CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005-2007 Xterra appears to have a widespread defect where coolant leaks into the transmission, causing transmission failure around 90,000 miles. Repair costs are typically upwards of $3,500.

The same defect exists in the Pathfinder & Frontier as well. And according to the New York Times & a class action lawsuit, the defect actually extends through 2010 model year. More info here.

9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,890
Average Mileage:
106,250 miles
Total Complaints:
307 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. new radiator and transmission rebuild (89 reports)
  2. replaced radiator and transmission (51 reports)
  3. not sure (41 reports)
  4. replace transmission (35 reports)
  5. new radiator, transmission, and flush fluids (34 reports)
  6. replace radiator and transmission (28 reports)
2005 Nissan Xterra transmission problems

transmission problem

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2005 Nissan Xterra Owner Comments (Page 8 of 16)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #167

Apr 022013

Xterra SE 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,995 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Nissan extended the warranty on this problem but right now their solution is a radiator replacement and transmission flush for an estimated cost of $1,500.00. I learned that co-pay means I pay the first $2,500.00 for a repair that will eventually require a new transmission as there's no way the vibration experienced couldn't have damaged the transmission. A flush just doesn't cut it. If I drive the car till the transmission fails it will cost me $ 2,500.00 or my life in an accident! I bought this Nissan, my first "foreign" car because I believed, I actually believed their claim"Nissan is committed to providing the highest levels of product quality and customer satisfaction." My wife tells me I really shouldn't blame myself but I hate feeling like a sucker.

- Allan D., Trout Creek, ON, canada

problem #166

Apr 272013

Xterra SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,100 miles

I BROUGHT THIS 2005 XTERRA NEW, THIS WAS A GREAT SUV ,I WOULD HAVE REMEND A NISSAN TO ANY ONE UNTILL MY XTERRA STARTED TO SHUDDER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 40 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD IT TO ME, I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW RADITOR, TORQE CONVERTER WITH TRANSMISSION REBUILD AT A COST OF 3500.00, I THINK THE NISSIAN COMPANY COULD HAVE SENT OUT A LETTER OR SOMETHING TO NOTIFY ALL IT COSTUMER ABOUT THE THE PROBLEMS WITH CERTAIN YEAR MODEL NISSIANS, YOU KNOW JUST IN CASE WE WANTED TO REPLACE THE RADITOR BEFOUR IT CRACKED AND LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION .THANKS NISSAN! BUT NEXT SUV WILL NOT BE A NISSAN!

new radaitor, rebuild transmission,with torque convertor

- kws36081@yahoo.com, Troy, AL, US

problem #165

May 182013

Xterra S 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,000 miles

2005 Nissan x-terra with 107,00 lost all power a week ago. Towed it to a transmission shop where an estimate was done. Radiator had leaked radiator fluid into transmission completely destroying it. Transmission fluid had went into radiator completely destroying it. An estimate was given for $5,700 to fix. After researching on internet I found hundreds and hundreds of other people this has happened to. Nissan knew of the factory defect and did nothing to prevent or fix the problem.. Oh yes, they extended the warranty to 80,000 miles to cover their asses, but most of the vehicles had a little over 100,000 miles on them when this happened. I called the dealer where we purchased the vehicle new and was told Nissan would be no help and they gave me the estimate of $5,000 to repair. I am severely disappointed in Nissan!!! This is a problem they knew about, yet did not recall the vehicles in time to get them repaired!!! I think they should be held responsible for this considering it was a FACTORY flaw that caused this damage!! This is one of TEN NEW VEHICLES I have purchased over the years and I can GUARANTEE it will be the FIRST AND LAST NISSAN I WILL EVER BUY!!!!!!!! I will discourage my friends and family from ever purchasing a NISSAN AS WELL!!!! I PURCHASED A NISSAN BECAUSE I HAD ALWAYS HEARD THEY WOULD LAST A LONG TIME AND IN MY OPINION I SHOULD GET MORE THAN 107,000 MILES OUT OF AN ALMOST $30,000 INVESTMENT!!! NOW MY ONLY OPTION IS TO SINK ALMOST 6 GRAND INTO IT OR JUST JUNK IT FOR SCRAP>>>> YES I AM MORE THAN PISSED OFF ABOUT THIS!!!!

