2004 Nissan Xterra Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

15 -16 City / 18 -20 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

180 -210

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Andrea G

That I can drive thru snow.

Nothing wrong with it I love it. Just make sure you get oil changed and tires and a turn up make sure you have oil and gas at all times. Make sure you get your tires rotated and your brakes and rotors ever 6 months or they will go out last but not least make sure you keep it clean.

Alan M

Nissan really built xterra well in 2004 except for location of # 6 spark plug.

Paint has lasted quite well over the years. Drives pretty smooth with good power and noise is not loud at all. Comfortable seats, at least for me. Rack on top has worked well although limited in supporting weights. Silver colored with black trim. 6 cylinder engine with pretty good a/c and about 19 mi/gal. Good pickup speed. No major issues other than a small oil leak on manifold gasket which caused starter to short out. Replaced gasket and starter and all has been fine.

Vashawn M

Great gas mileage and value. Nissan is a great brand and this is a great SUV

I love Nissan vehicles. It is dependable and has great gas mileage.

Daniel K.

Reliability

Yes,I've had it about 5months and it's alot of fun to drive &when we had that awesome snow&ice storm the 4wheeldrive worked great even with crappy street tires! Yeah Ilike it alot!

Sharon P

It is very versatile. Nice for a night out and then can take to the dump.

I love the way it drives and the way it looks it is a great car to drive in the summer and is good for trips on the freeway good gas mileage.

Grace M

The Xterra is a safe, reliable vehicle with awesome cargo space.

I love the cargo space. I do with there were more cup holders since there are none in the back. The front is spacious but the backseat is a bit cramped. Also, the headliner has fallen.

Robert S

Nice over head rack and of road lights.

It's a great off-road vehicle that can go anywhere. Mudding, hiking, can haul a nice sailboat or even tie down your kayaks.

Brooke M

Nissan xterra: compact, storage capacity, great gas mileage and easy to maintain!

I love my Nissan xterra! Its compact enough to drive while still having plenty of cargo space! The back seat fold down flat when you take out the back seats, which is great for hauling things! Its aerodynamic on the highway which is awesome for gas mileage! It's easy to maintain and access the engine myself. My car has over 200,000 miles on it and it's still running great!

Negative Owner Reviews

Angelina L

It is great for a small family.

Its old and falling apart. Currently in the shop for the last 2 months. I believe with timing issues. Still owe money.

Michael B

It runs with a v6 supercharged battery and can accelerate very quickly.

My car has run well for the last 6 years since I bought it with 80, 000 miles. It has required small amounts of work done to it but for the most part it has run well. My biggest complaint about the car is how it is on gas mileage. I believe I get about 16 miles to the gallon. Living in Florida where everything is a pretty far drive, it is difficult to pay so much for gas. The xterra has a great 4 wheel drive for off-roading and a v6 engine. For anyone looking for a car that they want to take off-roading, camping, or loading a lot of junk in, I recommend the xterra.

Dez H

The ride comfort isn't the greatest

It's good in the snow, and had a lot of cargo space but it's terrible on gas.

Irene C

It is a good car that has lasted for quite some time.

The 2004 Nissan Xterra is reliable. Definitely not my dream car, but it does get me from point A to point B. I prefer a newer, safer model of this same car company or another. Right now, I am looking for what is best for my child and their saf 6 for many years to come.

Alyssa K

Built for rough roads, has weird quirks.

We purchased our '04 Nissan xterra used, with less than 60k miles on it. Couldn't pass up the great deal. Since it is built to withstand off-road driving, it handles bumps, potholes, etc. With no problem. It is a very smooth ride, and I am comfortable in it for hours on road trips. It does not have the best fuel efficiency. Our xterra seems to have defective lock mechanisms- they will immediately lock after we open a door, sometimes before we can even get the door open. Sometimes the car refuses to start unless it is gone through its weird cycle of locking and unlocking.

Jen V

Nissans is a good reliable choice.

Poor interior quality. Accessories deem kind of cheap that is really about it. I am very happy with my vehicle. This is my third Nissan mary has he and drives well it is good gas mileage it has been pretty good reliable from day one. I would recommend Nissan to anyone is looking for a new car.

anya r

I am comfortable driving it and it fits my personality.

