2006 Nissan Xterra: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Apr 3, 2016 · Transmission · 118,000 miles · OH

My 2006 nissan xterra began shuddering as if the car was riding on rumble strips, while I was trying to maintain speed. When the od is off it does not shudder/rumble. After an inspection and research we determined that coolant was leaking into the transmission fluid and causing the car to shudder. We have taken great care of our car and this is a manufacturer defect in the radiator and it should not be paid for by the consumers!

Filed Nov 16, 2015 · Engine · 108,500 miles · WA

No problems in five years of ownership. The following took place in less than 7 days. Truck was fueled up at costco and 30 minutes later was shuddering when stopped, we thought we got a bad tank of gas. Truck had a check engine light. Misfiring cylinder, coil replaced. Two days later, check engine light. Replaced o2 sensor. A day or two later check engine light. Had a loss of power. Truck was in limp mode. Drove to the dealer and they diagnosed replacing the failed catalytic converter (right rear) and the timing chain, tensioners etc. Salesman said that we should have changed the timing chain at 60,000 miles. Which I have never seen listed in the maintenance. The truck was purchased used at 64,000 miles.

Filed May 21, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 131,500 miles · VA

As I came up to stop at a red light, the xterra began to shudder and the tachometer started rising and falling until I finally stopped, then the tachometer dropped below 500 RPM and the truck turned off. Restarted it fine, but it stalled again. I quickly figured out that although it is an automatic, I needed to drive it like a manual. So I put it in neutral, started it again, it did not stall, then I revved the engine to 2,000 RPM and put it into drive. Off I went, and it did not do it again that day. However, over the next month it became a growing problem, until it finally was occurring every single time I stopped unless I put it in neutral. I took it to the mechanic who spent 4 hours diagnosing it to be certain of the problem. Which they said was a failing torque convertor and plate. It failed due to coolant leaking into the transmission from a broken housing coming off of the radiator (apparently a very common problem for which nissan refuses to take responsibility). Not hard to verify their findings due to the presence of pink milkshake looking liquid in the radiator. Final verdict, at best it needs a new torque convertor and plate, but with the amount of effort to install those and unknown further damage from the coolant leak, a new transmission was recommended.

Filed Jan 31, 2015 · Acceleration, Transmission · 112,056 miles · VA

Driving home from work my vehicle started to tremble and shudder at speeds above 30-40 MPH. Eventually after much hesitation and loud engine revving I decided to pull over and turn the vehicle off. Turned it back on and got about a few hundred feet down the road when the same problem occurred. The transmission wasn't responsive with the engine causing me to cut someone off just to pull of the road safely. I have heard the common issue with nissan's transmission/coolant contamination and decided to look further into the issue after getting towed home. $100 down the drain. Sure enough my coolant reservoir and radiator cap were smothered in a thick goop known as the infamous "smod". There is trans fluid mixed into my coolant and more than likely, coolant in my transmission. This is design flaw in nissan. This problem should be resolved completely by nissan with no fault to their dedicated customers. Warranties need to be extended past 100k because that's when the issue is occurring in most xterra, pathfinder, and frontiers. I'll be damned if nissan only partially cover my cost repair leaving the bulk to me. I am a student working a full time job trying to pay for their education bit by bit. This is not what others in similar situation need to deal with and neither do I. Remember, nissan is only successful and wealthy because of us, the consumer. Give back to those who helped you build a reputable auto manufacturer.

Filed Jun 19, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 128,000 miles · NJ

When my xterra was idling in park or at a stop light, the car was overheating. Also while accelerating, the car was shuddering when changing gears. Upon taking the vehicle to a repair garage, I was informed that this particular model nissan is notorious for faulty radiators being installed which caused coolant fluid to leak / mix in with transmission fluid, thus damaging the transmission, possibly to the point of having to be replaced as well as the radiator. My car is sitting at a garage now waiting for the radiator to be replaced and try to run the vehicle to see how bad the damage now is to the transmission.

Filed May 29, 2014 · Transmission · 94,000 miles · IL

Transmission jerks and shudders at speeds around 40-60 MPH when it shifts into overdrive. This occurs under light engine loading and while traveling up hill. Also, have noticed it at lower speeds lately. During the winter, the vehicle failed to heat properly; adding more coolant alleviated this problem, but only for a short period of time. After inspection, it is found that engine coolant is leaking into the transmission cooler and transmission fluid, causing both the engine to run low on coolant (and cause a no-heat situation) and is most likely causing the transmission to fail.

Filed Jun 25, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 115,000 miles · CA

Vehicle shudder like rolling over rumble strip. Problem is related to manufacture defect with radiator.

Filed Oct 12, 2011 · Transmission · 131,000 miles · TX

My 2006 nissan xterra (purchased new in feb 2007) began occasional shuddering, as if driving over rumble strips, while driving at about 131,000 miles. If I let off the gas or accelerated, it would stop, but no constant trigger. This increased over a couple weeks so I decided to research online and found many users with the same issue. I took it to a mechanic and they couldn't get it to replicate. I left there and drove to trophy nissan in mesquite and they wouldn't look at it for another 1.5 days and only after I paid them an $85 diagnostic fee (to look at something that is there fault!) I decided to be proactive and replace the radiator and hoses, hoping to catch it early enough. I took it to a mechanic 2 days later. They said the rumbling was from a torque converter lock-up and we could do a flush but that may not fix it. So, we flushed it with 12 qts new nissan transmission oil. The problem seemed to stay the same over the next couple weeks and then the transmissions went out on my way home from work. So, now we get to replace the transmission. I called a transmission shop, (at this point I don't trust nissan or anything they say - since they can't even admit fault on this!) and they said this transmission is an expensive transmission (with it's computer etc.) so just to rebuild it is going to run $2500. Nissan wants $4400+ just for a new part. This is ridiculous. This was very dangerous as mine completely went out when I was in the middle of an intersection. I am so disgusted at nissan and their lack of morals / values. If they would just do the right thing and fix the issue that is their own fault, then I think everyone would feel completely different. They need to stand behind the product they sell. As of right now, I will never buy a nissan again. Why is there not a defect investigation with as many people that are having these issues?