IllustrationLEAK FROM RADIATOR TO TRANSMISSION
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
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
63 reportsI BROUGHT THIS CAR IN 2007 AND HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES,AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR REGULARLY. I WAS DRIVING RECENTLY AND ONLY HAD 91K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST SUDDENLY WENT WITHOUT WARNING.
NISSAN XTERRA 2007 FUEL TANK QUANTITY SENSOR IS MISREADING QUANTITY OF FUEL IN TANK CAUSING THE QUANTITY TO SHOW EMPTY WHEN FULL AND SHOWING 1/2 FULL WHEN EMPTY. THIS CAUSE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" TO ILLUMINATE, WHICH CAUSES IMMEDIATE FAILURE AT VEHICLE INSPECTION SITE. THAT IN TURN CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE REGISTRATABLE.
FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN OR RADICALLY DROPPING TO EMPTY WHEN FUEL TANK IS MORE THAN HALF FULL. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH CODE 0463. FUEL LEVER SENSOR HIGH OUTPUT. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND NOT PART OF ANY CURRENT RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO DISPLAY THE ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO DISPLAY THE ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HAVE COOLANT MIXED INTO IT. ALSO THE FUEL SEND UNIT HAS FAILED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RANDOMLY STALL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RANDOMLY STALL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE FUEL GAUGE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/05/16*LJ *CN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE: WHILE DRIVING CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER LIKE ENGINE OR DRIVE SHAFT WAS STUCK, SPEED AND POWER DECREASED RAPIDLY IN TRAFFIC NEARLY CAUSING ME TO CRASH VEHICLE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET OUT OF DRIVING LANE. I PULLED IN A PARKING LOT TURNED VEHICLE OFF, TO INSPECT TIRES, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. CHECKING FLUI…
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE: WHILE DRIVING CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER LIKE ENGINE OR DRIVE SHAFT WAS STUCK, SPEED AND POWER DECREASED RAPIDLY IN TRAFFIC NEARLY CAUSING ME TO CRASH VEHICLE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET OUT OF DRIVING LANE. I PULLED IN A PARKING LOT TURNED VEHICLE OFF, TO INSPECT TIRES, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. CHECKING FLUIDS NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID THICK LIKE A MILK SHAKE, CHECKED COOLANT, IT TOO WAS THE SAME. ALL THIS OUT OF NO WHERE. I GOOGLED PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY WITH SAME ISSUE AND THAT CAR WOULDNT START ALSO DUE TO WET ELECTRICAL PARTS IN TRANSMISSION THAT POPS A BREAKER NOT ALLOWING RESTART. I CHECK 10 AMP FUSE, IT WAS BROKEN. GOT CAR TOWED TO NEAR FAMILY HOME, BEGAN RESEARCHING AND FIND OUT THAT NISSAN WAS AWARE OF TRANS COOLER PROBLEM THAT WILL CAUSE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ALSO, THAT THIS ISSUE MOST LIKELY HAPPENS AFTER 100,000 MILES, WHICH I ALSO FOUND OUT NISSAN ONLY COVERED THIS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH CO-PAY TO THAT AMOUNT, WHICH I NEVER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. MY CAR WAS FINANCED WITH A MAJOR US BANK, SAME EMAILS SINCE PURCHASE. I WENT TO DEALER, CALLED NISSN NORTH AMERICA AND WAS QUICKLY DIMISSED WITH MY VEHICLE HAS TO MANY MILES AND CAMPAIGN IS OVER AND WONT SPEAK FUTHER DUE TO SOME LAWSUIT. REALLY?? I LIVE IN ILLINOIS WHERE ITS COLD, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE? THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR LIKE THIS, ME BEING THE ONLY OWNER AND JUST HAD NISSAN INSPECT MY VEHICLE DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS THING. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BEEN AFFECTED. DEALER QUOTED ME $4900 FOR REPAIRS AND STATED THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE. THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND PAY FOR TOTAL REPAIRS REGARDLESS OF MILES. WHAT HAPPENS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THEBTRANSMISSION STOPS? I'M A COMMERCIAL DRIVER, SEEN MANY ACCUDENTS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. RECALL THIS PLEASE, THEIR LIABLE.
THE FUEL GAUGE IN OUR XTERRA DOES NOT READ ACCURATELY. WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDS A FUEL SENSOR. EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS FULL WE HAVE TO TRACK THE NUMBER OF MILES TRAVELED BECAUSE THE GAUGE FLOATS OR READS "EMPTY." I HAVE READ OVER 30 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS JUST ON THIS SITE. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE LAUNCHED SINCE THIS WAS A PROBL…
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THE FUEL GAUGE IN OUR XTERRA DOES NOT READ ACCURATELY. WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDS A FUEL SENSOR. EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS FULL WE HAVE TO TRACK THE NUMBER OF MILES TRAVELED BECAUSE THE GAUGE FLOATS OR READS "EMPTY." I HAVE READ OVER 30 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS JUST ON THIS SITE. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE LAUNCHED SINCE THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR VEHICLES UP TO 2006 AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T FIXED FOR 2007.
FUEL LEVEL MALFUNCTION CAUSING FALSE READING OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE.
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.