lines and styling. If you put the two together, you'll see the difference. I just put that part of that bars in after spending lots of money on the coolant issue, which ended up being a lousy aftermarket thermostat. The Coolant is blue, and that stuff in Bars is blue, too, lol! I haven't had to add Coolant for over a month. It has General Grabber A/TX tires on it.
Im looking at a '13 with 145k but seems to be taken care of. Did you do a bypass on your radiator? had a '05 years ago that got smod. Replaced tranny but then it was one thing after another...fuel & oil sending units, 2 cats failed in a month....etc, etc From what I've gathered, the 2010+ models are much more reliable. Any input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated
@@richardmarino2732 '13 doesn't need the SMOD. When I got mine, I had to replace the radiator from age. The biggest thing is no aftermarket thermostats. It has to be OEM and stay at the 4 o'clock position. Sometimes mechanics won't listen and put an aftermarket in. The temp gauge will climb. It's the only negative. I have a spare OEM thermostat on hand with an OEM gasket. For any Nissan 4.0, the cooling is the biggest headache.
I really don't understand why people bitch about plastic interior parts. It's the first thing you hear when a vehicle reviewer gets inside. What do you want??? Mandatory leather everywhere??? ...just add that $10k back to the price tag while you're at it. The utilitarian nature of plastic is superior in many ways to any alternative material - it's durable, inexpensive and just does what it needs to do with no fuss. In a world of overpriced, overcomputerized laptops on wheels, that is becoming more and more appealing.
only weakness is rear suspension- needs air bags which inprove ride and handling tremendoulsy - i like the xterra on highway as much as my minivan- wish the center console was taller
Those were pretty reliable when I was a car tech for Nissan. The gas mileage sucked, but it's an SUV. I would buy one if it was taken care of. Subscribed. The interior is pretty cheap 😂. I'm going to be honest and say that the interior room and the other creature comforts are way better on my 2003 Trailblazer 4x4 than the Xterra. Hehe
I have a 2014 Xterra and I took it off roading recently. Ground clearance was an issue. I have some baja tires on it and had no problems in the mud. Climbed really well. But I did notice a lot of squeaking coming from my back tire when it got submerged in water. I don't really know what that is about and need to get it checked.
My 2007 never had any problems. I'm in Texas, and we don't have many problems with rust on any vehicles. I did bypass the radiator transmission cooler and installed an external cooler. Why wait and see?
the Xterra was made spartan on purpose. Stay away from a jeep.. this is a Lexus compared to a Jeep.. They skimped on all of the creature comforts to put in a proper 4 wheel drive performance transmission with crawler gears and a locking differential. This is for folks that wanted a high end off road vechicle with an economy car price tag.. Not like a 50,000 4 runner or Jeep Rubicon...all of which this car can hang with given the right driver for 25 grand..
I recently purchased a 12 xterra and i love it. But my coolant keeps disappearing as well and sonetimes even smokes a little after long drives.... No signs of failure anywhere either, very curious but otherwise great.
common problem on 05-08 xterra is the coolant mixing with trans fluid (needing a bypass with trans cooler done, 05-08 timing chain guides and tensioner problems
Rarely will coolant ever get into the transmission. Pressure in cooling systems rarely exceed 16 psi. Most aren't even that. Transmission pressure exceeds that so you will wind up with trans fluid in the cooling system.
Had my 2006 S 6 speed Xterra for 2 years, currently had 99,000miles on it, only thing the one of catalytic convert is failing, but other then that this truck is a tank
17 miles a gallon? You might have had it on 4X 'cause it does take more gas. I've used my Xterra on a 2hr drive and it only takes 1 and a half bar. It was 140 miles to get to location. Come back, the same thing. And still had one full bar left. I was using RWD. Gas ain't all that bad with it to me. Only reason why they stop making it was because was complaining about how it wasn't FAMILY friendly. It wasn't because of the gas. It was a bit loud, after using AC, you can smell it the second time you turn on your car. And kids have problem getting into the car 'cause it was to high. It was a bunch of dumb stuff people complain about. And then Carlos Ghosen went and stole 80 million dollars from Nissan.
I find that my xterra plastics and metal seems to degrade pretty fast, much much faster than it should. the little gas struts that open and close the rear hatch rusted out completely, and a few other things are rusting, which they should not be.
@@panagiotisf7228 I have no idea what you're talking about. Solid axles ALWAYS have more travel than IFS, whether they have leaf springs, or coilovers. IFS is great for on-road travel. It sucks for off-roading, unless you're desert running.
