2013 Nissan Xterra Problems

Severe Issues

Used NISSAN XTERRA shoppers should review this model-year complaint and recall record before making an offer. Based on 4 real NHTSA owner complaints, with Engine Problems the most reported area.

201210 years2014

Before you buy

This 2013 Nissan Xterra has 4 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.

A model-year pattern isn't the car in front of you. Check this exact VIN for accidents, open recalls, odometer rollback, and salvage titles.

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4
Complaints
1
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Injuries
—
Fatalities
—
Recalls

2013 Nissan Xterra Fuel Economy

✓ EPA Official Data

EPA-rated fuel economy across 3 2013 Nissan Xterra trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.

16
MPG City
15–16 range
20
MPG Hwy
20–22 range
17
MPG Combined
17–18 range
516
g CO₂/mile
Regular Gasoline
⚠️Costs $7,000 more than avg vehicle over 5 years

Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 3 trims analysed.

2013 Nissan Xterra Safety Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2013 Nissan Xterra SUV RWD

Official crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.

Overall

Not Rated

24.6% rollover risk

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Rollover

3/5

24.6% probability

✓Stability Control: Standard○Forward Collision Warning: No○Lane Departure Warning: No

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.

Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2013 Nissan Xterra has 4 owner complaints, 1 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Engine Problems. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.

2013 Nissan Xterra — key reliability facts
Make
Nissan
Model
Xterra
Model year
2013
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Crash-related complaints
1
Safety recall campaigns
0
Top reported component
Engine Problems
Reliability signal
Severe Issues
EPA MPG combined
17
EPA MPG city / highway
16 / 20
Fuel type
Regular Gasoline
NHTSA rollover rating
3/5 stars
Electronic stability control
Standard
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Common problems

Most common 2013 Nissan Xterra problems

Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.

#1
2
complaints

Engine Problems

Crash-related:1
Injuries:1
#2
1
complaints

Suspension Failures

#3
1
complaints

Brake System

Complaint patterns center on Engine Problems, Suspension Failures, Brake System. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.

Buyer verdict

Should you buy a used 2013 Nissan Xterra?

This NISSAN XTERRA year appears to have a comparatively lighter NHTSA complaint footprint, but buyers should still verify condition vehicle-by-vehicle.

Model-year complaint trends can reveal recurring trouble spots before you spend money on inspections, financing, or repairs.

May Suit

This year may suit buyers who prioritize complete maintenance records and pass a pre-purchase inspection.

May Want to Avoid

Buyers who want a lower-risk ownership profile may prefer comparing nearby model years before committing.

Pre-purchase

What to check before buying a used 2013 Nissan Xterra

Inspection Focus

  • Inspect the most frequently reported complaint components on this model year
  • Confirm recall repairs were completed and documented
  • Check for accident damage, title brands, and mileage inconsistencies on the exact VIN

Before You Close the Deal

  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase

Check the exact car

Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.

Before buying a used 2013 Nissan Xterra, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.

Full breakdown

All 2013 Nissan Xterra complaints by category

Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Nissan Xterra. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Engine Problems21——
Suspension Failures1———
Brake System1———
Unintended Acceleration1———
Fuel/Propulsion System1———
Transmission / Drivetrain11——

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

In their words

Real owner complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Nissan Xterra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Showing 4 most recent complaints

Suspension FailuresJun 4, 2019

THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER HEAVILY LOADED AND WAS ALWAYS DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS. THE BOTTOM LEAF IN EACH OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF ONE ANOTHER. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE BROKEN LEAF AND HAD IT REPAIRED BEFORE THE BROKEN PIECE OF LEAF COULD COME OUT OF THE AS…

Brake SystemFeb 5, 2019

VERY SOFT BRAKE PEDAL OBSERVED PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE OVER PERIOD OF ABOUT 15K / 1 MONTH TRIGGERING INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE ESPECIALLY DURING WET CONDITIONS AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS OCCASIONALLY PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR PRIOR TO VEHICLE COMING TO COMPLETE STOP. HOT PADS…

Unintended AccelerationSep 20, 2018

WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY, DISENGAGED SPEED CONTROL USING BRAKE, BUT DID NOT ORIGINALLY TURN IT OFF TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER BETTER IN TRAFFIC NEAR A CITY. VEHICLE ORIGINALLY SLOWED DOWN, BUT AFTER RELEASING BRAKE IN 3 SECONDS, CAR SPED UP ON ITS OWN WITH AN ACCELERATION PROFILE…

Transmission / Drivetrain CrashNov 14, 2014

MY 2013 NISSAN XTERRA PRO4X ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITH ME STANDING NEXT TO IT. IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. IT REVERSED RAPIDLY AND CAUGHT ME UNDER IT. I SUFFERED PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE IN MY ARM AND EXTREME SCARING ON BOTH LEGS. AFTER IT RAN ME OV…

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2013 Nissan Xterra.

Safety recalls

2013 Nissan Xterra recalls

0 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Nissan Xterra. No recalls are currently on record in this dataset, but buyers should still verify recall status by VIN because campaigns can be added later. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.

No recall campaigns on record

No NHTSA recalls were found for this model year. Recalls can be added at any time — confirm open-recall status on the exact VIN or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Across model years

Compare Nissan Xterra model years

Compare complaint and recall volume across years to see whether 2013 lands in a lower-risk or higher-risk part of the model timeline.

2015201420132012201120102009200820072006

Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

All Nissan reliability statsSafest car brandsBest value carsMost accident-prone carsVIN check by stateAll vehicle stats

Questions

2013 Nissan Xterra buying FAQ

Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.

Is the 2013 Nissan Xterra reliable?▾

Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 4 owner complaints, 1 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns for this model year. This NISSAN XTERRA year appears to have a comparatively lighter NHTSA complaint footprint, but buyers should still verify condition vehicle-by-vehicle. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Xterra?▾

#1: Engine Problems (2 complaints). #2: Suspension Failures (1 complaints). #3: Brake System (1 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Nissan Xterra?▾

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2013 Nissan Xterra?▾

Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2013 Nissan Xterra, NHTSA complaints include 1 crash-related reports and 0 fire reports out of 4 total complaints. 1 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2013 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?▾

No NHTSA recall campaigns were found for the 2013 Nissan Xterra in the current data. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.

Should I buy a 2013 Nissan Xterra?▾

This NISSAN XTERRA year appears to have a comparatively lighter NHTSA complaint footprint, but buyers should still verify condition vehicle-by-vehicle. Model-year complaint trends can reveal recurring trouble spots before you spend money on inspections, financing, or repairs. Pay extra attention to Engine Problems during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpectorAI.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Xterra reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Owner Reliability Rating

Rate the 2013 Nissan Xterra based on your ownership experience.

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Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.

Before you buy

Check the exact vehicle history before you buy

Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.