I like the size of my vehicle. It has hauling capabilities and a roomy interior. I like that the trucks sits up higher than an actual car.

Bill W

It's inexpensive to operate End it is run like a top with very little cost

It's really reliable and it doesn't real good job all wheel drive it goes anywhere in snow

Nissan Xterra Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

180 HP 18-18 MPG 5 Seats

210 HP 17-17 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2004 Nissan Xterra Owner Reviews

4.22

88 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

50%

4 stars

27%

3 stars

18%

2 stars

1 star

Brooke M on March 31, 2021

Nissan xterra: compact, storage capacity, great gas mileage and easy to maintain!

Vashawn M on March 27, 2021

Great gas mileage and value. Nissan is a great brand and this is a great SUV

I love Nissan vehicles. It is dependable and has great gas mileage.

View All Reviews (88)

Ranks #7 Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2004 Nissan Xterra has an average owner rating of 4.18 out of 5 which ranks it #7 of 18 other Midsize SUVs.

2004 Jeep Wrangler

4.66

2004 Toyota 4Runner

4.61

2004 Nissan Xterra

4.18

Ranks #6 Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2004 Nissan Xterra has a combined MPG of 18 which ranks it #6 of 18 other Midsize SUVs.

2004 Hyundai Santa Fe

27 MPG

2004 Buick Rendezvous

26 MPG

Tie

2004 Nissan Xterra

20 MPG

Is The 2004 Nissan Xterra A Good Car?

Yes, for the most part. It has a few things that need help but overall my family seems to enjoys it.

Kim W.

It’s a sturdy vehicle that is dependable if treated properly. Mine has over 225000 and has no signs of stopping. It’s spacious and not too bad on gas as well.

Ashley N.

Yes but small repairs needed. Such as the air conditioner and new tires. Drives great get us where we need to go I have had it for 3 years now and I love it

Tara M.

Yes it is a very good vehicle. I have used it for years and it has held up great. I don't think I will be selling it anytime soon and it will last me for years longer. I have a very high opinion of... Read More

Jill L.

How Reliable Is The 2004 Nissan Xterra?

It's gas mileage isn't the best. The electric harness could use some improvement. Anti theft system acts up sometimes.

Melissa G.

Yes it is reliable as long as you keep up on the maintenance. I've had issues when I didn't check my fluids or when I didn't do a brake change and I had to change my rotors due to wear from the... Read More

Shirley L.

Very reliable. The only problem is the air conditioner. Has no problem getting you where you need to go been driving it for 3 years now

Katie K.

It is incredibly reliable. I have never broken down or popped a tire. I have never had any worries about either of them either. I have only had very minor issues that are normal anyways??

Janet C.

Is The 2004 Nissan Xterra A Good Value?

$14,000 is my cost for ours used. The value could be better. Considering the conditions we got it in.

Melanie H.

I bought it used 2 years ago for 1,000$ and it was worth the money. It's great in the snow especially with the 4-wheel drive and I live in New England. Tons of snow.

Delilah F.

I paid a little over $3000 for mine and so far I would say yes it was worth it the previous owner took very good care of it.

Andy M.

Mine cost me 12,000 because I bought it at carmax with insurance that was very beneficial. Overall it was a pretty good value but I might have been able to get a better deal.

Jonathan K.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2004 Nissan Xterra power steering fluid type?

Answer: The 2004 Nissan Xterra power steering fluid type is ATF fluid. To change the power steering fluid You will need to first locate the container, which will be under the hood near the window. It will be a clear...

What's the 2004 Nissan Xterra idle air control valve location?

Answer: The 2004 Nissan Xterra idle air control valve location is found by watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wz70IEr2I0 You will come into many problems with an engine. There could be excessive oil use,...

How do i perform the 2004 Nissan Xterra security reset?

Answer: To reset the alarm on the 2004 Nissan Xterra You have two options. You can pop the hood and disconnect the positive battery cable, then leave it off for about 30 minutes. This will make the power in the CPU...

How much oil does a 2004 nissan xterra take?

Answer: The amount of oil that the 2004 Nissan Xterra needs iS3.7 quarts with a filter for the 2.4 L 4Cylinder and 3.5 quarts with a filter for the 3.3 L V6 engine. The type that is recommended for the SUV is SAE 5W-30...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Not Rated

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety