2008 Nissan Xterra Service and Repair Manual

This 2008 Nissan Xterra factory service and repair manual is built around the 4.0L V6 (VQ40DE) and the specific trim on your title, so the torque values, clearances and diagnostic trees inside are the ones Nissan wrote for this powertrain and body configuration rather than a generic Xterra reference.

Engines covered

• 4.0L V6 — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sport utility

Trims covered

• Off-Road
• S
• SE
• X

Known issues on the 2008 Xterra. Eight recalls are on federal record for this model year. Front and rear lower control link collars sold as replacement parts can have welds that fail to meet strength requirements, and a separated weld can degrade handling and lead to a crash. The auxiliary fuel tank shell can deform so the sender float reads roughly a quarter tank when the tank is actually empty, risking a stall in traffic. The tire placard lists an incorrect vehicle capacity weight, out of compliance with federal tire selection standards. Two separate recalls cover the front air bags: road salt and snowmelt can enter the front crash zone sensor housing and affect front air bag deployment, and separately the resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover can crack and detach, becoming a projectile during air bag deployment; both raise the risk of injury in a crash. Vehicles fitted with a Garmin nuvi 750 navigation unit carry batteries that can overheat and pose a fire risk. Certain ABS/VDC actuators were built with an extra check ball in the valve section, which can restrict brake fluid flow and reduce front brake force without warning. Separately, Continental ABS/ESC control modules sold as replacement parts were also built with extra check balls in their hydraulic valves, which can restrict brake fluid flow and reduce brake force. Owners have filed 119 complaints for the year. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind each of those systems are here.

From tracing a fuel gauge that reads wrong to inspecting the front lower control links or the ABS actuator, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 2008 Xterra.