Correction: I misspoke about the Xterra having an optional sunroof, as many of you have pointed out. It must have been the Pathfinder that I was thinking of in the moment.
my 1st gen xterra has a sunroof :P
First gens do have a sunroof option, they discontinued that option on the 2nd gens.
As a 2015 pro 4 x manual transmission owner...........BRING IT BACK.....BRING IT BACK.....BRING IT BACK......BRING IT BACK...........NO SERIOUSLY SUCH A GREAT TRUCK
SO...DOND BUY A 2012 Nissan Xterra PRO-4X ???
@@marathonhero I have a '12 Pro4x manual... You should definitely buy one
We have 2004, 2011, and 2014. BRING IT BACK!!!
The interior isn't chincy... it's durable. It's made to last a long time, even with rough use. It's also easier to keep clean. It's made to be a rugged vehicle, not a luxury vehicle. The last thing I want in a true rugged off-road vehicle is soft touch interior parts. Those will be worn out in short order. I will say that the one place I hate having the hard plastic is in the rear cargo area, good luck keeping your groceries (or whatever else) from sliding all over the back of the vehicle! I actually bought the factory cargo organizer accessory to help with that.
I love my 2011 Xterra. As a contractor it’s easy to keep clean, rugged and ridiculously reliable.
It sure is with that 4.0 v6 it's plenty powerful
Ive had my 06 for 13 years, done land scaping and grounds keeping out of it, and have hauled all kinds of stuff. Can confirm the interior is durable as hell, mines also a 6 speed manual so I can pretend it's a racecar.
Everything EXCEPT the outer (door side) edge of the driver seat. For some reason that's always destroyed in xterra/frontier/pathfinders
@DRTMaverick that's in all suvs, it's from the driver sliding into the seat repeatedly
306k miles on my 2006. Original owner, engine and trans. She’s a beast lives off-road.
I’ve mandated 500k on each of ours before the driver can think of surrendering. We have three
Have a 2007 Off-Road with a 6-speed manual. Yeah, gas mileage is poor. Still, I've had no problems with my Off-Road. The manual transmission means I haven't had to worry about SMOD. Back in 2010, we had a "snowmageddon" event where I live. I was the only one who made it to work (yeah, I was about 30 minutes late, but I had the office to myself) I've never been stranded. The car always starts. An unanticipated plus? The manual transmission is an excellent auto theft deterrent. Who drives stick shift anymore? Love my Off-Road.
I've got an 06 with a manual, guy knocked a couple grand off it because it had been on his lot for months and apparently everyone noped when they saw the stick. My last 20 years have all been in manual vehicles so didn't hurt my feelings.
I wish my 2012 pro 4x had a manual. I hate slush boxes
And speaking of oh-so-critical cup holders ... nice thing about the front cup holders is you can pull out the rubber inserts to make them work with wide 32-oz Nalgene bottles. That was a very intentional outdoors feature put in by Nissan's San Diego design team. Oh and the first aid kit in the rear hatch was another idea along the same lines.
I got a 2002 Nissan Xterra 3.3L v6 and the owner did not take very good care of it. But with lots of blood sweat tears money and time. She had been running super good. Actually just took her to Oklahoma. Very reliable as long as it’s taken care of
Kudos....bought an 03 used in 07 with around 70k miles. It's a 4x4 with 5 speed manual. Sold it at 241k last year when driver door hinge mounts wore out. Guy is still driving it. One of my favorite daily drivers. If I had a complaint, it would be the $800 spent on front brake job. Something to do with having to pull front drive shafts. Also replacing spark plug closest to firewall requires a pro or an act of God.
Sounds like you should have bought a Cadillac suv instead of a rig that was actually designed to use off-road. I love how easy the clean up after a weekend off-roading through some pretty serious terrain that a stock 4Runner wouldn’t dare attempt. Love my 2012 Xterra PRO X4 and after owning several 4x4s.
I'd buy another 1 in A HEARTBEAT
I chose a 2011 Pro-4X w/ leather seats for $27,500, over an equivalent 4Runner for $44K (Fukushima accident year). I test drove both top off-road models. There was no comparison, the Xterra was just better. I thought the 4Runner would be bigger inside. The driver's seat was actually more cramped. The 2bd Gen Xterra frame is built on a high tensile strength, fully boxed Titan ladder frame. Toyotas have C-channel frames that have to be reinforced for real off-roading. I've beat the hell out of mine, and it still looks 4 years old.
I have a 2012 Xterra and I love most things about it. It has been very reliable, it can tow, it can handle rugged terrain. Biggest downside is MPG, not as big of a deal in 2012, but now gas is over $4 in most places, so long trips you definitely feel it.
whats your MPG?
Gas prices were even worse in 2012.
