Nissan Xterra harsh shifting problems

Filed Jan 22, 2020 · Transmission · 190,000 miles · TN

Transmission has been making a loud noise, a loud "clunk" periodically when in motion and more prevalent going uphill. The mechanic stated the transmission needs replaced due to radiator fluid leaking into transmission and has ruined transmission.he stand transmission fluid is contaminated.

Filed May 21, 2016 · Transmission · WV

Transmission failure. I purchased this vehicle with 75,000 miles in october 2015. At 84,000 miles, I noticed a clunk and vehicle slowed all the way down when the automatic transmission was shifting into drive at about 45 miles an hour. I was driving in rush hour traffic and the vehicle slowed way down even though I was trying to accelerate. I was nearly reareneded due to the sudden stall due to the transmission. I took it to the nissan dealership only to find out that the transmission was contaminated with radiator fluids. There's was a deductible of $3,000, what a savings (sarcasm). It was explained that it was a known problem. How could I be responsible for something that easily could have been prevented, especially if nissa knew about this very common problem. Nissan really has let me down. I will never buy another nissan unless I am reimbursed for most of whati paid. I am also extremely upset that I very easily could have been in a serious accident due to the sudden failure of the transmission, especially as I was trying to accelerate when just entering the interstate where the speed limit was 70 MPH and I suddenly slowed down due to the failing transmission.

Filed May 17, 2016 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · VA

While driving, average speed 40-50 MPH the vehicle started shaking violently, RPM fluttering. Also going from park to drive, it will slam into gear. Checking the coolant, it is a milky white color.

Filed Dec 8, 2015 · 96,499 miles · CA

Transmission was slipping and clunking during mid-range gears while accelerating. Repaired at rapid transmissions at 3905 convoy street, san diego, ca 92111. Radiator was leaking coolant into transmission cooler contaminating transmission fluid with coolant damaging the valve body, electronics and friction materials. Had to replace valve body and friction materials and reman torque converter and bypass radiator for transmission cooling. Cost out of pocket: $3564.73 (detailed receipt available)

Filed May 15, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 117,700 miles · NE

When the vehicle is traveling 45-50 MPH, there is an occasional and sometimes violent shake in the drivetrain...like driving over rumble bars. Also some loss of power while accelerating and hard shifting. This is from transmission failure due to cross contamination between the radiator and the transmission.

Filed May 10, 2014 · Transmission · 58,000 miles · OH

July 2006 I purchased a new nissan xterra. October 2008 at approx. 58,000 miles the transmission failed. The transmission "slipped" as I made a left turn. The vehicle momentarily stopped in front of on coming traffic. Traffic stopped for me. At that time the vehicle moved forward. I initially thought that this was an isolated incident but over the next few days the problem worsened. On october 30th I took the vehicle to ricart nissan. An initial check showed a foreign substance in the transmission fluid, the service person accused me of putting oil in the transmission and stated that nissan would send the fluid to a laboratory for testing. Approx 6 days later I received a call from the dealership stating nissan would replace the transmission free of charge. At 60,000 miles or a month or so later my vehicle warranty expired. The vehicle never really ran correctly after that; heavy shifting, vehicle would not warm up when stationary. I made several follow up calls to the dealership but each time I was advised that vehicle was out of warranty, or over 60,000 miles. At that point I just dealt with the rough running rough shifting vehicle. Move ahead to may 2014. Once again the vehicle's transmission slipped while turning almost causing me to have an accident. At this point I began researching my vehicle and found out that transmission problems, more specifically coolant leaking into the transmission causing failure was an on going problem, I had the vehicle inspected at pickerington ohio goodyear. Coolant was present in the transmission. At that time I notified my dealership and nissan of my issue. Nissan stated that due to the vehicle age (175,000 miles) they could not assist me; nissan reference number #[xxx]. I believe this is just as much a safety issue as a mechanical issue. If the transmission fails when turning in front of traffic an accident could take place. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 29, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 119,863 miles · CO

