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.
9.1
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,950
Average Mileage:
112,600 miles
Total Complaints:
159 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace radiator and transmission (62 reports)
replace transmission (51 reports)
not sure (30 reports)
flushed trans and replaced radiator (8 reports)
replace radiator and transmission fluid (3 reports)
Nissan Assist - Welcome to NissanAssist.com.
Nissan is committed to providing an outstanding vehicle ownership experience for all our customers. Periodically, we announce extensions to the standard vehicle warranty. These extensions are specific to the vehicle you own, model year, and to individual components on each vehicle.
Nissan Dealers have been advised of these extensions and will provide service to your vehicle if required. As with all vehicle warranties, all work must be completed by your authorized Nissan Dealer.
Got used Xterra with 86000 miles extended warranty for 2 year or 24000 miles . in late July the transmission began to slip while the vehicle was in motion . took the car to the warranty recommended location got an estimate for $ 3000-$3500 but the warranty will not cover due to being over the mileage on the warranty of 107921. I found out from another mechanic the same problem would cost me $2500 due to the radiator coolant leaking into the transmission. I am currently talking to the dealer who sold me the vehicle to have him flush the transmission and fix the radiator problem for about $350. hopefully this will work.
I found out that Nissan has had a lawsuit against them for this same problem but it only paid for vehicles under 100000 miles. I NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM, CANNOT AFFORD THE HASSLE ANYMORE, AND I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR A VEHICLE I CANNOT DRIVE.
Today aug.8,2013 told by dealer that my 06 xterra problem is, transmission/coolant! RECALL! Fix my xterra at cost to the company! Took it in the first time back in June, was told u-joint they fixed it but, still that vibration don't go away! Now that since I have over 100,000mi. on it I'm the one paying for all of it! I still have 10 payments due. I got a letter about lawsuit in NY, before my xterra started to act up and the deadline past also! So I couldn't take part! I've own datsun/nissan(s) in past and loved them, currently own a 83 sentra with 57,500mi. not a typeo! true mileage have all paperwork on it! I don't know if I'll buy my (many years from now) retirement car now or not, a nissan juke! The only way for me to buy nissan again, nissan needs to give 100% of cost to everyone who has or is like me going thru this! I teach low income prek kids, I'm NOT RICH!!! RECALL!
Well, I guess I am now included in the long list of Xterra owners that have been screwed by Nissan! Just took my Xterra to Wilkesboro Nissan dealer and they would not even touch it and advised that at least 3 vehicles come in each week with the same problem of coolant getting into the transmission. Unfortunately, I had no idea this problem even existed until yesterday. Called Nissan and they said so sorry, even though this was/is a recurring problem that THEY knew about, they are not going to fix it or give me any compensation whatsoever because i have 122K miles on the car! Excuse me......what does the warranty have to do with anything???? This was a manufacturer defect in the radiator. Thank you very much Nissan. This is my second and will be my last Nissan that I ever buy! Worst part.....3 payments left to go on it.
My Nissan Xterra would not go into reverse, I took it to the Nissan dealer and they said it had a damaged reverse pack. I know the problems with the coolant causing transmissions to go out and mine only has
34,000 miles on it so Nissan should have to fix it free.
They said it needed a new transmission which would cost $5800.00
I do not have that kind of money and don't know what I am going to do.
Started out as a shuddering noise once in a while. Have had it to mechanic 3 times in the last month and a half, would not do it. Then Friday March 29 2013 I spotted a small puddle of grayish colored oil. After investigating I found radiator reservoir and radiator full of transmission fluid. Called the dealership where I purchased the Xterra which is about 200 miles from where I live and they told me to take it to the closest Nissan dealer and it would be covered. Once I got to that Nissan dealer , they told me the radiator would be covered but I would have to copay $2500.00 for the transmission. How can Nissan justify this when they know the radiator causes the transmissiom problem. Come on Nissan get your head out of your _ss!
