NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Nissan Xterra. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, AS NORMALLY, TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT SLOWING DOWN. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A NISSAN DEALER. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION AND TRANS COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT BUT WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY. I TOOK THE SUV FOR A SECOND OPINION TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. HE CONFIRMED THE FINDINGS OF THE NISSAN MECHANIC AND OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR $4,140.47. I AGREED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC SAID I SHOULD LOOK UP A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT HAS BEEN GENERATED. THAT IS WHY I AM POSTING THIS INCIDENT. *TR
DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA I PURCHASED 8 MONTHS AGO IN JANUARY 2013, MY AIR CONDITIONER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. EVENTUALLY IN JULY OF 2013, MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVE ABLE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT AT, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT MY RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT, WHICH MIXED WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE RESULTED IN THE NEED TO REPAIR THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT RADIATOR FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, BOTH COMPONENTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AT 40 MPH. I TOOK IT TO TWO MECHANICS WHO COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I TRIED REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCE BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. FINALLY, WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, A MECHANIC DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE COOLANT HAD ENTERED THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. HE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN XTERRA 2005 - 2010. NISSAN EVEN HAS A BYPASS PART TO BE INSTALLED. THIS PIECE WAS INSTALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID PUT IN. THE RADIATOR APPEARS TO BE FINE, NO CRACKS AS OFTEN REPORTED WITH THIS PROBLEM. NOW, THREE MONTHS LATER, I HAVE SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY AT 40MPH ON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE MIXING OF ENGINE COOLANT WITH THE TRANSMISSION HAS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MY TRANSMISSION. I AM DEVASTATED. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT HAVE NO FINANCIAL MEANS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AS IT SHOULD. WE THOUGHT IT WAS TIRES AND HAD THE TIRES LOOKED AT. THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON BUT THEN WENT OFF. CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME BACK. MONDAY MADE APPT FOR NISSAN DEALER (SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY). BY TUESDAY MORNING, COULD ONLY USE 3RD GEAR SO DROPPED OFF TO DEALER ON THAT TUESDAY. NISSAN DIAGNOSED: RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION MIXED AND CONTAMINATED WHICH DAMAGED THE TMC. RECOMMENDATION: REPLACING TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR ASSEMBLY (EST $6600). WE TOOK TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE WHO WAS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECT OF THIS MODEL AND INDICATED THAT NISSAN WOULD BE FIXING THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE JUST REPEATING THE ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AGAIN. A FLAW IN NISSAN'S DESIGN IS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD AND READ ABOUT. WE DIDN'T WANT TO RISK IT WITH NISSAN SO WE HAD REPAIRED ELSEWHERE. WE ONLY HAD 117,000 MILES. *TR
I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE A LEAK AROUND MY OIL FILTER HOUSING. I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE A YEAR, *TR
FORTUNATELY I WAS SIMPLY ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. I READ NUMEROUS HORROR STORIES OF OTHERS WHO HAD THIS ISSUE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY SO I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS DID POSE ANY FURTHER RISK OF INJURY ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM 9 MONTHS PREGNANT AND WAS ON MY WAY TO AN ULTRASOUND. AFTER TAKING MY SUV IN, WE LEARNED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY REQUIRING A FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THE COST IS CLOSING IN ON $4,000. NEVER DID I RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION FROM NISSAN THAT THIS WAS POSSIBLE AND MY XTERRA DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF CONCERN. I STARTED RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE ONLY TO LEARN THAT I AM ONE OF MANY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE AND AT A HEFTY PRICE WITH NO HELP FROM NISSAN. I READ ONLINE THAT NISSAN'S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM WAS TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES BUT I HAVE JUST RECENTLY PASSED THAT THRESHOLD. FURTHERMORE, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MORE OFTEN BEGINS TO PRESENT ITSELF AFTER 80,000 MILES. I AM APPALLED THAT THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BEEN RECALLED SINCE IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF NOT DEATH. ONE THING IS FOR SURE, MY HUSBAND AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD ANALYZE THE WAY NISSAN IS DOING THEIR BUSINESS NOT TO MENTION FIND A WAY TO COMPENSATE EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER WHO HAS SUFFERED FROM THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND HOPEFUL THAT NO ONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT SHOULD IT OCCUR IN THE WRONG CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,400. *TR
