2003 Nissan Xterra Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 2003 Nissan Xterra is built around this exact year, engine, and trim, covering the 3.3L V6 (VG33E), the supercharged 3.3L V6 (VG33ER), and the 2.4L I4 (KA24DE) with the specifications and procedures Nissan published for each rather than a generic SUV write-up.

Engines covered

• 3.3L V6 — SOHC, supercharged, gasoline
• 3.3L V6 — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 2.4L inline-four — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sport utility

Trims covered

• SE
• XE

Known issues on the 2003 Xterra. Three recalls are on federal record for this model year. The first covers the lower steering column joint: corrosion can restrict its movement and overload the shaft, which may crack under low-speed maneuvers requiring large steering inputs, leading to a loss of steering control. The second covers the fuel pump terminal strip, which can crack and corrode until it breaks, cutting fuel delivery and causing the engine to fail to start or stop running without warning. The third covers the rear axle housing, where water intrusion at the ABS sensor seal can corrode the wheel bearing to the point of failure, risking separation of the wheel assembly. Owners have filed 72 complaints for the year. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind each of those systems are here.

From a steering column inspection to chasing a no-start fuel pump fault or a rear wheel bearing check, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 2003 Xterra.