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.
WHEN LEAVING PARKING LOT AT WORK, XTERRA LOST ALL POWER WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD NOR IN REVERSE. COME TO FIND OUT THE COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR TUBING HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION COMPARTMENT CAUSING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANY OTHER ISSUES BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. COSTS TO REPAIR DUE TO DEFECT IN COOLANT TUBING IS ESTIMATED TO BE $4100 - REQUIRING TRANSMISSION REBUILD, TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE COMPONENT TO BE REPLACED. *TR
THE TRANS COOLER AND RADIATOR HAS BUSTED. ALMOST CAUSED US TO WRECK / VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING BADLY. WAS NOT MADE AWARE BY NISSAN THAT THERE COULD BE A "MOSTLY LIKELY TO OCCUR" PROBLEM UNTIL THIS HAPPENED TO US. FUEL GUAGE ALSO QUIT WORKING A FEW MONTHS BACK. NISSAN WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE VEHICLE HAS OVER 100,000 MILES. THEIR HOTLINE (IN THE PHILLIPINES) WAS OF NO HELP OR CONCERN. REPAIRS , NOT INCLUDING FUEL GAUGE, ARE STARTING AT $5600. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE TOLD US YEARS AGO THAT THE RADIATORS WERE MOSTLY LIKELY GOING TO BE DEFECTED SO WE COULD HAVE SPENT THE $600 OR SO THEN TO REPLACE !!!!! *TR
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP INTERMITTENTLY, THEN STOPPED SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER. REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT QUIT AGAIN AFTER ONLY A WEEK OF DRIVING. TURNS OUT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING PARTS FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR, AND, MULTIPLE TRANSMISSIONS PARTS FOR 2ND TIME.
JUST FILL UP GAS AND FUEL GAUGE INDICATES ALMOST EMPTY. CANNOT TELL IF I STILL HAVE ENOUGH FUEL. DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I'M DRIVING AND SUDDENLY RUN OUT OF GAS. *TR
THE XTERRA FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS GONE BAD/MALFUNCTIONED. UPON FILLING UP VEHICLE THE GAS GAUGE CONTINUED TO SHOW XTERRA WAS EMPTY AND DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0463 WAS ABLE TO BE READ. I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS ISSUE WITH XTERRAS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH OR MORE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000. *TR
MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY AND ALMOST ENDED UP IN THE MARSH. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. NISSAN WAS INVOLVED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BUT IT'S TO LATE FOR DAMAGES. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION SUFFERED AN APPARENT CATASTROPHIC BREAKDOWN THAT I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED WAS CAUSED BY THE BREAKING OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLER WITHIN THE RADIATOR. A MIXTURE OF COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE CAR TO BECOME INOPERABLE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF BUT HAS CHOSEN TO DO NOTHING ABOUT. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100000 MILES (WHICH WOULD NOT APPLY TO THIS CAR) BUT HAVE NOT DISCLOSED TO ME THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT. REPAIRS (AFTERMARKET) ARE GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY $3000 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND NEW EXTERNAL COOLER. I HOLD NISSAN PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BREAKDOWN AND AM APPALLED AT THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPANY TO WORK WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS TO SAFEGUARD THE WELL BEING OF THEIR DRIVERS. MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER WERE LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE OF THEIR FAILURE TO ACT. *TR
I NOTICED THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COME ON 3/13/2013. TODAY, 3/15 I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT I GET MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE PRICE TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM A FEW TIMES NOW WITH OTHER XTERRA MODELS. I MENTIONED TO THEM THAT I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME AND THEY SUGGESTED I KEEP IT FULL AND IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. I GOT HOME AND LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND NOT ONLY WITH XTERRAS BUT WITH PATHFINDERS AND FRONTIERS AS WELL, AS THEY ARE ALL BASED ON THE SAME DRIVETRAIN. NISSAN IS NOT COVERING THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH ITS VEHICLES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND I WAS ABOUT TO GET IN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST POWER OF VEHICLE AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE