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.
Our car had no pickup when taking off from stop light and making a left turn. We were crossing traffic which made this quite scary as we almost stalled in the middle of the road. We pulled into a parking lot and turned it off. Wouldn't start back up and the gear indicator on the dash wasn't showing which gear it was in. Had it towed to the dealership and was told the coolant leaked into the transmission, which is a known problem with this car, and contaminated the transmission and the sensors. I was never contacted about this issue so I didn't know about it until I went online and saw all of the other complaints from people with the same issue. I just went over the 100,000 mile mark this year so Nissan will not fix it. I don't understand why this isn't a recall issue instead of a warranty extension issue with Nissan willing to cover the cost over $3,000. Who has $3,000 that they can afford or even have for that matter" I've filed a complaint with Nissan and am hoping that someone will help me either pay for this or give me full fair market value for the car so I can buy another one and use this as a trade in. Not sure that I'll buy a Nissan though, if they don't take care of me, that's for sure. The other issues that I've had with this car is the fuel sensor went out, which I've also seen other complaints on and the windshield wiper motor on the passenger side has gone out. Not sure if this has been something that others have experienced or not. All in all this has been a great car, but considering I bought it used with very low miles on it and just made my last car payment 4 days ago, I'm absolutely sick over this. Even worse is the fact that we could've been killed by oncoming traffic but were fortunate enough that the car did make it before any cars got too close to us. Is that what it's going to take before Nissan does something"
I bought Nissan Xterra with 94,000milles on it. One month later, I noticed that the radiator was filed with type of milky substance. I took it to the mecanic, he flushed the raidiator and flush the transmission, because there was a possibility of cross contaminations. The vehicule was fine for a couple of days, few days later my car completely shut down on New Jersey turnpike. I struggled to put on the side, thanx god nobody was hurt. Transmission gone. I had to tow it to the mecanic and I had to spent 3K to get it fix. It seens that it is a common problem and Nissan should take responsability for this car
Was having trouble with transmission on 07 Nissan Xterra. Found a lawsuit that had been settled with Nissan involving factory defects of the radiator oil cooler which leaks into transmission and destroys transmission. Took an oil sample from my vehicle to an independent company and was told that their was antifreeze in the oil. Took my vehicle and the oil sample into Nissan so that my transmission could be replaced. ($2500 cost to me per the Nissan lawsuit settlement) service department called back and tried to tell me that without dropping the transmission that they could tell that the antifreeze was not the cause of my failed transmission. After further discussion with the service manager who admitted that they couldn't tell what caused the failure of my transmission and that my oil sample proved that the factory defect was the most likely cause of my transmission failure, he then proceeded to explain that they had to follow Nissan procedure which was a visual inspection. My oil sample trumped their visual inspection but they still refused to fix my vehicle even under the laws of the Nissan settlement which was supposed to cover my vehicle. I first started having problems while driving, my Xterra almost doesn't even run now and is definitely not road safe any more yet Nissan still won't fix it.
When I am drivinging at a slow speed, my transmission makes a noise and then feels like it's going to die, now I have noticed that there is fluid leaking from my radiator. When I researched the issue I was having and realizised this is a recurring problem that is being reported by many Nissan Xterra owners and that nission has been aware of this issue since 2007, when I originally purchased my Xterra. Now that I understand what the issue is, the radiator is leaking fluid in to my transmission and is destroying the transmission and radiator. In doing research on the problem I was having, and what happens when this occurs, I'm frightened to even drive my Xterra at this point. Considering that Nissan takes no responsibility in what should clearly be a recall, I'm stuck with a car that I've just recently paid off, that I am afraid to drive and do not have $4,700 to have the radios and transmission replaced. There was no warning when this happened at all. I have always maintained my Nissan and thought I had made a well informed decision in my purchase. I will never do business with this company again. I'm so disappointed in the situation Nissan has put myself and apparently many, many others in. No way to do business.
- Dallas, GA, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Car began to go into neutral while on highway 500 miles from home. Scared my family to death. Lost power at a high speed. Problem ebbed but continued all the way home. Nissan stated radiator fluid had gotten into transmission due to defect in transmission line that was passing through the radiator. Same Nissan' dealer's cheapest solution was to put a used transmission in for $3,500 plus labor. I contracted with a private mechanic. I also purchased a separate system to route the transmission fluid correctly in the future. Mechanic showed me the clutches which were destroyed. He may still have them.
