There are 11 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2008 Nissan Xterrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The brake master cylinder failed multiple times, leaving the system in bypass mode. The resulting delay in braking led to potential collision on multiple occasions.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and making a right turn, she heard an abnormal sound while depressing on the brake pedal. The contact stated that the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) & the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 07E105000 (Service Brakes, Air) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED FALSE READINGS. THE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD LESS FUEL THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENT. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
WHEN THE BREAKS IS PRESSED IN AN EMERGENCY TO STOP IT PUSHES THE VEHICLE FORWARD AND DOES NOT STOP WHEN IT SHOULD.
VEHICLE FRONT BRAKES OVERHEAT. WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL AT ANY RATE BRAKES WILL SOFTEN CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL HAVING TO PULL OVER FOR FEAR OF SAFETY. WHEN BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY DEALER THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AT 75% AND SHOULD BE WORKING FINE. EVERY TIME I BRAKE GOING DOWN HILL I FEEL SOFTNESS IN BRAKES. BRAKES ALSO WILL START TO SMELL AFTER BRAKING DOWNHILL.
4WD AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON FEELS LIKE AIR IN THE LINE. PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO CAUTIOUSLY RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07E105000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR) AND 07V528000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND VDC WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TODAY, WITH JUST OVER 19,000 MILES ON MY 2008 XTERRA , I HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. BOTH ROTORS WERE BADLY GROOVED ESPECIALLY ON THE INSIDE SURFACE AND THE INSIDE PADS WERE NEARLY COMPLETELY WORN. I HAD JUST HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED 2 MONTHS AGO AT MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. IT MAKES ME WONDER HOW MY INSPECTION WAS REALLY DONE AND ALSO THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS THAT NISSAN IS USING IN IT CARS, AS I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BREAK PADS MUCH LESS ROTORS UNDER 20,000 MILES. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. TWO OF THEM HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING AIR. I ALSO HAD READINGS OF LOW PRESSURE WHEN THE TIRES HAD JUST BEEN INFLATED TO THE PROPER SETTING AND THE LIGHT REFUSED TO TURN OFF. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY TIRES WERE JUST UNDER INFLATED. I DID NOT BELIEVE THEIR EXPLANATION. *TR
ON AN '08 NISSAN XTERRA S WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES, THE RIGHT FRONT INNER BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY WORN DOWN AND MADE METAL TO METAL CONTACT WITH ROTOR, RUINING THE ROTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING BADLY TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ONLY THE INNER PADS WERE AFFECTED,THE OUTER BRAKE PADS LOOKED LIKE NEW, SHOWING THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS STUCK ON THE BRACKET. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 2 INNER PADS, LEFT AND RIGHT, WERE STUCK IN THE BRACKET, WHICH STOPS THE CALIPER FROM FLOATING OR MOVING. AT 17,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY INVOICE SAYS "BOTH INNER PADS STUCK IN CALIPERS". *TR
MULTIPLE NISSAN DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR A SAFETY PROBLEM ON MY CAR AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS. VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL AND ABS FAIL WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUE TO COME ON RANDOMLY. OCCASIONALLY THEY GO OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BUT THE FIRST 4 EVENTS LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNTIL THE DEALER WORKED ON THE CAR. NISSAN IS STALLING IN ADDRESSING VEHICLE BUYBACK OR ANY SOLID RESOLUTION. I AM STUCK WITH A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE SAFELY AT THIS TIME, AND HAVE ASKED NISSAN TO TAKE IT BACK SINCE THEY CANNOT FIX IT IN OVER A YEAR. *TR
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 26, 2026