IllustrationTHE VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAKAGE THAT DESTROY THE ENGINE. THE DEALER DOES NOT FEEL ITS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. HOWEVER BUYING A NEW CAR I FEEL IT SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 5YRS. *TR
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 reportsMY CAR BEGAN SHUTTERING BAD ENOUGH THAT I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO STALL OR THAT I WOULD GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY, I DIDN'T I FOUND OUT THAT A FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. I AM BEING TOLD BY NISSAN THAT IT WILL COST $7,000 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE RADIATOR,…
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MY CAR BEGAN SHUTTERING BAD ENOUGH THAT I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO STALL OR THAT I WOULD GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY, I DIDN'T I FOUND OUT THAT A FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. I AM BEING TOLD BY NISSAN THAT IT WILL COST $7,000 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE RADIATOR, HOSES, TRANSMISSION ETC. MY MILEAGE IS JUST OVER 106,000 MILES SO, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I WILL GET NO HELP FROM NISSAN IN MAKING THESE REPAIRS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME SO IT WILL HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT WHILE I WILL PRAY THAT THERE IS A RECALL SOON. *TR
TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR DEFECT-INTERNAL LEAKAGE BETWEEN THE 2 ENGINE PARTS -NISSAN DID NOT NOTIFY ME, THE ORIGINAL OWNER, OF THE DEFECT OR OF THE SUCCESSFUL LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I PARK THE CAR AND WHEN I CAME BACK COULDN'T START. THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. TRIED JUMP START WITH MY OTHER CAR, NO LUCK. LEFT IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A FEW DAYS. CAME BACK AND HOOK MY CODE READER AND IT SHOWS U1000. U1000 IS GROUND HARNESS PROBLEM. I TRIED TO CLEAN THE BATTERY TERMINALS BOTH SIDES BUT NO LUCK. SO TOWED …
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I PARK THE CAR AND WHEN I CAME BACK COULDN'T START. THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. TRIED JUMP START WITH MY OTHER CAR, NO LUCK. LEFT IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A FEW DAYS. CAME BACK AND HOOK MY CODE READER AND IT SHOWS U1000. U1000 IS GROUND HARNESS PROBLEM. I TRIED TO CLEAN THE BATTERY TERMINALS BOTH SIDES BUT NO LUCK. SO TOWED THE CAR TO DARCARS NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME NEED TO REPLACE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID WILL COST $4700?.SO I STARTED RESEARCHING AND FOUND OUT THAT NISSAN XTERRA 2005-2007 AND EVEN NEW MODELS HAD RADIATION FLUID LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION. SO HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF I HAVE HARNESS GROUNDING PROBLEMS OR ?RADIATION FLUID LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION? DANG. DARCARS NISSAN SERVICE CENTER NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT CODE U1000 WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR. SO NOW WHAT??? *TR
I NOTICED A VIBRATION, LIKE YOU WERE DRIVING ON THE RUMBLE STRIP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH, AT AROUND 2000 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO OVERDRIVE. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE TECH DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, COOLER SYSTEM FAILURE, IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER TAKING ONE LOOK AT THE …
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I NOTICED A VIBRATION, LIKE YOU WERE DRIVING ON THE RUMBLE STRIP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH, AT AROUND 2000 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO OVERDRIVE. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE TECH DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, COOLER SYSTEM FAILURE, IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER TAKING ONE LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT. THE COOLER HAD FAILED LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND VICE VERSA. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND COOLER ASSEMBLY. I HAD JUST UNDER 97,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PAY $3300 FOR THE REPAIRS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN AND HOW THEY HAVE HANDLED WHAT IS CLEARLY A PREVALENT AND KNOWN ISSUE WITH COOLER FAILURES IN CERTAIN MODELS. A $3000 DEDUCTIBLE (PLUS TAX) THAT EXPIRES AT 100,000 MILES FOR AN ISSUE THAT'S KNOWN TO OCCUR AT CLOSE TO 100,000 MILES IS NOT MUCH OF A CONSOLATION.
IT HAS SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL THE 02-08 XTERRAS BUT YOU WONT ISSUE RECALLS ON FUEL SENSOR, RADIATOR LEAKING INTO TRANNY, AIR BAG SENSORS, CONTROL ARM. THANKS FOR LETTING LOYAL NISSAN OWNERS DOWN!!!! *TR
THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND RUINED THE TRANSMISSION AND VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY. THE CAR WILL NOT RUN AND STALLED OUT IN AN INTERSECTION. *TR
ENGINE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXING CAUSING OVERHEATING AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES. *TR
THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LARGE VIBRATING SOUND AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS WOULD KEEP GETTING WORSE UNTIL I HAD TO BRING IT TO A SHOP, OVERALL JUST ABOUT A WEEK. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE MIXING AND THAT I NEEDED A FLUID FLUSH A LONG WITH A NEW …
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THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LARGE VIBRATING SOUND AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS WOULD KEEP GETTING WORSE UNTIL I HAD TO BRING IT TO A SHOP, OVERALL JUST ABOUT A WEEK. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS WERE MIXING AND THAT I NEEDED A FLUID FLUSH A LONG WITH A NEW RADIATOR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T START ONE MORNING. I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP AGAIN, HOPING IT IS JUST A MINOR FIX THIS TIME. THIS TIME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER SYSTEM. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED, OTHERWISE WHO KNOWS WHAT DAMAGE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED TO THE CAR OR TO ME. *JS
RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
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.