2005 Nissan Xterra Complaint Log

WENT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND EXPERIENCED TRANNY SLIPPING. I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS PROBLEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. IT WOULD SEEM NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSES FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANNY THEREBY SLOWLY DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION, THEY OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANT TO 80,000 MILES BUT THRU RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT MANIFEST ITSELF UNTIL AROUND 100,000 MILES. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY NISSAN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS NO RECALL BUT HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IF NISSAN DOES NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE THERE ARE GOING TO BE ACCIDENTS AND MAYBE EVEN DEATHS RELATED TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

AS WITH MOST OF THE 2ND GENERATION XTERRAS, MY RADIATOR FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE UP AND/OR AN INABILITY TO SHIFT. I FIRST FELT SHUDDERING WHILE SHIFTING INTO 4TH (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED A PROBLEM AND AND BEGAN DRIVING TO MY MECHANIC. I ENTERED THE FREEWAY AND FOUND MYSELF UNABLE TO GET OUT OF 1ST OR 2ND GEAR - I COULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT 65+ AND NO SHOULDER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES BUT APPARENTLY THIS ISSUE HAPPENS BETWEEN 85K AND 100K TYPICALLY (MY ISSUE CAME TO LIGHT AT AROUND 95,000). I WAS IN SERIOUS DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BY ANY MEANS. *TR

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ENGINE COOLANT FLOODS TRANSMISSION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH AND STOP. INCURRED REPAIR COSTS AT DEALERSHIP OF $5,968.89. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ON 2005 XTERRAS, BUT FAILED TO INFORM OWNERS TO REPLACE FAULTY RADIATORS WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NISSAN SECRETLY EXTENDED THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM (OWNERS NOT INFORMED), BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER 80,000 MILES. ONE WEBSITE, CAROMPLAINTS.COM, AS 23 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FROM 2005 XTERRA OWNERS DOCUMENTING THIS ISSUE. REF: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/XTERRA/2005/TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR_CAUSES_TRANSMISSION_FAILURE.SHTMLNISSAN REFUSES TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THE REPAIRS. THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS FILE NO. FOR MY COMPLAINT IS [XXX]. PLEASE HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

RADIATOR LEAK, HEATER TEMP DROPPING, ROUGH GEAR VIBRATION FROM TRANSMISSION. *TR

RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION. CAUSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, HOSES, TRANSMISSION, ETC. REPAIRS COST OVER $3900. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY NISSAN AND THEY REFUSE TO RECALL, BUT THEY HAVE ISSUED BULLETINS. *TR

MY PROBLEMS STARTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 WITH WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK TO NISSAN DEALER THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NISSAN HAS SENT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TIMING CHAIN THAT CAUSES THE NOISE. AFTER CONTACTING NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIR FOR TWO WEEKS AT THE END, THEY RULED THAT SINCE I WAS OVER THE STANDARD WARRANTY OF 60K, THEY WERE NOT TO COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND NEVER SENT OUT NOTICE TO OWNERS TO HAVE THIS FIXED. SO I HAD TO SPEND THE $1063 WITH I DID NOT HAVE TO FIX THE REPAIR. AGAIN THIS LAST DECEMBER, ONE MORNING I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MILES ON THE FREEWAY WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE LOST TOTAL POWER. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND MY TRUCK WENT FROM 55 TO 10 MILES AN HOUR. THANK GOD IT WAS CLOSE TO A OFF RAMP AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND WHEN STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER CLOSE BY. THE DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECT IS THE RADIATOR THE ANTI- FREEZE IN LEAKING TO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING IT TO SEIZE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS PLAGUING MANY OTHER OWNERS OF NISSAN XTERRA, PATHFINDER FROM 2005-2010. NISSAN HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FROM 60K TO 80K. HOWEVER I HAVE NOT YET FOUND ONE OWNER THAT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENING BEFORE 80K. AS FAR AS I SEE IT IS NISSAN TRYING TO HIDE THE FACE THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. I JUST CAME FROM NISSAN DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTEEMED OF $4925.73 TO FIX THE TRANNY & THE RADIATOR. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY HAVE DECIDED NOT TO HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. SO I HAVE NOW HAVE A TRUCK THAT I CAN'T DRIVE OR CAN AFFORD TO FIX. I AM GOING TO LOOK IN TO OTHER OPTIONS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEMS. I WILL FIGHT THIS TO THE END. *TR

