IllustrationWATER FROM THE RADIATOR GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND I HAD NISSAN REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR AT THE COST OF 4700.00 DOLLARS WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL BAD BUSINESS.
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 reportsWE BOUGHT A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA IN 2010 FROM AUTONATION IN DENVER. WE BOUGHT A WARRANTY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 8/29/2015 OR 120,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING IT TO AUTONATION FOR SERVICE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN REGARDING A FLAW IN THE RADIATOR THAT LEAKS FLUID INTO THE TR…
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WE BOUGHT A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA IN 2010 FROM AUTONATION IN DENVER. WE BOUGHT A WARRANTY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 8/29/2015 OR 120,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING IT TO AUTONATION FOR SERVICE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN REGARDING A FLAW IN THE RADIATOR THAT LEAKS FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SAY THE LEAST. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM. IF WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN, WE WOULD HAVE FIXED THE RADIATOR YEARS AGO AND OUR CAR WOULD NOT BE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. OUR CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR THE LAST MONTH AT 117,000 MILES. NISSAN IS REFUSING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION IS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY WE PURCHASED.
OUR 2007 XTERRA AT 87,000 MILES LEFT MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS STRANDED ON THE ROAD WITH A DESTROYED TRANSMISSION DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR COOLING LINES THAT SUPPORT COOLING THE TRANSMISSION. THE COOLANT MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE RESULTING PRESSURE CAUSED THE RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP TO BLOW WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEA…
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OUR 2007 XTERRA AT 87,000 MILES LEFT MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS STRANDED ON THE ROAD WITH A DESTROYED TRANSMISSION DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR COOLING LINES THAT SUPPORT COOLING THE TRANSMISSION. THE COOLANT MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE RESULTING PRESSURE CAUSED THE RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP TO BLOW WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THIS STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE LOOKING FLUID LEAKED ALL OVER THE GROUND AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CLEAN-UP THIS IS A KNOWN NISSAN DEFECT ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT OR FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION RESULTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FUEL GAUGE IMPROPERLY DISPLAYED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD OVER 1/4 OF FUEL ALTHOUGH THE TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FUEL GAUGE IMPROPERLY DISPLAYED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD OVER 1/4 OF FUEL ALTHOUGH THE TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,500.
DEC. 2014: GAS GAUGE READING BECAME ERRATIC. CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID SENSOR IN TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $400. MAY 12, 2015, DELIVERED VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPAIR GAS GAUGE SENSOR, ALSO EXPERIENCING VIBRATION AND RUMBLE AT 40 TO 45 MPH WHICH STARTED 10 DAYS AGO (88,000 MILES). DEALER INFORMED ME…
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DEC. 2014: GAS GAUGE READING BECAME ERRATIC. CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID SENSOR IN TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $400. MAY 12, 2015, DELIVERED VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPAIR GAS GAUGE SENSOR, ALSO EXPERIENCING VIBRATION AND RUMBLE AT 40 TO 45 MPH WHICH STARTED 10 DAYS AGO (88,000 MILES). DEALER INFORMED ME THAT VIBRATION WAS DO TO "INSULATING SLEEVE" ON DRIVESHAFT THAT HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND DRIVESHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750. VIBRATION AT 40-45 MPH SOUNDS SUSPICIOUSLY SIMILAR TO PROBLEM OTHERS HAVE REPORTED AS TRANSMISSION GOES OUT DUE TO COOLANT CONTAMINATION.
I HAD BROUGHT THE XTERRA TO THE MECHANIC ON MAY 4TH FOR INTERMITTENT VIBRATIONS ( WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO THE ROUGH ROADS S/P WINTER AS IT OCCURRED AT THE SAME POINTS ON THE SAME ROADS ) OVER 2 MONTH AND A NEW INTERMITTENT THUMPING NOISE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING GEARS IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. NOTHING CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER…
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I HAD BROUGHT THE XTERRA TO THE MECHANIC ON MAY 4TH FOR INTERMITTENT VIBRATIONS ( WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO THE ROUGH ROADS S/P WINTER AS IT OCCURRED AT THE SAME POINTS ON THE SAME ROADS ) OVER 2 MONTH AND A NEW INTERMITTENT THUMPING NOISE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING GEARS IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. NOTHING CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SHOWING ANY ISSUES OTHER THAN THE KNOWN ALERT FOR THE GAS LEVEL PART THAT SHIFT THE BED 6 MONTHS AGO AND I REFUSE TO PAY $400 FOR A $40 PART THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE, ( ANOTHER ISSUE NISSAN IS AWARE OF AS IT COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER TO THE MECHANIC THAT THIS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT WON'T REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE) END RESULT, TRANSMISSION FLUID AND RADIATOR FLUID WERE MIXING DUE TO A KNOWN ISSUE BY NISSAN AND DEFECTIVE PARTS. THERE IS NO RECALL. THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED COSTING OVER $1600. I HAVE READ ON COMPLAINT WEBSITES REGARDING THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND I AM AWARE THIS COST IS MUCH LESS THAN WHAT OTHER NISSAN OWNERS HAVE PAID AS SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE NEEDED TO REPLACE THEIR TRANSMISSIONS OR HAVE NEEDED TO JUNK THEIR VEHICLES AS NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND SUCK UP THE COST TO FIX THIS SIGNIFICANT MECHANICAL PROBLEM ON THEIR VEHICLES !!!!! *TR
THE RADIATOR USED IN MY 2007 NISSAN XTERRA IS A FAULTY PRODUCT WHICH CAUSED A LEAK OF THE RADIATOR FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SYSTEM. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HEATS UP DURING LONGER PERIODS OF DRIVING, THE RADIATOR FLUID ALSO HEATS UP AND EFFECTIVELY RUINS THE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PARTS. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ISSUES IN …
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THE RADIATOR USED IN MY 2007 NISSAN XTERRA IS A FAULTY PRODUCT WHICH CAUSED A LEAK OF THE RADIATOR FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SYSTEM. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HEATS UP DURING LONGER PERIODS OF DRIVING, THE RADIATOR FLUID ALSO HEATS UP AND EFFECTIVELY RUINS THE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PARTS. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE SHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE, AND OFTEN TIMES IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE ACCELERATION IS KEY TO AVOIDING ACCIDENTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 7/14/15*CN
2007 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEAR EMPTY BEFORE WE REALIZED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
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.