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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
158,518 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Vehicle radiator rusted internally, therefore intermix coolant and transmission fluid. Automobile constantly serviced at Nissan dealers, no warning from Nissan.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Xterra. While driving approximately 50 mph, the radiator fractured and there was a transmission fluid leak. The contact, an independent mechanic, diagnosed that the oil cooler within the radiator was faulty. A dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Xterra. While driving 25 mph, the transmission slipped and prevented the vehicle from going into gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that coolant leaked into the transmission, which caused the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000. The VIN was not available.
This car was purchased in California, I have had this car serviced at Nissan dealers from California to Connecticut, from universal city Nissan in los angeles to bruce bennett in wilton, ct with stops in between. In a normal service check, it states on all invoices that fluids are checked. Today sir, I found out that fluids are not checked and due to Nissan's negligence my radiator and transmission are now married (intermix) and since that marriage a new radiator and transmission are being required. If you had performed the proper fluid checks, then the marriage could have been prevented and no replacement necessary. I want compensation, I.e. radiator/transmission on this 12 year Xterra.
Radiator design failure allowed mixing of antifreeze with automatic transmission fluid. Caused failure of both radiator and transmission. Nissan previously offered assistance in repair but discontinued. Will not repair my Xterra as is now past extended warranty, but well under total miles. Overheating in traffic stop lead to failure. Nissan should have recalled all 2005-2007 Xterras and frontiers with defective radiator. Nissan took no action to notify owners that has not had repair. Nissan only notified owners that had experienced failure and offered to compensate costs. Failure was preventable with a fairly simple by pass of the transmission cooler or a replacement of the radiator to a redesigned version Nissan issued in 2010. Many owners were helped by Nissan previously because of a class action lawsuit. Now, Nissan is no longer assisting owners with the failure even though it is still caused by the design failure of the radiator and not any action by the owner. If the owner had driven the vehicle harder and added more miles faster and experienced the failure, Nissan would have compensated them I. whole or in part. Owners with low mileage and older vechicles that are now experiencing the failure or will in the future are not being assisted by Nissan. Nissan should have done a complete recall of all vechicles with the defective radiator. Owners are now forced to bear costs of $7,000 in repairs. A transmission failure can be a serious safety hazard if the transmission were to lock up while driving. Fortunately my transmission failure occurred slowly and the radiator failure was catastrophic so the vechicle could not be driven. Nissan should be made to supplement their prior extended warranty to cover any failure of the radiator causing contamination of the transmission fluid. Failure is referred to as strawberry milkshake of death.
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Transmission destroy by leaking radiator antifreeze into transmission also catalytic converters clogged, my Xterra only has 70 K miles on it, to early for all of this problems to happen it's going to cost me a lot of money to fix it, please help.
Car would not switch gears. It staid in 1st or 2nd and RPM went to red as I pulled away from my parking spot. Transmission failure at 105,000 miles. Cost of repairs: $4,000. After research on line, found out Nissan never recalled the vehicle but offered extended co-payment warranty up to 100,000 miles to avoid fixing problem as the failure usually occurs at around 100,000 miles and above. Mine was at 105K. These cars needed to be recalled and now I'm paying $4,000 to fix a known defect that Nissan got away with not taking full responsibility to repair.
Possible transmission cooler leaking and allowing antifreeze coolant to get into the transmission and ruin it costinf a new transmission and radiator on top of the repair labor costs and Nissan offering no help at all
While driving on the highway the transmission failed. No warning, just check engine light and the transmission wouldn't go above 30 miles per hour without cutting off the car completely. Had to be towed. After troubleshooting problem the radiator on transmission failed. Come issue for this vehicle, just as noted in the safety recall a few years ago but Nissan is no longer supporting their customers for this safety issue. Well, after $3700, my transmission is rebuilt with new radiator. Nissan should have covered this safety issue.. I was in traffic on a highway and the transmission failed, it was very stressful and unsafe for me to change lanes and pull over on a highway that has a 70 mph limit and I was in the middle lane. Even though I put my flasher on traffic was very heavy and it was truly unsafe for not only myself but my passengers and those cars behind me that had to suddenly slow down because of my mechanical transmission failure.
Tla* the contact owns a 2006 Nissan Xterra. While driving approximately 35 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle did not respond. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was later towed to meadowlands Nissan in hasbrouck heights, NJ where it was diagnosed that the radiator leaked and caused the transmission to fail. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000. Updated 09/06/17..updated 09/11/17 updated 09/20/17 consumer stated the vehicle was repaired at an independent shop. Transmission failure due to radiator leak. Updated 10/4/18
Takata recall ive had problems with tranmisson for a about 3 yrs..I called Nissan recall and they have always told me its not in the usa.went to trans shop and they have had it for 4 weeks not unable to fix it...it would start when I would stop at lights or stop signs and not go would have to shut off and restart then pull over for not getting hit..
Radiator failed internally and allowed transmission fluid to to mix with coolant and circulate through the transmission, destroying both the radiator and transmission. This happened suddenly on a a very busy highway and caused the total loss of propulsion. This endangered me due to the fast moving vehicles around that didn't know why I was slowing to a stop in traffic and I was very lucky to not be run over. Cost of repair is at least $6,000, dealer price is more like $7,000 this happened when my Xterra only had 110,970 miles and with no warning at all. This is total loss of the vehicle since it doesn't make any sense to repair at this price a vehicle with less resale value than the cost of the repair. I've attached pictures of a repair estimate and the "strawberry milkshake" looking mix of transmission fluid and radiator coolant that resulted.
I am the very unfortunate owner of a 2006 Xterra, that is experiencing the infamous radiator leaking coolant fluid into the transmission. I have a 2006 Nissan Xterra automatic 4WD; purchased in 2009 certified pre-owned w/ 46K miles on it. Now it has 137K on it and I unfortunately experienced the infamous "strawberry milkshake of death" where due to a radiator default it leaks coolant fluid into the transmission causing irreversible damage 2 days ago on May 6th 2017. Right now the radiator is dead as well as the thermostat; a mechanic shop inspected the vehicule as I pulled over to their place when I experienced the issue and stopped driving immediately. I reached out to Nissan consumer affair and; to just be able to go forward I must have the car tow to the closest dealership as it is the procedure and they can't determinate anything before car got inspected by official Nissan service dpt. Changing the radiator and the transmission will be pay out of my pocket unfortunately at this stage. I am out the mileage settled after the class action suit Nissan got hit for this well documented issue. I am just another victim of what should have been a national recall from Nissan.
While my wife and granddaughter were driving our 2006 Nissan Xterra on a highway, the transmission started to slip, not allowing the ability to maintain the proper safe posted driving speed. My wife had to pull over on the side of the road during heavy traffic, exposing both her, and my granddaughter to a safety hazard. The vehicle had to be towed, while they waited on the side of the road, getting picked up by a family member. Subsequently I learned of a known defect in Nissan radiators that fail, and leak into the transmission, causing it to fail. Reportedly, it has been recognized the failures commonly occur around 90,000 miles, or a little over 2000 more miles than when this incident occurred. We were never notified of this potential defect, which should have involved a recall/warranty repair, rather than subjecting me, and my family, to this safety risk. I would assume there are many more vehicles in this same unsafe state today, awaiting the same development that occurred to my family. This matter needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Thanks.
Car overheated while driving on the highway and wasn't able to accelerate any more... took to the shop and they flushed the transmission multiple times to try and save. Radiator and hoses were replaced first. Ended up having to go back for a failed transmission. Costs were $5587.25 which I couldn't afford and had to take out a loan for.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ridgefield, CT, USA