JUST BOUGHT AUTO FROM USED CAR DEALER DAY BEFORE. DROVE IT 30 MILES PULLED IN VISITED THEN WENT OUT TO START AUTO. WOULD NOT START TRACED BACK TO BLOWN FUSE, CHANGED FUSE TRIED STARTING AGAIN, BLEW FUSE AGAIN, ONE MORE TIME THEN WHEN AUTO STARTED SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF REPLACING ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM FRYING NARROWED DOWN TO RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION (FUSE THAT BLEW) THE COOLANT HAD BACKED UP AND TORE UP TRANSMISSION. IF IT HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FULL BLOWN FIRE ON A HIGHWAY WITH POSSIBILITY OF HUMAN DAMAGES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BECAUSE COOANT MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 08/20/13*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, SHE WAS ADVISED THAT RADIATOR FLUID HAD ENTERED THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. *TR
CAR STARTED VIBRATING LIKE IT WAS GOING OVER A RUMBLE STRIP, LOSS OF POWER/RPMS, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND GOT WORSE. TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON SOME MAKES AND MODELS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2005-2010 WITH DEFECTIVE RADIATORS THAT LEAK COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM HENCE DAMAGING IT. SINCE I WAS AT 100,000MILES I HAD A COPAY OF $3000. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN RADIATOR ACTED UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT'S PERSONAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE RADIATOR SMOKING. THE MECHANIC ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID HAD MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
I HAVE EXPERIENCE WHAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF A NISSAN XTERRA HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR. A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR HAS ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH AND CONTAMINATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, RESULTING IN DAMAGED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS AND A DAMAGED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. IN LESS THAN A WEEK SINCE NOTICING LOSS OF POWER IN MY VEHICLE IT BECAME INOPERABLE. DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF THESE INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE NISSAN XTERRA TRANSMISSION PARTS HAVE BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT THEY ONLY RECOURSE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS A COSTLY $6000 REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
A RADIATOR FAILURE CAUSED THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUID TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
I HAVE HAD MY XTERRA FOR 7 MONTHS WHEN ONE DAY I WAS APPROACHING A VERY BUSY AND LONG INTERSECTION WHEN MY XTERRA WENT INTO A SAFE MODE AND LOST MOST POWER WHICH HAD ME HOPING ON COMING TRAFFIC WOULD NOT TBONE ME AS I COULD NOT ACCELERATE THROUGH. THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS ALL ELECTRICAL AND I WOULD NEED TWO WIRE HARNESSES AND A ECM. THIS COST 3,800 DLLRS. AFTER REPLACING THOSE PARTS THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED MORE WORK DUE TO MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION HAVING CROSS CONTAMINATION DUE TO A DEFECT , BAD WELD ON THE RADIATOR FROM THE FACTORY, BUT YET IM STILL RESPONSIBLE. MY NEW TOTAL BILL IS ROUGHLY 9,000 DLRS WHICH IS MORE THEN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. THEY HAVE MIS DIAGNOSED THIS FROM THE GET GO AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILTY OR OWNERSHIP. NISSAN HAS BEEN THE WORST TO WORK WITH. THEY HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS FIRST MY ECM COMPUTER THEN A FUEL INJECTOR, IGNITION COIL, THEN WIRE HARNESSES AND NOW A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. BASICALLY IF YOU GO TO A DEALER AND THE TECH HAS NO IDEA WHAT HES DOING THEY WILL CALL A SUPPORT LINE AND MAKE YOU PAY FOR THE PARTS UNTIL THEY CAN NARROW DOWN THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY ARE LINKING EVERYTHING TOGETHER WITH SOME BOGUS THEORY AND IM FINANCIALY RESPONSIBLE. WHY IS IT UP TO ME AND MY WALLET TO PAY FOR PARTS WHEN IT SHOULD BE ON THEM TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE FOR THE GET GO. THEY TOLD ME IGNITION COIL AND INJECTOR WERE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT SINCE HEARD ABOUT THOSE PARTS ONLY BECAUSE THEY DIDNT REPLACE THEM IN HIS BLIND SEARCH TO PINPOINT THE REAL PROBLEM. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSALY INJURED IF OTHER DRIVERS WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. IM THANKFUL THAT WAS NOT THE OUTCOME OR NISSAN WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING ME A LARGE SUM ALL DUE TO THEY WILL NOT RECALL THIS 600 FIX. ITS BOUND TO INJURE OR KILL SOMEON IN THE FUTURE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NNISSAN AGAIN. HORRIBLE SERVICE AND PRODUCT. