2007 Nissan Xterra: transmission slipping

Filed Jun 2, 2018 · Transmission · 171,000 miles · SC

I was driving in an intersection when my gears slipped almost causing a multi-car collision because my car was shifting correctly. I wasn't sure what happened until it happened a couple of more times the same day. I knew immediately that something was wrong with the transmission on my automatic 2007 nissan xterra. I've had no issues with the transmission or car at all until then. The engine is strong and sound. Everything works except now the transmission has failed. I use this vehicle simply to drive to work and state to state highway traveling. I took it to my mechanic after the incidents and noticing a milky brown substance leaking from the radiator. Opened it up and the radiator was completely mixed with transmission fluid. Apparently, the hoses from radiator and transmission are intertwined from the factory manufacture build. This mistake is now going to cost me thousands of dollars and could have potentially costs human lives in a horrific accident! After researching online this seems to have happened to thousands of xterra and frontier owners. These cars need to be recalled or else several highway/safety issues will occur. Imagine driving and suddenly you have no powertrain to redirect your vehicle from oncoming cars on a street or highway. Or in my case when yielding and turning in an intersection where vehicles are traveling towards you and you cannot move. Luckily some cars swerved out of the way. Also, the financial cost of the vehicle is absurd for something that could have been avoided from the manufacturing build altogether.

Filed Feb 28, 2018 · Transmission · 20 miles · CT

Vehicle transmission started to slip and now, the transmission does not engage at random times causing power loss while in motion whether driving on highways or city streets. This problem is not worsen or aliviated by turning or breaking. The transmission will eventualy engage after slowing the vehicle down and later accelerating. The vehicle was brought to a trained mechanic who found that the coolant fluid was entering the transmission and oil was mixing with the coolant fluid. A second opinion from another trained mechanic verified the same problem.

Filed Oct 24, 2017 · Engine · 155,534 miles · ME

Transmission slipping, contamination in radiator. Vehicle is now rendered useless until transmission/radiator replacement.

Filed Jun 26, 2017 · Transmission · 104,000 miles · KY

External transmission cooler/radiator assembly leak has caused the transmission on my vehicle to become inoperable. The mixing of the vehicle coolant and the transmission fluid caused the transmission control module/transmission body assembly to malfunction. Thus the vehicle refuses to start as the transmission will not operate. I am now required to replace the radiator and transmission control module at more than $2k out of pocketpin addition to towing and rental vehicle expenses. The vehicle ran fine and no slipping was detected prior to the malfunction even after multiple transmission fluid changes. The vehicle was parked in my garage requiring a tow to a mechanic after running without any issues the previous day. Apparently this is a widespread issue that nissan has known about for years in the xterra, pathfinder, titan, and armada models. Nissan failed to notify vehicle owners of steps to avoid costly repairs by simply using a different noncorrsive automatic transmission fluid and to replace the faulty radiator and external transmission cooler assembly. I am now left in a greater undue hardship thnks to nissan's gross negligence regarding an all too common issue that nissan failed to address with thousands of complaints and documented examples. The extension of the warranty does adequately cover vehicle owners who all seem to fall victim outside of the warranty coverage period that nissan specifically increased due to the faulty equipment and fluids that nissan recommended and even required.

Filed Feb 25, 2017 · Engine, Transmission · 148,000 miles · WA

Radiator leaked into the transmission rendering both defective and in need of replacement. No heat when car not moving, transmission slipping and skipping while driving.

Filed Apr 12, 2016 · Transmission · 145,000 miles · TX

Nissan transmission fluid/radiator coolant leak issue: rough automatic transmission behavior noticed during stop and go city driving. Check engine light came on. Repair shop diagnosed check engine light code as transmission torque issue, pointing to transmission fluid. Repair shop found leak in coolant radiator servicing the transmission fluid, resulting in water/glycol intrusion into the transmission fluid. Radiator, and coolant fluid replaced, as well as transmission fluid flushed/replaced. A few days later, transmission slippage was felt and the check engine light appeared again. Expecting transmission has been compromised due to prior, defective radiator.

