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.
About two weeks ago my car would not reverse and went into neutral when I was trying to back out of a parking spot. I took my car to a Nissan dealership/service center and the person knew exactly what was wrong with my car. Apparently it is very common for 2005-2010 Nissan vehicles to have a "faulty engine design" the service man said. The problem as it was explained to me is that the radiator fluid starts to leak into the transmission and ruins both parts. My car was bought 2 years ago for $14,000, the cost to replace the radiator and transmission is $8,000. For myself and I am sure for many, this is not an affordable amount. After researching online and reading the numerous complaints, I am surprised that no one has held Nissan accountable and that no recall has been issued. I am not sure how many complaint are necessary for this to move forward. Unfortunately I have a feeling that people need to die before something is done. I hope this is not the case and feel like Nissan is selling lemons to their unsuspecting consumers.
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.
Hearing whining/whirring noise from engine upon any acceleration and increased rpms. Repair required is replacement of secondary timing chain and tensioners (guides).
I participated in the Nissan campaign to replace a radiator and transmission, due to a defective assembly that caused tran failure. Dealership replaced the two main parts under the campaign. I received my vehicle, and only had it for 1 1/2 days before another issue related to the radiator / cooling system was experienced. I was yet again, on the highway heading to a job and overheated, thus disabling my vehicle. I stayed the interstate for 3 hours waiting on roadside assistance to tow me back to the dealership. I'm having an issue with Nissan not willing to cover what's clearly their problem to begin with. It's not the consumer's problem that they installed faulty components in their cars and trucks, that caused the major malfunctions. If I were a consumer (which I am); I would feel that they are not owning up to the full liability caused by their negligence in putting inferior parts in their vehicles that caused the malfunction in the first place. I'm not only upset at their response; let's not overlook the fact that on the two days my truck failed (first time when the tranny blew out on the highway, and the second time when I was on the highway again; and overheated); I was heading to job obligations I had for private clients of mine. I lost $1,375.65 on day one for missing my appt. On the first incident, and an additional $868.04 on the next incident. My truck's issue is that there needs to be a system flush of the radiator and the thermostat needs replacement... both are direct cause of the incident with their crappy radiator assembly they put in the vehicle in the first place. I don't have the extra money to do the maintenance, and I've lost money in the ordeal as well. I think it be "best practice" and good customer care; that nna cover the cost of the flush and the thermostat, caused from the mixture contamination of coolant and tran fluid.
Driving at 65 mph and felt a clunk and a surge - check engine light came on and the car felt like it had been shifted into neutral. I pulled off the highway and had it towed to a repair shop. Turns out that the transmission failed due to a known radiator defect that allows coolant to leak into the transmission, causing failure. Nissan will not cover my car because I am beyond the specified mileage of their useless warranty extension, agreed to in a class action lawsuit. Repairs and rental car will cost me about $8,000. Nissan should have been forced to recall the cars for this defect and should reimburse the repair costs at 100%.
- Austin, TX, USA
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The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that a grinding noise emitted from under the hood area. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and the failure was located at the radiator cooler unit, which was determined to be fractured and causing coolant to penetrate the transmission. As a result, the transmission failed and would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 71,000.
Started making noises coming from underneath and jerking, so was taken to dealership and they said it was the rear end which they replaced under warranty, but still made noise and slight clunking. Took into another dealership Nov of 2012 and they flushed the transmission and said everything was fine at approx 119000 miles. Then today at 129,000 miles said my rear end needed replacement and my transmission was bad and the fluid was milky from cross contamination, which is a known issue with these type of SUVS. Said they will not cover it cause its over 100000 miles now.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while driving 68 mph the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The contact was informed that radiator fluid had leaked into the transmission and both the transmission and the radiator would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified but stated that due to the mileage of the vehicle, they would not assist in the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 113,000...updated 04/18/13
Oil cooler tube broke causing contamination to transmission fluid. Radiator had already been changed at 80,000 miles. Called Nissan to make a claim just as soon as Xterra started to shift funny. They informed me that they had extended the warranty to 80,000 miles. I asked then if they knew about this problem before, I was told yes. They also told me I had no recourse since I had 102138 miles on my vehicle. Then the extension comes for 100,000 miles, and now 2138 miles over, no coverage. Please, if I conducted my business like this I would not have any customers (or is that what they are looking for). I will never buy a Nissan vehicle again, and I will let everyone I know that Nissan knew about this and refused to help their customers.