@@DJR33333😂😂😂
TBH the simplistic "un-updated" interior is what draws me to this and the 4runners. No fancy crap that adds layers of extra stuff to fail down the line. No glossy fancy facades inside you have to take extra care not to scratch. No overly complex air ride suspension that inevitably fails way earlier than it should and costs a small fortune to fix or even convert to a more reliable component. It does what it does and does nothing more and I really wish more cars nowadays offered that kind of simplicity for the average joe.
My 2006 Xterra is 6 speed 4 wheel drive. I just hit 129000. I have a minor issue with it but I love it.
Had a 2012 Pro4x. Best vehicle I've ever owned and was sad to trade her in. Took me anywhere I needed to go out in the woods/camping and yes, with a good set up you can sleep 2 comfortably in the back.
I've got a 2013 Pro4x with 90K miles, 2-1/2" lift, aftermarket rear hitch bumper w. spare tire carrier, etc. The P4X passenger seat will fold down flat to carry long items and create more room for tall sleepers. Also, the smaller Coleman Action Packers will fit perfectly behind the front seats of any version Xterra to extend the deck at the proper height for more sleeping room. Xterras are very comfy for sleeping compared to the folded rear seats of FJ Cruisers which aren't level with the rear deck . Nissan marketing at the time touted how easy it was to clean the interior front/rear after off-roading. It was never about cushiness for glampers. BTW, you didn't mention the stadium seating of the rear seats. Helps prevent car sickness and more comfy for those passengers. The leaf springs help carry heavy loads and most off-roaders will remove the rear anti-sway bars. Slap an ARB rear diff cover on, replace the thin P4X skid plates with after market plates, add BFG KO2 tires, and you'll have an affordable rig for exploring. And with the clearance, it's easy to change most fluids yourself.
Don’t forget the rear diffs will blow seals if the differential breather gets clogged. Which is very common on these and Frontiers, and Titans. A lot of people reroute the breather behind the taillight.
Ah, very good one! Thank you!
Thanks
I’m look at an Xterra right now. Thanks for this.
The rear diff on my 2000 Toyota Tacoma TRD (rear locker) blew at 61,000 miles. I had to argue with Toyota Corporate to get them to cover like 60% of the rear diff replacement. I've had my 2911 Xterra Pro-4X for 12 years, and I've beat the living shit out of it. The drivetrain is still in pristine condition. I even took it through deep mud on several occasions. I never did any of that with my 2000 Tacoma TRD, yet the rear diff still failed. I actually had a dealer check out my differential breather stems after going through mud a few times. They said nothing got in. All that said, if you plan to off-road through water or mud, it's probably a good idea to reroute the differential breathers to a higher height. Personally I stay away from mud and water. Why you may ask? Well, while the vehicle was under full warranty, mud caked all over the AC condenser, which is mounted to the main engine radiator. Despite getting a detail, they were too stupid to wash the mud off the AC condenser, and my dealer was way too stupid to figure it out. They literally replaced every part of the AC system, with no improvement. Finally, someone smart enough to rub 2 sticks together, realized the AC condenser was caked with mud. The lesson is that if you don't know your vehicle inside and out, stay away from dangerous off-road obstacles.
That happened to me about 6 months ago thankfully was covered under warranty and I changed the breaker
I absolutely love my 2008 Xterra. Best 4x4 SUV I've owned. Easy to work on, and a joy to maintain. Wish Nissan still made them, I would buy another!
i have a 2011 pro4x and i have not had any issues my X is 171,000 a lot of highway miles. only problems i have had is front breaks and cam shaft sensors. no major problems thankfully, i've driven my X all around florida and up to south Carolina, it['s been a reliable monster love my x
Ive had camshaft sensor issues as well. I have gotten the bad sensor code, replaced both and still had the engine shut off on me. Im researching the bigger problem, any ideas?
Dont risk losing your transmission, you can bypass the radiator and use only the transmission cooler, its a quick fix people do it in like 20 minutes. Or you can also use an aftermarket transmission cooler and entirely bypass the factory one. Though, the transmission cooler in itself is not the issue, the radiator is where the breaking happens. Plenty of videos around youtube to show you how to bypass the radiator and avoid a transmission failure.
Thanks. I recently learned of this problem and thought a bypass might be a good option. I’ll look into it.
These are the best kept secret while everyone is running around buying old Toyotas for crazy prices. If you think the 2nd gen Xterras are clunky, wait till you drive a 1st gen. I personally love the feeling. Its a constant reminder that the truck was made for serious use rather than picking kids up from school. This experience is best paired with a manual gearbox which also eliminates the SMOD problem.
