Bought this car from Royal Moore Nissan in Beaverton, OR with the extended warranty which didn't cover this type of failure. It's a shame that every mechanic in the shop knew about this issue but failed to mention it to me for the 18 months that I've owned it and brought it in for oil changes and fluid inspections.

First/Last Nissan for me an definitely no more business for Royal Moore, take note anyone else in the Portland area. They all knew about it BEFORE and AFTER it broke down and they sold it to me...

Convenient memory is convenient.

I recently noticed that my Nissan Xterra is making a shuddering noise, and the shifting is getting rough. I researched the problem online and found out that there was a class action lawsuit settled in 2013 regarding the radiator fluid leaking into the transmission fluid issue. I never received a notice of this lawsuit, and Nissan never sent me a recall notice. Nissan is extending the warranty if your car is affected, but you still have to pay a $2500-$3000 copay depending on mileage or age of car. It was a manufacturing defect, so why should I have to pay anything to have it fixed? If I had known about the class action lawsuit two years ago, I could have had the problem fixed at no charge. Why wasn't I notified about the lawsuit?? I'll never buy Nissan again!!

Update from Apr 11, 2015: So, I took my Xterra to the dealership and sure enough, the radiator fluid looked like chocolate milk. $3000 later, I have a new radiator and transmission. I contacted Nissan and expressed my frustration with a Consumer Affairs Specialist. I got absolutely nowhere with the specialist. She couldn't understand why I was so upset when Nissan settled the lawsuit by offering the extended warranty. Really?! Maybe it's because I had to pay $3000 to fix a defective radiator and transmission! Her rationale..."It's only happening to a small percentage of the cars." Really?! How could she possibly know that?? And even if that's true, shouldn't Nissan fix the problem that they're responsible for? Anyway, I asked to speak to a supervisor, and she said that one would call me back in 4-8 hours. A day later, I'm still waiting for that call.

Have felt a shudder in the transmission in the recent months, only in overdrive. Turning off the overdrive fixed the shudder. It felt like I was hitting a rumble strip on the highway when it was shifting into and out of gear. I knew it needed attention and was saving money to have it looked at. An after fact, it has also not been warming up in the mornings until well on my way to work. Didn't know this was a symptom of the same issue until getting on the Nissan Forums this morning.

On the way into work this morning, it failed to accelerate away from a stop in a normal manner, then barely got up to 35 miles an hour. Limped into work this morning and got online to find out what the issues could be. Turns out, it is most likely the radiator leaking into the transmission and causing a catastrophic failure. Well, this should be fun. That would mean this nice truck, in good condition, is totaled. Will cost more to repair than the truck is worth. I have had this since new, bought in 2006. What a shame.

Well sad to say, but here I am again reporting a problem with my Nissan Xterra 2006. It's transmission has failed because of an inherent problem with engine coolant leaking into the transmission through the radiator. I have already replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, hoses. Now I'm stuck less then a year later replacing my Transmission. I think is awful that Nissan knows about this problem and isn't will to do anything about it. even it it was to send out a notice. So many people are stuck with having to replace a transmission for several thousand dollars. My advice to anyone reading this complaint "don't by a used 2006 Xterra and if you own one fix it before it to late. Get a transmission cooler before you're stuck replacing your transmission. This isn't a case of "IF" it's a case of "WHEN"

My Nissan Xterra 2006 has been diagnosed with engine coolant leaking into the transmission from a faulty radiator. I now have to replace the radiator and flush the transmission hoping that the trans is not completely ruined. After this problem was brought to my attention I was told that it is a very common problem. I think is awful that Nissan knows it is a problem and isn't doing anything about it. So many people are stuck with having to replace a transmission for several thousand dollars.

This problem should be a recall for the replacement of the radiator and transmission. I first fixed the radiator and flushed the transmission. I was told this is only a temporary fix for the transmission, it will fail shortly. My mechanic was right. I should have traded my Xterra in. I'll post a compliment for my failed transmission next. Less then 1 year later my transmission is toast. $4000.00 dollar repair everybody? Separate the coolant for the transmission by getting a transmission cooler before it's to late and you're stuck buying a transmission and a radiator. Pissed off at Nissan and will never buy another car from them again.