Complete transmission failure without warning. Going 70 miles per hour down interstate...during rush hr surrounded by 18 wheelers... putting my wife's life in danger.... this is obviously a safety recall issue.... thanks
Nissan transmission fluid/radiator coolant leak issue: Rough automatic transmission behavior noticed during stop and go city driving. Check engine light came on. Repair shop diagnosed check engine light code as transmission torque issue, pointing to transmission fluid. Repair shop found leak in coolant radiator servicing the transmission fluid, resulting in water/glycol intrusion into the transmission fluid. Radiator, and coolant fluid replaced, as well as transmission fluid flushed/replaced. A few days later, transmission slippage was felt and the check engine light appeared again. Expecting transmission has been compromised due to prior, defective radiator.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that the transmission fluid leaked onto the radiator and ruined the transmission. There was no warning indicator. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.
My family and I was going down a big hill when the transmission went to the lowest gear on its own almost stopping us dead in its tracks 20 mph and we was on the interstate making big semi trucks locking brakes and almost hitting us running 70 plus mph. My daughter in the back, so we made it to the side of the road shut it off and we was fine agin.I took it home and transmission fluid was in the radiator, then looking on the internet thousands of Nissan are hav ing the same problems but yet no recalls!!! it almost cost our lives for a company to sorry to fix their product! so what do I do im scared to drive it help asap
Eight hours from home, the truck would not start and had to be towed. Initial local garage could not diagnose the problem. Chris myers Nissan in daphne, al, was the closest dealer. They were called and diagnosed the problem over the phone. It is a known defect in these vehicles that allows the radiator to fail and leak radiator fluid into the transmission, destroying it and the module. This cost $5,225 to repair in addition to the tow and driving back another 8 hours to retrieve the vehicle. Nissan na was completely unhelpful. Despite this known defect, they refused to assist with any cost. They previously agreed to a court order to repair these issues but only under 80,000 miles. This is a known issue with these vehicles that is certain to occur in all of them. This definitely should be a recall and they are shirking their duty with this defective system. Their should be no mileage limit as they know this will eventually occur with these vehicles.
I was driving and the RPM excelerated without warning, the car shuttered, I had no power. Prior to this happening on March 26, 2016, we did not have any warning of a problem. The check engine light came on at which time I had already pulled over. I had the SUV towed to a repair shop. The repair shop advised me that the internal radiator dumped water into the transmission causing the transmission to burn up. It is not repairable. Upon further investigation, we found that there is a pending case regarding this defect (DP12004) on most Nissan affecting models made in 2004-2012. This states that the investigation is pending and a recalll has been requested but Nissan has not issued one as yet. Thank goodness I was not trying to pass or turn at the time it occurred. I was driving on a rural road and was able to safely pull over. There was no warning at all. Nissan should take responsibility for what is a defect in their vehicles. We bought the car used and will try to work with the finance company on who is responsible for this defect.
Transmission failure: While driving car began to sputter like engine or drive shaft was stuck, speed and power decreased rapidly in traffic nearly causing me to crash vehicle looking for a way to get out of driving lane. I pulled in a parking lot turned vehicle off, to inspect tires, engine and transmission fluid. Checking fluids noticed transmission fluid thick like a milk shake, checked coolant, it too was the same. All this out of no where. I googled problem and found many with same issue and that car wouldnt start also due to wet electrical parts in transmission that pops a breaker not allowing restart. I check 10 amp fuse, it was broken. Got car towed to near family home, began researching and find out that Nissan was aware of trans cooler problem that will cause transmission failure. Also, that this issue most likely happens after 100,000 miles, which I also found out Nissan only covered this under an extended warranty with co-pay to that amount, which I never was notified of this issue. My car was financed with a major us bank, same emails since purchase. I went to dealer, called nissn North America and was quickly dimissed with my vehicle has to many miles and campaign is over and wont speak futher due to some lawsuit. Really"? I live in Illinois where its cold, what happens when you break down in the middle of no where? this should not happen to a car like this, me being the only owner and just had Nissan inspect my vehicle due to engine light being on previously. This is a dangerous thing. Thousands of people been affected. Dealer quoted me $4900 for repairs and stated this was a common issue. They should be responsible and pay for total repairs regardless of miles. What happens while traveling at highway speed and thebtransmission stops" I'm a commercial driver, seen many accudents. This could have been fatal. Recall this please, their liable.
