2005 NISSAN XTERRA Complaints

DRIVING XTERRA ON HIGHWAY WHEN SUV STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN MOVING FORWARD IN TRAFFIC....SUV WOULD HESITATE, REV...AND NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR EASILY UPON ACCELERATION. TOOK SUV TO MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE RADIATORS ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I LUCKED OUT AND DID NOT DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER; I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR DUE TO THE NISSAN KNOWN DEFECT. I WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY LETTERS OR NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND NOW WILL BE PAYING UNDER A $900 FOR FLUID FLUSH, NEW RADIATOR AND NEW FLUIDS. THIS IS NOT OK FOR NISSAN TO NOT NOTIFY THE VEHICLE OWNERS!!!! I EXPECT REPAYMENT FROM NISSAN ON THEIR FAULTY MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT. *TR

WHEN I DROVE IT TO WORK, THERE WERE A FEW DELAYS WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. AFTER HALF HOUR DRIVING IT, I HEARD WATER SPLASHING SOUNDS. I TURNED OFF THE RADIO AND I HEARD THE SPLASHING SOUNDS EVEN MORE CLEAR. IN THE SAME TIME, I SMELLED ELECTRONIC BURNT LIKE SMELLS. SINCE I WAS ON THE EXPRESS WAY, I COULDN'T STOP RIGHT AWAY. THEN, 15 MINUTES LATER OR A TOTAL OF 45 MINUTES DRIVING IT, THERE WERE SMOKES FROM THE FRONT. I WAS SO SHOCK AND WORRY IF THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I FELT PANIC BECAUSE I COULDN'T JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVING LANES. THANKFULLY, OTHER CARS SLOWED DOWN FOR ME AND LET ME PASSED. I PULLED UP IN THE NEARBY DAIRY DEPOT'S PARKING LOT, BUT I WAS 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY WORKPLACE'S CITY. IT WAS SO COLD AND WINDY, BUT SINCE I WAS WORRY IF THE CAR WOULD BLOW UP, I GOT OUT AND STOOD IN THE COLD. ALSO, THE TOW TRUCK WAS DELAYED FOR 2 HOURS AND I HAD TO MISSED WORK. THE CAR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE RADIATOR CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND ALL FLUIDS ARE MIXED TOGETHER. WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE, I CAME ACROSS MANY OTHERS WHO HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I AM SHOCKED THAT IT'S VERY COMMON. I FEEL SO DISCOURAGE TO EVER TRUST NISSAN AGAIN. THIS CAR WAS MY INVESTMENT AS I HAVE $7000 LOAN REMAINING ON IT AND I JUST FIXED ALL FOUR SHAFTS FOR $1000. I HAVE ALWAYS DONE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE TO IT. SO, WHERE DID I GO WRONG? HOW CAN NISSAN DOES THIS? WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL THAT WOULD HAVE REGAINED CUSTOMERS' TRUST THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE NISSAN??? WHY NISSAN HAS TO WAIT FOR A MOUNTAIN OF COMPLAINTS BEFORE AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY AND EVEN THAT WAS ONLY FOR THOSE UNDER 100K MILEAGE? DOES IT MEAN THAT NISSAN CAN'T MAKE A CAR THAT LAST MORE THAN 100K??? NOT ONLY NISSAN JEOPARDIZES MY SAFETY AND OTHERS, NOW MY INVESTMENT IN NISSAN HAS TURNED INTO A CHUNK OF DEBT FOR ME. THIS IS SO WRONG!!! *TR

DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED INTO THE RADIATOR AND CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD OVER 100,000 MILES IT IS NOT COVERED IN ANY WAY BY WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED. I AM NOW FACING A CAR THAT IS WORTH $7000 OR SO AND NEEDS MORE THAN THAT IN REPAIRS. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED THANKS TO A FAULTY DESIGN THAT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP. IF THEY HAD SIMPLY ISSUED A RECALL ON THE RADIATOR WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST BECAME KNOWN, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AND EASY $500 FIX, INSTEAD I AM LEFT WITH A WORTHLESS VEHICLE AND INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO REPAIR IT OR GET A NEW ONE. I COULD NOT BE MORE ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN AND THEIR HANDLING OF THIS SITUATION. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NEVER BE BUYING FROM THEM AGAIN AND I WILL SUGGEST THE SAME TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. *TR

OUR RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION BROKE,CAUSING OUR CAR TO STALL, ON VACATION, IN THE MIDDLE OF UTAH. APPARENTLY NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT THE WARRANTY IS TOO LIMITED TO COVER NISSAN XTERRAS SUFFERING FROM THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! IT'S NOT JUST US!!! WE USE OUR XTERRA FOR OFF ROADING (AS ITS INTENDED FOR!) AND A BUSTED TRANSMISSION PUT ALL OF US AT RISK! WE DID NOT DO ANYTHING CRAZY BUT YOU NEED A SAFE TRANSMISSION ON HILLS. AFTER OVER $1000 IN TOWING EXPENSES WE GOT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS. LATER WE RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT IT IS A COMMON DEFECT IN CARS LIKE OURS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID ENTERED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 9/24/13*CN UPDATED 09/25/2013*JS

