2005 Nissan Xterra complaints

MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA WITH 85000 MILES HAS A VIBRATION WHICH FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON RUMBLE STRIPS THAT COMES AND GOES. THERE IS ALSO THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE AND THE HEAT WORKS SPORADICALLY AT IDLE. LOOKING AT EVERYONE'S ELSE'S POST IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2005 XTERRA THAT NISSAN IS NOT FIXING. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS SO THAT NISSAN CAN MAKE THE ADEQUATE REPAIRS. *TR

RADIATOR CORROSION LEAKING FLUID INTO TRANSMISSION. REPLACING RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. REPLACED VAPORIZER SOLENOID AND THE IPDM UNIT (VOLUNTARY RECALL) WHICH CAUSED STALLING WHILE DRIVING. FUEL SENSOR REPLACED. MANDATORY RECALL ON THE ECM UNIT. NO NOTIFICATION ON VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY RECALLS. *TR

RADIATOR FAILED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEED REPLACED AT A COST OF $6411.00 (INCLUDES LABOR). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS HAD MIXED ERRONEOUSLY AND BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE BELT TENSION SENSOR WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED TO WAIVE THE FEE OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD KNOCKING COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

VEHICLE FAILED DURING OPERATION WITHOUT WARNING SECONDARY TO FAULTY ORIGINAL RADIATOR WHICH LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR DESTROYED AND REQUIRE REPLACING. DESPITE EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION OF THIS PROBLEM ON CONSUMER WEBSITES AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, NISSAN AMERICA AND DEALERSHIP DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT ACCEPT ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. TOTAL REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $5,000. NOTIFYING CONSUMER OF AND/OR REPLACING FAULTY RADIATOR COULD PREVENT A COSTLY DESTROYED TRANSMISSION. *TR

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND FUEL GAUGE COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE. FUEL GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY WITH FULL FUEL AND THEN CHANGE TO VARIOUS READINGS. *TR

FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT FAILS WITH A P0463 STORED IN SELF-DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS THE SAME AS THE OPEN RECALL FOR 06-08 IN TSB NTB07-069B. HOWEVER MINE IS AN 05 AND IF YOU LOOK ON THE WEB,,,,,,,THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH XTERRA S FROM 05-09 NOT JUST 06-08. NISSAN IS NOT BEING HELPFUL, AND RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IS NOT GOOD, NOR IS THE $500+ DOLLARS THEY WANT TO FIX THIS!! *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED OUR 2005 NISSAN XTERRA, 17 MILES YOUNG. EXACTLY ONE MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NO PROBLEMS FOR A FEW YEARS, UNTIL WE NOTICED THAT THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT GIVING ACCURATE READINGS, WE HAD TO WATCH OUR ODOMETER COUNT TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T RUN OUT OF GAS, WHICH IS A VERY SCARY THOUGHT WHEN YOU HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 80000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND $600 TO REPAIR. SHORTLY AFTER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP AND THE HEATER WASN'T WORKING. NO WHY WASN'T THAT WORKING? APPARENTLY, NISSAN THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A COOL TRICK TO HAVE THE RADIATOR LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION.... BRILLIANT BUSINESS PLAN THEY HAVE. TOOK THE TRUCK IN AND HAD TO PAY $5800 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR AND COMPUTER ALL REPLACED. THIS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WAS IN FACT A HARDSHIP. ONE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO HAPPEN HAD NISSAN PROVIDED QUALITY PARTS AND PROVIDED STELLAR SERVICE. I WILL SUE NISSAN FOR THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, BLOG/FACEBOOK MY LITTLE HEART AWAY ABOUT HOW INSINCERE OF A COMPANY NISSAN IS AND NEVER EVER-EVER-EVER GIVE THEM A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION. *TR

I HAVE A 200D XTERRA THAT I BOUGHT NEW AT THE END OF 2005. RECENTLY THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. I WOULD FILLIT UP THAN HE GAS LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH SERVICE ENGINE SOON. NEXT DAY GAS GAUGE READS 3/4 FULL THAN NEVER MOVES. NISSAN WANTS TO CHARGE $450 JUST SO HAPPENS MY EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT 10-15-11 AND I HAVE OVER 72,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