Went to the junkyard and found the original first aid kit for the rear hatch and also a rear carpeted floor mat with the xterra logo and a cargo privacy screen
I bought a '15 P4x with a 6 speed standard transmission about 8 months ago... It had been pretty much dogged so I've been slowly upgrading components... and I have to say, I love this truck! I believe that's why is has leaf springs, it's basically a Frontier with an SUV body on it. The ride suffers a bit but parts are much easier to come by. Next I'll be replacing the leafs with OME's and installing SPC uca's... All in all, I'd be game to try and take my X almost anywhere.
The SPC upper control arms are pretty popular. I appreciate the nicely placed zerk fitting to keep the boot filled with moly grease.
I bought a 2011 S model last year. I really like it, the rear seat bottoms are removable and the seat backs fold flat. I just put a cooler behind the drivers' side to support my feet, throw down my sleeping mat/bag and I'm ready for bed.
I finally got around to hitting some dirt roads and easy trails last weekend. We had a blast.
If you plan to take yours off-road, consider removing the side steps and mud flaps, the flaps will get ripped off.
I have a 2011 S and 2012 Pro4X , I have them for their simplicity, reliability and capability. My GF and I have to drive off-road in our daily commute to work, stock Xterras with mud terrains work perfect for this.
I purchased my 2006 Xterra around 2014 with around 114,000 miles from a Nissan Dealer. I’m glad to have purchased the extended warranty because same week while driving it started vibrating and took it to the dealer and they found the “Milk Shake Problem” in the transmission. So I ended getting a new transmission and a few new accessories that goes with the cooling system at hardly any cost to me because of the warranty I purchased. It was a almost $6,000 repair job and I only ended paying like $100 on something it didn’t cover. I sure dodge one. Ever since 2014 me and my family have been RV’ing towing our almost 3,600 lbs RV around the country while on vacation. My Xterra now has like 195,000 miles and I’ve changed my tires to all terrain, alternator, Catalytic Converters, Driver Side Wheel Hub Assembly, and tried keeping up with the maintenance. She’s still going strong.
My Xterra Off-Road was great, 225K miles. ONLY issue was a axel gasket. Would crack and throw grease. Easy, cheap fix.
if you dont think this is an amazing daily, you must reconsider.
LOVE IT. 192K miles!
I love mine
I own a 01 and a 12 pro-4x, the 01 has over 300,000 and is my trail rig with only routine maintenance like the timing belt being done to it.. My 2012 pro-4x has 96k and trouble free as well so far. I really like the xterra's they are very dependable and are great offroad.
Just hit 190,000 in mine and running great. Rust issues I'm going to get checked out and hopefully fixed without breaking the bank
I’ve got a 2007 Nissan xterra and it has been amazing
I have a 06 and do a lot of off roading in the deserts of southern California and Sierra Nevada mountains that can be VERY dusty. The hard plastic interior is exactly what I need to do a good cleaning. I have had the gray interior looking light tan, being covered with a substantial layer of the local particulates and when I get home the shop vac makes short work of the cleanup. The evap cannister inlet hose is stuck into the frame member and will eventually suck in dust ect. I removed that hose and got a section of vacuum hose and ran it up behind the driver's side tail light and put a small filter on it and no problems for many dusty years now. It did ride rough when new but a front strut replacement with radflo units and rear shocks made it ride wonderful on and off road. (kind of expensive though) I have always loved the looks. From the factory it looks like and off roader, not a converted soccer mom car.
Xterras are some of the better over lander SUVs out there. Built good and very reliable and do very good off road. Averaging 16 to 18 mpg, my 2006 does same as a 4 runner, same as a Ford explorer, same as most any other same size suv. Just look at all the outdoor videos of overland builds. Very reliable v6 with timing chain after 2004. 2004 and earlier have timing belt. And most of roaders want solid axles with leaf springs !
Dude, your delivery of this review is what I want from all car reviews from now on.
Hahaha I appreciate that! Thanks for watching
Fog lights are an easy upgrade - wiring harness is already there. Kit comes with the two lights and a new stalk to control them.
The quick preview for this video is fantastic lol
What part is it??? 😂
@@NotSoHandyCarGuy I texted it to you
I have a 2010 and love it. Just wish mine was 4WD 😢.
This was a good review. It's the first one that pointed out that these have leaf springs and 4runners have coils.