Filed Dec 20, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 149,921 miles · MI

Car transmission is slipping and stop moving. Transmission oil leak. Radiator water leak.

Filed Aug 14, 2015 · Transmission · 127,000 miles · GA

Transmission slipped and couldn't accelerate, my 16 year old daughter was driving, about ran over by trailer. Researched and found out this is a known problem that nissan isn't taking care of.

Filed Jul 22, 2015 · 160,000 miles · MN

Noticed a strawberry colored fluid coming from the radiator overflow reservoir. Checked the radiator and found that the whole cooling system had the same color of fluid. I took my xterra to a radiator shop and had the cooling system flushed and antifreeze replaced. I was told that what happened was that the transmission cooler had failed and that antifreeze and transmission fluid mixed together and went through the cooling system and transmission. I first got the radiator replaced and cooling system flushed again. I had been hearing a suspicious noise from the transmission and noticed that transmission was starting to slip. All this in williston, nd which was 620 miles from my home. I had to take the train home. We had to rent a car for my wife to use so I could use her nissan armada to go back to williston and tow it back home. I also had to rent an auto transport trailer. My car is now in the shop getting the transmission rebuilt. I have been told by my mechanic and read several complaints online that the only solution for the transmission is to get it rebuilt or replaced, which can take up to $6000, depending on where you go. This is an ongoing problem and nissan needs to be held responsible. From what I can see online there has been at least 300 complaints filed, and I am sure there has been other issues that haven't been reported. I also have found that there was a class action lawsuit filed and there was warranty extension granted up to 100,00 miles. I am sure that the federal safety agency is also aware that 90% of the complaints are from car owners that have over 100,000 miles on there odometer. I am also sure that nissan is also aware of this and know that this is a manufacturers defect and are doing what ever is possible to avoid fixing and replacing 100's of transmissions. I am hoping that this matter can be dealt with swiftly and once and for all.

Filed Dec 18, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 120,000 miles · VA

I am very disappointed and disgusted with the way nissan has handled this problem. My xterra 2007's transmission did not go bad until it reached over 120k miles. My wife was driving cross country with my children and all of the sudden she felt the gears slipping while driving in a major interstate. Luckily she was able to drive home safe. I found out shortly after this almost catastrophic experience that there were many complaints regarding nissans transmission problems. I guess there was a class action lawsuit that only covered vehicles under 100k miles. Why is nissan only providing assistance to vehicles under 100k miles if there is a there is a defect in the transmission coolant. They should cover any transmission problems regardless of what the mileage is. I took my xterra to aamco because they charge be thousands of dollars less of what a nissan dealership would have charged me. I have been a loyal nissan owner since 2003 and will never buy a vehicle from them again. In fact, I have convinced friends and families not to buy nissan vehicles because of the poor service that they have provided.

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 Jun 25, 2013 · Transmission · 67,400 miles · MD

Vehicle maintained meticulously. Fluids changed regularly. Drove mainly highway miles in the winter. At first it began having trouble starting. Then wouldn't start at all. Not a click, not a crank. Then took it to local shop with good reputation. Had it for 7.5 weeks before it was 'fixed.' drove it for the first time in 8 weeks & transmission was thumping hard as it up-shifted & seemed not to keep up on down shift. Upon initial light acceleration tranny/gears began to slip making a loud/harsh vibrating/shuttering sound & feel. Took it home immediately. When I checked radiator the dreaded grey sludge poured out. Nissan has horrendous customer service. I'm told I need a radiator & a new transmission. Totaling over $6100! Nissan needs to for once do the right thing & do a full recall. This is my second xterra. I had a 2005 as well. I also owned a 2005 maxima. That's brand loyalty but I also used to make $200,000/yr, live in my dream home, etc...thru divorce & illness I'm homeless just trying to survive. I had planned to sell the xterra & buy an inexpensive fuel efficient car so I could bank the balance & begin trying to save again. I have no vehicle now or $6100 for repairs that r obviously due to a design flaw or flaws.