Throw the reliability ratings out the window, because almost everyone has better luck with the Xterra than the ratings would indicate. I've owned mine since new, and I am now coming up on Year 8. In 92K miles, I have had the coolant go low once (topped off and was good to go), a small rattle from the exhaust (fixed for $10), and that's about it. I just put the third set of tires on it last month. The first two sets each lasted 45K miles. It's just been tires, synthetic oil, filters and gas otherwise. The TPMS lights blink every once in a while, but that would happen on just about any car, as TPMS sensors go bad when the batteries in them die. I remember when no cars had TPMS sensors. How did we survive? I plan on driving it until it is no longer cost effective for me to do so, but as of right now, the Xterra is costing me almost nothing. Even if I have to drop a few thousand on a repair tomorrow, I still feel like I've come out ahead, since the Nissan has long been paid for and provided me thousands of miles of trouble-free motoring. And, it's ruggedness, traction, and off-road prowess means that it won't be leaving me stranded by the road or out in the wilderness. I've had mine in places that I really shouldn't have been and it always has gotten me back safely. Engine is powerful enough to allow me to pull bigger trucks out of bad situations. Gripes are small. MPGs could be better, but I knew that signing up. Cruise control goes wonky at lower speeds. Upholstery is ugly. Lots of cheap looking (but easy to maintain) plastic in the interior. Back bumper is rusting a bit now. Everything is low tech on the inside (which I personally like). Let me put it this way...If I had to buy another vehicle tomorrow, I'd be shopping around for a gently used Xterra and I'd plan on keeping it as long as I've kept this one. So sad they don't make them anymore!