- hunsingerj,
Binghamton, NY, US
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In Dec. 2012 I took my Nissan to a garage. The vehicle would not shift gears right, very rough. So they found that the radiator had busted and was leaking antifreeze into my transmission. So the guys went through and replaced the radiator and flushed my transmission 3-4 times to clean it out. This cost me over $700!! Then on 4-10-13 i was coming home from wytheville about 20-25 miles from home and my check engine light came on. My xterra lost power, didn't want to climb the hills. When i would stop at a stop sign or red light it didn't want to start moving again. So i took it back to the garage that had did the other work and the guys told me that my transmission was going out and that i would have to buy a new one or have this one rebuilt. To rebuild costs over $2,500 to buy a new over $4,000!!!! And now i have no vehicle and it will take 3-4 weeks to fix. Very disappointed that Nissan has not issued a recall this could leave people stranded!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006 xttera trans cooler and engine coolant mixed destroying transmission in my wifes car. I can't believe with all the other compliants I've read on several internet sites, Nissan is getting away without having to fix a known factory defect.
Purchased my Nissan Xterra new in 2007 with 44miles on it. I have always had this car serviced at Southlake Nissan. Took the car in for a funny noise and oil change this morning. I was told the car needed a new transmission and radiator at a cost of $7,295.00 plus tax. Without concern they went a head and changed the oil charging me $33.14 for take. After being told I could charge the transmission. Well the heck with you, take you Nissan and shove it up yours. I will never in my life buy another Nissan. And I surely not gonna dump $7,00.00 into this car.
About 3 weeks ago, my transmission started shifting hard when I check it the oil was white and not red how it should be. Went to the dealer to see if they can help me it gets fixed and show them a letter I got from Nissan. The dealer said they can’t help since it is out of warranty and that I have to call Nissan. So I asked them how much it would cost and they said $8000.00 to fix. So I called Nissan and they tell me they won’t cover it since it is out of warranty. So now I have a vehicle in my drive way that I can’t drive on the road safely.
I just received a letter from Nissan telling me that they recognize a problem only in a handful of 2006 Nissan Xterras where the coolant leaks in the transmission. 1.5 years ago i had a problem with the gas sensor gauge. Nissan knew about and there was a recall but my 2006 did not qualify. They extended the warranty but as always I am over the mileage. This new letter for the coolant problem also extended the warranty to 90,000 with a $3,000 copay from the customer, again, I am over the mileage. It looks to me as a calculated move where they send you a letter extending the warranty knowing you will not qualify. 2006 Nissan 15,000 a year miles average = 90,000. Wonder how many people will qualify. When I had the sensor problem a year and a half ago I was told I did not qualify but was also told then about the problem with the coolant leaking in the transmission. The service guy told me it will cost $2500 to repair then. Nissan new extended warranty @90,000miles ask the customer to pay out of its pocket $ 3,000 more that will cost to repaired then. Summary, Nissan only pretends the care about the quality of their vehicles and always comes short to offer a feasible solution. Of course I will not buy a Nissan anymore but for all of you that have problems the best way to hit Nissan is in their pocket. Post all these problems in your facebook, twitter accounts and tell anyone you know about at work at the gym , everywhere. THIS COMPANY SUCKS !!!!!!!!!
I have a 2006 Nissan Xterra. Transmission coolant leaked into the transmission and destroyed it. I took it to a repair shop and was notified that this is an ongoing problem with this model vehicle.
I called Nissan and found out that they do recognize this a s a problem and will help pay for the repair up to 100K miles. My vehicle has 119K miles. The repair is estimated at $4500 dollars. Nissan has refused any help what so ever.
I will never buy another Nissan product. Shame on Nissan!!!
I can believe Nissan has not made this problem a recall. So many people have the same problem and also not to mention the people that have not reported it. NISSAN GET YOUR S*** TOGETHER
For the last month I noticed my heater wasn't putting out it's normal level of heat. Didn't take it too seriously because the weather has been nice for the most part. Then last weekend heard a vibrational noise while on freeway speed. Happened briefly for a few seconds. My gut said have it checked out. I took it into Nissan dealership who told me it would cost $10,000 to fix radiator and transmission due to failed radiator leak into transmission. Waiting for another service place to advise me on their suggestion of repairs and cost.
I was stranded 200 miles away from home in a remote location with almost no cell signal when the transmission died. Luckily I was able to (barely) get enough signal strength to call my insurance company and arrange for road side assistance. I had to have the car towed to my shop back in San Diego for almost $400. Very disappointed that Nissan is not taking responsibility for what is clearly a known defect.
