Page 2 of 17 · complaints 51–100 of 845

2005 Nissan Xterra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →

Unknown or Other
Filed May 20, 2017140,000 milesNC

MY WIFE'S 05 NISSAN XTERRA STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING WITH SHUTTERING, AND RUMBLE STRIP NOISES.STARTED NOTICING THE HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW HOT WHEN STATIONARY.TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND MY WORST FEAR CAME TRUE.WATER IN TRANSMISSION I BEEN HEARING ABOUT.TO TOP IT OFF HAD REAR END REPLACED SIX MONTHS AGO CAUSE THE OWNER GUARANTEED ME THAT WAS WHERE THE SHUDDERING WAS COMING FROM.THAT WAS A 2000 DOLLAR REPAIR. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS NOT THE [XXX] REAR END.WILL NEVER EVER BUY NISSAN AGAIN! THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS HUGE PROBLEM.PEOPLE ARE HURTING FROM THIS MESS!THE LATEST REPAIR SHOP WON'T 4600 HUNDRED FOR REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION &A RADIATOR.DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE U HEAR AND READ THE ABOUT THE ENGINE COULD BE CORRODED.OF COURSE NISSAN DOING NORA! PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Engine
Filed May 19, 2017209,000 milesWA

I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I STOPPED AT MY DRIVEWAY AND MY CAR HAD SPRUNG A LEAK FROM UNDER MY PASSENGER SIDE. MY CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING, I RECEIVED NO WARNING THAT ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC- MY TRANSMISSION COOLER HAD FAILED AND MIXED IN WITH MY RADIATOR. HOPEFULLY MY TRANSMISSION ISN'T SHOT, WITH A NEW RADIATOR AND FLUSHING ALL THE LINES IS ALMOST $1000. THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD SOME WARNING. MY CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING JUST FINE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.

Power Train
Filed May 16, 2017CA

COOLANT LEAK CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. NISSAN IS AWARE OF ISSUE AND FAILS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY

Power Train
Filed May 5, 2017147,000 milesGA

MY 2005 XTERAA TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDS REPLACED DUE TO LINES BREAKING AND THERE IS WATER ALL IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD AND THE RADIATOR HAS GOO LOOKING STUFF IN IT AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN DRIVE AT TIMES. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FEBRUARY 2016 FOR MY DAUGHTER AND STILL OWE ON THIS VEHICLE

Power Train
Filed May 1, 2017109,000 milesNY

RADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION AND BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED. STOPED WORING ON THE CROSS BRONX EXPRESSWAY. VERY SCARY SITUATION.

Engine
Filed Mar 28, 2017223,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "ECM" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BATTERY AND CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,000.

Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2017IL

2005 NISSAN XTERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RADIATOR HOSE RUPTURED AND SENT COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING BUT, THERE WAS NO POWER. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND THEN STOPPED. A HOSE IN THE RADIATOR RUPTURED. THIS CAUSED COOLANT TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO ENTER THE RADIATOR. THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 21, 201741,500 milesCT

MY VEHICLE HAS 43,419 MILES AND AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE THE FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON DASHBOARD LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A CHECK OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (P0463) DISCLOSED A FAULTY FUEL LEVEL SENSOR "A" CIRCUIT HIGH. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AT NISSAN. THE FEE FOR LABOR AND PARTS WAS $367.88. I SEE SEVERAL HUNDRED REGISTERED NHTSA COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2006 XTERRA FOR THE SAME ISSUE.

Power Train
Filed Dec 13, 201699,000 milesMA

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.

Engine
Filed Nov 4, 2016114,804 milesMS

2005 NISSAN XTERRA - COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT APPROX. 102,000 MILES, CAUSED BY FAULTY RADIATOR THAT LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH NISSAN KNEW ABOUT BUT REFUSED TO RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ABOUT THE RADIATOR ISSUE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER!! IT WOULD COST APPROX. $300 FOR NISSAN (OR THE CONSUMER) TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, AS OPPOSED TO $3800 TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE RADIATOR UPON FAILURE; THEREFORE, NISSAN LET THEIR CUSTOMERS DRIVE DANGEROUS VEHICLES IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION COULD - AND DID - FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, STOPPED AT A LIGHT DOWNTOWN HEADED TO THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE ROARED BENEATH MY FOOT. I COULD NOT EVEN TRAVEL THROUGH THE STOP LIGHT. THE XTERRA WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. HAD I MADE IT TO THE FREEWAY AND BEEN TRAVELING AT 50 - 60 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND ACCELERATED TO FIND I HAD NO POWER - NO ACCELERATION, I (AND OTHERS) COULD HAVE VERY EASILY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. WHEN MY XTERRA WAS TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, THEY WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND INFORMED ME THAT A CLASS ACTION HAD BEEN FILED AND WON, (AND WAS ALREADY CONCLUDED) OVER THIS EXACT ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE CONSUMERS IN THE CLASS RECEIVED A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS (APPROX. $800 AT THE HIGH END). I AM CONTEMPLATING FILING AN ACTION IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT AGAINST NISSAN AND THE L