My regular mechanic just diagnosed the slipping in my transmission (that had grown as a concern over the last few weeks). The coolant and transmission fluid are mixing and destroying the transmission and radiator. He said he's repaired 4 out of 6 cars with this problem successfully by replacing the radiator, flushing the fluids and reconnecting with new hoses. The only alternate was to have the tranny replaced which he estimated at $3200 (which I actually thought was reasonable compared to some prices I have heard about). He encouraged me to call Nissan and check some forums which I did. My VERY FIRST search and click yielded the exact problem I am in the midst of dealing with very little hope of a positive solution. Now I'm stuck with trying the short fix for about $400 or making a $2500 co-pay as Nissan's offer to help defray the costs of a problem they know exists in their cars. The websites basically say the problem will still exist/destroy the tranny and that's what the unsympathetic guy at Smithtown Nissan said as he made it sound like a $2500 co-pay was a pretty good deal!

I'm so frustrated right now because I like the way the Nissan's drive, but also had to replace the transmission in my '95 Pathfinder years ago. Everything is built to break and those on the other side look forward to the profits. It's so messed up and discouraging to anyone who works hard to pay their bills.

I was driving down a back country road when all of a sudden I heard this high pitched squealing noise coming from under the hood. All of a sudden I couldn't go any faster than 20mph, and then slower, and slower. There was NO WHERE to pull off on this curvy, windy road. So, I had to keep going. Finally I got to a road I could turn off on and I literally had to coast into this road, it just completely stopped accelerating.

Next day I got it towed to the transmission shop. Come to find out, I was yet another victim to the transmission fluid and engine coolant mixing in both the radiator & transmission. $4,406.39 and a new bank loan later, I am the not so proud owner of a new radiator and completely rebuilt transmission. When I went to the transmission shop to pick it up, there were two other Xterras there (same year) beside mine with the same exact problem! Something isn't right here...

I have had this Xterra for 8 years never even sat on the lot. I have always had it serviced with my Landers Nissan dealership. About a month ago I noticed my transmission to begin to slip I do not drive this hard and live in suburbia. No after market parts or rebuilding has ever been done. My dealership told me that this is a problem with the model year. My radiator is mixing with my transmission fluid and killing my otherwise perfect transmission. The dealership has never notified me and this problem from my research has been happening since 2011. I could have saved thousands now they want 5 grand for total repair and replacement costs. What is worse that I also own a 2010 Nissan Frontier. They never asked if I had another vehicle like this at my house. The problem can also happen with it and is beginning to happen to my truck. Luckily that one is under warranty. However my beef is that neither Nissan USA or my Landers Nissan Southaven Mississippi dealership has ever notified me. I will fail a complaint with the BBB and I hope everyone who has these model years and makes does the same so we can hopefully get an official recall.

My Nissan Xterra 2006 has been diagnosed with engine coolant leaking into the transmission. I now have to replace the radiator and flush the transmission hoping that the trans is not completely ruined. After this problem was brought to my attention I was told that it is a very common problem. I think is awful that Nissan knows it is a problem in either engineering or parts and they wont do anything. So many people are stuck with having to replace a transmission for several thousand dollars. This problem should be a recall for the replacement of the radiator and transmission.

Purchased 2006 Xterra used with 75000 miles from Nissan Dealer. Issued with transmission was well known at that time, they made no mention of possible problem at that time. Took car into Nissan dealer twice during next 2 years for service and general check up. Mentioned transmission acting funny at 95000 miles, dealer said could not find anything wrong. Again at 105000 miles, transmission now continuously acting up. Shaking and sudden shift almost caused Son to get into a severe accident on freeway forced the issue. Took into dealer, now they tell me coolant has leaked into transmission, both radiator and transmission need replaced. Worse part I have extended powertrain warranty for another 100000 miles. They deny coverage saying since problem not caused by powertrain but rather the radiator which is not covered even though it has been determined that leak has ruined transmission and it needs to be replaced.

Now find out this is well known issue. Class action suit settlement rip off as this problem doesn't show until near 90-100000 miles. Thousands of used Nissan Pathfinders and Xterras as they approach that mileage are potential deathtraps from this sleeping problem caused by a defect Nissan has known about. They can't even prove they have fixed the problem. Until people die in accidents from this the govt doesn't notice, it's leaving us with a $6000 problem. I am contacting national news investigators to try to get this known problem with Nissan on national news in front of public to hopefully put pressure on Nissan to do something about it or at least cause them to lose as much sales as possible.