SHOULDER AND CHECKED IT OUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING BUT MY CAR DIDN'T MOVE WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK HE TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THE SHOP TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION FAIL HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE RADIATOR FLUID HAS GONE INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND IT CAUSE TO FAIL HE TOLD ME THAT NISSANS XTERRA HAVE THIS PROBLEM FROM YEAR 05-10 BUT THEY HAVEN'T ISSUE A RECALL OR HAVE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NOW I HAVE A $3,860 EXPENSE THAT I DON'T HAVE I HOPE SOMEONE READS THIS AND HELPS WE WOULD APPRECIATED IF A INVESTIGATION IS DONE AND IT WOULD HELP OTHER PEOPLE FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR
ANTIFREEZE MIXES WITH TRANS FLUID RENDERING THE TRANS BROKEN REPAIR REPLACE TRANS AND RADIATOR =$7000.00 REPAIR AT DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER THEN ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED DUE TO COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON. THIS WAS A RECALL ON MANY CARS DEPENDING WHERE THEY WERE BUILT BUT I SEEN THEY WERE INCLUDING ALL THE NISSAN/PATHFINDERS 2005. NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL. IT HAD BEEN FIXED AND WENT OUT AGAIN! *TR
MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I LOST POWER. I HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 10 DAYS AND IT COST $3,700.00. *TR
TRANSMISSION SHAKES VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING GOING 40-55 MPH. DEALER EVALUATED VEHICLE AND STATED THAT A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED. *TR
WHILE I AM DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED SHOWING THE FUEL LIMIT PROPERLY AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON SINCE THEN. I DID NOT FIND ANY SOLUTION, NISSAN HAS THE FAULTY DEVICE AND IT SHOULD FIX IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,625. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
GAS GAUGE WONT READ, DISPLAYS EMPTY WHEN FULL. GOES BACK AND FORTH. 2006 AND 2008 RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM AND PART # BUT NISSAN WONT PAY TO HAVE 2005 FIXED OR DO A RECALL. WE BUT FROM ROANOKE NISSAN DEALER USED AT 57351 MILES. THEY DIDN'T OFFER WARRANTY AND WE DIDN'T GET EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED A CRACK IN THE ATF CAUSED A CROSS CONTAMINATION OF THE ENGINE COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE U JOINTS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,716.
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION COMES OUT OF GEAR. *TR
JUST STARTED MOVING AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY, BUT WHEN IT FINALLY RESTARTED IT WAS MISSING. EVERY TIME I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE THEN IT HAS STALLED, USUALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS AFTER I HAVE STOPPED OR SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK (1/5/2013) AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE RADIATOR AND THEY BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE $3000.00 CO-PAY. I HAVE TO FIX THE CAR BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO GET $3000.00. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NISSAN DIDN'T RECALL THE PART THAT FAILS WHICH ALLOWS THE FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE RADIATOR. THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND NISSAN A LOT OF TROUBLE AND EXPENSE. THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY CO-PAY SINCE NISSAN COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS. *TR
THE GAS GAUGE GOES FROM HALF FULL TO EMPTY AND LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDLE. THE GAUGE DOES NOT RE-SET UNTIL THE TANK IS FILLED AND DRIVES FOR ABOUT 100 MILES. I BELIEVE IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENDING UNIT. IS THERE ARE RE-CALL? *TR
TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 4TH GEAR DOESNT SHIFT. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKING FLUID INTO TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD GRIND AND SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
TRANSMISSION KEPT SLIPPING FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD, THEN BACK TO 4TH. IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND LEARNED THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE OCCURRING IN 2005-2007 MODELS, BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT, NOR HAVE THEY NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR
