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.
1.9
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,143 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.
The radiator leaked and the coolant went into the transmission and now has totally screwed up the transmission to the point of having to replace it and the radiator. Nissan knows about this problem and will not make a recall on either parts which is completely wrong.
Radiator and transmission failed while driving on highway, part was settled in class action suite and owner was never made aware of defect and or how it can be fixed until failure on highway with family of four in it on 3/28/2014, the owner is the sole owner of vehicle since 2007, owner never received any information at all from Nissan regarding this manufacturer issue until service department at Nissan informed owner of issue and also informed owner of $3,000 repair charge for the faulty parts.
The radiator fluid and transmission fluid have some how mixed together cause damage to both my radiator and transmission. I purchase my Xterra brand new in 2007 and kept up with the maintenance. I have read several articles and even received a letter about a class action lawsuit. But at the time no symptoms were showing on my vehicle. So upset that this is not a recall!!! I am a single mom and this was my only means of transportation. Now it just sits in my yard. Frustrating!!!
The radiator leaked fluid into the transmission and cause a complete and total loss of both. A lawsuit was filed and settled by Nissan without them taking any responsibility for their faulty design. I guess this won't get noticed until people start dying from Nissan's defective design. When that does happen, Nissan will just payoff the families so this whole issue just goes away!
- Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
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Problem with radiator fluid leaking into the transmission, which has now damaged the transmission. Since Nissan won't do the right thing and we're beyond the 80,000 miles, we're stuck paying for a new radiator and transmission. Instead of getting away with doing nothing except for extending the warranty, Nissan should have been required to notify all affected people regarding the exact problem and issued a recall and pay for a new radiator. This obviously is still an issue for alot people and probably many, many more in the future, long after the so-called proposed settlement. Too the NHTSA! please investigate and require Nissan do the right thing!
At varying speeds above 45mph the vehicle will shudder as if you were driving on a rumble strip. This can be startling as there is no indication of when or where it will occur. When the radiator failed our mechanic informed us that the transmission was destroyed because of design of the radiator and transmission cooling lines, which allowed coolant to seep into the transmission fluid thus destroying the transmission..
"check engine" light came on. Diagnostic computer shows error "fuel level sensor circuit high voltage." This is apparently a very, very common problem. Mechanic says this will eventually, if left un-repaired, destroy my main computer on the car. Repair estimate is $700, which includes a complete change-out of the fuel pump assembly.
Our 2007 Nissan Xterra, purchased brand new, began to overheat. Upon checking the fluids I noticed the coolant level was dangerously low. I was certainly puzzled where the fluid had gone because there has never been any visible leaks or any warning lights or any other symptom to draw my attention. I began to look into the situation because I was puzzled and quickly learned of the massive number of Nissan owners experiencing the same problem. Sadly, I was now one of those victims. Yes, the coolant had contaminated the transmission fluid via the faulty transmission cooler. There is a class action lawsuit that I am sure you are aware of but I was unaware of. I do not recall any contact notifying me of a class action lawsuit and the potential damage. I had no reason for worry because my vehicle had not given me any trouble signs and the fluids have always checked normal during normal service checks. Like many, I cannot afford to shell out the dollars that this negligence on Nissan corporation behalf has caused. I encourage you to please force Nissan corporation to issue a recall requiring them to make all the appropriate repairs for these damages. Please, do not put a cap on the mileage or set the mileage relatively high if you must. My vehicle has only 89,000 miles and only gave signs of damage less than 500 miles ago.
The car was on the freeway and just all of a sudden started to go slow and sputter like it was in the wrong gear. My son was driving and he was having to cross over on the freeway while the car would not go up to speed. It was very dangerous! all this light purple fluid spilled out on the passenger front side, by the wheel it was purple and creamy..... I had to have the Xterra towed. We are still not sure what is wrong just that all the coolant and radiator fluid is drained and it is milky looking on the caps. Of both.
Sudden loud noises/banging while driving. Pulled over, had vehicle towed to mechanic. Radiator found to be cracked. Radiator fluid leaked into and contaminated transmission causing sudden transmission failure. Learned Nissan was/is aware of this problem and has not notified anyone of preventative measures to prevent failure of transmission. "extended warranty" resulting from class action lawsuit requires $3000 copy for vehicles with 90,000-100,000 miles. My mechanic says this is a joke because radiators not cracking until at least this time. Now I have to pay $3000 I don't have to repair the transmission which I could have saved had I been notified to replace the radiator. I will not ever purchase a Nissan again.