Power Train
Filed Oct 23, 2016160,000 milesID

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT LEAK INTO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ENGINE OVERHEATING WAS WHAT BROUGHT MY ATTENTION TO ANY ISSUE, THE OVERHEATING WAS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER OF TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM AS WELL. AFTER MAKING ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE OVERHEATING ISSUE THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN ITS QUICK DECLINE, LEARNING ABOUT THE ISSUE I WAS ABLE TO START ATTEMPTING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT WITH ITS HIGH COST I HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED COMPLETELY.

Engine
Filed Oct 17, 2016127,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SOME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS CONTAMINATION OF COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. *JS

Power Train
Filed Oct 17, 2016FL

DEAR NHTSA, HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL. THE REASON OF MY MESSAGE IS TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AN ISSUE REGARDING NISSAN'S RADIATOR -TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE BY OTHER NISSAN DRIVERS. I OWN A 2005 X-TERRA AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS YEAR THAT I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IT STARTED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN MY CAR SIMPLY STALLED IN A PARKING LOT. AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN $200 IN TOWING PLUS $1500 IN FIXING THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. IN MAY, DRIVING BACK FROM TAMPA TO MIAMI, THE CAR STARTED TO ACT AGAIN BUT THEN IT WENT AWAY. ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY CAR HAD ANOTHER EPISODE OF 'LOOSING' POWER. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER IN MIAMI FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AND THEY SUGGESTED TAKING IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AS THEIR PROTOCOL FOR CASES LIKE THIS CALLS FOR AN EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION CHANGE. THE WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 7TH, I WAS HEADED TOWARDS MY PARENTS HOME AND MY CAR STALLED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST IN CORAL SPRINGS AND $4,600 LATER, I HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. HE GAVE ME THE EXPLANATION ABOUT THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. MY BROTHER POINTED TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SETTLEMENT WITH NISSAN REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHICH ARE THE NEXT STEPS AS IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NHTSA CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE THIS CASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION REGARDING THIS MATTER. KIND REGARDS, *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 14, 2016136,000 milesUT

RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. STARTED NOTICING ISSUE AROUND 136K AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I HEAR THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BUT THE SETTLEMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FAILURE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 28, 2016109,000 milesTN

THE VEHICLE HAS 109,000 MILES. HAS STARTED TERRIBLE VIBATION AT BETWEEN 40 - 60 MPH AND WORSE ON ACCELERATION. HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ON ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. THREE YEARS AGO I WAS DRIVING IN WINTER AND HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. WENT TO MECHANIC AND THERE WAS NO ATIFREEZE AND NO VISIBLE LEAK. AM A WIDOW OF 2 1/2 YEARS AND THIS IS MY MAIN VEHICLE.

Power Train
Filed Sep 16, 201689,000 milesNY

ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR REPLACEMENT

Power Train
Filed Sep 10, 2016149,000 milesTX

HAS 149 K MILEAGE AND HAS STARTED TO HAVE VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. RADIATOR FLUID HAS OIL IN IT. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC IT IS TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Sep 9, 2016145,000 milesCT

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED UPLOADED DOCUMENT.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Sep 7, 2016105,000 milesPR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHAMBER AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ *TR

Engine
Filed Sep 7, 2016129,000 milesMT

ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE.

Engine
Filed Aug 31, 201689,000 milesCA

LOWER RADIATOR ASSEMBLY FAILED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION . TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY OWNER. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR LOOSING CONTROL ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY AND HAVING TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. NISSAN SHOULD PAY FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURE.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Aug 31, 2016116,000 milesCA

VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND IS UNABLE TO START. WITH VEHICLE IN OFF STATE THERE IS NOT CONTROL OVER SPEED, BRAKING, STEERING. NISSAN IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AFTER DIAGNOSIS. CODE P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.

Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2016111,326 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,326.

Power Train
Filed Aug 16, 201675,000 milesMN

VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING WELL, WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING, AND WERE HEARING NOISES SIMILAR TO WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. OUR MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS RADIATOR COOLANT MISSING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. VEHICLE WAS TRANSFERRED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WE OPENED A CASE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 75K MILES, HOWEVER IT WAS 9 YEARS OLD AND THEREFORE SUBJECT TO THE $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE. AFTER REVIEWING OUR CASE FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS, WE WERE INFORMED THAT NISSAN COULD NOT HELP US. WE PAID THE $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, HOWEVER FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FIXING THE KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROADWAYS.

Power Train
Filed Aug 5, 2016110,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

Power Train
Filed Jul 26, 2016125,000 milesNJ

125K MUCH LIKE SEVERAL OTHER CUSTOMERS THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLES CONTAINS A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR COOLER TANK THAT RUPTURES AND FORCES COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE COOLER LINES. WHEN THE COOLANT MIXES WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID IT CREATES A FROTHY LIQUID THAT EATS VALVES, ERODES SEALS AND CAUSES CORROSION. WAITING TO SEE WHAT COST WOULD BE TO REPLACE SYSTEM BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD ITS AROUND 5K AND THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT!!

Engine
Filed Jul 8, 2016105,000 milesTX

TRANSMISSION FAILURE (ATF CONTAMINATION). ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING INVESTIGATION OF TRANSMISSION DAMAGE ATTRIBUTED TO CONTAMINATION BY ENGINE COOLANT. THE SOURCE OF THE CONTAMINATION IS A CRACKED ATF LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH AN ENGINE COOLANT CHAMBER IN THE RADIATOR.

Power Train
Filed Jul 4, 2016IL

RADIATOR CRACK AND MIX RADIATOR FLUID W TRANSITION FLUID ,TRANSITION PROBLEMS, NOT CHANGE GEARS WHEN I DRIVING .SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN I'M SLOW DAWN ON INTERSECTION I CAN'T GO FORWARD AND I STUCK ON THE CENTER OF INTERSECTION. POSSIBLE CRUSH ACCIDENT

Engine
Filed Jun 22, 2016114,000 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE MADE A SUBTLE NOISE BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 17, 201692,000 milesNC

THE CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER SINCE LAST TWO WEEKS. COUPLE OF DAYS BACK WHILE PARKING THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST THE POWER EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE. TODAY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY THAT ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH AND CONTAMINATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, RESULTING IN DAMAGED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS AND A DAMAGED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPUTER

Power Train
Filed Jun 3, 2016CA

THE WELL KNOWN LEAKING RADIATOR ISSUE THAT HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND HAS DESTROYED MY TRANSMISSION. BOTH MUST BE REPLACED. BUT OF COURSE IT IS BEYOND THE WARRANTY COVERED DATES. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE COVERED 100%, SHAME ON NISSAN FOR IGNORING THE ISSUE. WHEN SITES ARE POSTING "AVOID AT ALL COST", SHOULD BECOME A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN.

Power Train
Filed May 25, 201666,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SURGED, HESITATED, AND LOST ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A HUMMING NOISE WAS PRESENT FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Power Train
Filed May 24, 201687,000 milesWA

A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR OCCURRED ALLOWING COOLANT IN TO THE TRANSMISSION MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THANKFULLY, THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START. HOWEVER, WE DID "JUMP" THE STARTER AND THE CAR CREPT HOME WITH VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION CAPABILITIES.

Engine
Filed May 22, 201668,400 milesNJ

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALER WITH APPROX 64,000 MILES. AFTER 2 DAYS AND LESS THAN 200 MILES THE CAR STARTED SHUDDERING AS IF I WAS DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THERE WAS A HORRIBLE RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THAT SOFTENED AS THE CAR WARMED UP. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT BOTH OF THE MORE COMMON COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR RAISED THEIR UGLY HEADS AT THE SAME TIME: TRANSMISSION AND TIMING CHAINS!! I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COST WOULD BE BETWEEN $8-9,000. THANK GOD FOR AFTERMARKET WARRANTY. ANYWAY... IF NISSAN DOES NOT INTEND TO ISSUE A RECALL, THERE SHOULD BE A DISCLOSURE ON CARFAX/AUTOCHECK/ETC FOR THESE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS.