I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE KNOWN 2005 NISSAN XTERRA RADIATOR PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STARTED OFF AS HEAVY VIBRATION WHEN GEARS SHIFTED, AND THE HEATER WAS NOTICEABLY NOT AS WARM AS IT HAD BEEN. AFTER A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH THE VIBRATION ISSUES, THE TRANSMISSION GOT TO A POINT WHERE THE VIBRATIONS WOULD LAST LONGER, MEANING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS REASONABLY. THIS BECAME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I WAS MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE ONE DAY AND MY OVERDRIVE COMPLETELY MISSED, LEAVING ME IN BASICALLY NEUTRAL AT APPROX 50MPH WITH NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WITH A CAR ALMOST SLAMMING INTO THE REAR OF ME SINCE IT COULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE LANE TO AVOID ME. FOR THIS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE IS VERY RIDICULOUS. A FAILING TRANSMISSION IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT FAILS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. NISSAN MAY HAVE AGREED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED FOR FREE FOR VEHICLES UNDER 80000 MILES, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING IS PAST 80000 MILES. NISSAN SHOULD NOT ONLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, BUT NISSAN SHOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LETTING OWNERS KNOW OF THE SYMPTOMS, PROBLEMS, AND ASSOCIATED SAFETY CONCERNS WITH A FAILING TRANSMISSION. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, NISSAN HAS FAILED IN EVERY ASPECT OF DEALING WITH SUCH A COSTLY ISSUE. *TR
VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A JERKING WHILE SHIFTING INTO MODERATE SPEED OF 65 OR LOWER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TECHNITIAN INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION OIL IN THE RADIATOR, CAUSING THE PROPER ENGAGING OF GEARS. EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF THE RADIATOR ISSUE IS ALSO EXPIRED. NISSAN WAS MADE AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION AND DENIED ASSISTANCE UNLESS I WANTED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP OFFERED TO FIX PROBLEM AT A COST OF $5000! CAR IS STILL BEING PAID FOR UNTIL 2015! *TR
ON OCTOBER 30, 2012 WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2005 NISSAN XTERRA GAVE OUT. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO INFORMED US THAT NISSAN'S HAD AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WE WERE INFORMED IT WOULD BE 6K TO FIX THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT A WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN GRANTED TO 80,000 FOR FULL RESTITUTION AND UNDER 100,000 FOR 50% RESTITUTION. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BARELY OVER 100,000 MILES, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE PURE NEGLIGENCE OF NISSAN NOT DOING A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES WHEN THEY BECAME AWARE OF THE RAMPANT PROBLEM, OUR VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE SUFFERED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION/COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL LOSS. WE REQUEST THAT NISSAN CHANGE THEIR EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY TO A COMPLETE RECALL AND REIMBURSE US FOR ANY LOSS. WE FEEL THIS IS FAIR BASED ON THE FACT THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND NEGLIGENTLY FAILED TO ACT UPON IT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE 73N FREEWAY IN ORANGE COUNTY, MY CAR STARTED SHUDDERING. THE TEMP GAUGE WAS TA THE MAX SO I PULLED OVER. I WAS TOWED IN TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE THE MASTER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IN THE RADIATOR FAILING CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX RENDERING BOTH INOPERABLE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A GROWING PROBLEM WITH NISSAN AND HE HAS PERSONALLY SEEN MANY SUCH CASES. HE SAID THAT NISSAN IS USING DEFECTIVE RADIATORS WHICH IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF THIS. *TR
LAST YEAR, 10/29/12, I NOTICED MY GAS GAUGE SHOWING EMPTY WHEN I HAD SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 1/4 TANK OF GAS, BUT NEEDLE MOVED ONCE TRUCK WARMED UP AND STARTED MOVING. THEN LAST MONTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NISSAN IS TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY ROUGHLY $600.00 TO FIX THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR (CODE P0463). MY TRUCK HAS NOT EVEN 38,000 MILES ON IT. NOW I DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR AND RECALL DUE TO THIS PART. *TR