The Toyota Four Runner was not the competitor to the Xterra. The FJ Cruiser was. My 2008 SE had Bluetooth. You are missing the adjustable rear cargo tie down eyes for securing cargo with a net or straps. The fan clutch may be locking because you are actually having a lot of heat coming through your radiator, as it is designed to operate. In 165K miles, I've never experienced this and I live in a desert. I did replace mine at 85K miles when I also preventatively replaced the radiator and thermostat due to the extended radiator warranty running out, the OEM fan clutch has been flawless. In fact, the only thing that has failed on mine throughout its life (and I bought mine new) was the driver's door window regulator. This has been the single most reliable vehicle I've owned, and I regularly beat the crap out of it off-road and in the snow. Nissan extended the warranty to address the SMOD issue, and smart owners replaced the radiator preemptively soon after the warranty expired. It only affected a small percentage of Nissans (including Frontiers) from one of their suppliers that had poor quality control on the brazing on the transmission cooler heat exchanger interior to the radiator. Cantilevered off it's inlet and outlet pipes, stresses caused the brazes to crack. In your case, check to see if your coolant is leaking out your pressure caps or the overflow bottle. There should be a chalky residue left where its evaporating out.
Drive a 2008 Pathfinder LE V8 4 x 4. Longer than the Xterra with more interior comforts. Second owner, no accidents, never off road. Have a CIA and Bully Dog tuner and produce about 335 hp, 405 tq. Same transmission as the V6, but different clutch packs. Beefed up drivetrain of course. Installed inner coil airbags in the rear for about $100 and provides further diving stability. Pulls like a train, extremely smooth, and refined. Performed routine and proactive maintenance. After 4 years of ownership and 160k on the clock, it's been extremely reliably👍
Steering would be like new with new tie rods. I replaced mine at 200k miles on my 2006.They just wear down. Just the inner ones needed replacement. I put in leather seats. Looks and feels awesome. There is no need to rush. Driving right gets me over 21 mpg highway.
HVAC vent under the front seat dude, and this guy hates the car, wish they were selling it again i would buy it again I have a 2013 got it at 36 and now it has 124 thousand miles on it…Nissan bring it back please
I have a 2012 and put a very plush grass turf in the back secured with heavy gauge magnets, so that I can pull it out easily when I need to. My dog has grip and it’s soft enough to sleep on if stuck somewhere.
My 08 Xterra SE has a fuel economy indicator and fog lights that came standard just thought I'd let you know some of them do have it and mine is a daily driver and I love driving it absolutely no issues extremely reliable vehicle.😊
hmm I have an '08 S Trim, and mine doesnt have a fuel economy indicator.. unless Im totally blind and a doofus (which is possible).... where is it in yours?
15:10 for most vehicles that seem to be mysteriously losing coolant there may be a small hole or crack in the hose that is capable of holding the water when the engine is cooled down but when it is at operating temperatures the pressure rises and that could force water out the small leak. One way to test it is if you can partially take off your radiator cap, most caps have two stages when taking the cap off and then drive around to see if the water level changes. Be aware with out pressure the coolant will have a lower boiling point.
Looks like the original owner didn't service anything on that car. Surprised it's made it to 185k
I'd like to see these "multiple reports, cause Gen2 Xterra never had a sunroof. I never heard of issues on the gen1 sunroof, especially not cracking, and never hearing about them exploding.
Yeah, the pathfinders and armadas had that problem.
You're right, PMOD (Pink Milkshake of Death) is used interchangeably with SMOD. It just looks like a pink milkshake and it's a common problem with every Nissan that utilizes the same engine block up till late 2010. (Frontiers and Pathfinders too)
I'm pretty sure (correct me if I'm wrong) that Nissan also improved the quality of the timing chains/tensioners/guides after 2011, and could go as up to 200k before they needed service (presuming oil changes and regular maintenance were done accordingly) Though oddly enough I changed my '06 Pathfinder's at 155k.
I got my 2015 X last week and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. (Guess I'm a bit fond of the VQ40DE)
Great review!
I believe you are correct!! From what I hear, the ‘11-‘15 didn’t have the timing chain issues. But I’ve been talking to a few people recently (after I filmed this video) and they had the SMOD issues on their 2013 and 2011’s. So I’m not so sure that Nissan actually fixed the issue.
Thank you for the comment!
Also called SMOG strawberry milkshake of death
Just got one in on a trade for a classic car needing restoration and the exterra is supercharged with headers and full exhaust takes off like a rocket
2010 X off-road. Bought with 63k miles, now at 134k miles. Basic maintenance, changed out struts, brakes and tires… that’s it. Only issue I had was a gas cap that didn’t seal properly and put up a check engine light. New gas cap fixed it.
My entirely stock 05 2WD with limited slip Diff is suprisingly capable off road in wet conditions. Street tires even.
The floor is lava!!!!
