IllustrationFAULTY FUEL GAUGE SENSOR. *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
What owners actually said
557 reportsA DEFECT CAUSED A CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION RADIATOR WHICH LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING UNEXPECTED CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
I PULLED ON TO THE INTERSTATE ON WHICH THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 65 MPH, AND MY XTERRA WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST SECOND GEAR OR GO ABOVE 35 MPH. CARS WERE FLYING BY ME AND THOSE ENTERING INTERSTATE BEHIND ME WERE UNABLE TO GET AROUND ME DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF VEHICLES ON THE INTERSTATE PASSING US. I TURNED ON MY FLASHERS AND LIMPED IT…
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I PULLED ON TO THE INTERSTATE ON WHICH THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 65 MPH, AND MY XTERRA WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST SECOND GEAR OR GO ABOVE 35 MPH. CARS WERE FLYING BY ME AND THOSE ENTERING INTERSTATE BEHIND ME WERE UNABLE TO GET AROUND ME DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF VEHICLES ON THE INTERSTATE PASSING US. I TURNED ON MY FLASHERS AND LIMPED IT TO THE NEXT EXIT TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLANT BEING LEAKED INTO IT. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLED. HOWEVER, IT WAS ONLY UP TO $100,000 MILES AND I CAN NO LONGER BE PART OF THAT LAWSUIT. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF AN ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE IS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN TO OTHER XTERRA OWNERS AND PUTTING OTHERS AT RISK. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO CORRECT IT. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE VALVE NEEDED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS ON BACK ORDER WITH NISSAN DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. APPARENTLY, THEY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH PRODUCTION OF THEM. *TR
RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE MERGING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED OUT OF GEAR, THEN STUCK IN LOW GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID CAUSING ACCIDENT. *JS
I PURCHASED A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA 200 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME AND WHILE DRIVING IT HOME THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE DROVE OK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT ONCE I SLOWED, TO IN TOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST THE GEARS ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IF THIS OCCURRED TO ME WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE B…
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I PURCHASED A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA 200 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME AND WHILE DRIVING IT HOME THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE DROVE OK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT ONCE I SLOWED, TO IN TOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST THE GEARS ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IF THIS OCCURRED TO ME WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A MUCH GREATER DANGER. THIS MORE THAN LIKELY HAS OCCURRED TO OTHERS THAT OWN THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES, PUTTING THEM IN A VERY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. IF THERE WAS FLUID LOSS OR OVERHEATING IT COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL TO OCCUR FOR THE TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR CROSSOVER TO THE 2005-2010 NISSANS - XTERRA, PATHFINDER, AND FRONTIER. *JS
MY TRANSMISSION IS RUINED BECAUSE BOTH THE RADIATOR ANTIFREEZE AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAVE MIXED. MY WIFE COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
MY FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED ONLY 1/2 OF THE LAST QUARTER SO I COMPLETELY FILLED UP. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR UP THE FUEL GAUGE NOW READ TOTALLY EMPTY, WITH THE YELLOW EMPTY LIGHT ON. I KNEW IT WAS FULL SO I RESET THE ODOMETER TO TRACK MILEAGE TO ESTIMATE FUEL CONTENT. AFTER ABOUT TWO DRIVING CYCLES THE GAUGE EVENTUALLY MADE IT TO …
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MY FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED ONLY 1/2 OF THE LAST QUARTER SO I COMPLETELY FILLED UP. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR UP THE FUEL GAUGE NOW READ TOTALLY EMPTY, WITH THE YELLOW EMPTY LIGHT ON. I KNEW IT WAS FULL SO I RESET THE ODOMETER TO TRACK MILEAGE TO ESTIMATE FUEL CONTENT. AFTER ABOUT TWO DRIVING CYCLES THE GAUGE EVENTUALLY MADE IT TO THE FULL MARK AND SEEMED TO COME DOWN NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW THREE MORE TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL, BUT MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE TIME (SEPT 2013) AND DISTANCE (72000) MILES ALLOWED FOR THE RECALL. IT'S NOW MAY 2014, WITH 76000 MILES. THE DEALER, AND THE NISSAN 800 NUMBER JUST BLEW ME OFF AS BEING OUTSIDE THE RECALL WARRANTY LIMITS. ONE OF THE TIMES THE GAUGE HUNG UP AT THE LAST QUARTER TANK, YOU COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL IN TRAFFIC OR AN INTERSECTION. I FEEL IT'S SERIOUS ENOUGH TO RATE AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY OTHER HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SENSOR ON 2007 XTERRA. LAST GEN WAS RECALLED AND THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS YEAR. I HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS TWICE ALREADY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I AM ALSO HAVING A LOUD WINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO A FAILED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. BOTH …
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I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY OTHER HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SENSOR ON 2007 XTERRA. LAST GEN WAS RECALLED AND THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS YEAR. I HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS TWICE ALREADY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I AM ALSO HAVING A LOUD WINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO A FAILED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. BOTH THESE ITEMS NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. *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
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.