2006 Nissan Frontier: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Jun 4, 2018 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · LA

Transmission shudders when shifting from drive to overdrive. Around 40-45mph shudder can be felt from transmission vibration. Had the driveshaft replaced ($1400) but the shudder is still present.

Filed Mar 25, 2018 · Transmission · 99,000 miles · NY

I have a apparently common problem which is radiator transmission cross contamination apparently with nissan frontiers and xterras from about 05-2010 and the problem is they used a radiator with a built in transmission cooler but there's a seal or area where it fails and the two fluids mix resulting in a strawberry milkshake appearance and when this happens the transmission will likely fail at any point I've personally had problems that were intermittent over the last few weeks with trouble shifting and a shuddering/rumbling which occurs while driving in all weather and road conditions plus is very noticeable while going from a stop to start moving turns out to be radiator fluid leaking into the transmission my truck has 99,000 miles on it and has started having problems just now which according to other accounts on multiple forums about this particular problem is a little later than most but I have a short commute to work and have another car I use. So perhaps it was that. But the issues are getting worse and it's a shame that the company knew of the problem and did nothing to remedy it. Especially as it affects many years and models of cars

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 64,000 miles · WA

My vehicle shuddered and felt to slip out of gear while driving! Because of this known issue of leaking coolant causes transmission failure. I bought this frontier with very low miles and was never told of this potential issue from the dealership. It should be a safety recall as it prevents the vehicle from accelerating and if you are driving can cause an accident. I am now reading that nissan owners have no idea this is happening until too late. Once the coolant is mixed with the transmission fluid this lethal combination kills the valves, seals and torque converter -- rendering your entire transmission useless. I read that this issue is currently contained to the 2005?2010 model years. I have a 2006 with 64k miles! It is only time until this issue causes multiple accidents since this issue happens while cars are driving. Please push nissan for a recall. I should not have to pay for a known engineering / manufacturing defect.

Filed Jan 6, 2014 · Transmission · 139,600 miles · CA

The truck would get a shudder/vibration that shook the whole truck at around 45 and 60 miles per hour and would not shift properly. A nissan dealer verified that the transmission had been cross contaminated with coolant fluid. I was livid to learn that nissan knew about this issue since 2007 but did not tell me about the defect when I took the truck for maintenance (a transmission fluid exchange) in 2010 when I had 68,000 miles on the truck. I was robber of the opportunity to take action even at my own cost that would have prevented this catastrophic failure. Nissan refuses to pay anything towards the cost citing the settlement in the class action. I was told the terms of the settlement would not allow nissan to cover anything after 100,000 miles. I refused to allow the dealer to fix it because they did not give me a warning when I was having the routine maintenance done on the trani and because nissan will never get another penny from me. The service tech at the nissan dealer told me not to buy an after market radiator because it would be based on the old radiator design so I could have the same problem of cross contamination again. He said nissan had a new radiator. Clearly sounds like a manufacturer design defect. Also, I read that it is for 2005-2010 nissans but I spoke with the owner of a 2011 nissan frontier who told me he had the cross contamination but because it was under warranty, nissan had to pay to fix everything. The fact that nissan knows about this but is not being proactive in letting customers know that there could be a problem is irresponsible. I had to pay $5200 to fix the trani and radiator, $110 for the dealer to confirm cross contamination, $104 for towing and $330 for a rental car. This is 180 degrees from how honda is treating the recently announced cooling fluid leak they have. Honda is extending the warranty 10 years with unlimited miles.

Filed Oct 19, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 87,870 miles · AZ

Vehicle began to shift upward and downward erratically at various speeds and RPM. It would also shake and shudder like the whole vehicle was on a rocky road -- everything vibrating from the frame to the steering wheel. Very sudden, alarming, and disconcerting.