First noticed a stuttering when driving and a clunking sound when moving the shifter from park to reverse to drive in february. Also experienced no heat and over heating in march. Upon repair of thermostat, draining the radiator showed an accumulation of thick grey gunk in the coolant. Thermostat seal itself was melted. Had dealer evaluate clunking sound and they diagnosed it as intermix (the problem identified by the coolant) a manufacturing defect in the radiator/transmission cooling components that allows the coolant to contaminate the transmission fluid causing transmission damage. As a result of class action lawsuit, dealership explained that mileage was over the nissan warranty limit of 100,000 even though the problem did not manifest until almost 120,000 miles. Recommended fix was in stages - 1) replace radiator and transmission flush $1200++ 2) if problem is not solved, replace transmission $4000++ have talked with nissan corporate to no avail. Case # is [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Feb 3, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 130,000 miles · TX

I have a 2006 nissan se xterra 4.0 4x2 automatic -I started noticing when gets speed up to 45 miles it is making a hard shifting and when slowing down making a hard down shifting as well. I mostly notice this when the vehicle is already warmed up and stop and go traffic is when it starts acting up, like a clunk noise and feel like it is loosing power in the transmission. It was a cold day and when leaving work and I backed up and then put in drive and started to move forward all of a sudden the service engine light came on and it felt like I had lost power to the transmission. (bogged down feeling) I had to press further down on the peddle to get the xterra to drive. I drove home slowly with my flashers on praying to god I would not break down within the 7miles. The next day I drove 2 miles to oriellys to pull the code p1754 with several others.I drove to a transmission shop and was given a "worse case scenario" charge of about $3300.00 -I still owe $6000.00 for it! I started to investigate the issue online with all of the forums/parts/rebuilds and such and found that the transmission is the issue with the coolant line in radiator cracking and leaking atf into transmission causing problems with corrosion in the valve body and transmission (o rings/seals) causing to be replaced which is (faulty engineered/manufactured highly expensive defect) at around 100,000 miles and cost is $1100.00 for body valve, rebuilding transmission ($2800.00-($5000.00 for new) and replacing the radiator $ 260.00 and lets not forget about the labor at about $110.00 an hour for around 13 hours. Who has this kind of money for this repair?? I love my xterra but not at this cost since I found out that every 100,000 I will have to replace the $1100.00 transmission valve body (solenoids failing)!! I am very disappointed with nissan.

Filed Nov 12, 2013 · Transmission · 79,200 miles · HI

I was slowing down at an intersection to prepare to stop when I heard a clunking sound from under my car and then service light came on. When I pressed the gas pedal to go, I heard my engine rev but only got very little acceleration before it moved forward. It happened again at another intersection so I drove home carefully. Speculating that it had to do with the transmission, my husband and I did the research and found that there was a class action lawsuit regarding to engine coolant in the transmission. We were surprised that I was never alerted to this serious problem by nissan. We called the dealership to see what could be done. At first they lied about the problem but when confronted with the knowledge that we knew about the lawsuit, then they acknowledged there was problem. Then they weren't going to help us because they claimed that my VIN was not part of the recall. My husband told them that the class action lawsuit, did not say it was for select VIN numbers. We were told to bring it in, which we did and then they informed us we still had to pay $2500. If I had been informed of the problem, I would have had it fixed before it became serious. This website gives the best info to what happened: http://www.ncconsumer.org/nissan%20frontier%20pathfinder%20xterra%20oil%20cooler%20transmission%20defect.html. We were never told about this issue even when we had the dealership do the oil change previously. The worst part is that they knew about the issue but did nothing to help fix the problem before it became a serious issue. This type of negligent practice should be investigated and nissan should be held accountable and the victims should not have to pay at all since it was preventable and is dangerous for the driver, passengers and all vehicles on the road should it stall in traffic. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Filed May 29, 2013 · Transmission · 149,000 miles · TX

Driving at 65 MPH and felt a clunk and a surge - check engine light came on and the car felt like it had been shifted into neutral. I pulled off the highway and had it towed to a repair shop. Turns out that the transmission failed due to a known radiator defect that allows coolant to leak into the transmission, causing failure. Nissan will not cover my car because I am beyond the specified mileage of their useless warranty extension, agreed to in a class action lawsuit. Repairs and rental car will cost me about $8,000. Nissan should have been forced to recall the cars for this defect and should reimburse the repair costs at 100%.