DecodedCars2011 Nissan Xterra
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2011 models.
- Class
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV 4WD S/Pro-4x/Sv
- Engines
- 4.0L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 18 combined · 16 city / 22 hwy
- Length
- 178.3 in
- Curb weight
- 4,350 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Few owner complaints16 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 137 for similar models.
Watch out for
- Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 18 MPG combined, 14% below the 2011 SUV - average of 20.9 MPG.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 25 similar 2011 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2011 Nissan Xterra is a SUV - offered with a 4.0L 6-cyl engine and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive.
It measures about 178 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,350 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 18 MPG combined (16 city / 22 highway), 14% worse than the 2011 SUV - average of 20.9 MPG, for an estimated $3,700 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2011
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2010 Xterra — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2010; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2010 Xterra →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV 4WD S/Pro-4x/Sv | 178.3 in | 72.8 in | 74.8 in | 106.3 in | 61.4 / 61.4 in | 4,350 lb | 56/44 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xterra 2WD | 4.0L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 22 / 18 | -14% | $3,700 | 494 |
| Xterra 4WD | 4.0L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | -10% | $3,950 | 523 |
| Xterra 4WD | 4.0L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 17 | -10% | $3,950 | 523 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2011 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2011 Nissan Xterra.
Similar 2011 SUV -s
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Nissan Xterra (this car) | 18 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser | 15 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2011 Toyota RAV4 | 24 MPG | Not rated | 11 |
| 2011 Honda CR-V | 24 MPG | Not rated | 13 |
| 2011 Hyundai Tucson | 25 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2011 Subaru Forester | 23 MPG | Not rated | 16 |
| 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan | 22 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
Recalls (2)
Air Bags › Frontal · Feb 10, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V067000 · 404,690 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
- Risk
- A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the driverÂs airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 19, 2011
NHTSA campaign 11V592000 · 14,718 vehicles
- Problem
- NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER AND THE ENGINE OIL FILTER TO THE ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO BELOW SPECIFICATION STRENGTH. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY BREAK AT THE OIL FILTER ATTACHMENT POINT AND CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE OIL LEAK.
- Risk
- IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Fix
- NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Not every 2011 Nissan Xterra is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2011 Nissan Xterra buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 7 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Engine — 5 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc) — 1 owner reports. Ask the seller and mechanic specifically about this system.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 54,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Xterra. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Xterra years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Xterra | 18 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 10 |
| 2014 Xterra | 18 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 9 |
| 2013 Xterra | 18 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 Xterra | 18 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 2 | 12 |
| 2010 Xterra | 18 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 4 | 27 |
| 2009 Xterra | 18 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 2 | 11 |
| 2008 Xterra | 17 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 3 | 74 |
| 2007 Xterra | 17 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 226 |
| 2006 Xterra | 17 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 2 | 221 |
| 2005 Xterra | 17 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 1 | 159 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Nissan. How we calculate this →