IllustrationI HAD BOUGHT A USED 2007 NISSAN XTERRA AND THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. IT IS NOT DRIVEABLE. I HAD BOUGHT IT IM AUGUST OF 2017 AND IT WENT OUT ON ME IN MARCH 2018. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM CAN NOT HELP ME.
2007 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Xterra years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Nissan Xterra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 78.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Xterra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
310–25K
7425–50K
8950–75K
9475–100K
162100–150K
48150K+
498 reports with mileage · 59 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 231 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 136 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine complaints
85 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING ROUGHLY AND FELT THAT IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE DEALER (BAKER NISSAN, 19630 NORTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77065, (83…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING ROUGHLY AND FELT THAT IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE DEALER (BAKER NISSAN, 19630 NORTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77065, (832) 604-3495) AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,100.
BOCH NISSAN SOUTH ( FORMERLY NISSAN VILLAGE)SOLD ME A TRUCK ON MARCH 30, 2013 WHERE THEY ROLLED BACK THE ODOMETER & FAILED TO MENTION 2 SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IN 2011 PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE MARCH 2013. I BELIEVE WE WERE SHOWN A DIFFERENT CAR FAX I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE SALESMAN'S WIFE'S TRUCK THAT SHE HAD JUST TRADED IN. I HAVE HAD VERY …
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BOCH NISSAN SOUTH ( FORMERLY NISSAN VILLAGE)SOLD ME A TRUCK ON MARCH 30, 2013 WHERE THEY ROLLED BACK THE ODOMETER & FAILED TO MENTION 2 SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IN 2011 PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE MARCH 2013. I BELIEVE WE WERE SHOWN A DIFFERENT CAR FAX I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE SALESMAN'S WIFE'S TRUCK THAT SHE HAD JUST TRADED IN. I HAVE HAD VERY SERIOUS ISSUES THAT MADE NO SINCE FOR A TRUCK THAT HAD BEEN BABYED BY ME . COMPLETE ENIGEN FIRE IN FEBUARY NUREMOUS OIL LEAKS & RADIATOR MIXING WITH THE COOLANT OIL PAST 10 MONTHS. I BROUGHT IT INTO TO NISSIAN BOCH SOUTH OF NORTH ATTLEBORO IN APRIL THEY ACCUSED ME OF ROLLING BACK THE ODOMETER. I WAS HORRIFIED TOLD THEM YOU GUYS SOLD ME THIS TRUCK. I WENT HOME AND ORDERED A CARFAX AND IT CLEARLY HAPPENED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WENT IN FOR REPAIRS ON 2 ACCIDENTS THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF! BOCH NISSIAN THINKS IT'S NO BIG DEAL MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS TRUCK SHE COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRE AND AS A NEW DRIVER MAY HAVE PANICKED AND GOTTEN INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING ON RT 1 NORTH ATTLEBORO IN FEBRUARY I HAD JUST HAD THE VALVE GASKET REPLACED . I WAS DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST ALL POWER BLANK DASH SAW A TON OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. I JUMPED OUT AFTER ROLLING TO THE SIDE OF ROUTE 1 BY THE TIME THE TOW TRUCK CAME IT WAS SIMMERING. IT TOOK OVER TWO WEEKS TO REPAIR WIRING AT PATRIOT ELECTRICAL IN PAWTUCKET RI NEW ALTERNATOR , GASKET COVER REPLACED AGAIN. I THOUGHT WE WERE BUYING A TRUCK WITH 58,000 MILES WHEN IN REALTY IT WAS ALMOST 90, 000 OR MORE DEPENDING ON FAR THEY ROLLED IT IT WAS 70,000 PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE WHEN THE 1ST ACCIDENT HAPPENED WITH THE SALESMAN'S WIFE.
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME TO REPLACE IN JUST A FEW YEARS. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ONLINE FOR THE XTERRRA. CLEARLY THIS IS A DEFECT IN EITHER THE CAR OR THE TENNSIONERS. AT A COST OF OVER $2000 TO REPAIR THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS COSTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALLS.
