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 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
159,184 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.
Purplish fluid in radiator, took to dealer, transmission line inside radiator had broken and coolant had mixed with transmission fliud. Paid $1300 to get new radiator, transmission fluid flush, radiator flush.
Transmission failure due to issue with radiator defect. Radiator fluid leaked into transmission eventually caused catastrophic damage to transmission parts. Power train failure occurred while on the freeway almost 30 miles from home. My personal safety was definitely in peril and only due to skill and luck was an accident averted.
On June 7, 2012, Nissan told me that my radiator failed causing my transmission to fail. I have 3 children ages 7 weeks to 5 yrs and count my self lucky that the problem was diagnosed before a potentially life threatening transmission failure on busy los angeles county streets or freeways. I was later appalled to find out that Nissan knew of the issue, but covered it up as evidenced in a NY times article dated 8/24/2011. The service advisor at the dealer informed me that my car situation was an issue that he had seen before. I am now being told that it will cost me $4000 for my car to be repaired due to a known defective radiator that would have cost a fraction of that to replace. I am still without a car after 11 days.
My 21 year old daughter was driving our Xterra in ellensburg, Washington 260 miles in the desert when the car transmission stopped working! brought it for two reliable estimates and like all the others this is a cause from a defect in the radiator that obviously Nissan has known about for quite a long time. Do they need more bad press" I will be putting it on craigslist and any place else I can to include the back window of the truck. My daughter was stranded!!!! in the middle of a desert with no cell phone reception. Does Nissan want the liability of this" it's theres because they knew about the faulty power train and did nothing. I have added my name and filed a class action law suit against Nissan for this problem that they fail to recognize. I don't get it at all. It's the error of Nissan and they need to take responsibility for their mess!
My wife and I were driving on the freeway on May 13,2012 going for a short ride when all of a sudden the car transmisson stopped working.we were barely able to coast over the shoulder of the road.I had to have the Xterra towed to my house being it was on a Sunday. Being on a California freeway on Sunday evening and also mother's day is no fun.I felt the danger of the cars whizzing by.an interesting note on this subject is that the same thing happened to my son.he has a 2006 Nissan pathfinder.his transmission went out because of water leaking into the transmission. The dealership repiaced his transmission and radiator at no charge to him.I figured this is what happened to my car.the next day I had it towed to the dealership where I bought the Xterra.I told them the problem and im sure they know about this problem of water leaking into the transmission.I argued with them about fixing for no charge and they said they would send the paper work to Nissan North America if that was the problem.he said it was on a case by case basis. I am waiting to see if Nissan will approve it.if not my wife who paid for this car on her own who just finished paying for it last year will have to find 5 to 6 thousand dollars to fix a flaw in transmission line that should be a recall because that is a defective part that has happened to lots of Nissan vehicles
- San Diego, CA, USA
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Driving approx. 30 mph when the car stopped responding. I got it looked at, and it was determined that the transmission failed due to a failed transmission cooler which caused water from the radiator to back up into the transmission.
Due to the reported defects in these vehicles? radiators, the interior components of the radiators (internal transmission coolers) break down allowing coolant to mix with the transmission fluid. As a result of the contamination, the transmission and other drive train components are damaged and may require replacement. Our investigation reveals that Nissan typically denies warranty coverage for repairs caused by these defects even if the vehicle?S powertrain is still under warranty.
Our Xterra has the same defect that many other Xterra owners have reported: The radiator leaked into the transmission causing the "strawberry milkshake of death" that destroys the transmission.
I was traveling on the interstate when my Nissan Xterra fell on it's face, so to speak. It was like I hit the brakes and thank god no one was directly behind me. A few short moments later it regained power and sounded like I was running on the rumble strips. It seemed fine for awhile but went to pull out in traffic and it just all but came to a stop and jumped forward suddenly. I all but made it home and pulled into my garage and with my foot on the brake it jumped forward almost taking out my wall. After talking to a few friends I knew the problem was from the transmission cooler going bad and mixing anti-freeze with transmission fluid. After researching I found I wasn't alone, hundreds of people have posted the same problems. After talking to my wife's cousin she had a Nissan pathfinder with same tranny and when hers went out she lost control of her vehicle and went into the interstate median strip. I dropped it off and hamilton Nissan today and nothing is probably going to be covered. I am upset because I was almost in an accident because of this. Nissan has known about this for awhile but has done nothing. It is a clear safety issue when you just feel like you stomped on your brakes on the interstate, and pray someone doesn't hit you in the rear end. I have a 3 year old son and I don't feel safe having him in that trap.