I am very disappointed and disgusted with the way Nissan has handled this problem. My Xterra 2007's transmission did not go bad until it reached over 120K miles. My wife was driving cross country with my children and all of the sudden she felt the gears slipping while driving in a major interstate. Luckily she was able to drive home safe. I found out shortly after this almost catastrophic experience that there were many complaints regarding Nissan transmission problems. I guess there was a class action lawsuit that only covered vehicles under 100K miles. Why is Nissan only providing assistance to vehicles under 100K miles if there is a there is a defect in the transmission coolant. They should cover any transmission problems regardless of what the mileage is. I took my Xterra to aamco because they charge be thousands of dollars less of what a Nissan dealership would have charged me. I have been a loyal Nissan owner since 2003 and will never buy a vehicle from them again. In fact, I have convinced friends and families not to buy Nissan vehicles because of the poor service that they have provided.
I have had the same problem described in your current investigation of these models. An atf line embedded in the radiator cracked, and atf fluid was allowed into the coolant, and coolant was forced into the atf. The card started slipping in gear, then it started shuddering under acceleration, then it started refusing to go into gear. I got it to a transmission shop, and when they opened it up, the guts of the transmission were rusted, and the clutches had de-laminated. The cooling system was nearly plugged up with oily transmission residue. The transmission had to be completely rebuilt, and the radiator and all associated hoses had to be replaced. All in all, a $5500 fix for a problem that shouldn't have happened.
Own 2007 Nissan Xterra maintain care with all proper services since purchased new. Suddenly driving and check engine light comes on park car and wait for morning to take to dealership, try to start next morning wont start. Have car towed to cerritos Nissan and have them inspect it, they call me back a few hours later telling me that my radiator hose have leaked coolant into my transmission and destroyed my tranny. I asked why this could have happened and they explained that this is a manufacture defect from Nissan and explained to me since I was over 100K miles that it is not covered. Price for new transmission and radiator 5000 dollars. Ridiculous for me to pay for a defect from Nissan that is going to eventually happen to any owner of Xterra, pathfinder and frontier owners from 05 to 11. I do not think us as loyal Nissan owners should have to pay for a defect from Nissan that is bound to happen Nissan should have atotal recall on all those models affected by the shotty radiator that they manufactured. I have purchased 4 Nissan through the past 12 yrs and I will never purchase another Nissan after this incident. I had to pay 5000 to fix a defect from Nissan.
My 2007 Nissan X-terra began suffering cross contamination of transmission fluid and radiator fluid around 88,000 miles. I have had to have the radiator replaced, the radiator lines flushed twice and I am still having a problem with the radiator trying to overheat due to the cross contamination. In addition to the radiator I have had transmission issues as a result of electronic module failures in the transmission. I contacted Nissan about this matter and they notified me the warranty had been extended but I was still outside the warranty extension and that it would cost me close to $5,000 out of my pocket to replace the transmission and radiator. I have already spent almost half that trying to fix this vehicle and continue to have issues. Nissan has a product defect and should have to stand behind this issue.
In January of 2013, my car was towed to the kraft Nissan in tallahassee, Florida and there I learn that my computer/brain that makes my car function needed to be replace. However, I was told that my car could be at the dealership approximately 6 months or longer because the part is on back order. The part could not be found anywhere in the state of Florida or in the United States. I was told by the dealership service dept that the part needed to be reproduce. I inquired if this part was a deflect issue or a national campaign for deflected car parts, and was told no. I paid approximately 1800 dollars for the repair bill. While my car was in the shop, I received a letter that explained the coolant fluid in the radiator can become contaminated with the transmission fluid and cause the transmission failure. I was having a issue with my transmission; however, after the car was repaired I requested that someone from the service dept test drive the car and indeed they drive it and stated they heard nothing. Later, I requested it be driven by a mechanic; therefore we went for a drive and indeed I was told it was transmission problem, but it will cost me 7500 dollars for a new transmission because they are not honoring any letter I received according to the owners of kraft after showing the letter as proof. As of today, I was told the computer /brain was a defected part and Nissan should have replaced the deflected part along with the transmission; today my car is at Nissan for an oil change and still to this date I am being told that they are not aware of any national campaign for the transmission issues I am having even though they have confirmed today that the fluids are contaminated. Service rep quote me a extended warrant I can purchase for 3000 dollars since my car now have 103000 miles prior to it had approx 95000. I need help with this issue.
Was on the highway going down hill mind I ass when my 2007 Nissan Xterra began to down shift my its self. I can just imagine if I would have total tranny failure and caused an accident. After doing some search and asking around I was told that it may be my transmission. I then took it to a local transmission shop where they told me that my radiator would have to be replaced and there was coolant leaking into my transmission that is creating water damage. It's not the consumer's problem that they installed faulty components in their cars and trucks. There should be a recall for this item. Now I'm forced to pay for a radiator and for the tranny to be rebuild plus rental car price.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rocky Mount , VA, USA