MY NISSAN XTERRA STARTED MAKING A VIBRATION SOUND AROUND AUGUST OF 2011. IT SOUNDED LIKE YOUR VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OVER A "RUMBLE STRIP". IT WAS INFREQUENT AT FIRST SO I IGNORED IT. I DID NOTICE SOME OTHER WARNING SIGNS OF POTENTIAL TROUBLE (AT HINDSIGHT). THE VEHICLES HEATER WOULD NEVER HEAT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AT IDLE, BUT WOULD DO IT AT SPEED. NISSAN KNOWS THE ISSUE IS A DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHUDDER AND ALMOST RESULT IN A ACCIDENT. I HAVE ONLY NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. NISSAN EXTENDED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE, BUT REFUSE TO ADMIT ITS A DEFECT. HAD I BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION I MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE IT SERVICES WHILE WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT 83,000 MILES, BUT WITHIN THE 96 MONTH PORTION OF THE WARRANTY. I'M CURRENTLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I'M WORRIED THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL AT HIGH SPEED AND RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

STARTED HEARING A RUMBLE STRIP SOUND WHILE ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARDER, WITH SLIGHT VIBRATIONS. BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT IN, I WAS INVOLVED WITH A HIT IN RUN IN A PARKING LOT. NISSAN SAID THE UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR HOSES WERE SOAKED IN TRANSMISSION FLUID. MANAGER SAID IT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME. HE SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR, AND TRANSMISSION COST OF 6500. NISSAN UPDATED THEIR RADIATORS BECAUSE THEY NEW IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, BUT REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF DAMAGE THEY HAVE CAUSED. SEE LINK HTTP://WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM/WEB/RADIATOR/FAQS.PHP?MENU=22

RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AS I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY. I WAS ALSO VERY LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST AND THEN INCREASED. NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGED A RADIATOR DESIGN FLAW AND EXTENDED THE BASIC WARRANTY TO LESSOR OF 96 MONTHS OR 80K MILES. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO INFORM THEM MY XTERRA WAS AFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM. WHILE UNDER 96 MOS, MY VEHICLE HAS 89K MILES. I REQUESTED AN EXCEPTION WHICH WAS DENIED. NISSAN'S FAILURE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE PROBLEM REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND ATTRIBUTABLE TO A DESIGN FLAW, IS INEXCUSABLE. NISSAN DENIES ANY SAFETY CONCERN. THIS PROBLEM (REFERENCED BY NISSAN IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM DESCRIPTION) PERTAINS TO 2005-2010 XTERRA, PATHFINDER AND FRONTIER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTO TRANSMISSIONS. CORROSION WITHIN THE RADIATOR LEADS TO A CRACK AND CONTAMINATION OF ENGINE COOLANT WITH TRANS FLUID, DAMAGING RADIATOR & TRANSMISSION CORROSION DEVELOPS OVER TIME AND MOST VEHICLE OWNERS WILL LIKELY EXCEED THE 80K LIMIT BEFORE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED 15 DEDICATED WEB THREADS TO THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE MOSTLY 2005 VEHICLES. IF NISSAN DIDN?T CORRECT THE DESIGN FLAW BEFORE 2010, THE # OF FAILURES WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE OVER THE COMING YEARS AS MODEL YR 2005-2010 CARS AGE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES NEED TO OCCUR DURING THIS PERIOD BEFORE NISSAN I

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION DURING A RECENT HORRIFIC EVENT THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAS SEIZED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR CRACKING AND MIXING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN THROUGH MY DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009. THEY HAD AN ADJUSTOR FROM CAREFREE CAR PROTECTION COME OUT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2011. WITH THAT BEING SAID; THEY STATED THEY DO NOT COVER THE RADIATOR ISSUE; AND SINCE IT WAS THE FAULTY RADIATOR THAT CAUSED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND ULTIMATELY SEIZED, THEY WILL ALSO NOT COVER THAT OR ANY OTHER OF THE REPAIRS. UPON A BIT OF RESEARCH ON MY OWN THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR/MAKE/MODEL OF NISSAN. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES OF CONSUMERS WITH THE VERY SAME ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL MADE ON THIS AT ALL. YES, NISSAN EXTENDED THE RADIATOR WARRANTY UP TO 80,000 MILES BUT NOT THE TRANSMISSION. GUESS WHAT; THIS HAPPENED IN MY VEHICLE AT 89,000, SO NOT ONLY CAN I NOT FIX THE RADIATOR ISSUE BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO THE SAME. THE WORST PART OF ALL THIS IS; ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9TH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED DUE TO THIS KNOWN MALFUNCTION. WE WERE TRAVELING ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY IN MID-DAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO SAY, IF IT WERE NOT FOR MY EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS BY THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS , I HONESTLY DO NOT BELIEVE MY

FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FAILED 800 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY; CAUSES DRIVER TO HAVE NO IDEA OF FUEL LEVEL. CREATES DANGEROUS POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL ON HIGHWAYS, IN TRAFFIC, ETC. WITHOUT MOTOR RUNNING, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES DO NOT WORK, CREATING EVEN HIGHER RISK OF ACCIDENT. VERY COMMON ISSUE ON 2005 XTERRA; SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR

FUEL GAUGE, FUEL SENDING UNIT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA AT 55 MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WHEN IT BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS IF I HAD RAN OVER SPILLED LUMBER OR RUMBLE STRIPS. I BRAKED HARD AS I THOUGHT I HAD RAN OVER SOMETHING. I HADN'T, SO AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING FOR LOOSE TIRES OR DRIVELINE I CONTINUE ON PERPLEXED AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. A FEW MILES LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. COME TO FIND OUT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT ON 2005 THRU 2010 NISSAN XTERRA'S, PATHFINDERS, AND FRONTIER'S IN WHICH THE RADIATORS INTERNALLY LEAK WATER INTO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND CAUSES THE VIOLENT SHAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS ONLY CHOSEN TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE RADIATORS AND NOT RECALL THE VEHICLES. IN FACT THE LETTER SENT TO THE CONSUMERS DOESN'T EVEN REFERENCE THE TRANSMISSION (IN WHICH IT DESTROYS). WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE NOT HURT, IT WAS A CLOSE CALL AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN WORSE AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING AND THE EFFECT THE FAILURE HAS ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY CAUSING AN UNSAFE FUEL INDICATION READING. *TR

I HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS AND WENT TO FILL UP. AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I TURNED ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DID NOT REGISTER THE FULL TANK. AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND DOING RESEARCH, I WENT ONLINE TO X.NISSANHELP.COM AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH, I CAME ACROSS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE 2000-2004 XTERRA MODELS AND A RECALL WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AFTER NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, POSING A GREAT DANGER. IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING IN THE UNIT IS FAULTY AND WILL CORRODE OVER TIME. THERE IS A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS HAVING THE PROBLEM IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YRS AND WITH AROUND 39K-59K. IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN PREVIOUS MODELS, AND IT WAS RECALLED, THE 2005-2007 XTERRAS, FRONTIERS, AND PATHFINDERS SHOULD GET THIS FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER!! WHY WAIT FOR ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATHS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM LIES IN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR RANGES FROM $300-600. *TR

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ERROR CODE IS ON DUE TO A PART FAILURE AND THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT THAT OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND HAS SAFETY CONCERNS DUE TO POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING OUR OF FUEL. *TR

FAULTY RADIATOR DESIGN ALLOWED A CRACK THAT CAUSED CROSS CONTAMINATION OF COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *TR

I WAS PICKING UP MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A STOPLIGHT. I BROUGHT IT TO A TRANS SHOP AND THEY SAID I HAVE COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED AT $4326 AND I AM JUST ANGRY AND SICK OVER THIS SITUATION. NOT ONLY WAS IT A SCARY SITUATION TO BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR BUT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN ALL THE REPORTS I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT IN THE 2005 XTERRA. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THIS IS SIMPLY NOT FAIR THAT NISSAN ISN'T TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. PLEASE HELP!! *TR

AFTER MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED, I PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY NISSAN XTERRA TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN HAWTHORNE, CA, TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. NISSAN CHARGED ME $129 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH FOUND AN ERROR CODE OF P0463. THAT ERROR CODED INDICATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. I DECLINED TO PAY $570 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT SEVERAL NISSAN VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY ITS TRUCKS AND SUVS, HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS PRODUCT DEFECT. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF NISSAN RECTIFIED THE SITUATION BY RECALLING VEHICLES OR COVERING MY CHARGE FOR REPAIRS. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 XTERRA WITH 38K MILES, "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER, DIAGNOSIS IS A BAD FUEL SENDING UNIT $600.00 TO REPLACE. I'M JUST OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT DEALERSHIP CANNOT HELP. THE SENDING UNIT AND GASKET ARE $200.00. $400.00 FOR LABOR SEEMS A BIT STEEP. AT WHAT POINT IN TIME WILL NISSAN RECALL THIS ISSUE? *KB

THE CLUTCH FIRST FAILED AT 2800 MILES. NISSAN REPLACED IT BUT TOLD ME IT WAS BAD DRIVING. I HAVE HAD A CLUTCH MY ENTIRE LIFE. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS AT 52000 MILES. NISSAN TOLD ME IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I HAD IT REPLACED ELSEWHERE WITH OE PARTS. IT JUST FAILED AGAIN AT 78000 MILES AND AGAIN THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WILL NOW HAVE THE FOURTH CLUTCH INSTALLED AND AM LOOKING AT OTHER THAN OEM EQUIPMENT. *KB