I TOOK MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA TO DEALER TO GET SERVICED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSON TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO RADIATOR. THEY TOLD ME DO TO MY MILES ON CAR AT THAT TIME I HAD 94000 MILES IT WOULD BE A 3000 DOLLARS CO PAY DUE TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NISSAN HAD AUTHORIZED. I ASK WHY WASN'T I TOLD WHEN NISSAN WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM TO DO PREVENTED MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE REP. SAID SINCE IT WAS NO RECALL HE WAS NOT OBLIGATED TO TELL ME. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MOST PEOPLE BUT I DON'T HAVE 3000 DOLLARS LAYING AROUND TO USE I LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. I TAKE MY CAR TO DEALER ONLY FOR SERVICE THINKING ITS GETTING THE RIGHT SERVICE BUT I FOUND OUT I WAS WRONG. IF I WAS ADVISED EARLY I MAY OF FOUND THIS PROBLEM EARLIER AND GOT IT REPLACE FREE. NOW WHAT DO I DO? *JB

DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA I PURCHASED 8 MONTHS AGO IN JANUARY 2013, MY AIR CONDITIONER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. EVENTUALLY IN JULY OF 2013, MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVE ABLE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT AT, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT MY RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT, WHICH MIXED WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE RESULTED IN THE NEED TO REPAIR THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. *TR

GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL OR SHOWS SOME QUANTITY OF GAS WHEN IT IS EMPTY AND VARIATIONS IN BETWEEN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AFFECTING SEVERAL MODELS AND YEARS THAT NISSAN EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY FOR, BUT DID NOT RECALL, CLAIMING IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE (SEE HTTP://WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM/WEB/FUEL-SENDING-UNIT/INDEX.PHP?MENU=2). THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT ADVISE OWNERS TO REPLACE THE PROBLEM SENDING UNITS, IT JUST PROVIDED FOR REPAIRS IF AND WHEN, SUBJECT TO MILEAGE AND TIME LIMITS, THE VEHICLE MANIFESTED THE SENDING UNIT PROBLEM. MY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE DEVELOPED THIS PROBLEM AT 46000 MILES, WELL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY MILEAGE LIMIT BUT THE TIMING WAS BEYOND THE ARBITRARY EXTENDED TIME PERIOD. FOLLOWING MY OPENING A CASE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS THEY DENIED COVERAGE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AS IT WAS BEYOND THE ARBITRARY TIME LIMIT, ALTHOUGH WELL BELOW THE MILEAGE LIMIT. FAULTY FUEL QUANTITY READINGS ARE NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE. THEY CAN RESULT IN HAZARDOUS OVERFILLING OF FUEL TANKS (OR ATTEMPTS TO FILL AN ALREADY FILLED TANK) WHEN THE GAUGE ERRONEOUSLY READS EMPTY RESULTING IN FLAMMABLE GAS SPILLS, DIZZYING AND ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSOUND VAPOR EMISSIONS AT THE PUMP. ON THE FLIP SIDE WHEN THERE IS LITTLE OR NO FUEL IN THE TANK BUT THE GAUGE SHOWS SOME QUANTITY OF FUEL SUCH AS 1/4 TANK OR MORE, DRIVING OFF ON LONG COMMUTES OR TRIPS RESULTS IN RUNNING OUT OF GAS ON HIGHWAYS. IN MY CASE THIS IS IN RURAL AREAS OR BACK ROADS AND HIGHWAYS OUT OF CELL PHONE RANGE AND FAR FROM SERVICES, AND CAN OCCUR IN SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THIS KNOWN PROBLEM IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT POSES UNNECESSARY RISKS TO DRIVERS AND SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A RECALL, NOT JUST AN ARBITRARY LIMITED EXTENSION OF WARRANTY, AND DISCLAIMER BEYOND THAT. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP IN MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA AT 85,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE I MAKE OIL CHANGES, I WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION BROKE AND RADIATOR FLUID CONTAMINATION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED THE CONTAMINATION, INSTEAD OFFER TO REPLACE BOTH TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FOR $5,500 TO AVOID FUTURE PROBLEMS. I WAS NOT CONVINCED. IMMEDIATELY, ANOTHER GUY IN THE DEALERSHIP OFFERS TO TRADE IN FOR A NEW CAR. I TOOK THE CAR OUT AND WENT TO ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP. SURE ENOUGH, THEY NOTICED RADIATION FLUID CONTAMINATING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. COST WAS AROUND $3,750. BECAUSE, THE DEADLINE WAS EARLY JUNE'2013 AND NOW IS EARLY JULY, THEY ARE TELLING ME I CANNOT SUBMIT THE CLAIM. I HOPE THE COURT DOES NOT APPROVE THE FINAL SETTLEMENT. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION/ RADIATOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AS THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE AND SLIT WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.