2005 Nissan Xterra: won't start

Filed Jun 20, 2017 · Engine · NC

The radiator failed and the fluid all went into the transmission requiring both a new radiator and transmission. This is a known problem with 2005 xterras and nissan refuses to cover this faulty design. We had no advance notice of this happening. We went out one day and the car did not start.

Filed May 24, 2016 · Transmission · 87,000 miles · WA

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.

Filed Jan 31, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 108,000 miles · PA

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.

Filed Oct 27, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 144,350 miles · TN

I bought a used nissan xterra last year that had 100k mile. Traveling from work warning lights come on. I took my vehicle to meineke for diagnostic. The warning code read transmission. Took it to the nissan dealer knoxville tn the next day and tech diagnosed 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. That week my car produced slowing of vehicle and times where engine would not crank. I ended up paying $3010.35 (attached) to chip's transmission to get fixed. I contacted nissan north america regarding the issue and was provided documentation that after reviewing my case; they were unable to offer financial assistance because the vehicle was outside the new vehicle limited warranty. (attached) I found out a class action lawsuit was filed regarding this matter and the fix was an extended warranty. Per document if you miles were over 90k miles you were out of luck. Well luck plays no part in this matter as I had bought this vehicle used over 100k miles and was never notified. I had a warranty for 1 yr or 12000 miles when I bought was never notified. I feel like regardless of the mileage. This was a defective part that was installed by nissan dealership and was a known problem by consumers. This part should be replaced or recalled by nissan and that an ongoing investigation on the behalf of those consumer who had these vehicles should not have to pay for such extensive repairs or damages being that it is nissan's wrongful intentions. I have had to eat the cost of not only missing work but paying for rental car expenses for 14 days (attached) plus the parts/repair to this vehicle. F you would like to contact me regarding this matter.]

Filed Oct 7, 2015 · Transmission · 132,546 miles · AZ

I was driving my xterra and it surged acceleration then just quit won't turn over nothing... I was on the deuce of clubs driving......

Filed Aug 28, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 152,946 miles · VA

My son was driving the car on a local road near home at night. He was accelerating up a small grade, when he said the car acted as if it had popped out of gear. It began to rev higher and made a higher pitched sound. He tried changing from being in "drive" to a lower gear, but it still did not engage the transmission. He had enough momentum to be able to coast onto our side street and park the car. Luckily there was no accident, but he was almost rear-ended as his car slowed suddenly and traffic ran up on him. The car would not start, nor turn over at that point. I had the car towed to the local nissan dealer. They mentioned it was a known issue with the transmission and radiator and it would cost over 5k for just a new transmission, not including a new radiator or labor to install both. I was able to find another mechanic that purchased a rebuilt transmission, but the whole thing still cost over 5k to have the rebuilt transmission and radiator installed with no assurance that it would not happen again. This is a well documented issue with these vehicles and continues to cost people thousands of dollars for a very poor and dangerous design.

Filed Oct 23, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 106,403 miles · TX

My car was running fine and normal but when I tried to start it, nothing happened. I tried to jump the battery and I replaced the starter. After those attempts I had the vehicle towed to a nearby dealership who told me that coolant from the radiator leaked into the transmission and mixed fluid, damaging both the transmission and ECM. Car will not start and the is no communications working. The nissan dealership recommended I get a new radiator, ipdm module, and transmission which was estimated at a cost of $5,500 after parts and labor. I had the vehicle towed to a local repair shop for a second opinion and was told the same thing as the dealer had said.

Filed Mar 4, 2014 · 62,000 miles · MA

I was driving at approximately 65-70mph on a 4 lane highway. Traffic was heavy and cars were at that rate and faster. My vehicle beginning slowing down, I immediately pressed the accelerator but the vehicle continued slowing down. I immediately began making my way over to the breakdown lane. My lights began flickering (both headlights and inside lights). My brake light, ABS light, check engine light, etc all popped up on the dash. As I made it to the break down lane the vehicle stopped and in pressing the accelerator, it would not go forward. Next the vehicle then shutoff completely and would not start. I had no warning this was going to take place. Lucky for me, I hadn't gone into the fast lane because I never would have made it into the breakdown lane without a serious accident because it came to a sudden halt.

Filed Oct 24, 2013 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 10,000 miles · OH · fire

Just bought auto from used car dealer day before. Drove it 30 miles pulled in visited then went out to start auto. Would not start traced back to blown fuse, changed fuse tried starting again, blew fuse again, one more time then when auto started smoke came out from under hood. After 3 months of replacing electrical wiring from frying narrowed down to radiator and transmission (fuse that blew) the coolant had backed up and tore up transmission. If it had been on the road there would have been a full blown fire on a highway with possibility of human damages.

Filed Feb 4, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 101,985 miles · PA

I have a 2005 nissan xterra which over the years my engine light would come on for all periods of time and then go off. The first time it came on I ran to the dealership because I could not afford to be broke down. No diagnosis was found (phantom light - $300 to tell no there was no problem) so after that I did not run to the dealer everything the light come one which was most of the time. Starting in january 2012 my 2005 xterra would seem to have a difficult time changing over at certain speeds especially 40-45 and 55-60 MPH. I mainly drive highway so I knew this was not normal for my car. Since the car was still running and I had a state inspection coming up in march-april 2012 I wanted to wait because I cannot be without a car. The engine light remained on from january until april when I went to the dealership. Finally in early april 2012 I realized that the heats was not working. At the april 10, 2012 inspection the dealership told me I needed a new radiator ($999.45). They told me the radiator leaked into the transmissions but they were able to fix the problem. The car seemed to work fine after the repair, no difficultly changing over at certain speeds until october 18, 012 when I left work and the car would not start. Aaa came and tried to jump it to no avail. Towed to local mechanic (not going back to dealership again) and found out about the transmission cooling problem ($1,950.98) and two weeks without a car and $100 towing bill. Now I get a letter from about lawsuit with nissan but my vehiles diagnosis occurred 1,985 miles after the allotted mileage (100,000). So, I am out $2950.45 plus the cost of towing and rent a cars with the vehiile that I am never going to be able to trade in because no dealer would purchase it from me knowing the problems with 2005 nissan xterra. I will never buy nissan again.

Filed Sep 4, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 104,324 miles · MO

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 the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Jun 29, 2012 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 nissan xterra. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician advised that the valve body would have to be replaced because the radiator was cracked and flooded the valve body. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred afterward. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.