While accelerating, merging onto a major highway, and without warning the vehicle lost power lunged forward and started making a loud grinding noise. I was nearly hit from behind by a vehicle having the right-of-way before I could get to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed to and was diagnosed by a mechanic as having "cross contamination of transmission fluid and antifreeze due to transmission intercooler failure". this incident has been reported to and dismissed by Nissan as not being a frequent problem for them.
Driving my vehicle, the transmission started to drag, I then called the dealer and brought it right in and found that the radiator was leaking into the transmission and it was going to cost 6,600 dollars to repair. I complained that it was too much money. The dealer brought it down to 2,500 dollars to fix. Then I find out if it had happened before 80,000 miles it would have been covered. This is not right as Nissan knew this was an issue with these vehicles because of a poor design on there part. As a consumer I feel I was taken. What would have happened if my vehicle stopped working in the middle of a highway or a deserted road. Please have Nissan own up to the product they are selling.
My 2007 Nissan Xterra began to experience a rumble strip like affect apparently due to a defect in the radiator having a leak into the transmission and causing a transmission to begin to fail. This seems to be a common problem and should be a recall on Nissan part I was forced to pay 3000 dollars for a co-pay to fix this problem and it seems this should be a recall as it is a known defect.
I do not have an incident to report-but feel someone else needs to know the potential for one. I just read the class action settlement against Nissan and the outcome. I am appalled that Nissan does not think that the transmission going out is not a safety issue and now find out my Nissan is one of those vehicles that has coolant in the transmission. This is going to cost $2500 as the mileage is over 80000 now. And this is the car I entrusted my 17 year old to drive. I will have to take it off the road and decide whether or not to fix it and trade or take a huge loss and trade it at the dealer but don't want another Nissan. Shouldn't something be done to protect us from this? I can only hope by writing that this will help me and others in some way to force Nissan to say they used a faulty radiator that leaked and could potentially cause transmission failure and in turn an accident. I will be using all tools available to get this resolved-I cannot believe that my family and I are being cheated and it looks all legal according to what I read. Not sure how that happened...the consumer did not win anything but a large bill that most middle class people cannot afford. Thank-you for taking an interest.
Vehicle has been shuddering at around 50mph. Approx 2 weeks ago, it wouldn't shift, so I couldn't drive faster than 25-30 mph. I had the oil changed and transmission flushed, and it seemed ok, although it was still doing the shuddering. Yesterday I noticed a strange puddle on the garage floor, so I checked it out. There is a leak that is causing coolant to leak into the transmission. I began doing some research on the internet and found that this is apparently a fairly common problem in 2005-2010 Nissan. I never received any notice of the warranty extension. When I called the local Nissan dealer, the service guy knew exactly what I was talking about when I described the problem, and estimated that to repair would be $4000-5000.
My transmission starting slipping. The problem was that the radiator cracked and allowed anti-freeze to leak into the transmission. Our winters are very snowy, icy and cold leaving me without heat and in a dangerous situation in wintry conditions.
At a stop sign started to drive then stopped the vehicle jerked forward and started to vibrate more than normal. I called Nissan about the bad radiator that wrecks the transmission. They told me to bring it in to be checked over. Why don't they recall the radiator and not put my family at risk for a bad know part.
After my vehicle was making shuddering noises between 40 and 50 mph I decided to bring it to the nearest dealership to be checked. I was told the radiator leaked coolant into the transmission. I was also told this has been an issue for Nissan so they would cover part of the repair and I would be responsible for $2500 of the repair since I was 1300 miles over the limit. I was notifies the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. I told the service representative I did not have the money at my disposal and asked if there was anything I could do. I was told when I get the money to call and they will repair it, but to also hurry because the transmission could lock up anytime and cause a major accident. I was shocked they would even let me leave the dealership. I immediately called Nissan customer affairs and explained my situation. They told me I was they would not be able to assist me in any way and suggested the same as the dealership, to quickly get it repaired because I can cause a major accident. I was appalled they would allow their customers be in danger and endanger other drivers on the roads especially when Nissan admits to this being a quality issue that a majority of their consumers are having.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Portland, OR, USA