I was driving thru a intersection and my Xterra lost the ability to go due to a faulty radiator assembly causing failure to the transmission the issue started at around 92,000 miles and Nissan will not do a thing to fix it saying I am out of the extended coverage! well this is a a huge safety issue had it been a night me and my wife could have not been seen and had a very serious accident!
My 2006 Nissan Xterra (purchased new in Feb 2007) began occasional shuddering, as if driving over rumble strips, while driving at about 131,000 miles. If I let off the gas or accelerated, it would stop, but no constant trigger. This increased over a couple weeks so I decided to research online and found many users with the same issue. I took it to a mechanic and they couldn't get it to replicate. I left there and drove to trophy Nissan in mesquite and they wouldn't look at it for another 1.5 days and only after I paid them an $85 diagnostic fee (to look at something that is there fault!) I decided to be proactive and replace the radiator and hoses, hoping to catch it early enough. I took it to a mechanic 2 days later. They said the rumbling was from a torque converter lock-up and we could do a flush but that may not fix it. So, we flushed it with 12 qts new Nissan transmission oil. The problem seemed to stay the same over the next couple weeks and then the transmissions went out on my way home from work. So, now we get to replace the transmission. I called a transmission shop, (at this point I don't trust Nissan or anything they say - since they can't even admit fault on this!) and they said this transmission is an expensive transmission (with it's computer etc.) so just to rebuild it is going to run $2500. Nissan wants $4400+ just for a new part. This is ridiculous. This was very dangerous as mine completely went out when I was in the middle of an intersection. I am so disgusted at Nissan and their lack of morals / values. If they would just do the right thing and fix the issue that is their own fault, then I think everyone would feel completely different. They need to stand behind the product they sell. As of right now, I will never buy a Nissan again. Why is there not a defect investigation with as many people that are having these issues?
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Xterra. The contact was driving 65 mph when the vehicle overheated and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the coolant and transmission fluid had mixed and as a result, the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 99,000.
2006 Nissan Xterra. Consumer complaint against manufacturer regarding faulty radiators the consumer stated the transmission cooler is inside the radiator and it is leaking, allowing anti-freeze to enter the transmission and vice versa. When the anti-freeze leaked into the transmission fluid, it destroyed the cooling system and consequently the radiator and transmission needs to be replaced.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated when driving at various speeds, the vehicle would exhibit abnormally, violent vibrations. The vibrations were more intense when the vehicle would shift into third gear. The contact further examined the vehicle and found transmission fluid leaking into the coolant system and coolant leaking into the transmission system. The dealer advised that the failure was common in his model vehicle yet there were no recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 73,000.
I purchased this Xterra in may of 2006. In the past 8 weeks I have had to have my 06 Nissan Xterra towed to the dealer six times for the same issue of not starting. The first time I was told I was out of gas. Since then, I've been told the security module had gone bad, I had corrosion on the battery terminal causing it to go in to stolen mode, the fuel pump had gone bad (replaced twice), and the wiring harness to the fuel pump had a short in it (replaced twice). The dealer says they have not been able to replicate the problem and want to give me my car back without actually finding out the real issue. This is my family vehicle and I do not do any towing or off-road with it. Prior to these issues, my transmission went out at 11K miles and left me stranded on the side of an interstate for over 3 hours while I waited for a tow truck, and have had to have the fuel gauge sensor, catalytic converter, and tire pressure sensors replaced.
I own an 06 Xterra with a six speed manual transmission when the vehicle had 24000 km I was driving on the highway when I pulled out to pass a Transport the clutch failed resulting in no throttle and I almost got crushed by the Transport I had just passed. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership where I was told the clutch had shattered in eight pieces and that it was my fault cause I must tow alot. I don't even have a tow hitch. Then I was told it was because I do a lot of 4X4 offroad driving. Its been offroad once. They did not want to warranty the part I argued with them. They changed their story yet again now the clutch was worn out not shattered. So I asked for my worn out clutch they had told me it had been thrown in the garbage. Four days later they miraculously found it. It cost me $2,000 dollars to fix my truck and guess what its happened again at 49,000 km coincidence I think not. Its time to fight Nissan because U don't buy a new vehicle to put $2000 of your own money into it every 13 months and almost die in the process.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- West Topsham, VT, USA