FUEL SENDING UNIT DIED AT 36800 MILES; APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. NISSAN LATER ADMITTED FAULT (OVER 5 YEARS LATER) AND EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 72000 MILES AS IT APPLIES TO THAT PART, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS WELL PAST THAT MILEAGE BY THAT POINT. VEHICLE NOW FAILS NJ INSPECTION BECAUSE OBD II CODE IS RETURNED FOR FAULTY FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. *TR

"I HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS AND WENT TO FILL UP. AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I TURNED ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DID NOT REGISTER THE FULL TANK. AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT/SENSOR AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AFTER 30K MILES. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND DOING RESEARCH, I WENT ONLINE TO X.NISSANHELP.COM AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH, I CAME ACROSS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE 2000-2004 XTERRA MODELS AND A RECALL WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AFTER NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, POSING A GREAT DANGER. IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING IN THE UNIT IS FAULTY AND WILL CORRODE OVER TIME. THERE IS A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS HAVING THE PROBLEM IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YRS AND WITH AROUND 39K-49K. IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN PREVIOUS MODELS, AND IT WAS RECALLED, THE 2005-2007 XTERRAS, FRONTIERS, AND PATHFINDERS SHOULD GET THIS FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER!! WHY WAIT FOR ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATHS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM LIES IN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR RANGES FROM $300-600." *TR

HAD A P0463 CODE COME UP FOR FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT HIGH INPUT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ON SECOND GENERATION NISSANS. *TT

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 DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS ARE DAMAGED AND FAIL CAUSING POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY PERIODICALLY BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 40MPH AND 65MPH. BROUGHT TRUCK TO BUCKEYE NISSAN IN HILLIARD, OH WHERE ALL OF MY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED OVER THE ENTIRE LIFE OF MY VEHICLE AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I HAD COOLANT IN TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RADIATOR. THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WHILE IN MOTION WHICH COULD HAVE LEAD TO A SERIOUS AUTO ACCIDENT. *TR

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $500 TO FIX THE SENSOR WHICH WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND RECALLED ON EARLIER AND LATER MODELS OF THIS TRUCK. AND IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OTHER XTERRA OWNERS. PLEASE RECALL THIS PART. FUEL LEVEL SENSORS LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS IS OTHER MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES. *TR

ENGINE LIGHT SERVICE SOON IS ON THE CAR IS STARTING TO STALL. OUT OF WARRANTY BUT WHILE RESEARCHING THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR NISSAN XTERRAS. *TR

I NOTICED A VIBRATING NOISE WHEN I WOULD REACH 40-50MPH. IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS DRIVING ON A RUMBLE STRIP BUT WAS NOT. ONE DAY I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, HAD MY GAS PEDLE TO THE FLOOR BUT I WAS BARELY MOVING. I HAD TO SWIRVE INTO THE DITCH TO AVOID GETTING REAR ENDED! I TOOK IT TO MY NISSAN DEALSHIP TO HAVE A DIAGNOSITC TEST DONE. THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE ESTIMATED COST WILL BE ABOUT $1500, TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR AND FLUSH THE FLUIDS TWICE. THEY STATED THAT THIS WILL BE A 80-85% CHANCE THIS WOULD TEMPORARALY FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT WITH THEM NOT REALLY KNOWING HOW MUCH DAMAGE THERE IS TO MY TRANSMISSION THAT IF THIS DOESN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY TRASMISSION MEANING AN ADDITIONAL $5,000. I HAVE SEARCHED ON-LINE AND FOUND OUT ON A WEBSITE (CARCOMPLAINTS.COM) THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH MY SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. MY WARRENTY RAN OUT IN APRIL AND THE WARRENTY ON THE RADIATOR ENDED AT 80,000 MILES. I AM IN A HUGE BIND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. BEING A SINGLE MOM I AM VERY TIGHT ON MONEY. I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FOR NISSAN TO RECALL ALL NISSAN XTERRA 2005 FOR RADIATOR DEFECTS. I AM KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED AND PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE. *TT

I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO A SOCCER GAME AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO PAST 20 GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALER A FEW MONTHS EARLIER B/C I WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PAST 45MPH. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE AND TO CONTINUE DRIVING. MY CAR HAD 72000 AT THAT POINT. THEY DID NOT ADVISE ME OF THE POTENTIAL RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR LET ME KNOW THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENED FROM 60000 TO 80000 MILES. *TT