“NOW YOURE DEADDDD”
My 05 has an MPG in the onboard trip computer. It’s not real time, just uses the average fuel consumption and fuel gauge. The SMOD issue is easily handled by running the transmission cooler line to the dedicated transmission cooler and bypassing the radiator all together. The ride is flinty, reminds me of the ride of a pickup truck. But 4Runners ride pretty rough if you ask me. The rear cupholder break super easy but the aftermarket replacements are $20. The radio is great sounding but an 05 doesn’t even have an aux plug. Have to use one of those cigarette lighter doohickeys. The cats are a weak point. If you live in a inspection state I suggest not letting any engine misses or rough idle go for long. It will ruin the cats in short order. Also they take the bad 16 mpg down to truly tragic 10 mpg pretty easily. Which also reminds me of a pickup truck. There’s a lot of Xterras with over 200k on the odometer and they just look cool with the stepped roof and integrated rack.
I'm genuinely considering getting an xterra now. I had a 2019 frontier and it was by far the best truck I've ever had (the interior looked identical to this lol). Nissan is doing a horrible job with updating their stuff in north america but mehh. Its a cheap rugged suv and thats what i loved about the frontier, it was just a truck and it knew it, it didn't try to fool you by riding like a small car that happens to be tall, it didn't have any nonsense driving aids aside from hill assist. Fuel economy was pretty much the main reason we got rid of the frontier those 4.0 engines are notorious for horrible mileage. Now i just want an older 4x4 that doesn't cost a fortune so these are on my mind.
Oh Yee of little faith!!!!
The u joints don't have grease nipples because they are of the "solid trunnion" variety.
Not to mention the built in mounting rack in the trunk, the first aid kit that mounts inside the liftgate, a factory locker in the offroad and pro4x models.
Rockford fosgate stereo with a sub woofer... So you can't hear the 4runner behind you breaking on trail....
Six speed available....
And 10g's in your pocket for not paying the Toyota tax..... Lol
I have an '08 that I bought new with the off road package, automatic. Even though we have new/newer vehicles in our little fleet, this is still my daily driver. It has never failed to get from point A to point B. As far as fuel consumption, it has a drinking problem...lol. On the interstate, it's 11 gallons of fuel for every 120 miles driven. Is it perfect?..No. It currently has 150K miles on it. It has a slight lift, BFG TKO load range E tires, which increased fuel consumption...a little. Load range E tires are heavy.
I have a 2007 Nissan xterra with 143k miles runs excellent but did have to change out the catalytic converter as well at 140k other than that car runs perfect
got my trans rebuilt with the bypass and trans cooler at 105k miles
Although a great idea and design it's execution is flawed and the cost cutting measures obviously apparent for a Japanese product. Nissan had a very tough decade when these came out with various warranty repairs and premature break downs. Maybe if the Xtera was on todays Pathfinder platform it would do better 🤷🏽♂️ Non the less it should be very capable and fare better after needed repairs and meticulous maintenance ✌🏽♥️
Awesome video!! Learned a lot about these just from this video. From experience I can confirm that leaf springs do significantly limit the suspension travel. Leaf springs were never made for that though. They can hold a lot of weight but can't articulate a lot. Thus why trucks use them. Same goes for torsion bars.
And wow that is impressive performance for a V6! As for the tuna thing... Hahaha I'm surprised you did it and have no tips on getting that smell out lol
Thanks Cristian! Right, I can totally understand why medium or heavy duty trucks use leafs, for payload capacity. Buuuuuut an off-road focused SUV? Yeah, it must have just been to save on production costs. Thanks for stunt driving for the video dude! 👌🏼
@@NotSoHandyCarGuy Yeah exactly they probably already had those or very similar ones and were like eh it's good enough throw them on haha
And lol anytime! Made a great thumbnail for you
I love my 2008 powerful ride nice $4k 146 k miles very easy to maintain
Have a 2013 P4X 6spd manual, bought new and has 80k miles on it. Replaced EVAP canister and solenoids, and have the crank position sensor go out. Easy fixes both, the cam position sensors should also be replaced when doing the cam sensor. These were difficult as I have large hands, ultimately had the dealer do them and it cost $$$…and I supplied the new sensors! Otherwise the Xterra has been very reliable with regular maintenance and is my wife’s daily. Overall good car that we will continue to drive till it’s dead..
When did you change your trans fluid and rear diff fluid. I paid a decent amount of money to have a 2012 pro-4x 6 speed with 40k miles shipped to me from colorado. I'm assuming I should change manual trans fluid and rear diff fluid at 50k miles, and I've heard many people say to just use the OEM nissan fluid and not anything aftermarket other than possibly redline.