- Larry D., Oak Hill, WV, US

problem #164

May 022013

Xterra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 145,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have really loved this vehicle . So disappointed that this is a pretty common problem that they could have fixed with a recall.

- Julie S., Purdy, MO, US

problem #163

May 062013

Xterra LX 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,000 miles

when i drive the car jerks. the other day it would not go past 2 rpm and it kept jerking really bad then when i stopped it steamed and mud looking goo came out from the very front of the hood on the passenger side. i got the transmission flushed and a new radiator and then two days later it happened again.

- Codi H., Boone, NC, US

problem #162

Apr 202013

Xterra SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,900 miles

Nissan would not pay for this upfront and they are making me pay $2500 co-pay since I am at 84,900 miles. It is 100% covered under 80k miles. I have already had hotel expenses, towing, meal, etc since i was stranded out of town due to this. I called consumer affairs and was told to F off pretty much.

This is a simple fix per mechanics....I was just never told it was a issue. My 2008 Frontier is also effected. I will never buy another Nissan.

- Justin H., North Augusta, SC, US

problem #161

Jul 152012

Xterra Off Road V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

No more nissan in my garages. Keep your money in your pocket.

- alfredonew jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, US

problem #160

Apr 292013

Xterra V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

No serious problems with this 05 Xterra until just a week ago. Turns out the radiator was leaking coolant onto the transmission and Nissan gave me a $6200 quote to fix. I looked at the class action lawsuit and saw that radiators will now be replaced on xterras with less than 100,000 miles. I'm at 110k!!! This problem has going on for how many years without them notifying us with a recall. A $700 fix has turned into a $6200 fix. I loved this car and planned on buying another Xterra as my next vehicle when the style changed. I will never purchase anything Nissan again or ever recommend an Xterra. Actually, I will do the exact opposite. I will go onto every review page I can for Xterras and Pathfinders and let everyone know how Nissan really deals with their own inadequacies. Shame on you Nissan.

- Brianna C., Platteville, CO, US

problem #159

Apr 052013

Xterra LX 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

I cannot believe that Nissan has known about this problem and took no measures to notify people until it's too late. Water from the radiator and transmission combining to create such a mess. The car has been running fine until it started driving ruff and stalling. I had no previous knowledge like transmission slipping or anything. Now the transmission shop tells me the radiator is cracked and caused the transmission fluid to seep into the transmission. I am 65 years and live on a fixed income. I depend on this car to get me around. I cannot afford to pay $4,000 to have the transmission and the radiators replaced especially when the problem was not created by me. The least the Nissan Corporation can do is help me foot the bill. I am just beside myself especially to find out that this was a know problem. It's like the Toyota problem with the car speeding up. Do we have to wait until someone's car stalls like my did on the freeway and someone hits the back of the car and passengers are seriously hurt.

- Brenda C., Temecula, CA, US

problem #158

Apr 182013

Xterra S 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,520 miles

Have a 2005 Nissan Xterra, automatic V6. SES light came on, I have my own code reader and kept pulling the code P1706. P1706 is the code for the neutral safety switch. At this point I was not having any problems other than the SES light. Well 4 days ago, I went to drive to work and tried to start the engine and nothing happened. No sounds from the engine. I had power to all electronics. I had it towed to Nissan thinking it was just the neutral safety switch but turns out my radiator was leaking fluid into the transmission. New City Nissan in Hawaii informed me that I would need to replace the trans and radiator. But because my Xterra just hit it's 8 year mark in March 2013 and it was not fully covered in April. So I had to fork over my co-pay which was $2,500. My Xterra is still in shop as I type this. Hoping I can call Nissan and try and get them to cover it all.