FUEL LEVEL SENSOR MALFUNCTION. *TR

DUE TO A CRACKED RADIATOR LINE COOLANT LEAKED CAUSING MAJOR TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF RANDOMLY OR SHAKE VIOLENTLY ( THIS HAPPEN TO ME ON THE FREEWAY AND I WAS STUCK WITH CARS ZOOMING PASS ME AT 70 MPH) AND TRANSMISSION TO JOLT AND SHAKE WHEN GOING THROUGH THE GEARS. *TR

IN JANUARY 2012 ONE MORNING I WAS DRIVING AT HWY SPEED ON THE FREEWAY WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE LOST TOTAL POWER. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND MY TRUCK WENT FROM 60 TO 10 MILES AN HOUR. THANK GOD IT WAS CLOSE TO AN OFF REAP AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP. AFTER EXAMINATION OF TRANSMISSION THEY FOUND LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE SUBTEND IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THAT WAS. NEXT DAY I DROVE THE TRUCK TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING TO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING IT TO SEIZE AND BOTH COMPONENTS NEED TO IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE FAILURE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT IS OCCURS WITH NO WARNING, NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO NOTICEABLE DETERIORATION OF PERFORMANCE, IT JUST HAPPENS. HE SAID THAT IN A WORST-CASE SCENARIO, THE VEHICLE?S TRANSMISSION COULD SEIZE CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE STOP AND LOSS OF CONTROL. SINCE I WAS NOT IN ANY POSITION TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, I TOOK MY TRUCK HOME AND TRY TO CONTACT NISSAN FOR HELP. ON JANUARY 16, I CONTACT THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AGAIN AND REQUESTED AN EXCEPTION TO THE 80K MILES LIMITATION. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TOOK 2 WEEKS TO REVIEW MY CASE BEFORE DENYING IT. THE FAILURE OF NISSAN TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE PROBLEM REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND ATTRIBUTABLE TO A DESIGN FLAW, IS INEXCUSABLE. NISSAN DENIES THAT THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN, WHEREAS THEY SHOULD HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR AND ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

MY 05 XTERRA HAS A LEAK FROM THE RADIATOR IN THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE LINES. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR WHICH WILL COST $6000. I FILED A CLAIM WITH NISSAN TO TRY AND GET THIS REPAIR COVERED. I WAS DENIED BECAUSE NISSAN SAID THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING. IF YOU ARE ALSO HAVING THIS PROBLEM YOU NEED TO OPEN A CLAIM WITH NISSAN TO SHOW THEM THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM HERE. THE REP I TALKED TO IS NAMED [XXX] AND HER PERSONAL WORK LINE IS 615-725-7205. PLEASE OPEN YOUR CLAIM WITH HER AND PROVE TO NISSAN THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA THAT WE HAD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON IN 2007 BECAUSE RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AGAIN, THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED. RECALL THESE CARS, PLEASE. THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND THIS REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAD READ THE COMPLAINT HISTORY AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS FAILED. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS TURNED ON; FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY; RECEIVED EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FUEL UNIT FOR 72K MILES OR 6 YEARS. I AM AT 70K MILES BUT I BOUGHT IT IN 2005 SO ITS PAST THE 6 YEARS. THIS IS SUCH A COMMON FAILURE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER VIA A RECALL. *TR

