IllustrationI WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY CITY STREET WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING. THE SPEED OF THE CAR DECREASED AND LEFT ME RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I THAN HAD IT TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND SAID IT HAS BEEN CROSS CONTAMINATED WITH THE RADIATOR AND WILL BE A $4,800.00 FIX.
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 reportsUPON FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL INDICATOR READS EMPTY. AFTER 30-40 MILES OF DRIVING, THE FUEL INDICATOR RETURNS TO NORMAL. AT ROUGHLY 1/4 TANK REMAINING ON THE INDICATOR, THE VEHICLE TOOK 14.7 GALLONS OF GAS, WHICH MEANS IT WAS NEARLY EMPTY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN CLAIMS DOES NOT AFFECT THIS VEH…
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UPON FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL INDICATOR READS EMPTY. AFTER 30-40 MILES OF DRIVING, THE FUEL INDICATOR RETURNS TO NORMAL. AT ROUGHLY 1/4 TANK REMAINING ON THE INDICATOR, THE VEHICLE TOOK 14.7 GALLONS OF GAS, WHICH MEANS IT WAS NEARLY EMPTY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN CLAIMS DOES NOT AFFECT THIS VEHICLE, AS IDENTIFIED BY THE VIN REPORTED ABOVE. CLEARLY THIS IS THE ISSUE ADDRESSED BY CAMPAINGN ID PC 042/NHTSA # 10V-075. NISSAN DENIES THIS.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO LEAK FROM RADIATOR COOLING SYSTEM FLUID INTERMIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, WENT TO REPAIR SHOP THE CODE P0717 CAME UP. UPON INSPECTION BY THE REPAIR SHOP IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AND ALL HOSES,ETC. THAT INTERCONNECTED THE TRANSMISS…
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO LEAK FROM RADIATOR COOLING SYSTEM FLUID INTERMIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, WENT TO REPAIR SHOP THE CODE P0717 CAME UP. UPON INSPECTION BY THE REPAIR SHOP IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AND ALL HOSES,ETC. THAT INTERCONNECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND THE PROBLEM OCCURED IN ARIZONA.
TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WHERE ENGINE COOLANT CAN LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION.
I HAD BOUGHT A USED 2007 NISSAN XTERRA AND THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. IT IS NOT DRIVEABLE. I HAD BOUGHT IT IM AUGUST OF 2017 AND IT WENT OUT ON ME IN MARCH 2018. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM CAN NOT HELP ME.
MY 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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING ROUGHLY AND FELT THAT IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE DEALER (BAKER NISSAN, 19630 NORTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77065, (83…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING ROUGHLY AND FELT THAT IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE DEALER (BAKER NISSAN, 19630 NORTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77065, (832) 604-3495) AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,100.
THE FUEL GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS AT LEAST HALF FULL; IT DOES SAME WHEN VEHICLE IS STANDING IDLE FOR A SHORT WHILE TOO. AIRBAG DASH WARNING LIGHT FLASHING. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR BOTH THESE ISSUES, BUT NISSAN CLAIMS MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. THE DATE ASSIGNED TO THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" IS AN APPROXIMATION.
THE FUEL GAUGE IS FUNCTIONING IMPROPERLY SENDING INACCURATE READINGS. WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS THE GAUGE SOMETIMES READS EMPTY AND SOMETIMES READS QUARTER TANK FULL. OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME IN MOTION OR AFTER REFUELING.
COOLANT FROM MY RADIATOR GOT INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND DAMAGES MY TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION COMPUTER IN 2015 AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. EARLIER THIS YEAR 20Q8, MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN SO I'M STUCK NOW.
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.