There are 6 stored owner reports matching the steering leading-label group for the 2001 Nissan Xterra in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 6 of 6 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)EXITING ONE FREEWAY (315S) TO ENTER ANOTHER (270W). ON A LIGHT WET GROUND, MY XTERRA SPUN OFF THE ROAD DOING A SPIN (APPROX 360 DEGREES) OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS A LIGHT RAIN 5-10 MINS PRIOR, I WAS DOING NOR MORE THAN 25MPH ON THE EXIT AND WITHOUT A KNOWN REASON, AND DESPITE TIRES WITH TREAD, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. I PURSCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND I ATTEMPT NOT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE WINTER BECAUSE OF IT NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ROAD IN THE SNOW. IN ADDITION, IF I HIT A BUMP, THE REAR WHEELS JERK/SKIPS WHEN IT MAKES CONTACT BACK WITH THE GROUND. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
STEERING WHEEL IS SEPARATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO HAVE TO MUCH PLAY IN IT. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERS SHOP AT THIS TIME FOR ANALYSIS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH RIGHT REAR AXLE AND WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RIGHT REAR AXLE AND TIE ROD FLEW OFF CAUSING THE THE CONSUMER TO BE PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE VEHICLE WAS THROWN IN PARK IN ORDER TO STOP. THERE WAS ONE INJURY. *SCC
WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WOULD EITHER SNATCH OR PULL VEHICLE TO RIGHT. THIS CAUSED STEERING WHEEL TO BE SNATCHED OUT DRIVER'S HANDS. VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL. AT DEALER'S 7 TIMES, BUT NO REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE. *AK
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SPINDLE ON EACH FRONT WHEEL HAD RUSTED, THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD. NLM NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS COSMETIC RUST AND DOES NOT PRESENT ANY RISK, THEREFORE NOTHING WILL BE DONE. *SLC
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.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.