JANUARY 2012 ONE MORNING I WAS DRIVING AT HWY SPEED ON THE FREEWAY WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE LOST TOTAL POWER. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND MY TRUCK WENT FROM 60 TO 10 MILES AN HOUR. THANK GOD IT WAS CLOSE TO AN OFF REAP AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP. AFTER EXAMINATION OF TRANSMISSION THEY FOUND LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE SUBTEND IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THAT WAS. NEXT DAY I DROVE THE TRUCK TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING TO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING IT TO SEIZE AND BOTH COMPONENTS NEED TO IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE FAILURE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT IS OCCURS WITH NO WARNING, NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO NOTICEABLE DETERIORATION OF PERFORMANCE, IT JUST HAPPENS. SINCE I WAS NOT IN ANY POSITION TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, I TOOK MY TRUCK HOME AND TRY TO CONTACT NISSAN FOR HELP. ON JANUARY 16, I CONTACT THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AGAIN AND REQUESTED AN EXCEPTION TO THE 80K MILES LIMITATION. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TOOK 2 WEEKS TO REVIEW MY CASE BEFORE DENYING IT. THE FAILURE OF NISSAN TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE PROBLEM REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND ATTRIBUTABLE TO A DESIGN FLAW, IS INEXCUSABLE. NISSAN DENIES THAT THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN, WHEREAS THEY SHOULD HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR AND ISSUED A RECALL. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES NEED TO OCCUR OVER THE COMING YEARS BEFORE NISSAN IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE? MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST $5368 TO REPAIR MY XTERRA. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BURDEN AND HARDSHIP -- ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 100K MILES. HOW MANY NISSAN OWNERS HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BEFORE NISSAN IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE? *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING ALL SYSTEMS TO SHUT DOWN, INCLUDING BRAKE ASSIST AND POWER STEERING CAUSING A NEAR COLLISION TWICE, ONCE WHILE NAVIGATING A CURVE AT LOW SPEED WITH A DITCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND ONCE WHILE NAVIGATING A CURVE AT HIGHER SPEED AND NEARLY COASTING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE ISSUE IS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING COOLANT TO SPILL INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT APPEARS IN VEHICLES WITHOUT WARNING IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL ASAP FOR OUR SAFETY! *TR

THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR IS VERY UNRELIABLE. SOMETIMES IT READS FULL AND OTHER TIMES IT WON'T MOVE FROM EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE'S FUEL IN THE TANK. AFTER DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM I FOUND THAT IT'S VERY COMMON IN THE 2005 XTERRAS! WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THE FAULTY SENSOR? *TR

RADIATOR CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. BOTH RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION DAMAGED. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS AROUND $4700. *KB

WHILE DRIVING MY XTERRA I STARTED TO NOTICE IT SHUDDERING AND VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THIS WAS GETTING WORSE SO I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY NEW WHAT IT WAS FROM THE MOMENT I DROVE IN. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY HAVE FIXED MULTIPLE XTERRAS WITH THIS PROBLEM. SO NATURALLY THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED SO MY COST IS 3800.00. *TR

RADIATOR FAILED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEED REPLACED AT A COST OF $6411.00 (INCLUDES LABOR). *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 70 MPH. EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY MY CAR RUNNING HOT. I PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP. DIAGNOSIS WAS THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED. TOTAL COSTS $900. POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION UNKNOWN AT THE TIME. THE CAR IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME ISSUES SLIPPING/GRINDING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LOOKING ONLINE IT SEEMS THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH A LEAKY RADIATOR HOSE. I SPOKE WITH A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *TR

THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IMMEDIATE DECELERATION, FORCED US TO CROSS LANES DURING PERIOD OF HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO ABILITY TO CONTROL THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. TRANSMISSION MECHANIC STATED THAT FAILURE WAS RUSTED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS. FOLLOW UP INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALED TO US THAT THIS FAILURE IS COMMON IN 2005 NISSAN XTERRA'S. A COMMON COMPONENT BETWEEN THE FACTORY RADIATOR AND AUTO TRANSMISSION COOLER RUSTS AND FAILS, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX WITH RADIATOR FLUID. THIS DESTROYS THE RADIATOR AND EVENTUALLY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DURING A SERVICE CALL AT A LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN MAY 2011, WE WERE MADE AWARE OF THE RADIATOR / TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAK, AND WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR SHOULD BE REPLACED. WE REPLACED THE RADIATOR. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THIS SERVICE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION ISSUE WAS NEVER MENTIONED.

FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN NOT. ALSO DIGITAL MILEAGE IS INCORRECT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. FUEL SENSOR?? *TR

VEHICLE FAILED DURING OPERATION WITHOUT WARNING SECONDARY TO FAULTY ORIGINAL RADIATOR WHICH LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR DESTROYED AND REQUIRE REPLACING. DESPITE EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION OF THIS PROBLEM ON CONSUMER WEBSITES AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, NISSAN AMERICA AND DEALERSHIP DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT ACCEPT ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. TOTAL REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $5,000. NOTIFYING CONSUMER OF AND/OR REPLACING FAULTY RADIATOR COULD PREVENT A COSTLY DESTROYED TRANSMISSION. *TR

I HAVE A 200D XTERRA THAT I BOUGHT NEW AT THE END OF 2005. RECENTLY THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. I WOULD FILLIT UP THAN HE GAS LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH SERVICE ENGINE SOON. NEXT DAY GAS GAUGE READS 3/4 FULL THAN NEVER MOVES. NISSAN WANTS TO CHARGE $450 JUST SO HAPPENS MY EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT 10-15-11 AND I HAVE OVER 72,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND FAILED TO SHIFT PAST FIRST GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED IN VARIOUS GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.

FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT FAILS WITH A P0463 STORED IN SELF-DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS THE SAME AS THE OPEN RECALL FOR 06-08 IN TSB NTB07-069B. HOWEVER MINE IS AN 05 AND IF YOU LOOK ON THE WEB,,,,,,,THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH XTERRA S FROM 05-09 NOT JUST 06-08. NISSAN IS NOT BEING HELPFUL, AND RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IS NOT GOOD, NOR IS THE $500+ DOLLARS THEY WANT TO FIX THIS!! *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE RADIATOR FAILED AND ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR WAS $6800.00, GREATLY EXCEEDING THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. NISSAN DECLINED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE WIDE SPREAD KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NOT A NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR" FAILURE. *TR

FUEL GAUGE, FUEL SENDING UNIT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION DURING A RECENT HORRIFIC EVENT THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAS SEIZED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR CRACKING AND MIXING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN THROUGH MY DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009. THEY HAD AN ADJUSTOR FROM CAREFREE CAR PROTECTION COME OUT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2011. WITH THAT BEING SAID; THEY STATED THEY DO NOT COVER THE RADIATOR ISSUE; AND SINCE IT WAS THE FAULTY RADIATOR THAT CAUSED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND ULTIMATELY SEIZED, THEY WILL ALSO NOT COVER THAT OR ANY OTHER OF THE REPAIRS. UPON A BIT OF RESEARCH ON MY OWN THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR/MAKE/MODEL OF NISSAN. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES OF CONSUMERS WITH THE VERY SAME ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL MADE ON THIS AT ALL. YES, NISSAN EXTENDED THE RADIATOR WARRANTY UP TO 80,000 MILES BUT NOT THE TRANSMISSION. GUESS WHAT; THIS HAPPENED IN MY VEHICLE AT 89,000, SO NOT ONLY CAN I NOT FIX THE RADIATOR ISSUE BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO THE SAME. THE WORST PART OF ALL THIS IS; ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9TH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED DUE TO THIS KNOWN MALFUNCTION. WE WERE TRAVELING ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY IN MID-DAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO SAY, IF IT WERE NOT FOR MY EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS BY THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS , I HONESTLY DO NOT BELIEVE MY DAUGHTER OR I WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY. THE VEHICLE SEIZED RIGHT ON THAT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO VEER INTO A DITCH AVOIDING OTHER VEHICLES, TREES, GUARDRAILS AND JERSEY BARRIERS. I AM THANKFUL THAT WE DID SURVIVE THAT HORRIFIC EVEN. NOW I AM LOOKING TO NISSAN TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE THIS RIGHT. UPDATED IVOQ 12/01/11 *TR

RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AS I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY. I WAS ALSO VERY LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST AND THEN INCREASED. NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGED A RADIATOR DESIGN FLAW AND EXTENDED THE BASIC WARRANTY TO LESSOR OF 96 MONTHS OR 80K MILES. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO INFORM THEM MY XTERRA WAS AFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM. WHILE UNDER 96 MOS, MY VEHICLE HAS 89K MILES. I REQUESTED AN EXCEPTION WHICH WAS DENIED. NISSAN'S FAILURE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE PROBLEM REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND ATTRIBUTABLE TO A DESIGN FLAW, IS INEXCUSABLE. NISSAN DENIES ANY SAFETY CONCERN. THIS PROBLEM (REFERENCED BY NISSAN IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM DESCRIPTION) PERTAINS TO 2005-2010 XTERRA, PATHFINDER AND FRONTIER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTO TRANSMISSIONS. CORROSION WITHIN THE RADIATOR LEADS TO A CRACK AND CONTAMINATION OF ENGINE COOLANT WITH TRANS FLUID, DAMAGING RADIATOR & TRANSMISSION CORROSION DEVELOPS OVER TIME AND MOST VEHICLE OWNERS WILL LIKELY EXCEED THE 80K LIMIT BEFORE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED 15 DEDICATED WEB THREADS TO THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE MOSTLY 2005 VEHICLES. IF NISSAN DIDN?T CORRECT THE DESIGN FLAW BEFORE 2010, THE # OF FAILURES WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE OVER THE COMING YEARS AS MODEL YR 2005-2010 CARS AGE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES NEED TO OCCUR DURING THIS PERIOD BEFORE NISSAN IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE? THE DEALER ESTIMATE TO REPAIR MY XTERRA IS $6,760. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BURDEN AND HARDSHIP ON ANY VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 80,000 MILES. HOW MANY NISSAN OWNERS HAVE TO EXPERIENCE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BEFORE NISSAN IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE?? *TR

I HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS AND WENT TO FILL UP. AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I TURNED ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DID NOT REGISTER THE FULL TANK. AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND DOING RESEARCH, I WENT ONLINE TO X.NISSANHELP.COM AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH, I CAME ACROSS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE 2000-2004 XTERRA MODELS AND A RECALL WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AFTER NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, POSING A GREAT DANGER. IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING IN THE UNIT IS FAULTY AND WILL CORRODE OVER TIME. THERE IS A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS HAVING THE PROBLEM IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YRS AND WITH AROUND 39K-59K. IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN PREVIOUS MODELS, AND IT WAS RECALLED, THE 2005-2007 XTERRAS, FRONTIERS, AND PATHFINDERS SHOULD GET THIS FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER!! WHY WAIT FOR ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATHS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM LIES IN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR RANGES FROM $300-600. *TR

MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA WITH 85000 MILES HAS A VIBRATION WHICH FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON RUMBLE STRIPS THAT COMES AND GOES. THERE IS ALSO THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE AND THE HEAT WORKS SPORADICALLY AT IDLE. LOOKING AT EVERYONE'S ELSE'S POST IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2005 XTERRA THAT NISSAN IS NOT FIXING. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS SO THAT NISSAN CAN MAKE THE ADEQUATE REPAIRS. *TR

I WAS PICKING UP MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A STOPLIGHT. I BROUGHT IT TO A TRANS SHOP AND THEY SAID I HAVE COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED AT $4326 AND I AM JUST ANGRY AND SICK OVER THIS SITUATION. NOT ONLY WAS IT A SCARY SITUATION TO BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR BUT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN ALL THE REPORTS I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT IN THE 2005 XTERRA. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THIS IS SIMPLY NOT FAIR THAT NISSAN ISN'T TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. PLEASE HELP!! *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA AT 55 MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WHEN IT BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS IF I HAD RAN OVER SPILLED LUMBER OR RUMBLE STRIPS. I BRAKED HARD AS I THOUGHT I HAD RAN OVER SOMETHING. I HADN'T, SO AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING FOR LOOSE TIRES OR DRIVELINE I CONTINUE ON PERPLEXED AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. A FEW MILES LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. COME TO FIND OUT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT ON 2005 THRU 2010 NISSAN XTERRA'S, PATHFINDERS, AND FRONTIER'S IN WHICH THE RADIATORS INTERNALLY LEAK WATER INTO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND CAUSES THE VIOLENT SHAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS ONLY CHOSEN TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE RADIATORS AND NOT RECALL THE VEHICLES. IN FACT THE LETTER SENT TO THE CONSUMERS DOESN'T EVEN REFERENCE THE TRANSMISSION (IN WHICH IT DESTROYS). WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE NOT HURT, IT WAS A CLOSE CALL AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN WORSE AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING AND THE EFFECT THE FAILURE HAS ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

