IllustrationA DEFECT CAUSED A CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION RADIATOR WHICH LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING UNEXPECTED CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *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 And Engine Cooling complaints
75 reportsMY TRANSMISSION IS RUINED BECAUSE BOTH THE RADIATOR ANTIFREEZE AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAVE MIXED. MY WIFE COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
THIS WEEK MY SONS 2007 NISSAN XTERRA WOULD NOT START AND WE HAD IT TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP NEAR HIS COLLEGE IN SCRANTON PA. YESTERDAY WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF AROUND $5000! THIS IS SHOCKING BECAUSE MY SON INSISTS THAT HE NOTICED NOTHING AMISS WITH THE OPERATION OF…
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THIS WEEK MY SONS 2007 NISSAN XTERRA WOULD NOT START AND WE HAD IT TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP NEAR HIS COLLEGE IN SCRANTON PA. YESTERDAY WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF AROUND $5000! THIS IS SHOCKING BECAUSE MY SON INSISTS THAT HE NOTICED NOTHING AMISS WITH THE OPERATION OF HIS TRUCK UNTIL IT HE WAS UNABLE TO START IT. AFTER SPENDING 10 MINUTES ON THE INTERNET, I LEARNED ABOUT THE NISSAN TRANSMISSION CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. WE HAVE BEEN RELIGIOUS IN TERMS OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, AND OVERALL CARE OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE COOLING/TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS PLAGUING NISSAN TRUCKS. IN ADDITION, I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT TWO SEPARATE NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, ONE IN NEW YORK AND ANOTHER NOW IN PA. IT IS DISGRACEFUL THAT NEITHER NISSAN DEALERSHIP MENTIONED ANYTHING! THIS MORNING I CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR US. I DO NOT HAVE $5000 AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY SONS NISSAN. AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED IN POSTINGS, THERE LIKELY MANY OTHERS WITH VEHICLES OVER THE 100,000 MARKER, NOW JUST EXPERIENCING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING BY NISSAN. THERE SHOULD BE A SECOND CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED AGAINST NISSAN!!! *TR
RADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION JUST AFTER 100,000 MILES. SO WHY DIDN'T NISSAN TELL US THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN? *TR
THE RADIATOR LEAKED AND THE COOLANT WENT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW HAS TOTALLY SCREWED UP THE TRANSMISSION TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO REPLACE IT AND THE RADIATOR. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT MAKE A RECALL ON EITHER PARTS WHICH IS COMPLETELY WRONG. *TR
RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, PART WAS SETTLED IN CLASS ACTION SUITE AND OWNER WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF DEFECT AND OR HOW IT CAN BE FIXED UNTIL FAILURE ON HIGHWAY WITH FAMILY OF FOUR IN IT ON 3/28/2014, THE OWNER IS THE SOLE OWNER OF VEHICLE SINCE 2007, OWNER NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION AT ALL FRO…
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RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, PART WAS SETTLED IN CLASS ACTION SUITE AND OWNER WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF DEFECT AND OR HOW IT CAN BE FIXED UNTIL FAILURE ON HIGHWAY WITH FAMILY OF FOUR IN IT ON 3/28/2014, THE OWNER IS THE SOLE OWNER OF VEHICLE SINCE 2007, OWNER NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION AT ALL FROM NISSAN REGARDING THIS MANUFACTURER ISSUE UNTIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NISSAN INFORMED OWNER OF ISSUE AND ALSO INFORMED OWNER OF $3,000.00 REPAIR CHARGE FOR THE FAULTY PARTS. *TR
RADIATOR CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TR
THE RADIATOR FLUID AND TRANSMISSION FLUID HAVE SOME HOW MIXED TOGETHER CAUSE DAMAGE TO BOTH MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASE MY XTERRA BRAND NEW IN 2007 AND KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ARTICLES AND EVEN RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. BUT AT THE TIME NO SYMPTOMS WERE SHOWING ON MY …
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THE RADIATOR FLUID AND TRANSMISSION FLUID HAVE SOME HOW MIXED TOGETHER CAUSE DAMAGE TO BOTH MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASE MY XTERRA BRAND NEW IN 2007 AND KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ARTICLES AND EVEN RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. BUT AT THE TIME NO SYMPTOMS WERE SHOWING ON MY VEHICLE. SO UPSET THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL!!! I AM A SINGLE MOM AND THIS WAS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. NOW IT JUST SITS IN MY YARD. FRUSTRATING!!! *TR
THE RADIATOR LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSS OF BOTH. A LAWSUIT WAS FILED AND SETTLED BY NISSAN WITHOUT THEM TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. I GUESS THIS WON'T GET NOTICED UNTIL PEOPLE START DYING FROM NISSAN'S DEFECTIVE DESIGN. WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, NISSAN WILL JUST PAY…
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THE RADIATOR LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSS OF BOTH. A LAWSUIT WAS FILED AND SETTLED BY NISSAN WITHOUT THEM TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. I GUESS THIS WON'T GET NOTICED UNTIL PEOPLE START DYING FROM NISSAN'S DEFECTIVE DESIGN. WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, NISSAN WILL JUST PAYOFF THE FAMILIES SO THIS WHOLE ISSUE JUST GOES AWAY! *TR
PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS NOW DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE NISSAN WON'T DO THE RIGHT THING AND WE'RE BEYOND THE 80,000 MILES, WE'RE STUCK PAYING FOR A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. INSTEAD OF GETTING AWAY WITH DOING NOTHING EXCEPT FOR EXTENDING THE WARRANTY, NISSAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN…
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PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS NOW DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE NISSAN WON'T DO THE RIGHT THING AND WE'RE BEYOND THE 80,000 MILES, WE'RE STUCK PAYING FOR A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. INSTEAD OF GETTING AWAY WITH DOING NOTHING EXCEPT FOR EXTENDING THE WARRANTY, NISSAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ALL AFFECTED PEOPLE REGARDING THE EXACT PROBLEM AND ISSUED A RECALL AND PAY FOR A NEW RADIATOR. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS STILL AN ISSUE FOR ALOT PEOPLE AND PROBABLY MANY, MANY MORE IN THE FUTURE, LONG AFTER THE SO-CALLED PROPOSED SETTLEMENT. TOO THE NHTSA! PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND REQUIRE NISSAN DO THE RIGHT THING! *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.