I PURCHASED MY FIRST VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2016 AT KIA DEPOT OF SANTA ANA (NOW KIA OF ORANGE).. AND I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ONE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED BATTERY CORROSION. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS A LOUD THUD THAT FORCED ME OFF THE ROAD ON A BUSY STREET AND I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK…
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I PURCHASED MY FIRST VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2016 AT KIA DEPOT OF SANTA ANA (NOW KIA OF ORANGE).. AND I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ONE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED BATTERY CORROSION. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS A LOUD THUD THAT FORCED ME OFF THE ROAD ON A BUSY STREET AND I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. TURNS OUT THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS COMPLETED RUSTED AND CRUMBLED AWAY FROM THE CAR - THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS RUSTED I DISCOVERED. THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR IS TOTALLY COVERED AND BEING EATEN ALIVE BY RUST - THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO ME, BY KIA, AS A "AS IS" CAR - HOWEVER, I REFUSE TO LET THEM HID BEHIND THAT. SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR, WHICH WAS SOLD TO ME FOR A TOTAL OF $12,592.00,MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $285.85- I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY SITTING IN NEW YORK AROUND THE TIME OF HURRICANE KATRINA - LEGALLY IF ITS FROM A DIFFERENT STATE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT TO ME & THEY DIDN'T. SO FAR I'VE HAD TO GET A NEW BATTERY, NEW BRAKES, EMERGENCY BRAKE IS GONE, NEW MUFFLER, NEW SWAY BAR, AC RECHARGED, AND JUST RECENTLY A PIECE OF THE LEAF SPRING UNDER THE TIRE COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF AND BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING - THESE GUYS SOLD ME A RUSTY NIGHTMARE AND THEY HAVE SINCE CLOSED UP SHOP. ALSO THE SALESMAN PADDED MY LOAN APPLICATION AND I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL - I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS THING FALLS APART ON ME AGAIN, I HAD MY 7 YEAR OLD NIECE IN THE CAR WITH ME THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CRUMBLED. I HAVE LEFT REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS - MY NEXT STEP IS A ATTORNEY. HERE IS A REPORT I FILED ON RIPOFF REPORT -HTTP://WWW.RIPOFFREPORT.COM/REPORTS/KIA-DEPOT-OF-SANTA-ANA/SANTA-ANA-CALIFORNIA-92701/KIA-DEPOT-OF-SANTA-ANA-SOLD-ME-A-RUSTED-OUT-CAR-THAT-WAS-IN-HURRICANE-SANDY-SANTA-ANA-CA-1312221
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, CONTAMINATION IN RADIATOR. VEHICLE IS NOW RENDERED USELESS UNTIL TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR REPLACEMENT.
TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED BY A CRACKED RADIATOR THAT ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. COST TO FIX IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEFECTIVE RADIATOR HAS NO RECALL ON IT ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO NISSAN.
NISSAN DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME ABOUT NEEDING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT IS EVIDENT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS AND GUIDES THAT IT WAS USING ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR XTERRAS, INCLUDING 2007. IF TIMING CHAIN FAILS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGI…
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NISSAN DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME ABOUT NEEDING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT IS EVIDENT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS AND GUIDES THAT IT WAS USING ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR XTERRAS, INCLUDING 2007. IF TIMING CHAIN FAILS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND A $8000+ REPAIR BILL FOR A NEW ENGINE. NISSAN KNOWING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SENT SERVICE BULLETINS TO ITS SERVICE CENTERS BUT DID NOT INFORM CONSUMERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE GOOD FOR THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE, BUT NOW MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME IT IS GOING TO COST AT LEAST $1900 TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND ALL COMPONENTS. NISSAN KNEW THE COMPONENTS ARE FAULTY AND YET DON'T CARE ENOUGH TO INFORM CONSUMERS. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. NISSAN KNEW THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLERS ON SAME MODEL YEAR WERE FAULTY AND DID NOT INFORM CONSUMERS. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FORCED NISSAN TO FACE THE MUSIC, BUT CONSUMERS STILL HAD TO PAY OVER $2000 OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION COOLER, AND RADIATOR.
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.
NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE RADIATOR FLUIDS STARTED TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL COST $8000 DOLLARS TO FIX
Official recalls
108V690000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 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.