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP IN MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA AT 85,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE I MAKE OIL CHANGES, I WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION BROKE AND RADIATOR FLUID CONTAMINATION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED THE CONTAMINATION, INSTEAD OFFER TO REPLACE BOTH TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FOR $5,500 TO AVOID FUTURE PROBLEMS. I WAS NOT CONVINCED. IMMEDIATELY, ANOTHER GUY IN THE DEALERSHIP OFFERS TO TRADE IN FOR A NEW CAR. I TOOK THE CAR OUT AND WENT TO ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP. SURE ENOUGH, THEY NOTICED RADIATION FLUID CONTAMINATING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. COST WAS AROUND $3,750. BECAUSE, THE DEADLINE WAS EARLY JUNE'2013 AND NOW IS EARLY JULY, THEY ARE TELLING ME I CANNOT SUBMIT THE CLAIM. I HOPE THE COURT DOES NOT APPROVE THE FINAL SETTLEMENT. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION/ RADIATOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND SLIPPED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THAT RADIATOR FLUID HAD ENTERED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,812.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN IN TENNESSEE ON A FAMILY VACATION, WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED BECAUSE THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. IN ORDER TO GET TO A SAFE LOCATION I HAD TO DRIVE IN REVERSE TO A DRIVEWAY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A YOUNG CHILD AND MY FIANCE IN THE CAR. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I REALIZED THAT NISSAN HAS OVER 500 COMPLAINT ON THE SAME ISSUE AND IT WAS NEVER RESOLVED. I PAID 4800 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AS THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE AND SLIT WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 XTERRA SE NOTICED LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END - FOUND OUT TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BECOME MIXED WITH COOLANT FROM RADIATOR. (I HAVE A SAMPLE OF THE CLOUDY LOOKING FLUID). THE PROBLEM RENDERED THE SUV UNDRIVABLE SO WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE SPENT $5,400 TO HAVE BOTH TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR REPLACED, BUT DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE IF THIS A PERMANENT FIX OR NOT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
THE CAR WHO WAS BEHIND ME ALMOST GOT ME BECAUSE ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR SPEED LOWER DRAMATICALLY, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN AND LEFT IT THERE, THEY CALL ME AND TOLL ME IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO COST ME REPAIR IT $7,500 WITH LABOR AND PARTS, THEY HAVE THE GODS TO TELL ME THAT IS BETTER TO SELL IT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT WORTH FIXING IT, THAT CAR COST ME $37,000 BRAND NEW TO AT LEAST HAVE IT FOR 10 YEARS I BEEN CHANGING THE OIL FREQUENTLY SO I HAVE NO PROBLEMS, BUT NISSAN IS ONE OF THE WORSE CAR EVER SOLD, MY FRIEND HAD AN 2004 ALTIMA AND AFTER 5 YEARS EVERYTHING WAS FAILING ON THAT CAR WORSE THAN MY X TERRA, I SWEAR I WILL NEVER BUY NISSAN AGAIN IS BAD INVESTMENT FOR THE MONEY. *TR
STARTED VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE NO POWER. CONTINUED AROUND THE BLOCK TO RETURN HOME AND REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS. IT APPEARED TO BE STUCK IN 2ND GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT UP OR DOWN. SHUT VEHICLE DOWN AND TRIED AGAIN BELIEVING THAT PERHAPS "SOMETHING WAS STUCK" WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS GLYCOL CONTAMINATION IN THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRING AN ENTIRE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. UPON RESEARCH OF THE INTERNET, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO NISSAN WITH THE 2005 XTERRAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. WHILE IT IS ACCURATE THAT NISSAN DID OFFER TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THE RADIATOR (THE KNOWN SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM) THEY DID SO WITHOUT EXPLAINING THE FULL EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM OR KNOWN POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS IF THE RADIATOR LEAKED. THE RESULTING EVENTS OF A LEAKING RADIATOR IS A DAMAGED TRANSMISSION REQUIRING A FULL REBUILD DUE TO THE GLYCOL CONTAMINATION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
THE 2005 NISSAN XTERRA WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS DRIVING FINE, THEN SUDDENLY JERKED INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LOW. THE VEHICLE WOULD BARELY MOVE AND THE RPM GAUGE WOULD RISE, BUT WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. THE OIL PRESSURE ALSO DROPPED DRASTICALLY. NOW, THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING WELL SPORADICALLY AND INCONSISTENTLY. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER JERKING INTO FOUR WHEEL LOW (OR THE INDICATOR LIGHTS AREN'T SHOWING THAT IT DOES). AT TIMES, THE XTERRA WILL NOT EVEN MOVE OR GO INTO GEAR, BUT THE RPM GAUGE WILL RISE. I HAVE TAKEN THE XTERRA TO TWO DIFFERENT GARAGES AND BOTH HAVE INFORMED ME THAT I NOT ONLY NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT A RADIATOR AS WELL. THE ESTIMATES THAT I HAVE RECEIVED RANGE FROM $3,500 TO $5000. *TR