AFTER MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED, I PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY NISSAN XTERRA TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN HAWTHORNE, CA, TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. NISSAN CHARGED ME $129 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH FOUND AN ERROR CODE OF P0463. THAT ERROR CODED INDICATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. I DECLINED TO PAY $570 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT SEVERAL NISSAN VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY ITS TRUCKS AND SUVS, HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS PRODUCT DEFECT. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF NISSAN RECTIFIED THE SITUATION BY RECALLING VEHICLES OR COVERING MY CHARGE FOR REPAIRS. *TR

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ERROR CODE IS ON DUE TO A PART FAILURE AND THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT THAT OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND HAS SAFETY CONCERNS DUE TO POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING OUR OF FUEL. *TR

ERROR CODE P0463 - APPARENTLY DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND REQUIRING SUBSTANTIAL SHOP TIME TO DROP FUEL TANK AND REPLACE SENSOR/PUMP UNIT (NOT TO MENTION PART COST, WHICH IS NOT BEING SUPPLIED BY MANUFACTURER DESPITE THE KNOWN, WIDESPREAD FLAW). *TR

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY CAUSING AN UNSAFE FUEL INDICATION READING. *TR

STARTED HEARING A RUMBLE STRIP SOUND WHILE ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARDER, WITH SLIGHT VIBRATIONS. BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT IN, I WAS INVOLVED WITH A HIT IN RUN IN A PARKING LOT. NISSAN SAID THE UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR HOSES WERE SOAKED IN TRANSMISSION FLUID. MANAGER SAID IT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME. HE SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR, AND TRANSMISSION COST OF 6500. NISSAN UPDATED THEIR RADIATORS BECAUSE THEY NEW IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, BUT REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF DAMAGE THEY HAVE CAUSED. SEE LINK HTTP://WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM/WEB/RADIATOR/FAQS.PHP?MENU=22

I BOUGHT THE NISSAN XTERRA BRAND NEW IN APRIL 2005. MY XTERRA BEGAN TO HAVE MINOR ISSUES SINCE BUYING IT,(BAD BATTERY,FUEL SENDING UNIT, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE,DEFECTIVE RADIO). AS OF OCTOBER 2011 THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WENT BAD CAUSING MY "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT TO COME ON. MY LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE CENTER WILL NOT OFFER ANY HELP WITH THE ISSUE. THEIR COST TO REPLACE THE CONVERTERS EXCEEDS $1800.00. NOW I'M FACING A NEW MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. MY XTERRA ONLY HAS 120,000 MILE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE BEEN READING A LOT OF REVIEWS FROM FELLOW NISSAN XTERRA OWNERS FACING THE SAME EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE ISSUE AS I AM AT THIS MOMENT. I'M HOPING THAT NISSAN WILL SOON OFFER A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES. I'VE HAD SEVERAL QUOTES ON HAVING BOTH ISSUES REPAIRED AND THE COST EXCEEDS $5000.00. AGAIN NISSAN WILL NOT OFFER ANY HELP WITH THE PARTS OR LABOR. I THINK THIS IS A ISSUE THAT IS EFFECTING A LOT OF NISSAN OWNERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES. *TR

HAD A P0463 CODE COME UP FOR FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT HIGH INPUT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ON SECOND GENERATION NISSANS. *TT

I HAVE A 2005 XTERRA WITH 38K MILES, "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER, DIAGNOSIS IS A BAD FUEL SENDING UNIT $600.00 TO REPLACE. I'M JUST OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT DEALERSHIP CANNOT HELP. THE SENDING UNIT AND GASKET ARE $200.00. $400.00 FOR LABOR SEEMS A BIT STEEP. AT WHAT POINT IN TIME WILL NISSAN RECALL THIS ISSUE? *KB