Found out that this is a major design flaw in Nissan Xterra, Frontiers and Pathfinders. Failed Radiator which results in coolant leakage into the transmission system which resulted in transmission assemply failure. This isn't just a major design flaw, this is a catastrophic design flaw that Nissan North America has yet to do a recall notice for. My cost to fix this issue is $7,754.00!!!! I currently have an open case with Nissan North America but have not yet heard back whether they will fix the problem because I am "out of warranty." I have been a Nissan customer for 20 plus years, owning 8 different Nissan vehicles. We'll see what happens, but I don't have my hopes up.
Shame on you Nissan for not supporting and recalling this flaw which has been around apparenlty for several years! If this can not be taken care of, Nissan will lose a long time customer and I'll be letting everyone I know to steer clear of Nissan!!
Update from May 19, 2016: Nissan never did anything about my transmission and I ended up having to get a different car.
My wife just finished paying off the xterra last year.Am familiar with the transmission problem because it happened to my son's Nissan Pathfinder.I cannot figure out why this shouldn't be a recall.Its obvious this is a major defect and it can happen anytime with out you knowing.Our car never over heated and drove fine until a few days ago.My wife way driving on the freeway here in California and all of a sudden the car started slowing down dramatically.We were lucky we were able to get off of the freeway.Had to have it towed and I knew right away what the problem was being my son had told me how his car acted when his transmission failed.Went to where I bought the xterra new and argued with the service tech. Ended up talking to the service manager and he said that if this was the problem he would send the paper work to Nissan North America.I'm waiting to see if they are going to fix this or not.This is an issue which needs to be addressed
Update from Jun 11, 2012: Nissan North America declined to fix my transmission.Ended up costing me 3,000.00 dollars. My transmission mechanics said he was familiar with this problem with these Nissan transmissions.He put a transmission cooler and rebuilt my transmission and he said with the cooler That existing problem that Nissan has will never happen again.Nissan has just lost a customer and I will spread the word.
Started truck and had whistling noise and service engine soon light came on. I took to mechanic for test drive and wanted truck next morning for transmission problems. I left mechanics to go to work drove about 5 minutes and that was all she wrote! the "pink milkshake of death " won the battle, the trans QUIT! After being only "658" past our 100,000 mile warranty Nissan did NOTHING to help in the dealers 9000 dollar estimate to replace radiator and trans. my girlfriend drives and LOVES this truck but really HATES the fact that nissan did nothing to help in the repairs!! My personal opinion of nissan is well you know^%*&((#@$ need I say more!!!!! NISSAN KNOWS THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FIX THIS NOW!!!
I BOUGHT MY NISSSAN X TERRA ON 2006, I ALWAYS DID MY REGULAR SERVICES JUST YESTERDAY I WENT TO DO MY OIL CHANGE AND I ASKED THEM TO CHANGE THE OIL TRANSMISSION AND FLUSH MY RADIATOR, THEY CALLED ME WHEN MY CAR WAS READY AND TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDNT DO THE FLUSH, THAT THEY WILL TALK TO ME WHEN I PICK UP MY CAR. I FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE COOLANT MIX WITH MY OIL TRANSMISSION AND IT COST TO FIX IT $6000 OR MORE, THAT IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN NOT DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, THAT THOSE THINGS HAPPEN TO CARS. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN CAR IN MY WHOLE LIFE. I'M SO MAD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I CAN'T NOT TRADE IT OR SELL IT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T FINISH PAYING IT. I REALLY HATE NISSAN.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Got used Xterra with 86000 miles extended warranty for 2 year or 24000 miles . in late July the transmission began to slip while the vehicle was in motion . took the car to the warranty recommended location got an estimate for $ 3000-$3500 but the warranty will not cover due to being over the mileage on the warranty of 107921. I found out from another mechanic the same problem would cost me $2500 due to the radiator coolant leaking into the transmission. I am currently talking to the dealer who sold me the vehicle to have him flush the transmission and fix the radiator problem for about $350. hopefully this will work.
I found out that Nissan has had a lawsuit against them for this same problem but it only paid for vehicles under 100000 miles. I NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM, CANNOT AFFORD THE HASSLE ANYMORE, AND I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR A VEHICLE I CANNOT DRIVE.
- rjcheese04, Bridgeprot, CT, US