NOTICED VIBRATION AND BUMPING WHILE CAR SHIFTED RANDOMLY. TRANSMISSION IS BASICALLY SHOT DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION. RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. *TR
PULLING FROM SIDE ROAD ONTO MAIN ROAD WHEN VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. WOULD NOT PULL AT ALL, HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO COAST DOWN AN INCLINE TO GET OUT OF MAIN ROAD TRAFFIC. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP TO FIND OUT TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT DUE TO FACTORY DEFECT IN RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO GO INTO TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO GO INTO RADIATOR DESTROYING THEM BOTH. RESEARCH SHOWED NISSAN KNEW OF THIS PROBLEMS IN THESE VEHICLES BUT DID NOT RECALL THEM TO FIX PROBLEM. THEY DID OFFER TO EXTEND WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES BUT STATISTICS SHOW THIS GENERALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN TIL 100,000 MILES. REPAIRS ARE GONNA COST $5700 WHICH NISSAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT!! LUCKILY FOR ME WHEN I PULLED OUT ON A MAIN ROAD AND MY VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT COMING AT ME BECAUSE I COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THEIR WAY...ALSO HAD THERE BEEN A VEHICLE BEHIND ME OR NO PLACE TO COAST MY VEHICLE TO IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT....NISSAN SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS!! *TR
I HAD AN ISSUE APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO REGARDING MY RADIATOR. THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS WERE MIXING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE (KNOWN) ISSUE. MY TRANSMISSION HAS NOW FAILED DUE TO A RUSTED VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION. IN FACT IT COMPLETELY FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING. AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, ANY GEAR. THESE ISSUES ARE OBVIOUSLY DIRECTLY LINKED BUT I AM NOW LEFT HOLDING THE BAG DUE TO THE FACT THAT NISSAN'S EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY COVERS ONLY VEHICLES WITH UP TO 100K MILES. I AM NOW NEARING 115K MILES. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45MPH I NOTICED A RUMBLING NOISE THAT RESEMBLED THE SOUND WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER THE SPEED STIPS ON THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A CHANGE IN PAVEMENT. I STARTED NOTICING THE NOISE MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY AND DECIDED TO SEE WHAT THE INTERNET HAD TO SAY. WOW!!! WAS I SURPRISED WHEN I SAW 500+ COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME MATTER. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE IS CRACKED AND RUNS IN TO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE DECIDED TO FLUSH THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WHILE REPLACING THE COOLER. WE WILL SEE IF THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT BY READING EVERYONE ELSE'S RESPONSES IT LOOKS LIKE I NEED TO BRACE MYSELF FOR THE DEEP ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE IS 8 YEARS OLD BUT AT 120K MILES. LET'S HOPE THIS LAWSUIT FORCES THEM TO PUT OUT A RECALL. WE ALL KNOW WHY THEY ARE NOT PUTTING OUT A RECALL...IT IS BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPENSIVE ONE! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I CAME TO A FULL STOP MY XTERRA WASN'T ACCELERATING. I CALLED A MECHANIC AND EXPLAIN HIM WHAT WAS WRONG AND HE TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND THAT I NEED IT TO REPLACE IT ALSO THE RADIATOR. THE PRICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS $3800. *TR
APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AGO MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK IT TO NISSAN AND IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THAT WAS $700, THEN 2 WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WE TOOK IT TO NISSAN AND IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THAT WAS $1800. HERE WE ARE 4 MONTHS LATER ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON WE TAKE IT TO NISSAN AND NOW I'M TOLD IT IS THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. THIS IS GOING TO COST $2500.00! I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION AND NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SINCE 2007. MY COMPLAINT IS IF NISSAN KNEW ABOUT A DEFECT, AND IN MY OPINION A SAFETY HAZARD, THEN WHY DIDN'T THEY RECALL THE DEFECTED PARTS? WHY IS THE CONSUMER BEING PENALIZED FOR A DEFECT? NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THESE KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS AND FIX THEM! *TR
WHILE DRIVING ACROSS COUNTRY FROM CALIFORNIA TO VIRGINIA NOTICED THE XTERRA BEGIN TO SHAKE WHEN SWITCHING TO OVERDRIVE. A SERVICE SHOP IN VIRGINIA DETERMINED THAT COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $6500-$7000. WHEN ASKED IF FLUSHING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HELP, THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE TRIED THAT ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE ULTIMATELY OCCURRED. CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT ODOMETER READS 102K MILES WHICH DISQUALIFIES FOR THE 9YR/100K WARRANTY EXTENSION. *TR