I 2nd that bring xterra back just Improve fuel efficiency.
my 2011 xterra has needed brakes tires and cam position sensors since new - pretty reliable
When I changed the fuel pump of my 2006 Xterra in 2018 I gained 100 miles per tank back that I noticed I lost over the years.
My 2007 is very reliable and not a problem.
I bought a 2008 at 148 k miles $4500 k private sale GLAD I BOUGHT IT
I have a 2015 P4X and those thing are tanks. You can T-SWAP the suspension for around 3,5k and will beat up many truck in the trail!
Same. I just bought a new Bronco, but couldn’t part with my X. The Ford is my pavement princess. The X is for wheeling.
I feel like the FJ was more so of Nissan's competition, at least for the 2nd gen X. They both got killed for more or less the same reason...
Fair enough. Maybe a combo of the 4Runner and FJ.
2010 Xterra
174,000 miles
I have had pretty much no where near the problem you spoke about
The rust on the rear bumper is a problem I do have
It has started burning oil little 13 years old so age is what I’m racking that up too
By 2012, all the big kinks got worked out. For pre-2012, make sure the trans/radiator SMOD issue gets sorted, and take care of the rear differential breather thing and you’re good. Also, just an fyi, I don’t believe the 2nd gen Xs have sunroofs at all.
I adore my 2014 S 4x4, which is my daily driver. She’s REALLY thirsty but is amazing otherwise. I’ll never sell her. 110k on the clock problem-free and gunning for 300k.
Thanks for the comment! That’s what I though too, but I’m not so sure anymore that there’s a hard cutoff for the SMOD issue. My friend/mechanic had tranny failure in his ‘13 because of SMOD. Good luck with the truck!!
@@NotSoHandyCarGuy SMOD only applied to 2005-2010 Xterra/Frontiers. 2011-2015 are unaffected. I would expect that something is amiss if reported outside of those model years.
The original radiator was the problem for SMOD. if it was replaced, that issue is solved.
I have had my 13' since Dec. Xterra does not like aftermarket parts like thermostats. It caused me a headache and caused the premature replacement of my water pump. I do have foglights on mine. My mechanic looks for the mystery coolant leaks too. I ended up dumping Bars Leaks Cooling System Repair of the 2-part kind, just the blue part was put in, and no coolant was lost afterward. I also own a 2003 Xterra for 10.5 years with 300,000 miles on it. Overall, Xterra is a good car, and I recommend the 2nd gen over the 1st due to the upkeep cost
.
Thanks for the comment! What trim 2nd gen is it? Yeah! From my research it seems that the coolant issues are the most common problems with the 2nd gens. Always liked the styling of the 1st though.
@@NotSoHandyCarGuy It's an S model. Both are silver in color. The first Gen has more lines and styling. If you put the two together, you'll see the difference. I just put that part of that bars in after spending lots of money on the coolant issue, which ended up being a lousy aftermarket thermostat. The Coolant is blue, and that stuff in Bars is blue, too, lol! I haven't had to add Coolant for over a month. It has General Grabber A/TX tires on it.
Im looking at a '13 with 145k but seems to be taken care of. Did you do a bypass on your radiator? had a '05 years ago that got smod. Replaced tranny but then it was one thing after another...fuel & oil sending units, 2 cats failed in a month....etc, etc
From what I've gathered, the 2010+ models are much more reliable. Any input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated
@@richardmarino2732 '13 doesn't need the SMOD. When I got mine, I had to replace the radiator from age. The biggest thing is no aftermarket thermostats. It has to be OEM and stay at the 4 o'clock position. Sometimes mechanics won't listen and put an aftermarket in. The temp gauge will climb. It's the only negative. I have a spare OEM thermostat on hand with an OEM gasket. For any Nissan 4.0, the cooling is the biggest headache.
I really don't understand why people bitch about plastic interior parts. It's the first thing you hear when a vehicle reviewer gets inside. What do you want??? Mandatory leather everywhere??? ...just add that $10k back to the price tag while you're at it. The utilitarian nature of plastic is superior in many ways to any alternative material - it's durable, inexpensive and just does what it needs to do with no fuss. In a world of overpriced, overcomputerized laptops on wheels, that is becoming more and more appealing.
Try vinegar (white) and let it soak for a bit. Use a paper towel to leave it soaking on plastic. Then wash with dawn and water.
On my 2005 you don't have to remove the rear headrests to fold the seats down...they were lower profile on the older second gen.
only weakness is rear suspension- needs air bags which inprove ride and handling tremendoulsy - i like the xterra on highway as much as my minivan- wish the center console was taller
I was looking at an Xterra because it's half the price of the 4runner.