Filed Feb 14, 2013 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · KS

I purchased the vehicle used with roughly 92,700 miles from a reputable, local, high volume dealer. Within a week of owning the vehicle I felt a "shudder," as if driving over a rumble strip on the side of the road, while cruising at approximately 55 MPH in top gear on the highway. Felt the same sensation one week later and again approximately one month ago. These "shudders" were few and far between but consistent in feeling and duration, only lasting a second or so. While doing an oil change and fluid check on 2-7-2013 and approximately 94,700 miles, I found the coolant in my radiator and overflow tank to be a pink, even bordering on purple, in color and about the same consistency as heavy whipping cream you would purchase from the grocery store. I immediately arranged for the vehicle to be diagnosed at the dealership of purchase the next morning and the three year extended power train warranty dictated such. The service shop's diagnosis confirmed the research I had found linking the discrepant coolant in my radiator to be from a defective transmission cooler line/coil inside the bottom of the radiator that was leaking transmission fluid into my radiator. Thus, not recirculating the proper amount of transmission fluid, if at all, back into my transmission causing it to fail and was "shuddering" as a side effect. The service department has told me that because my vehicle was past the 80,000 mile mark at the time of the incident, nissan would require a $3,000 deductible to replace the transmission, transmission cooler lines, and the radiator. As I research further I see this problem is not isolated but quite common. It is also painfully apparent that nissan is very much aware of this issue as well. As a proud owner of a 1985 nissan 720 pickup truck and staunch supporter of nissan products, this situation is disappointing at best and unethical at worst.

Filed Jan 16, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 102,000 miles · GA

The transmission has been compromised due to a faulty radiator. The radiator leaked coolant into the transmission contaminating the transmission fluid. I noticed the vehicle would occasionally shudder and when I had it checked out discovered the problem. Hard to believe nissan did practically nothing to notify owners of the problem because it sure was evident that the local nissan dealership was aware of the problem as well as a couple of transmission shops I've visited.

Filed Jun 23, 2012 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · CA

The truck began to vibrate and shudder intermittently while in overdrive at highway speeds (55-65mph). A couple weeks later transmission starting shifting really hard, with corresponding clunking sound every time it shifted between gears. I took it to my regular local mechanic who found coolant mixed in transmission fluid due to a ruptured atf line inside the radiator. He stated that he had inspected numerous trucks of same vintage that also had transmission failure due to the same radiator defect causing contamination of transmission fluid. He advised me that my radiator and transmission would need to be rebuilt or replaced at this point. He recommended I contact nissan dealer regarding this common defect and information about warranty coverage. I spoke to 2 local nissan dealers on the phone and was told warranty on radiator only had been extended to 80000 miles. At this time my truck has 86000 miles and parts and service to repair this problem would not be covered by nissan.

Filed Mar 3, 2010 · Engine, Fuel system · 100,000 miles · SC

I have a 2006 nissan frontier. While driving down the road the truck shudders and shakes and cannot shift into gear. I had no pick up while driving on the interstate and had cars speeding by me at 75mph while I was barely able to drive the truck. The truck would drive fine and than this would happen out of nowhere. I took it to aamco and found out I had water in the transmission due to a leak in the radiator. I had to pay $2500.00 to have my transmission rebuilt and a new radiator installed. I feel this should be a recall on nissans part because it was a faulty radiator that caused the problem and could have caused a severe accident. I have heard of alot of complaints regarding this same problem but nissan refuses to due a recall. I have the same fuel gauge problem that was just recalled and I ran out of gas because of it. I feel that this needs to be investigated before someone is killed in an accident because their transmission just stops working while driving on the interstate.

Filed Oct 26, 2009 · Engine · 88,460 miles · CA

Purchased a used 2006 nissan frontier 9/18/09 from fresno acura. Approx 2 weeks later I drop it back off at the dealership, due to the heater not working & a shudder in the transmission. Findings radiator/transmission oil cooler ruptured and fluid leaked into transmission & vice versa, I found out that transmission fluid was going into radiator. Dealership would not honor transmission warranty due to the radiator not being under warranty and transmission contamination was effected by radiator . This is so wrong, unjust and corrupt. Possible damage ranges from $3000-$6000. A consumer should not be responsible to pay this for this kind of damage that was affected by a defective part that should of been recalled or corrected. A person pays approx $23,000 for a new vehicle and should not have to dish out another 3 -4 thousand dollars on a 3 yr old vehicle . This is bad business and will give the nissan a very bad reputation.