- Joseph M., Honolulu, HI, US

problem #157

Aug 162012

Xterra ES 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since early 2007,my vehicle began having problems; check engine light on; air bag light on; gas tank light on; battery changed very often. The major problem began on July 2011 when my wife was driving home and the vehicle suddenly stop in middle of the road. At time the cost was $920.00 to replace a transmission's sensor. Again on August 16, 2012 the vehicle stop in way home. I took the vehicle to Nissan dealer they do a diagnostic and become known that the transmission's sensor was bad. They charged $212.00 for diagnostic and $1800.00 for parts and labor. Now on April 6, 2013 the vehicle become inoperable and the reason is because the radiator fluid and transmission oil were mixed and cause the transmission computer to become obsolete. The cost to replace both radiator and transmission is $4975.00. These amount of many is just out of my possibility. I have tried several times with Nissan Corporation Office and the answer is that they send a letter informing the customers of these vehicles that they extend warranty to 100000 MILES. All the answers were vague and well trained. Nissan company just do not want to accept the fact that these problem were cause by defective products from their own FACTORY. Why others companies made a recalls of any defective products and Nissan refuses to do the same? Nissan didn't even have the HONESTY to inform us about the defects in those vehicles Rather, they come with these "laboratory" excuses... SHAME ON THEM.

- Jose P., Kissimmee, FL, US

problem #156

Jan 302013

Xterra 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,778 miles

IN THE BEGINNING, THE MECHANIC BELIEVED IT WAS THE BRAKES. THERE WERE MORE VISITS AND THE DEALER SAID THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM.

ENDED UP HAVING BOTH MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED TO THE COST OF $4500.

I HAVE REPLACED THE 2005 XTERRA. I HAVE PURCHASED A 2011, BUT, NOW THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION SO THEY HAVE PAID $3000 FOR THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION.

FINALLY, IT COST ME ABOUT $5000 MORE FOR MY XTERRA 2011.

I LOVE THE XTERRA BUT NOT THOSE WHO MAKE THIS CAR. NISSAN WILL LOSE ITS CUSTOMERS.

- doumseizequebec, Québec, QUÉBEC, Canada

problem #155

Feb 062013

Xterra ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles

Car was not drivable and in shop for over a week. It has been nothing but trouble since reaching about 80,000 miles.

- Ben B., Knoxville, TN, US

problem #154

Mar 182013

Xterra 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 109,000 miles

Apparently Nissan is aware of the problem - yet no recall.

Nissan Dealer's only fix to the problem is a new transmission and a new radiator, all for $5,100.

- bburkhalter, Cincinnati, OH, US

problem #153

Mar 172013

Xterra 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

My daughter & granddaughter were driving after dark in a rural area when the transmission cooler line within the radiator broke. The car became instantly inoperable and they were stuck. Nissan has had enough complaints about this problem to have extended the warranty to 100,000 miles, which is useless to my vehicle. They did not offer to retrofit a fix, but did advise me of the extended transmission warranty even though I was already beyond the included mileage.

This is my 4th and last Nissan! I have just filed a complaint with the NHTSA in case a federal agency has more clout than a dissatisfied customer or two. I am extremely unhappy that Nissan can be so brazen as to ignore a known and proven problem with one of their designs. I am more unhappy that what I considered a dependable car stranded the two people I go most out of my way to protect from risk. All because Nissan failed to advise their customers of a known problem.

Obviously, I would like to receive a refund for this several thousand dollar repair. I understand that accidents are inevitable, and will happen - but for a multinational company the size of Nissan to turn a blind eye to their known responsibility and the well being of their customers is intolerable.

By the way --- I am the original owner living at the same address so they knew who and where I was. I will advise anyone who will listen to avoid Nissan like the plague. I might be dumb enough to be a sucker once, but I'm not stupid enough to fall for it ever again! Nissan has just proven how (dis)honest they are and lost another customer.

Truthfully it's a shame. I was under the misconception that I really liked the car. How does one go about keeping something they like while firing the dishonest manufacturer.

- David G., Ramona, CA, US

problem #152

Feb 012013

Xterra S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

I started having transmission problem and the car wouldn't reverse and switch gears ... i finally brought in to be looked at , well they said since i never had radiator repaired they denied the claim. I told them that is not acceptable since I only have 59k miles on the car. The dealership told me to call 800-Nissan , they called me back and after a few days back and forth , Nissan denied repair also. I told them that would not be acceptable and she asked me what I wanted Nissan to do and I said "pay for the repair" she said that she can have the delearship "test" the fluid and see what they come up with. A few days later they called me back and said the fluid in transmission was contaminated and they would be replacing transmission and the radiator. This time it worked out but I know it is a problem with the car. Since the repairs are just being done now I can only imagine how much it would be, I guess I will know tomorrow but bottom line - Nissan will be paying , not me!