I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO AND NOTICED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT THAT IT HAD A RUMBLE WHEN DRIVING IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING OVER 40 MPH OR ON AN INCLINE WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 ON HIGHWAYS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT UPON STARTING THE CAR THERE WAS A VERY LOUD THUMP IN THE REAR END. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THESE ISSUES BECAME NOTICEABE, MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE AT ALL... I HAD TO CRAWL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RE START MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOW WHERE I WAS TOLD THE CODE WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION SECTION AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A TRANMISSION SHOP. THE ESTIMATED REPAIRS ARE VERY COSTLY AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SO MANY OTHER XTERRA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I TRAVEL 80 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK AND AM FORCED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OR BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE THAT I JUST PURCHASED AND STILL OWE MONEY ON. THERE HAS TO BE SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF NISSAN TO REIMBURSE THEIR PURCHASERS FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS DUE TO A PROBLEM THAT IS EVIDENTLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION OF THE 2005 XTERRA. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE TO AID THE VICTIMS OF NISSANS POOR DESIGN? *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY AND THE FUEL GAGE WOULD READ INACCURATELY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 98,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR HIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT NOT THE YEAR, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS. UPDATED 12/12/11

I FIRST NOTICED A VIBRATION IN MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA LIKE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE VIBRATION STOPPED. I THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH TIRES, DRIVESHAFT OR REAR END BUT FOUND IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF I TURNED OFF THE OVERDRIVE. SO I GOOGLED NISSAN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND FOUND THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND SAID IT WAS DUE TO COOLANT MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO DO THE COSTLY REPAIR AND DEBATING WHETHER TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. YESTERDAY THE CAR LEFT ME BROKE DOWN ALONGSIDE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE STARTED JUMPING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE WENT IN THE RED I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SEEN COOLANT MIXED WITH SOME OTHER FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND STREET SOMETHING MUST HAVE BURST. CONTACTED NISSAN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO BEING OVER THE 80,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANT BUT TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP. *TR

THIS MORNING THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $500 TO FIX THE SENSOR WHICH WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND RECALLED ON EARLIER MODELS OF THIS TRUCK. AND IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OTHER XTERRA OWNERS. PLEASE RECALL THIS PART. FUEL LEVEL SENSORS LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS IS OTHER MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES. *TR

TEENAGE DAUGHTER RAN OUT OF GAS AT NIGHT WHILE GAUGE REGISTERED NEARLY A FULL TANK! SHE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT HER FATHER MUST HAVE RECENTLY FILLED THE TANK, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT THE CASE. THE GAUGE REGISTERS FULL WHEN IT'S NOT AND EMPTY WHEN IT'S NOT! RECEIVED "CODE PEWEE FUEL CENSOR A TOO HIGH" AFTER RESEARCHING, I SEE THAT THIS IS, AND HAS BEEN, AN ISSUE WITH XTERRAS! AND FOR OLDER GENERATIONS THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER FOR THIS MODEL WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY ISSUE THEREBY PUTTING MY DAUGHTER AT RISK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RUMBLING SOUND AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALERS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED BOTH THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO TRANSMISSION WHICH RENDERED THE TRANSMISSION USELESS. *TR

DTE (DISTANCE TO EMPTY) INDICATION FLASHES "---". VEHICLE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CODE PO463, FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT INPUT HIGH IS STORED IN MEMORY. ACCORDING TO INTERNET SEARCHES AND CIRCUIT DIAGRAM, BELIEVED TO BE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR (IN-TANK). *TT

I SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. STARTED FEELING A VIBRATION AROUND 40 TO 60 MPH. IT FELT LIKE I WAS RIDING ON A RUMBLE STRIP EXCEPT I WAS NOT. THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION WHICH CASED MY TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS. *TT

DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO LOWER GEAR AND WOULD NOT UPSHIFT. CAUSE FOUND --- RADIATOR CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION- . WHICH RUINED THE TRANSMISSION. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SHE HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE ALSO PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE SPECIFIC PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION COOLING DESIGN CAUSING 2005 NISSAN XTERRA LEAKING COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FAILURE. NISSAN HAS NOT CORRECTED THE DESIGN PROBLEM FOR CONSUMERS RESULTING IN PUTTING CONSUMERS RISK OF HARMS WAY AND EXTREME COSTS TO REPAIR. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH. A LOUD NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AND DRIVE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000. ..UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF

TL* THE OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED. THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

RADIATOR FAILED AND LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION AND PROBLEMS WITH FUEL SYSTEM. TRUCK SHOOK AND WOULD NOT SPEED UP GOING ON TO HIGHWAY. FAMILY ALMOST GOT HIT BY TRUCK. *TR

2005 NISSAN XTERRA TRANSMISSION/ RADIATOR. RADIATOR LEAKS INTO TRANSMISSION AND CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO SEEZE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THEY HAVE NOT ENTERED A RECALL ON THE PART. *TT