2005 Nissan Xterra: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Jun 26, 2019 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 nissan xterra. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle shook violently and did not shift gears. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who performed a bypass and flushed the transmission. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic who specialized in transmission service. The transmission was flushed and the filter was changed. The technician also located failure codes 1754 and 1759. The contact called rosen nissan of madison (located at 2510 w beltline hwy, madison, wi 53713) and was informed that the mechanic who performed the bypass wrecked the vehicle. The contact was informed that nothing could be done. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Filed Sep 4, 2018 · Transmission · 136,000 miles · CA

Coolant mixing with transmission fluid. The xterra would not shift gears correctly and therefore I investigated more by checking the fluid. I found brown coolant so I decided to do a drain/fill. It was running better and I researched further and found that this is a common problem. I took my xterra to a transmission mechanic who also drained it and repaired a valve that went bad due to the coolant fluid mixing. There was a transmission cooler added as well. He also drained and filled. I then had a transmission flush just to make sure all coolant was out. With all this done, it gave me more time but the damage was done and I am continuing to have shifting issues. I now have to replace my xterra transmission. I really enjoy my xterra and have taken care of it by regular fluid changes and keeping up with it maintenance. It has a strong engine with no leaks and constantly clean motor oil. It is unfortunate that I have had to go through the stress of all of this because of a design flaw that nissan is unable to remedy.

Filed Sep 8, 2015 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · RI

The car shudders and wont accelerate. The transmission won't shift properly. I understand this was was a class action lawsuit and recall. I am outside the time frame. I was never notified and was deployed at the time.

Filed Mar 19, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 131,000 miles · GA

The transmission became stuck in 3rd or 4th gear and would not accelerate. Then it worked for a few days. After that it got stuck in 1st and would not shift. It is currently stuck in 3rd or 4th again. The transmission fluid is a red brown foamy color. It is giving a code of p1754.

Filed Dec 20, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 112,500 miles · TN

The car had been driving fine and then all of a sudden it would not shift into a higher gear. The rpms would just increase. At times the car would not even go into any gear what so ever. Finally managed to get it to a dealership where they told me it was the transmission fluid mixing with the radiator fluid. Told me I needed both replaced and quoted over $6500 for the fix. Check engine light was on at the time, but I was also having a problem with the fuel gauge (also another known problem in xterras).

Filed Sep 27, 2013 · Acceleration, Transmission · 158,000 miles · NC

Suddenly the car (automatic) was revving high and not shifting into next gear and starting making ahigher pitched noise and the service engine light then came on. I drove to a gas station and before fully pulling in, my car would not go into drive, revved high and started smoking. I had to get towed and my car is now going to need a complete transmission and radiator. Nissan is saying since I am passed the extended 10 year warranty or 100,000 miles, there is nothing more they will do about it. Currently am being transferred to see if someone else cares enough about nissans image as well as their drivers to do something about this. I have been quoted it will cost $5100 to repair this nissan known issue.

Filed Aug 3, 2013 · Transmission · 113,226 miles · CA

I have about 113,226 miles on my 2005 xterra. The other day I had driven my car to work with no issue and left for lunch again with no issues. However, when I got in my car to return to work from lunch, I had started the car with no issues, put in drive and when I pressed on the gas it felt as if though my car was stuck in neutral. I even checked to make sure it was not. I released the gas and pressed on it again and the went however every time I had to stop and go again I had to floor the gas in order to get it going. Once it got over 25mph it seemed to kick back into gear. I took my car to the nissan dealership right away to find out what was wrong with my car, since it had been working fine up until lunch. Today I got a call from nissan telling me it was an issue with a radiator fluid leak into my transmission and that the fluids had mixed and that I would now need to replace the transmission and radiator. The thing that gets me in that my car has been to nissan twice in the last year for issues with my transmission, and with the first time it was in for repairs they told me there was a small leak with the coolant and yet said nothing to me about this issue nor about the extend warranty (10 years/100,000 miles) which if I had know about I would have had them check at that time to make sure the leak was not related, and if it was would have had them fix it. But instead they let me take my car and now I am faced with a estimated $6k repair job.

Filed Jun 25, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 126,000 miles · PA

Started vehicle and began to drive when the vehicle appeared to have no power. Continued around the block to return home and realized that the vehicle was not shifting gears. It appeared to be stuck in 2nd gear and would not shift up or down. Shut vehicle down and tried again believing that perhaps "something was stuck" with the same results. The vehicle was towed to a transmission mechanic who diagnosed the problem as glycol contamination in the transmission requiring an entire rebuild of the transmission. Upon research of the internet, I have discovered that this is a known problem to nissan with the 2005 xterras and other nissan vehicles. While it is accurate that nissan did offer to extend the warranty for the radiator (the known source of the problem) they did so without explaining the full extent of the problem or known possible catastrophic events if the radiator leaked. The resulting events of a leaking radiator is a damaged transmission requiring a full rebuild due to the glycol contamination.

Filed May 21, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 114,500 miles · FL

I had an issue approximately 6 months ago regarding my radiator. The coolant and transmission fluids were mixing due to a defective (known) issue. My transmission has now failed due to a rusted valve body in the transmission. In fact it completely failed as I was driving. After pulling into a parking lot, it would not go into gear, any gear. These issues are obviously directly linked but I am now left holding the bag due to the fact that nissan's extension of the warranty covers only vehicles with up to 100k miles. I am now nearing 115k miles.

Filed May 1, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 84,900 miles · SC

The transmission went out at an intersection. Exit #407 in tennessee. 250miles away from home. The transmission never hesitated or slipped....just got to the intersection and it wouldn't go. It finally caught after almost causing an accident and I got to a parking spot but the transmission wouldn't go into gear after the fact. I towed the car home to bob richards nissan in north augusta and was told that the radiator cracked causing a mixture of radiator and transmission fluid.

Filed Jan 24, 2013 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · FL

Transmission stuck in 4th gear doesnt shift. This is the result of the faulty radiator leaking fluid into transmission.

Filed Dec 13, 2012 · Transmission · 121,000 miles · GA

Transmission slipped while driving, then would not shift at all. Had to be towed. Transmission was rebuilt, but goes into "limp mode" after a few miles of driving, with a strong odor of hot fluid.