NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
62 reportsClear category filter43,000 miles · Mar 26, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN DRIVING ALONG THE TRUCK LOST POWER THEN WHEN THE TRUCK WAS TURNED BACK ON THE MOTOR MADE A LOUD NOISE. NOW THE REPAIRMAN TELLS ME THE TRUCK NEEDS A NEW MOTOR. IT HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY TROUBLE BEFORE. IT IS NOT A WORK TRUCK IT'S A PLEASURE TRUCK. I'M RETIRED. WITH THAT LOW MILEAGE YOU WOULD THINK THE MOTOR WOULD BE BETTER…
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WHEN DRIVING ALONG THE TRUCK LOST POWER THEN WHEN THE TRUCK WAS TURNED BACK ON THE MOTOR MADE A LOUD NOISE. NOW THE REPAIRMAN TELLS ME THE TRUCK NEEDS A NEW MOTOR. IT HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY TROUBLE BEFORE. IT IS NOT A WORK TRUCK IT'S A PLEASURE TRUCK. I'M RETIRED. WITH THAT LOW MILEAGE YOU WOULD THINK THE MOTOR WOULD BE BETTER THAN THAT. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702002
111,000 miles · Feb 20, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR INSTALLED BY MANUFACTURER, ROTTED, CAUSING A MIX OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT PERMANENTLY DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10689691
135,000 miles · Feb 10, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
STARTED EXPERIENCING RADIATOR OVERHEATING AND ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. MECHANIC FOUND RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS MIXED. RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED +/-$4000 ESTIMATE. NORMAL DRIVING HISTORY AND VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION OTHERWISE. HTTP://WWW.NISSANPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/COOLANT-LEAKS-DESTROY-TR…
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STARTED EXPERIENCING RADIATOR OVERHEATING AND ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. MECHANIC FOUND RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS MIXED. RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED +/-$4000 ESTIMATE. NORMAL DRIVING HISTORY AND VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION OTHERWISE. HTTP://WWW.NISSANPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/COOLANT-LEAKS-DESTROY-TRANSMISSION/ HTTP://WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM/WEB/RADIATOR/FAQS.PHP?MENU=22 HTTP://CLASSACTION.KCCLLC.NET/CASEINFO.ASPX?PAS=NISSANATOILCOOLERSETTLEMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10682645
109,500 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,500.
NHTSA ODI #10667666
120,695 miles · Aug 24, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 8/16/2014 AND I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF GEAR ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SCANNED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED A CODE FOR THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SENSOR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY FOUND COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION AND…
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PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 8/16/2014 AND I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF GEAR ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SCANNED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED A CODE FOR THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SENSOR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY FOUND COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION AND I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE PREVIOUS EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. AND NISSAN WOULDN'T COVER ANY OF THE DAMAGES DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF THE LAST EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $6,756 TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE I'VE OWED FOR LESS THAN A WEEK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10627838
126,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK INTO RADIATOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10611024
93,000 miles · Jun 9, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION CROSS CONTAMINATED DUE TO A CRACKED ATF LINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10597067
81,000 miles · May 23, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO RADIATOR LEAKAGE INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID. JUST OUT OF WARRANTY! NISSAN CLAIMS POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER SINCE IT IS A RADIATOR PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES THE FAILURE. ----- LEAKING COOLANT CAUSES TRANSMISSION FAILURE AN ALARMING NUMBER OF NISSAN XTERRA, PATHFINDER AND FRONTIER OWNERS ARE STEPPI…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO RADIATOR LEAKAGE INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID. JUST OUT OF WARRANTY! NISSAN CLAIMS POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER SINCE IT IS A RADIATOR PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES THE FAILURE. ----- LEAKING COOLANT CAUSES TRANSMISSION FAILURE AN ALARMING NUMBER OF NISSAN XTERRA, PATHFINDER AND FRONTIER OWNERS ARE STEPPING FORWARD WITH STORIES ABOUT HOW CRACKED RADIATORS ARE CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. ONCE MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID THIS LETHAL COMBINATION KILLS THE VALVES, SEALS AND TORQUE CONVERTER -- RENDERING YOUR ENTIRE TRANSMISSION USELESS. THIS ISSUE IS CURRENTLY CONTAINED TO THE 2005'2010 MODEL YEARS. SOME ARTICLES ONLINE CLAIM THAT BEING AWARE OF THE PROPER WARNING SIGNS MAY HELP PREVENT YOUR NISSAN FROM NEEDING A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THESE WARNING SIGNS ARE: HEAVY VIBRATION WHILE SHIFTING HEAVY VIBRATION WHILE ACCELERATING ABRUPT STALLING SHUDDERING NOISES CAR DOESN'T WARM UP WHEN SITTING OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR RADIATOR CRACK ARE CLAIMING THAT EVEN IF YOU CATCH IT EARLY, YOUR TRANSMISSION IS STILL DOOMED TROUBLE DUE TO THIS ENGINEERING / MANUFACTURING DEFECT. YOU CAN READ THEIR STORIES OVER AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE THREE NISSAN MODELS THAT ARE SHOWING THE DEFECT: PATHFINDER: 2007, 2006, 2005 XTERRA: 2005, 2006, 2007 FRONTIER: 2005. 2006, 2007 PERHAPS EVEN MORE TROUBLING IS OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THEIR TRANSMISSIONS "REPAIRED" BY AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER ARE STILL REPORTING CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, NISSAN OWNERS WHO ARE OUT OF WARRANTY ARE LEFT TO COVER THE HEFTY REPAIR BILL, WHICH CAN BE OVER $4,500 WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10593657
116,000 miles · May 15, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
THE TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT IN THE RADIATOR LEAKED. MY COOLANT SYSTEM BECAME A BROWN SLUDGE DUE TO HAVING TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK INTO IT. MY TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD COOLANT LEAK INTO IT AND TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10588485
113,000 miles · May 13, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY STOPPED TRANSFERRING POWER. OWNER CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID AFTER INCIDENT IN WHICH IT WAS FILLED WITH RADIATOR COOLANT AND RADIATOR HAD A MIX OF COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10588168
Official recalls
1Dec 29, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP12004 · Transmission Failures
Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
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