ENGINE LIGHT SERVICE SOON IS ON THE CAR IS STARTING TO STALL. OUT OF WARRANTY BUT WHILE RESEARCHING THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR NISSAN XTERRAS. *TR

RADIATOR CORROSION LEAKING FLUID INTO TRANSMISSION. REPLACING RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. REPLACED VAPORIZER SOLENOID AND THE IPDM UNIT (VOLUNTARY RECALL) WHICH CAUSED STALLING WHILE DRIVING. FUEL SENSOR REPLACED. MANDATORY RECALL ON THE ECM UNIT. NO NOTIFICATION ON VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY RECALLS. *TR

THIS MORNING THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ON MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $500 TO FIX THE SENSOR WHICH WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND RECALLED ON EARLIER MODELS OF THIS TRUCK. AND IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OTHER XTERRA OWNERS. PLEASE RECALL THIS PART. FUEL LEVEL SENSORS LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS IS OTHER MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES. *TR

I FIRST NOTICED A VIBRATION IN MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA LIKE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE VIBRATION STOPPED. I THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH TIRES, DRIVESHAFT OR REAR END BUT FOUND IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF I TURNED OFF THE OVERDRIVE. SO I GOOGLED NISSAN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND FOUND THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND SAID IT WAS DUE TO COOLANT MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO DO THE COSTLY REPAIR AND DEBATING WHETHER TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. YESTERDAY THE CAR LEFT ME BROKE DOWN ALONGSIDE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE STARTED JUMPING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE WENT IN THE RED I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SEEN COOLANT MIXED WITH SOME OTHER FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND STREET SOMETHING MUST HAVE BURST. CONTACTED NISSAN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO BEING OVER THE 80,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANT BUT TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO AND NOTICED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT THAT IT HAD A RUMBLE WHEN DRIVING IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING OVER 40 MPH OR ON AN INCLINE WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 ON HIGHWAYS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT UPON STARTING THE CAR THERE WAS A VERY LOUD THUMP IN THE REAR END. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THESE ISSUES BECAME NOTICEABE, MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE AT ALL... I HAD TO CRAWL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RE START MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOW WHERE I WAS TOLD THE CODE WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION SECTION AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A TRANMISSION SHOP. THE ESTIMATED REPAIRS ARE VERY COSTLY AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SO MANY OTHER XTERRA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I TRAVEL 80 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK AND AM FORCED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OR BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE THAT I JUST PURCHASED AND STILL OWE MONEY ON. THERE HAS TO BE SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF NISSAN TO REIMBURSE THEIR PURCHASERS FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS DUE TO A PROBLEM THAT IS EVIDENTLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION OF THE 2005 XTERRA. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE TO AID THE VICTIMS OF NISSANS POOR DESIGN? *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY AND THE FUEL GAGE WOULD READ INACCURATELY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 98,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR HIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT NOT THE YEAR, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS. UPDATED 12/12/11

INTERIOR COMPONENTS OF THE RADIATORS (INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLERS) BREAK DOWN ALLOWING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AS A RESULT OF THE CONTAMINATION, THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS ARE DAMAGED AND FAIL CAUSING POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO A SOCCER GAME AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO PAST 20 GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALER A FEW MONTHS EARLIER B/C I WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PAST 45MPH. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE AND TO CONTINUE DRIVING. MY CAR HAD 72000 AT THAT POINT. THEY DID NOT ADVISE ME OF THE POTENTIAL RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR LET ME KNOW THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENED FROM 60000 TO 80000 MILES. *TT

DTE (DISTANCE TO EMPTY) INDICATION FLASHES "---". VEHICLE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CODE PO463, FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT INPUT HIGH IS STORED IN MEMORY. ACCORDING TO INTERNET SEARCHES AND CIRCUIT DIAGRAM, BELIEVED TO BE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR (IN-TANK). *TT