IllustrationIT 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
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
Power Train complaints
231 reportsTHIS IS ONE OF THE MANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH 2007 XTERRAS WHERE THE COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND DESTROYS IT. THE REPAIR COST IS 8500 DOLLARS IF THE 100000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN PASSED. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY DESPITE THE HUNDRED OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE EX…
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THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH 2007 XTERRAS WHERE THE COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND DESTROYS IT. THE REPAIR COST IS 8500 DOLLARS IF THE 100000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN PASSED. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY DESPITE THE HUNDRED OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN THE XTERRA CHANGES GEARS THERE IS A ROUGH VIBRATION THAT KEEPS GETTING WORSE THE LONGER IT GOES FOR. HAD I NOT LEARNED ABOUT THIS ON MY OWN ACCORD THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. *TR
WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR CAUSED RADIATOR FLUID TO SEEP INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. NEITHER DEALER NOR NISSAN WOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
SITTING AT LIGHT IN THE LEFT LANE, WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD RACING SOUND. NOT SURE IF IT WAS TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE MAKING THE NOISE. I LOOKED AT MY GAUGES AND SAW THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ON H. I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, BECAUSE I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, IN …
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SITTING AT LIGHT IN THE LEFT LANE, WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD RACING SOUND. NOT SURE IF IT WAS TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE MAKING THE NOISE. I LOOKED AT MY GAUGES AND SAW THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ON H. I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, BECAUSE I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, IN THE LEFT LANE, TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WERE CARS ON MY RIGHT AND CARS GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. AS SOON AS I COULD MOVE, I PULLED OVER TO A SAFE SPOT, BUT BEFORE I COULD, THE CAR STARTED OVERHEATING AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. IT WAS TOWED TO MY GARAGE AND AFTER MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT, HE SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR NISSAN XTERRAS 2007, BECAUSE THE RADIATOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE COOLANT MIXES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR STOPS RUNNING! APPARENTLY, NISSAN KNOWS THAT THE PART IS DEFECTIVE SO THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILE AND ANYTHING PAST THAT I HAVE TO PAY. WELL, I HAVE 90,400 MILES AND CAN'T BELIEVE THAT NISSAN CAN GET AWAY WITH KNOWING A PART IS DEFECTIVE AND NOT RECALLING ALL TRUCKS AFFECTED. THEY CERTAINLY CHANGED THE RADIATOR DESIGN FOR THE NEWER VEHICLES, ADMITTING THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD RECALL THE CARS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SO WIDESPREAD AND NISSAN WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT!!!!!!. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND LOOK ON THE INTERNET TO SEE HOW COMMON THIS ISSUE IS FOR XTERRAS AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GOT SCREWED BY NISSAN. THANK YOU. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF AN INTERSTATE, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. THERE WAS TRAFFIC IN THE RIGHT LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE TO THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER UNTIL I WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY DUE TO TRYING TO MERGE BETWEEN SEMIS THAT WERE IN THE RIGHT LA…
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WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF AN INTERSTATE, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. THERE WAS TRAFFIC IN THE RIGHT LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE TO THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER UNTIL I WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY DUE TO TRYING TO MERGE BETWEEN SEMIS THAT WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE 75 MILES TO GET CLOSE TO HOME AND AT A TRUSTED REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM (LIKE SO MANY OTHERS). THIS CAUSED THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CONTAMINATION OF ALL OF THE LINES AND GASKETS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE, BASED ON THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED AT 5,000 TO 5,500 DOLLARS, PLUS THE TOWING. MOST OF THE PROBLEMS, INCLUDING MINE, OCCUR AFTER THE EXTENDED PERIOD. DUE TO THE RAPID FAILURE, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION. *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
RADIATOR CRACKED LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
AT ABOUT 1200 RPM I START TO FEEL A VIBRATION WHICH I THINK IS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. ONCE I GET ABOVE 1500 RPM IT QUITS AND RESUMES NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. I DID HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FILTER AND FLUIDS CHANGED RIGHT AFTER THIS STARTED. THE MECHANIC DID TELL MY THAT THE FLUID APPEARED TO BE MILKY AND HE SAID THAT HE HAD …
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AT ABOUT 1200 RPM I START TO FEEL A VIBRATION WHICH I THINK IS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. ONCE I GET ABOVE 1500 RPM IT QUITS AND RESUMES NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. I DID HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FILTER AND FLUIDS CHANGED RIGHT AFTER THIS STARTED. THE MECHANIC DID TELL MY THAT THE FLUID APPEARED TO BE MILKY AND HE SAID THAT HE HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN SOME NISSAN VEHICLES. HE ALSO SAID HE KNEW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION COOLERS IN THE RADIATOR BECOMING FAULTY AND WOULD CAUSE RADIATOR FLUID (ANTIFREEZE) TO MIX IN WITH THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION LINES. THERE WAS NO SYMPTOMS THAT ALERTED ME BEFORE HAND, IT JUST HAPPENED AND I KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE, TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND DISCOVERED WHAT I MENTIONED ABOVE. PLEASE INFORM ME WHAT I MAY BE ABLE TO DO. THANKS *TR
CAR WILL NOT UPSHIFT SOMETIMES SEEMS ELECTRICAL. *TR
MY 2007 NISSAN XTERRA CAME ON WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OVER DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. OBDII CODE FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS P0700 TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TCS MALFUNCTION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER USE 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEAR. REVERSE, NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE COULD STILL BE SELECTED BUT WHEN IN DRIVE IT WAS IN 4TH…
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MY 2007 NISSAN XTERRA CAME ON WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OVER DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. OBDII CODE FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS P0700 TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TCS MALFUNCTION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER USE 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEAR. REVERSE, NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE COULD STILL BE SELECTED BUT WHEN IN DRIVE IT WAS IN 4TH GEAR ONLY. TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD SEEN BEFORE MANY TIMES NOW. THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WAS 1500 MILES OVER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE. THAT IS WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS PROBLEM AGAINST NISSAN BECAUSE THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT FOR 2005-2010 XTERRAS AND THEY WOULDN'T DO A RECALL. NOW NISSAN IS TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME AND THEY WILL CHARGE ME $7500 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, LINES AND FLUID. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS AS MY 2007 XTERRA ONLY VALUES AT $8000. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED WHEN I BOUGHT THIS SUV IN AUGUST OF 2012 THAT IT WAS PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND IN THE 2 YEARS I HAVE OWNED I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED BY NISSAN OF A SETTLEMENT THAT COULD HAVE ALERTED ME TO HAVE THIS CHECKED SOONER BEFORE TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAPPENED. I ALSO WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION THAT NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO RECALL FOR. NOW I AM TRAPPED WITH A LOAN ON A LEMON I CANT DRIVE AND CANT AFFORD TO FIX. *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.