- Kim R., Phila, PA, US

problem #151

Dec 142012

Xterra SE 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,613 miles

After a class action lawsuit, Nissan graciously extended the warranty to 100,000 Miles on the transmission failures cause by leaking coolant. Of course, when you see the data on this site, it says the transmission fails on average, around 98k. Pretty coincidental....

Unless I can get coverage for this blatant engineering disaster, I will slander Nissan products until the day I die. I will never recommend them, and I will tell anyone I know with a CVT transmission(also has major problems), or mid size truck about the horrible customer service Nissan provides to it's customers. Social media and internet forums are a great tool in this circumstance.

Good job Nissan, you just lost a customer that believed in your product, and I bet I'll help you to lose a lot more.

However, if they do come to the rescue, and fix the problem at little to no cost, I'm sure that I can muster up some praise for this company, and I might even consider buying another Nissan. The ball's in their court now.

- C G., Edmonton, AB, canada

problem #150

Dec 142012

Xterra SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

Last month I was smelling radiator fluid for a few days, no check engine light was on and no fluid was leaking anywhere that I could see, then one day radiator fluid was pouring out the bottom of the car. I popped the hood, looked, and looked, but couldn't tell where it was coming from. I took my 2005 Nissan XTerra to the Nissan dealer in Fayetteville, AR. They told me that the seal on the radiator cap was bad and it was only a $25 repair. They also told me that the u-joints were going bad and would need to be replaced. I asked what the symptom of bad u-joints is and they told me that at certain speeds the car would vibrate really bad and that this would progressively get worse. Well, since I was having that very same problem I approved the repair. The very next day the shaking/vibration was still an issue at around 35 mph so I called the service department back and told them. They scheduled an appointment for Monday morning. I brought in my XTerra and a "technician" rode with me to my office so that he could witness what I was talking about. Sure enough it vibrated. Later that day the service department called me and told me that the radiator had cracked and leaked fluid into the transmission fluid line and subsequently leaked into the transmission. The only fix they said was to replace the radiator and the transmission at a whopping $5,200 plus tax! Suddenly the sales department was/is very eager to work with me but, my trade in would be worth $5,200 less than it would have 5 weeks ago!

There is currently an open investigation with the NHTSA as to whether this problem warrants a recall. I encourage everyone to go the the safercar.gov website and check it out. You may also file a complaint with the NHTSA online or by calling 1-888-327-4236. The call took me less than 10 minutes.

This is the 3rd Nissan I have owned and may be the last. The trend I have noticed is 1st car - Altima had over 160,000 miles on it before it was traded, 2nd car - Sentra had 146,000 miles when it died, and now the XTerra which has only 106,000 miles on it.

I bought this car used at about 24,000 miles and never heard about an extended warranty on the radiator. I've been looking around online and see that this radiator/transmission thing is a major problem! It is a defect, plain and simple! And, in my opinion, simply poor engineering. And most definitely underhanded and deceitful customer service!! Why would Nissan not tell everyone that they can spend $900 to replace a radiator or they'll get stuck with $4,000 - $5,000 in repair cost to replace the transmission!!

Shame Nissan! And shame Superior Nissan of Fayetteville, AR!!!

- jeffd72703, Fayetteville, AR, US

problem #149

Mar 232010

Xterra SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,243 miles

SAME PROBLEM THE ALL 2005 NISSAN XTERRA OWNERS HAVE. SHUDDER, BAD RADIATOR LED TO BAD TRANSMISSION. NISSAN DID NOT HELP, DIDNT WANT TO COVER IT, SAID IT WAS NOT A HIGH ENOUGH COMPLAINT..WAITING FOR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

- lalopez80, Whiteman Afb, MO, US

problem #148

Apr 072012

Xterra SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,652 miles

One day the vehicle would not shift out of first gear. We towed it to the dealership and they confirmed that the radiator had failed and leaked radiator fluid into the transmission, causing the transmission to fail. The only fix was to replace the radiator and transmission. The Nissan tech told us this is a known problem that results from a faulty radiator. If Nissan had simply informed us of this problem beforehand, we would've gladly spent $600 to replace the radiator to avoid causing transmission failure.

- James M., San Diego, CA, US

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