TWO YEARS AGO MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA BEGAN RATTLING, SHAKING AND NOT HEATING WHEN IDLING. I TOOK IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS AT MY MECHANIC HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE A U JOINT OR TIRE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER SEARCHING THE NISSAN WEBSITE WHICH HAS RECENTLY POSTED AN EXTENSION OF THE RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION WARRANTY DUE TO THE MANY REPORTED PROBLEMS OF RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION. MY XTERRA HAS 84000 MILES ON IT. I WAS JUST TOLD BY NISSAN THAT THEY WILL REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING, HOWEVER I MUST PAY A CO PAY OF 2500.00 DOLLARS SINCE I AM OVER THE 80,000 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THEY SAY IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVER IF I DON'T PAY TO REPLACE IT. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL ITEM ? HOW CAN ANYONE JUSTIFY NOT RECALLING A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION ON A CAR WITH LESS THAT 100,000 MILES ON IT ? THIS MUST BE STOPPED. NISSAN MUST BE FORCED TO MAKE RIGHT THE DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING USED IN IT'S AUTOMOBILES. THE CUSTOMER WHO PAID FULL PRICE FOR A NEW CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR ANY OF THE COST FOR THIS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS WORKMANSHIP. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROM RADIATOR INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS APPEARS TO BE SYSTEMIC TO THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. NISSAN HAS ONLY TAKEN ACTION AFTER THE FILING OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. NISSAN HAS CLEARLY BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSSUE FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS AND HAS ONLY SENT A VAGUE LETTER REGARDING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE RADIATOR, NOT NOTING THE POSSIBILITY OF A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NOR A CAMPAIGN TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING THE AFTERNOON ON A SUNNY DAY. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS EXITING THE ENTRANCE RAMP ONTO I-75 NORTH FROM BUSINESS I-75. WHILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE (APPROXIMATELY 60MPH) THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO "JERK AND HESITATE" MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE ENTRANCE RAMP ENTERS THE FREEWAY IN THE LEFT LANE, SHE WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE OTHER CARS AND GET HER VEHICLE OFF TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER BUT THERE WAS A NEAR MISS. UPON CONTACTING NISSAN THEY INFORMED ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DIDN'T FEEL THEY NEEDED TO REPORT THE DEFECT TO ME, AND THEREFORE ENDANGERING ME AND MY FAMILY, BECAUSE NHTSA HAD NOT FORCED THEM TO INTO A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN X TERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V690000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS EFFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
MY NISSAN XTERRA STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. I SENT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION COOLER THAT LEAKS WATER INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. HERE IS THE REFERENCE # DP12004. *TR
WHILE OUT OF TOWN AT A FAMILY WEDDING I NOTICED A SHUTTERING NOISE WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. FROM TIME TO TIME THERE WAS A LOSS IN ACCELERATION. ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN REAR ENDED FROM LOSING SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE I HAVE COME ACROSS NUMEROUS REPORTS ON A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I WENT TO HAVE MY TRUCK LOOKED AT AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS REPORTS, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THE ONLY THING DONE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL - BY THE TIME YOU START EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS YOU ARE WAY OVER THE WARRANTY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, THANKFULLY IT WASN'T. NOW WE, THE CONSUMERS, ARE LEFT WITH PAYING FOR NISSAN'S FAULTY PARTS...THAT COULD POSE A SERIOUS RISK OF AN AUTO ACCIDENT. *TR
RECENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNING OFF WHILE IN USE (DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD) AND WE HAVE TO THROW IT IN NEUTRAL, CRANK BACK UP, THEN PUT IT BACK IN GEAR. THIS IS NOT SAFE. TOOK IT IN TO GET IT DIAGNOSED AND THE SCAN CAME BACK READING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS COULD BE GOING OUT (2 ON EACH SIDE, PRETTY SURE ONLY ONE SIDE IS AFFECTED). THEN WERE TOLD ABOUT AN ECM RELAY RECALL. MECHANICS HAVE TOLD US THAT THIS CAN CAUSE THE CATS TO FAIL. NISSAN SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. WHAT?! OF COURSE THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO REPLACE ONLY THE ECM COMPONENT OF THE RECALL AND SAY IT WON'T AFFECT THE CATS, WHILE OTHER MECHANICS AT NON DEALER AFFILIATED SHOPS HAVE MORE THAN A FEW TIMES SAID IT CAN BE A DIRECT EFFECT OF THE ECM. SO WE HAVE A "CASE" NUMBER WITH NISSAN AND NISSAN WILL "INVESTIGATE" AND LET US KNOW IF THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY ANY TOWARDS THE REPAIR, OR IF A RECALL IS ISSUED IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE'LL GET REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR... HOW ABOUT YOU JUST MAKE A VEHICLE WITHOUT FAULTY PARTS AND IF A FAULTY PART CONTRIBUTES TO ANOTHER PART GOING OUT, YOU REPAIR THE PARTS AFFECTED. *TR
VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE ABRUPTLY DROPPED FROM APPROXIMATELY 1/2 FULL TO COMPLETELY EMPTY WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATION WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. FUEL GAUGE REMAINED AT EMPTY WITH LIGHT ON AFTER REFUELING AND MAINTAINED THIS STATUS FOR THE REMAINDER OF TRAVEL (APPROX. 1 HOUR, 50 MILES). VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR 1 HOUR AND UPON RESTART, GAUGE SHOWED 6/8 LEVEL. VEHICLE WAS AGAIN REFUELED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FUEL AND GAUGE LEVEL DID NOT CHANGE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES GAUGE AGAIN ABRUPTLY DROPPED TO EMPTY AND REMAINED THERE. *TR
RADIATOR BROKE DOWN WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE MIXED WITH RADIATOR FLUID. THIS KILLS BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN AND DEFINED PROBLEM BY NISSAN AND THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TOTAL BILL IS WELL OVER $5K FOR TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, LABOR. *TR
ON SEPTEMBER 18, I TOOK MY NISSAN XTERRA TOT HE DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE IT HAD A HORRIBLE SHIFTING VIBRATION AND WAS JUMPING IN BETWEEN GEARS. HOWEVER, AFTER MAKING THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY, I WAS REAR-ENDED AND HAD TO HAVE BODY REPAIRS MADE. I GOT THE CAR BACK. THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THE VIBRATION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BODY. I WAS IN TOWN WHERE THE DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED ON OCTOBER 18. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVE ONTO A BUSY ROAD. NO POWER, THE CAR ONLY MOVED WITH GRAVITY ROLLING TOWARD THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE REVVED WITH THE GAS. I STOPPED QUICK ENOUGH TO AVOID ROLLING ONTO THE ROAD WHICH HAS A 45 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT WHERE I WAS. I SHUT THE CAR OFF. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE I RAN THE SHIFTER THROUGH THE GEARS. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, IT HAD SOME POWER, BUT IT WAS CLEARLY DIMINISHED. I HEADED FOR THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS JERKING SO HARD THAT IT CLUNKED MY TEETH TOGETHER AND MADE MY NECK AND BACK HURT. I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT APPEARS THAT MY RADIATOR RUSTED OR CRACKED AND LEAKED THE FLUID INTO MY TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO DESTROY MY TRANSMISSION. ALL TOTAL, THE REPAIRS WOULD BE ABOUT $6,300. THE CAR SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I AM UNEMPLOYED AND CANNOT PAY THAT ON A CAR THAT I HAVE MANAGED WHILE BEING UNEMPLOYED SINCE FEBRUARY TO CONTINUE $482.58/MO PAYMENTS ON AND HAVING ONLY 6 LEFT!!! NISSAN REFUSES TO HELP ME BECAUSE I HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES ON THE CAR. HOW WOULD THEY HAVE LIKED IT IF I HAD ROLLED INTO TRAFFIC AND GOTTEN KILLED OR HURT? AND, THE PERSON FROM NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD JUST EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. SO, THEY EVEN KNOW IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR
OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME, LATE AT NIGHT, WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING STRANGE SOUNDS AND LURCHING AT ABOUT 50 MPH. SHE WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME, SO DROVE HOME VERY SLOWLY. ON LATER INSPECTION, MY HUSBAND FOUND THE RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD THIS PROBLEM. WE WERE HORRIFIED TO DISCOVER THAT MANY, MANY, MANY NISSAN OWNERS HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM OF COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION. (OUR XTERRA HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES.) THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. WE SPOKE WITH A REGIONAL MANAGER WITH NISSAN WHO LISTENED POLITELY, SAID SHE'D LOOK INTO IT, AND HAD HER ASSISTANT FINALLY CALL US OVER A WEEK LATER (SHE PROMISED FOUR DAYS) TO SAY NOTHING COULD BE DONE. SOMETHING CAN BE DONE! I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM TO WRITE TO NISSAN, SEND A CC TO YOUR BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, AND SUBMIT COMPLAINTS TO CONSUMER AWARENESS GROUPS TO DOCUMENT THIS PROBLEM AND GET NISSAN TO ACT RESPONSIBLY FOR THEIR FAULTY RADIATOR. THIS IS A MAJOR, COSTLY, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE LOVE OUR XTERRA, FAITHFULLY CHANGE THE OIL, AND HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. IT FEELS LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE THAT NISSAN WILL NOT ADMIT THEIR ROLE IN THIS PROBLEM AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! *TR UPDATED IVOQ 11/19/12
