2007 Nissan Xterra: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Oct 22, 2015 · 102,000 miles · OH

Driving down freeway, vehicle started to shudder/vibrate, check engine light comes on, can's accelerate, smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. Pulled the vehicle off the highway. Take it to a mechanic, where he diagnoses the problem as transmission/radiator coolant issues. Hose broke and the fluid from the radiator/transmission mixed causing transmission to stop working. Take to nissan dealer, told $6000.00 to fix. I have an extended warranty since I purchased vehicle used (ford warranty). Told ford will not cover anything, since the "transmission" wasn't really the problem. It was the coolant lines to the transmission that caused the problem. Just ford (big business) trying to find a way around paying for something. I paid for the warranty, and the warranty is basically useless. Was told by the dealership where I purchased the vehicle liberty ford, maple hts., ohio that it would cover transmission issues. What a scam. I will never purchase another nissan vehicle nor will I ever purchase an extended warranty. Frustrated nissan owner in ohio.

Filed Apr 23, 2015 · Transmission · 106,000 miles · NE

Vehicle abruptly stalled without warning when making a left hand turn. Oncoming traffic was forced to stop. A serious, possibly deadly, accident could have occurred if the oncoming traffic had not stopped. The vehicle had shuddering during acceleration prior to this incident but had never given any indication it would stall unexpectedly. The vehicle had been maintained by nissan and no issues were brought to my attention during this service. When nissan diagnosed the vehicle they found that the transmission cooler had leaked and allowed transmission fluid and engine coolant to mix. This lead to transmission damage and unsafe, unexpected failure of the transmission. Nissan also said they had known about this common failure for many years. I was never informed of this dangerous design flaw.

Filed Mar 12, 2015 · Transmission · 114,300 miles · TX

Vehicle vibrates at 40 MPH- making it unsafe - turns out it's transmission issue.. Was informed this is not a new issue after reading online ..... Nissan has never recalled these vehicles and instead was sued due to this transmission issue many other nissans have had...I was never informed regarding such an issue. This is unsafe due to the shaking shudder this problem causes especially in a high traffic area and it isn't fsir that the customer stays stuck with a faulty vehicle ... This issue should be fixed at any mileage since it is nissans faulty design at fault! Shame on you nissan.

Filed Mar 10, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 87,000 miles · NV

At varying speeds above 45mph the vehicle will shudder as if you were driving on a rumble strip. This can be startling as there is no indication of when or where it will occur. When the radiator failed our mechanic informed us that the transmission was destroyed because of design of the radiator and transmission cooling lines, which allowed coolant to seep into the transmission fluid thus destroying the transmission..

Filed Sep 16, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 137,541 miles · CO

I have had the same problem described in your current investigation of these models. An atf line embedded in the radiator cracked, and atf fluid was allowed into the coolant, and coolant was forced into the atf. The card started slipping in gear, then it started shuddering under acceleration, then it started refusing to go into gear. I got it to a transmission shop, and when they opened it up, the guts of the transmission were rusted, and the clutches had de-laminated. The cooling system was nearly plugged up with oily transmission residue. The transmission had to be completely rebuilt, and the radiator and all associated hoses had to be replaced. All in all, a $5500 fix for a problem that shouldn't have happened.

Filed Mar 4, 2013 · Transmission · 123,000 miles · VA

Vehicle has been shuddering at around 50mph. Approx 2 weeks ago, it wouldn't shift, so I couldn't drive faster than 25-30 MPH. I had the oil changed and transmission flushed, and it seemed ok, although it was still doing the shuddering. Yesterday I noticed a strange puddle on the garage floor, so I checked it out. There is a leak that is causing coolant to leak into the transmission. I began doing some research on the internet and found that this is apparently a fairly common problem in 2005-2010 nissans. I never received any notice of the warranty extension. When I called the local nissan dealer, the service guy knew exactly what I was talking about when I described the problem, and estimated that to repair would be $4000-5000.

Filed Jan 30, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 81,000 miles · NJ

After my vehicle was making shuddering noises between 40 and 50 MPH I decided to bring it to the nearest dealership to be checked. I was told the radiator leaked coolant into the transmission. I was also told this has been an issue for nissan so they would cover part of the repair and I would be responsible for $2500 of the repair since I was 1300 miles over the limit. I was notifies the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. I told the service representative I did not have the money at my disposal and asked if there was anything I could do. I was told when I get the money to call and they will repair it, but to also hurry because the transmission could lock up anytime and cause a major accident. I was shocked they would even let me leave the dealership. I immediately called nissan customer affairs and explained my situation. They told me I was they would not be able to assist me in any way and suggested the same as the dealership, to quickly get it repaired because I can cause a major accident. I was appalled they would allow their customers be in danger and endanger other drivers on the roads especially when nissan admits to this being a quality issue that a majority of their consumers are having.

Filed Jan 27, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 91,143 miles · PA

Coolant mixes with transmission fluid and causes car to shudder and fail. This causes a situation in traffic that could cause a crash.

Filed Jul 2, 2012 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · NC

Shuddering noise. Then transmission failure.

Filed Jul 21, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 130,649 miles · AZ

Nissan unsafe failure parts transmission and radiators hi my name is [xxx] my story begins as a happy one, but soon turns out to be my worst nightmare back in november 2007. I bought my first car a 2007 nissan xterra from avondale nissan brand new which is now paid off. It was a very nice vehicle, had really small issues with normal wear and tear and normal maintenance which I kept up on myself. Right now I'm attending asu for premed and I need my vehicle to get to school. The issue started when I was driving on the highway, all of sudden I heard a noise and the back end shuddered as if I was driving over rumble strips. I took it in on my next oil change to discover that the transmission fluid had leaked into the coolant, then I had the radiator replaced, then a couple months later my engine light came on and the same issue which I was previously having with the my transmission fluid leaking into the coolant began again. In addition to that incident, I was told from numerous dealerships including nissan that the radiator was damaged and now the transmission was also damage. I then started googling the problem and to my surprise to find out that so many other nissan owners were experiencing the same problem. This horrified me when I went to the dealership where I purchased it new in 2007. The service advisor in the service department told me this is a terrible problem because nissan is aware of this horrible design flaw on nissan's part and they're not doing anything to help their customers, he said that nissan is not going to do a recall at all its just a defect. He also stated that to fix the transmission and get another radiator would cost $500 for the radiator and $5155 for transmission not including tax or labor. I will never in my life ever buy a nissan again nor would I recommend someone to purchase it! I'm not getting any answers from them they are fully aware of this unsafe defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jul 20, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 130,649 miles · AZ

Transmission and radiator failure making it unsafe to drive, nissan company is well aware of these issues and refuse to do a recall and refuse to let their customers to be aware of the issue. As for me I am pre-med and I need my vehicle to get to school and work I as caregiver for an elderly man and woman so not a very much of an income so I depend on my car about a month ago I was driving on the highway when I heard a noise at the back end shuddered as if I was driving over rumble strips I took it in on my next oil change.