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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
105,549 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.
Stop and filled it up with gas starter down the road an check engin came on stop and turn it off now tthe motor wont turn the transmission was working perfeict the codes C1163 sent it to ted russell Nissan they tell me its the transmission is bad no pink water in the radiator cost 5000 dollars to fix why cant a bunch of people thats having the problem sue Nissan I was driving down the road
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Xterra. While idling at a stop sign, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle had to be pushed off the roadway and towed home. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the radiator ruptured, causing coolant to enter into the transmission. The contact called autonation Nissan (811 thornton rd, lithia springs, ga 30122, (770) 674-6080), but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Vehicle transmission started to slip and now, the transmission does not engage at random times causing power loss while in motion whether driving on highways or city streets. This problem is not worsen or aliviated by turning or breaking. The transmission will eventualy engage after slowing the vehicle down and later accelerating. The vehicle was brought to a trained mechanic who found that the coolant fluid was entering the transmission and oil was mixing with the coolant fluid. A second opinion from another trained mechanic verified the same problem.
Transmission fluid in radiator in 2016, had to rebuild radiator. 2018 gas gauge fuel sensor not reading accurately. Only registers 1/4 tank even when filled.
- Bryan, TX, USA
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Was driving home from albuquerque nm to moriarty nm when had vehicle overheat stopped vehicle and checked antifreeze and in the reservoir found pink looking liquid let it cool down had husband check it and had coolant and transmission fluid mixed after this vehicle wouldn't shift properly also I was on I40 when it occurred
Lack of recall for the transmission failure. The transmission does shift from park to neutral to reverse and then drive but once in drive it stays in a lower gear like 1st. While driving on a city street all of the sudden I noticed that the vehicle was making a sound as if it were not shifting to a higher gear. I then noticed that the check engine light came on. We took the vehicle to a repair shop and they checked the engine code and they said it was a transmission issue and that we needed to take it to a transmission shop. We took it to a transmission shop and they said that the codes is for transmission failure. Repair cost will be about 5000.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Xterra. While driving various speeds, the contact experienced a bumpy ride. In addition, the vehicle would decelerate, the odometer would decrease, and the vehicle stalled. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure occurred three separate times. An independent mechanic diagnosed that transmission fluid was leaking into the radiator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and the dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 126,000.
"takata recall" I have a 2007 Nissan exterra 4WD. I checked my radiator fluid since I was not getting heat during parked idle. After letting the motor cool enough to remove the radiator cap, to my surprise there is transmission fluid in my radiator. I have owned this car approximately three years and never once got a letter. When I called Nissan today 11/10/2017 I was informed that the recall ended in 2016 or at 100,000 miles. In which case I was told nothing could be done.
My transmission went out due to a radiator defect in the 2005-2010 Xterras. I know there is a class action lawsuit involving this issue and consumers are attempting to force a recall of this generation of Nissan. The repair cost $4,200 and I was without a vehicle for over two weeks. The repair shop stated that I had significant water damage to the computer, which is typical of this defect. I was able to drive my vehicle to the shop, but I was very concerned about driving it from my location since I was hiking in the mountains approximately 40 miles from home when it became apparent there was a major issue.
My vehicle lost power while I was driving. The transmission was damaged as a result of a faulty radiator issue allowing fluid to leak into and destroy the transmission. Nissan will not do anything to help repair.
While on a camping trip from California to Nebraska to watch the eclipse, my Xterra suddenly and without any warning (no warning lights) lost power and came to a complete stop in an intersection near aliance, ne. We were driving the speed limit but could easily have been in an accident if this had been a more populated area. We were able to "coast" it off the highway into a parking area and arrange for a tow truck to pick us up.the nearest Nissan dealer is 500mi. Away in denver so had my vehicle towed to aaa recommended shop. They diagnosed transmission failure due to radiator crack and unit sending coolant into the transmission. My vehicle has less 98K mi. On it.! estimated cost of repairs $3-8,000.00. To complete repairs they would have to have parts sent from California, so they advised me junk the vehicle or tow back to California. Since I'm a senior living on fixed income I do not have funds to purchase another vehicle. So I had to rent a car ($800) to get back to California and have the Xterra transported ($1,100) back to be repaired. Think it is shameful that there was no notice from Nissan about this so consumers could take preventative measures. I have been a loyal customer, this is the second Nissan product I've owned, but now because Nissan is not standing behind its product, even after the repairs I will have a "worthless" vehicle that I have had to put thousands of dollars into..so this will be my last purchase from this company.
Total transmission failure caused by a cracked radiator that allowed engine coolant to mix with transmission fluid. Cost to fix is more than the value of the vehicle. The defective radiator has no recall on it although the problem is well known to Nissan.
Was driving down the road, and all of a sudden, transmission started downshifting. I pulled over, popped the hood, and smoke was coming from the transmission fluid. I checked it, and it was normal level but extremely hot. I let it cool down, and I started driving down the road again, and the overdrive starts rumbling; feels and sound like I'm driving over a rumble strip. Transmission shop says, the transmission needs replacing.
Radiator cracked and cooling got into my transmission. I bought the car used at a dealership in 2014. Which I think dealership should have warned me about the problem too. I was driving down the highway and overdrive started shuttering and so I had to put it into 4th gear to make it on down the highway. So then I looked it up online what I could do what causes it to shutter and then I seen the notifications about the coolant in the transmission so I checked the radiator and sure enough there was white foam or sticky stuff in there. So now it's going to cost about $3,000 for a transmission and to have it put in and I still owe $4,000 on the vehicle which is now a yard ornament until I save the money up to pay for the transmission
Driving auto starting making noise like going over rumble strip, then wouldn't start but could be started by crossing wires under hood. Took to dutro in zanesville, they installed new computer system. Still wouldn't start, they told me I needed a new transmission for intermix problem. 6000 dollars. Contacted Nissan the BBB. No help! 100100 miles on it. Never received a recall or anything. Shouldn't there have been a recal?
External transmission cooler/radiator assembly leak has caused the transmission on my vehicle to become inoperable. The mixing of the vehicle coolant and the transmission fluid caused the transmission control module/transmission body assembly to malfunction. Thus the vehicle refuses to start as the transmission will not operate. I am now required to replace the radiator and transmission control module at more than $2K out of pocketpin addition to towing and rental vehicle expenses. The vehicle ran fine and no slipping was detected prior to the malfunction even after multiple transmission fluid changes. The vehicle was parked in my garage requiring a tow to a mechanic after running without any issues the previous day. Apparently this is a widespread issue that Nissan has known about for years in the Xterra, pathfinder, titan, and armada models. Nissan failed to notify vehicle owners of steps to avoid costly repairs by simply using a different noncorrsive automatic transmission fluid and to replace the faulty radiator and external transmission cooler assembly. I am now left in a greater undue hardship thnks to Nissan's gross negligence regarding an all too common issue that Nissan failed to address with thousands of complaints and documented examples. The extension of the warranty does adequately cover vehicle owners who all seem to fall victim outside of the warranty coverage period that Nissan specifically increased due to the faulty equipment and fluids that Nissan recommended and even required.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sandston, VA, USA