RADIATOR LEAKED ONTO TRANSMISSION. LEARNED ABOUT THEIR FAULTY RADIATORS JUST TODAY. NOW I'M IN A $6200 BIND TO GET A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY XTERRA AND I AM SO APPALLED WITH NISSAN I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF. A $600 FIX TURNED INTO A $6200 FIX. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,200. UPDATED 06/18/13*LJ UPDATED 06/21/2013 *JS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR STALLED. PRESSED ON THE GAS AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE JUST HUMMING SOUND. I KNEW THAT IT HAD TO BE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HAD CAR TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE NISSAN. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR THEY SAW THAT THE RADIATOR HAD A CRACK AND THAT COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER TAKING THE TRANSMISSION APART I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE SEALS, VALVES, TORQUE CONVERTER, INCLUDING THE COMPUTER WERE ALL DAMAGED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE FLUSHED REPLACED OR REPAIRED, THE RADIATOR FLUSHED REPLACED OR REPAIRED, THE ENGINE FLUSHED. ALL THIS COSTING ABOUT $4,000. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN TO NISSAN AND I WAS NEVER INFORMED. I'M 65 AND ON FIXED INCOME. I NEED THIS CAR AND NEED HELP. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT AN INTERSECTION ON EXIT#407 IN TN. 250 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THE TRANSMISSION NEVER HESITATED OR SLIPPED..NO WARNINGS AT ALL. JUST GOT TO THE INTERSECTION AND IT WOULDN'T GO. IT FINALLY CAUGHT AFTER CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO STOP AND I GOT IT TO A PARKING SPOT THANK GOD. I TOWED THE CAR HOME TO BOB RICHARDS NISSAN IN NORTH AUGUSTA SC AND WAS TOLD THE RADIATOR CRACKED CAUSING MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS TO MIX. NISSAN COVERS IT 100% UNDER 80K MILES AND WOULD NOT HELP ME AT ALL SINCE I AM AT 84,900....I CAN ONLY HOPE TO GET REIMBURSED THE $2500 CO-PAY. NISAN NEVER MENTIONED THIS DEFECT AND ITS A $100 FIX. MY 2008 FRONTIER IS ALSO EFFECTED BY THE RADIATOR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT AN INTERSECTION. EXIT #407 IN TENNESSEE. 250MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THE TRANSMISSION NEVER HESITATED OR SLIPPED....JUST GOT TO THE INTERSECTION AND IT WOULDN'T GO. IT FINALLY CAUGHT AFTER ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND I GOT TO A PARKING SPOT BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR AFTER THE FACT. I TOWED THE CAR HOME TO BOB RICHARDS NISSAN IN NORTH AUGUSTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR CRACKED CAUSING A MIXTURE OF RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TR
THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VERY BADLY APX 40 MPH. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RADIATOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND ALLOWED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DAMAGE WAS NON REPAIRABLE. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW WAITING TO HAVE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR
UPON EXITING A HIGHWAY, WHERE TRAFFIC WAS CONGESTED AND SLOW MOVING, MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA SUDDENLY REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. SUDDENLY, SMOKE APPEARED TO BE EMANATING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY SUV. INITIALLY, IT APPEARED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. TWO PASSING FIREMAN ASSISTED ME AND DETERMINED THAT I HAD A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE FLUID THAT WAS LEAKED ONTO THE STREET. SINCE THE XTERRA WAS NOT DRIVABLE, IT WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR CENTER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTIONING RADIATOR. APPARENTLY, RADIATOR FLUID CONTAMINATED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING EXCESSIVELY AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION BY THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITATED AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT RADIATOR FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
I INITIALLY NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN MY XTERRA WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WASN'T CATCHING WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 AND 70 MPH. IF I LET OFF THE GAS AND THEN HIT THE GAS AGAIN, IT WAS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS MISSING AND THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE I WAS ROLLING OVER A LONG ROAD GRATE WITH A LOT OF VIBRATION. THEN I CHECK THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION TO FIND THAT BOTH HAD BEEN MIX TOGETHER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE RADIATOR AND BOTH COMPONENTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. *TR
FUEL GAUGE ISSUE P0463 FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IS ERRATIC, INACCURATE, OR INOPERATIVE. NISSAN REFUSED TO ACCEPT THIS RECALL. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER 10032627 SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 280480. *TR
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO POWER TO WHEELS. HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE REGARDING COOLANT LINE FOR TRANSMISSION FAILING AND LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE INTO TRANSMISSION. WAS WONDERING WHY IT IS THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL BY NISSAN FOR THIS ISSUE AS IT IS UNDETECTABLE, UNPREVENTABLE, AND EXPENSIVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE RADIATOR AND BOTH COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026