One problem related to noises during shifting has been reported for the 2000 Nissan Xterra. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2000 Nissan Xterra based on all problems reported for the 2000 Xterra.
For several years there has been a "rattling" noise and the vehicle has had a problem shifting gears at times. The dealership told me that they didn't see anything wrong (of course this is the same dealership that forgot to put the oil cap back on after changing the oil one day). Finally the transmission just broke. I was driving down the road and heard a horrible scraping metal noise and my car basically just lunged forward. It seemed to stay in 1st gear but wouldn't go into any other gear including reverse. Thankfully I was less than a block from home and was able to park it in front of the house until I had it towed. I had it towed to don irby's transmissions llc (the best transmission place in town) and they rebuilt the transmission (re4r01a). I know that the 2000 Nissan Xterra's had a recall on the transmission and I really wonder if/why mine wasn't included. . . Because I really do feel that this has been an ongoing problem. My Xterra drives like a new car again! it hasn't driven and performed this great in years!!.