Power Train
Filed May 9, 2016109,000 milesCT

MY RADIATOR BROKE AND LEAKED RADIATOR FLUID INTO MY TRANSMISSION RUINING THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION IN THE RADIATOR TRANSMISSION FLUID IN IT AND SO DID THE ENGINE RESULT $2600 TRANSMISSION BOUGHT.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 7, 2016CA

CROSS CONTAMINATION OF RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. VEHICLE HAS 102K MILES ON IT AND CAN'T BE DRIVEN. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 86K MILES AND WERE NEVER INFORMED OF ANY RECALL OR LAWSUIT. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH A NISSAN I LOST THOUSAND TRADING IN A ALMOST NEW NISSAN ULTIMA 2007 PREVIOUSLY DUE TO CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS NOW THIS TRANSMISSION HAS SEIZED UP AND THE RADIATOR IS FULL OF GUNK. THIS SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL AND REPAIR ON THE PART OF NISSAN THEY KNOW THEIR DESIGN CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WE STILL OWE $$$ ON THIS CAR AND WILL RUIN OUR CREDIT BY TURNING IT IN AND CANNOT AFFORD THE $6K COST TO REPAIR THIS. THE DEAL THEY DID STILL LEFT THE CONSUMER HOLDING THE BAG FOR THEIR BAD DESIGN.

Power Train
Filed May 4, 2016PA

RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING INTO TRANMISSION

Engine
Filed May 3, 201678,000 milesNC

MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA HAD LEAK IN THE RADIATOR AND WENT INTO MY TRANSMISSON. NOW THE TRUCK DID NOT RUN. I CONTACTED NISSAN WHEN THE TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT BUT THEY REFUSED TO FIX DUE TO MILEAGE.

Engine
Filed Apr 27, 2016102,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED AN OIL AND COOLANT MIXTURE, WHICH DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Power Train
Filed Apr 13, 2016116,000 milesTX

TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT INTO REVERSE, COSTS $3850. A FEW DAYS AFTER WORK WAS DONE THE VEHICLE STARTING RUNNING ROUGH. MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AND LET ME KNOW THAT TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE IN THE RADIATOR WAS ALLOWING COOLANT TO GET TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THIS VOIDED ANY WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT HE HAD GIVEN ME AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, THRU SOME RESEARCH I SEE IM NOT THE ONLY ONE AND BESIDES THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF BE THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT I'M SURE THERE ARE AT LEAST TWICE AS MANY THAT DIDNT BOTHER TO VOICE A COMPLAINT, DUE TO THE FACT THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, NOR DOES IT LOOK LIKE ANYTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS NO MATTER HOW OBVIOUS IT IS THAT THERE SHOULD OF BEEN A RECALL. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT SOMEONE OR MAYBE MORE HAVE BEEN COMPENSATED TO ENSURE THIS ISSUE WASNT PURSUED BY ANYONE THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Power Train
Filed Apr 1, 201679,000 milesVA

SUDDEY I FOUND MY HEAT NOT WORKING. STRANGE, I WAS LOW ON COOLANT AND NO VISIBLE LEAKS. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS I CAME ACROSS ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE WELDS ON THE ATF COOLER WITHIN THE RADIATOR. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO DEALER AND HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT AND PRESSURE TESTED FOR LEAKS. THEY SAID ALL IS FINE AND TESTED OK, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU WOULD BE LOW ON COOLANT. MIND YOU, AT THIS POINT THERE IS 79K ON THE ODOMETER AND WE ALL KNOW NISSANS LAME WARRANTY EXTENSION IS USELESS DUE TO THE CONVENIENT MILEAGE CAP COMPLETELY AND OBVIOUSLY IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. APPALLING AND 100% A SAFETY ISSUE AND COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE. IN AN EFFORT TO BE PRO ACTIVE I ORDERED AN AFTERMARKET RADIATOR AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. I ALSO FLUSHED AND REFILLED TRANNY FLUID. I AM NOW ABOUT TO BREAK 100K. I'M NOW WORRIED ABOUT THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE NISSAN ALSO DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH. ANYONE READING THIS SHOULD BE PRO ACTIVE AND CHANGE OUT YOUR RADIATOR AND FLUSH YOUR TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY, IT'S ALL YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO PREVENT A BIGGER ISSUE. IT ALSO COST ME $400 TO DO MYSELF. THE QUOTE FROM THE DEALER WAS $1500. GOOD LUCK TO ALL, I ARGUED AND CALLED AND CALLED AND NISSAN COULD CARE LESS AND WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER ANY HELP WHATSOEVER . THIS WAS MY WIFE AND I'S 5TH NISSAN. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Mar 23, 2016140,000 milesID

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Power Train
Filed Mar 15, 2016100,000 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON MARCH 25, 2016. UPDATED 06/20/16.*JB

Power Train
Filed Feb 25, 201687,000 milesMA

TRANSMISSION FAIL DUE TO DEFECT IN TRANSMISSION COOLING TANK HOUSED INSIDE THE RADIATOR.

