IllustrationMY AIR BAG LIGHT SAYS ON IN THE DASH AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOSE NOT SHOW ANYONE IN THE SEAT . MY CRUSE CONTROL WORKS SOME TIMES IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL NOT WORK IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART IT IT WILL WORK
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
7 reportsMY FAMILY AND I WAS GOING DOWN A BIG HILL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT TO THE LOWEST GEAR ON ITS OWN ALMOST STOPPING US DEAD IN ITS TRACKS 20 MPH AND WE WAS ON THE INTERSTATE MAKING BIG SEMI TRUCKS LOCKING BRAKES AND ALMOST HITTING US RUNNING 70 PLUS MPH. MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK,SO WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SHUT IT OFF AN…
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MY FAMILY AND I WAS GOING DOWN A BIG HILL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT TO THE LOWEST GEAR ON ITS OWN ALMOST STOPPING US DEAD IN ITS TRACKS 20 MPH AND WE WAS ON THE INTERSTATE MAKING BIG SEMI TRUCKS LOCKING BRAKES AND ALMOST HITTING US RUNNING 70 PLUS MPH. MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK,SO WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SHUT IT OFF AND WE WAS FINE AGIN.I TOOK IT HOME AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN THE RADIATOR , THEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THOUSANDS OF NISSANS ARE HAV ING THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT YET NO RECALLS!!! IT ALMOST COST OUR LIVES FOR A COMPANY TO SORRY TO FIX THEIR PRODUCT! SO WHAT DO I DO IM SCARED TO DRIVE IT HELP ASAP
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INNERLOOP OF THE BELTWAY 495 FROM FALLS CHURCH VA, TO CHEVY CHASE MD AFTER WORK AROUND 330PM. I WAS ON THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK LOST POWER AND I HAD NO CONTROL OR WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE RPM'S WERE MOVING BUT THE TRUCK BARELY MOVED. I PUT MY HAZARDS O…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE INNERLOOP OF THE BELTWAY 495 FROM FALLS CHURCH VA, TO CHEVY CHASE MD AFTER WORK AROUND 330PM. I WAS ON THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK LOST POWER AND I HAD NO CONTROL OR WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE RPM'S WERE MOVING BUT THE TRUCK BARELY MOVED. I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND SLOWLY MOVED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WHERE OTHER CARS COULD HAVE HIT ME. NISSAN'S FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FAULTY RADIATOR THAT HAS AFFECTED THE TRANSMISSIONS OF BOTH THE XTERRA'S, PATHFINDERS, AND FRONTIERS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I AM OVER 100,000 AND THAT I AM NOT COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY FOR NISSAN'S ISSUE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT THIS COULD POSSIBLE LEAD TO A MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THESE TRANSMISSION ISSUES.
I HAVE A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA WHICH STARTED TO "STUTTER" AND HESITATE WHEN PRESSING THE GAS. THE CAR ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS SHUTTING OFF WHILE ON I-4 HIGHWAY. THE SHUTS DOWN AND WONT START. I HAD THE CAR CHECKING AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN MY RADIATOR AND THAT THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OVER INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I HA…
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I HAVE A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA WHICH STARTED TO "STUTTER" AND HESITATE WHEN PRESSING THE GAS. THE CAR ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS SHUTTING OFF WHILE ON I-4 HIGHWAY. THE SHUTS DOWN AND WONT START. I HAD THE CAR CHECKING AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN MY RADIATOR AND THAT THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OVER INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED, A FEW MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION IS STILL NOT WORKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN, THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD RUN ABOUT $5200. I CALLED THE NISSAN HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE MY TRUCK WAS AT 109,000 MILES. *TR
ENGINE COOLANT GOT INTO TRANSMISSION. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR A MOMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FELT LIKE I HIT BLACK ICE. TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
EARLIER LAST WEEK, I WENT TO SOUTHERN CAL TO TAKE CARE OF SOME BUSINESS. UPON RETURNING HOME, I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND TRAVELING BETW SPEEDS OF 35-40 MPH. WHEN TRAFFIC SPEED INCREASED, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT HAD DIFFICULTY. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE RMP??S INCREASED BUT MY SPEED WOULD NOT. UPON RETURNING HOME I N…
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EARLIER LAST WEEK, I WENT TO SOUTHERN CAL TO TAKE CARE OF SOME BUSINESS. UPON RETURNING HOME, I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND TRAVELING BETW SPEEDS OF 35-40 MPH. WHEN TRAFFIC SPEED INCREASED, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT HAD DIFFICULTY. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE RMP??S INCREASED BUT MY SPEED WOULD NOT. UPON RETURNING HOME I NOTICED THAT I HAD A LIGHT OILY FILM ON MY BACK WINDOW. DURING THE TRIP NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. ON JULY 5TH THAT ??SERVICE ENGINE SOON?? LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED FOR AN APPT AND ONE WAS SCHEDULED FOR ME JULY 6TH. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP REP. WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND WHAT I WAS STILL EXPERIENCING. THE REP MADE STATEMENT ABOUT LEAKY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND HE TOOK MY CAR FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. A FEW HOURS LATER, THE REP CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT MY RADIATOR FAILED. HE THEN STATED THAT AS A RESULT OF MY RADIATOR FAILING THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AS A RESULT, I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION COSTING APPROXIMATELY $6800. HOW CAN THIS BE SINCE I GET MY CAR SERVICED REGULARLY? THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON MY VEHICLE. THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, I BELIEVE THAT THIS ENGINEERING / MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHERE OVER TIME IT ALLOWS FLUIDS TO MIX FROM ONE CHAMBER INTO THE OTHER. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT SINCE THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH 3 GENERATIONS ON THREE SEPARATE MODELS OF NISSAN CARS, THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM. HOWEVER, I WANT IT TO BE MADE KNOWN THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN MY RADIATOR FAILED I WAS SEVERAL HUNDREDS MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. NOTICED A FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE CAR. DEALERSHIP SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT DIDN'T GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. TOPPED OFF TRANSMISSION FLUID SINCE IT WAS LOW. 30 MILES LATER, WHILE DOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC, THE CAR SUDDENLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND SLOWED DRASTICALLY…
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STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. NOTICED A FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE CAR. DEALERSHIP SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT DIDN'T GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. TOPPED OFF TRANSMISSION FLUID SINCE IT WAS LOW. 30 MILES LATER, WHILE DOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC, THE CAR SUDDENLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND SLOWED DRASTICALLY ALMOST CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME. I SLOWED AND IT POPPED BACK INTO GEAR. I GOT IT OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAS THEN ABLE TO BARELY GET IT INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT FLUID FROM THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. I WENT BACK TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY APOLOGIZED FOR NOT PROVIDING ME ALL OF THE DETAILS AND STATED THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE "DESIGN FLAW IN THE RADIATOR" BUT IS NOT COVERING ANY OF THE REPAIRS. *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.