Transmission began failing at highway speeds. Car would intermittently slow suddenly and begin shaking as if riding on a very rough road. Nissan dealer informed us this was a known defect wherein the radiator fluid and the automatic transmission fluid became cross contaminated, resulting in transmission failure. Although Nissan knew of this issue, they did not inform us to have our car inspected for this problem. Nissan currently covers this problem up to 8 years and 80,000 miles, but we are just outside this limit.
I bought a 2007 Nissan Xterra. 2 days later my check engine light came on Nissan told me I would need a new transmission it would cost me 4900 to replace. They clear the light off.they failed to tell me about the 2 recalls or the fact they were under investigation. When I called to file a complaint the lady said I would be contacted the following Monday. It never happened. I called Nissan they told me either to pay the 4900 or do without and I was hung up on. The following day I lost all gears in my car was almost hit by a semi with my 3 young kids in the car.my check engine light never came back on.I called Nissan the told me there was nothing they could do.when I brought up about the investigation they hung up on me when I called the complaint line back they told me they would look into it and I would hear back.still nothing. Nissan should be ashamed and sued and be put out of business for knowingly endangering lives and not caring
This complaint is in reference to a 2007 Nissan Xterra off road 4X4 with180,900 miles. The transmission began to spontaneously downshift to low gears while moving at speeds above 25 mile per hour. At one point, the transmission seized and locked up while traveling at 45 miles per hour, which resulted in a sudden stop in the midst of the traffic flow on a two lane road. I took the vehicle to the Nissan dealer for service immediately. Inspection revealed coolant had leaked into the transmission via a leaking transmission cooler assembly integrated into the main engine radiator. The transmission sustained substantial internal damage from the coolant mixing with transmission fluid and circulating through the transmission. The transmission and engine radiator had to be replaced in order to make the vehicle roadworthy again. Total cost of the repair with taxes was $4800. Nissan service manager and techs at dealership indicated this is a common problem for the Xterra and frontier model vehicles, yet no proactive action was taken during previous service appointments at 30,000 mile service intervals, routine maintenance appointments, and during yearly state vehicle inspections conducted at the same Nissan dealership.
While traveling at highway speeds, my Xterra had sudden jerking felt throughout the vehicle. The mechanics have diagnosed the problem as a failed transmission cooler which has allowed coolant to mix with my transmission fluid, causing internal damage to its internal components. Prior to this failure, I have had no other issues what-so-ever with the operation of my vehicle. This damage to my transmission has cost in the thousands of dollars to repair, and all due to a faulty radiator that was installed by Nissan
I was driving on the interstate at 60mph when I attempted to speed up and switch lanes the truck suddenly lost power and shut off. I was almost rear ended three times lucky there was no one in the other lane so they went around I had no power steering or power brakes while trying to pay attention and not get hit I had to put the truck in neutral and try to start it back up the truck started and seemed to idle fine I put it back in drive and limped it to the side of the interstate whiteout getting hit luckily and called a tow truck and had it towed to a shop I had my wife and two small children in the truck thank god nothing happened. The shop told me that the transmission and radaitor fluid mixed causing my transmission to fail they told me that my radiator is crack and coolant mixed with the transmission fluid I didn't fix it yet I don't have the money I just paid it off and I'm trying to buy a house and now looking on line there are hundreds of cases of this and a lawsuit that was one but my truck has 150,000 miles on it all interstate mainly but I'm way out of the miles for warranty, so why isn't this a recall ? if this has happened so many times it is a safety issue I was was almost hit three times and I had to limp my truck to the side of the interstate were I could have been hit sitting still. I'm very upset over this Nissan wants 5K to fix it so I guess I will start saving my money hopefully this will be a recall soon.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Riverview, FL, USA