I miss my 2011 Nissan Xterra.
Those were pretty reliable when I was a car tech for Nissan. The gas mileage sucked, but it's an SUV. I would buy one if it was taken care of. Subscribed. The interior is pretty cheap 😂. I'm going to be honest and say that the interior room and the other creature comforts are way better on my 2003 Trailblazer 4x4 than the Xterra. Hehe
I have a 2014 Xterra and I took it off roading recently. Ground clearance was an issue. I have some baja tires on it and had no problems in the mud. Climbed really well. But I did notice a lot of squeaking coming from my back tire when it got submerged in water. I don't really know what that is about and need to get it checked.
My 2007 never had any problems. I'm in Texas, and we don't have many problems with rust on any vehicles. I did bypass the radiator transmission cooler and installed an external cooler. Why wait and see?
the Xterra was made spartan on purpose. Stay away from a jeep.. this is a Lexus compared to a Jeep.. They skimped on all of the creature comforts to put in a proper 4 wheel drive performance transmission with crawler gears and a locking differential. This is for folks that wanted a high end off road vechicle with an economy car price tag.. Not like a 50,000 4 runner or Jeep Rubicon...all of which this car can hang with given the right driver for 25 grand..
2006 xterra second owner with 300k
I recently purchased a 12 xterra and i love it. But my coolant keeps disappearing as well and sonetimes even smokes a little after long drives.... No signs of failure anywhere either, very curious but otherwise great.
Definitely check your transmission fluid. If it looks milky, have the radiator/tranny cooler changed.
common problem on 05-08 xterra is the coolant mixing with trans fluid (needing a bypass with trans cooler done, 05-08 timing chain guides and tensioner problems
It's time for Nissan to bring Terra from Asia, just put V6 in it and it will sell well.
Rarely will coolant ever get into the transmission. Pressure in cooling systems rarely exceed 16 psi. Most aren't even that. Transmission pressure exceeds that so you will wind up with trans fluid in the cooling system.
Had my 2006 S 6 speed Xterra for 2 years, currently had 99,000miles on it, only thing the one of catalytic convert is failing, but other then that this truck is a tank
He said no fog light. They are hidden behind the circle cover on the front bumper
No, those covers are placeholders for lower-trim models
Yeah buddyyy!!!!! Great video
Ayyyyye!!! Thanks dude.
Check head gasket for leak. Also if you install a external trans cooler to avoid the Pink trans fluid.
I appreciate your videos since I have a 2012 Xterra. Did you ever find out where you were losing coolant? A leaking hose perhaps? Thanks!
Thanks for the comment! We ended up selling the Xterra, but I do think it was a leaking hose/junction. At the connection to the firewall.
Didn’t frontiers armadas and xterras have radiator milkshake engine destroying problems ?
They did! I touched on that in the video.
I own a 2014 150k with 0 issues.
I am having problems with the timing chain
17 miles a gallon? You might have had it on 4X 'cause it does take more gas. I've used my Xterra on a 2hr drive and it only takes 1 and a half bar. It was 140 miles to get to location.
Come back, the same thing. And still had one full bar left. I was using RWD. Gas ain't all that bad with it to me. Only reason why they stop making it was because was complaining about how it wasn't FAMILY friendly. It wasn't because of the gas. It was a bit loud, after using AC, you can smell it the second time you turn on your car. And kids have problem getting into the car 'cause it was to high.
It was a bunch of dumb stuff people complain about. And then Carlos Ghosen went and stole 80 million dollars from Nissan.
The Xterra can be had with a manual 6 speed. Mine is a 4X4 manual and I get about 20 miles per gallon.
I find that my xterra plastics and metal seems to degrade pretty fast, much much faster than it should. the little gas struts that open and close the rear hatch rusted out completely, and a few other things are rusting, which they should not be.
Leaf springs carry a load better.
The better comparison for me was the Toyota FJ Cruiser
Unless you massively modify your suspension travel, rear leaf springs on a solid rear axle don't make much, if any difference off-road.
Lol not true cars with independent suspension always lift tire first no matter whay.
@@panagiotisf7228 I have no idea what you're talking about. Solid axles ALWAYS have more travel than IFS, whether they have leaf springs, or coilovers. IFS is great for on-road travel. It sucks for off-roading, unless you're desert running.
@DDDYLN dude I know your comment says that it doesn't make a difference, but it does ifs sucks offroad for crawling vs solid axles
@@panagiotisf7228 I guess that's why Jeep Wranglers are the best crawlers! They have solid front and rear axles. There's a reason.
@DDDYLN I know bro I'm saying ur original comment made no sense dude holy shit