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY LOS ANGELES STREET DURING RUSH HOUR, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST DRIVABILITY. THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. NEARLY GOT INTO MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE A STRAWBERRY MILK COLOR LIQUID WAS FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. WAS TOLD COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXING WAS THE CAUSE. REQUIRED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION, REPLACE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL VALVE. REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT $5050 PLUS TAX. *TR
ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2012, I GOT BACK FROM A 20 MINUTE TRIP AND WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY XTERRA WOULD NOT MOVE. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY ESTIMATED THE COST TO BE BETWEEN $2,500 AND $2,800. WHEN THEY REALIZED THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED THE REPAIR BILL WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HIGHER BUT THEY KEPT THEIR PROMISE AND THE FINAL BILL WAS $2,856. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT THAT IS NOT MY FAULT AND THAT IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE REST OF THE 2005 NISSAN XTERRA OWNERS - TRANSMISSION & RADIATOR FAILED; COOLANT LOOKS LIKE CHOCOLATE MILK....LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION & I NOW HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE! TALKED TO NISSAN ABOUT THIS, THEY ONLY COVER CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS & MINE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM! SERIOUSLY?!?!?! GOD WILLING, THERE WILL BE NO MORE NISSAN'S FOR MY HOUSEHOLD! *TR
MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE TO COLLEGE ABOUT 5 HOURS FROM HOME. ON 9-4-12 IT OVERHEATED AND SHE HAD TROUBLE DRIVING IT BUT MADE IT THE THE DEALERSHIP IN LUBBOCK. THEY SAID THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE OLD ONE HAD INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THE FLUID FROM THE RADIATOR GOT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID GOT IN THE RADIATOR. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE FINE AFTER THEY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH ON IT. WE PAID THE $814 FOR THE REPAIRS. SIX MONTHS LATER AS MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING HOME FOR SPRING BREAK THE XTERRA STARTED VIBRATING REALLY BAD. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM HOME SO SHE COULD STILL DRIVE IT AS LONG AS SHE STAYED AROUND 40 MPH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN ARLINGTON WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD US THE RADIATOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THE LUBBOCK DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BACK IN SEPTEMBER SINCE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH DOESN'T GUARANTEE ALL THE CONTAMINANTS ARE REMOVED. WE HAVE JUST PAID $5600 MORE FOR REPAIRS. NISSAN HAS OBVIOUSLY ADMITTED THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM BY AGREEING TO MAKE PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENTS TO CUSTOMERS WHOSE VEHICLES HAVE LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON THEM. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE IN THE GROUP OF CUSTOMERS WHOSE VEHICLES HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES WHO NISSAN HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE. SINCE NISSAN HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO DO THE RIGHT THING WE WILL NOT BE FUTURE NISSAN CUSTOMERS. *TR
NISSAN IS WELL-AWARE OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS RADIATOR FLUID TO CROSS-CONTAMINATE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY JOKINGLY (AT LEAST THEIR DEALERS) REFER TO IT AS A "STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE". THE ANTIFREEZE DEGRADES TRANSMISSION PARTS AND CAUSES TRANSMISSION FAILURE. A QUICK WEB SEARCH SHOWS OVER 300 SUCH CASES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP12004 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,324.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026