Engine
Filed Feb 22, 2016158,000 milesTX

THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES ARE FAULTY AND AT THIS TIME I AM HEARING THE WHINING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED FROM SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS. IT IS KNOWN THAT THIS CAN COMPLETELY DESTROY THE ENGINE AND FAIL AT ANY GIVEN TIME, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE

Engine
Filed Feb 4, 2016108,000 milesCA

THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT LEADING UP TO THE MECHANIC FINDING THE LEAK. THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION STILL SEEMS TO IMPROPERLY SHIFT, AND A STRONG, RICH, OIL SMELL IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOW. I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY REIMBURSMENT BECAUSE OF A PREVIOUS SETTLEMENT WHICH I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, WERE NOT INVOLVED IN, AND WHICH DID NOT COVER AND PROBLEMS OVER 100,000 MILES. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECT IN THEIR CAR AND CHOSE NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN A PART WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED, AND SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. IF WE HAD NOT CAUGHT THE DAMAGE IN TIME, THE ENGINE COULD HAVE FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, AND AND ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE. I ALSO BELIEVE THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT AND INTENTIONALLY CHOSE NOT TO TELL ME ABOUT IT, EVEN WHEN I ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PROBLEM DURING NEGOTIATIONS.

Engine
Filed Feb 4, 2016152,000 milesTX

TAKATA RECALL. - XTERRA HAS HAD RADIATOR REPLACED, TRANSMISSION FIXED TWICE DUE TO BAD VALVE BODY. NOW IT IS SHUDDERING AGAIN AT 40MPH DOWN THE ROAD. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. TRANSMISSION FAILED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING IT TO GO INTO FAILURE MODE. I LOST ALL POWER BY THE TIME I COULD GET PULLED OVER AND STOPPED.

Engine
Filed Jan 31, 2016108,000 milesPA

AFTER A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AT APPROX.. 108000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO REG. GARAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY ANOTHER GARAGE WITH BETTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AS THE CODE WOULD NOT HOLD/REPLICATE EASILY. CODE WAS FOR ECM, WHICH WAS REPAIRED AT OWNERS COST (UNAWARE OF RECALL). THERE WAS MIX OF ANTIFREEZE/OIL DUE TO LEAK IN RADIATOR. FLUSHED SYSTEM AND REPLACED RADIATOR AT OWNER'S COST. WITHIN WEEKS, VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING CORRECTLY AND CODE SHOWING EMISSIONS ISSUE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUE. LOOKING AT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS WHICH APPEAR TO SIMPLY BE A BAND-AID UNTIL THE ISSUE BEGINS AGAIN. STILL PAYING ON THE VEHICLE AND A NEW MOM OF TWINS. NOW STUCK WITH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE RIDDLED WITH REPAIR COSTS FOR AN ISSUE THAT NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF AND SHOULD HAVE FIXED. HOW FRUSTRATING THAT THIS ISSUE IS STILL IN LIMBO AFTER 2 YEARS, HOW THIS CANNOT BE SEEN AS A CONSTANTLY RECURRING PROBLEM WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF NISSAN IS BEYOND ME. THESE ISSUES OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND ON SIDE ROADS WITH HILLS.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 22, 2016125 milesOH

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING . I HEARD OF A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND I CALLED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD I MISSED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUY 8 DAYS ,THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY DID HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLES TRANSMISSION.BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, ALSO VERY HARD TO PUT GAS IN,

Power Train
Filed Dec 29, 201575,222 milesCO

RADIATOR DEFECT CAUSING ATF FLUID TO CONTAMINATE THE TRANSMISSION, LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WITH EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, AND EXTREME ASSOCIATED COSTS. THIS COMMONLY KNOWN DEFECT CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND NECESSITATES A FULL RECALL!

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2005 Nissan Xterra → · Every Xterra year → · How the figures are calculated →