2008 NISSAN XTERRA Complaints

CODE P0717 THE SPEED SENSOR IS RUINED DUE TO A FALTY RADIATOR LEEK INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING DETERIORATION OF PARTS AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS IN THE ENGINE OF THIS CAR BEGAN MAKING A LOUD WHINING SOUND, WHICH IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. NISSAN WAS AWARE OF THESE FAULTY TENSIONERS BACK IN 2004, WHEN THEY ISSUES A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. HTTP://WWW.NISSANPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TIMING-CHAIN/

I HAVE A 2008 XTERRA THAT HAS SUFFERED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO THE WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS - NAMELY THAT THE RADIATOR CRACKED, TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT MIXED, THUS DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION.

RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH RESULTED IN UNREPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRE THE ENTIRE TRANMISSION TO BE REPLACED AT A SIGNIFICANT COST. NOT SURE WHEN THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS INCIDATING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG UNTIL THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE.

I WAS TOLD THE TIMING BELT TENSIONERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT ONLY HAS 60,800 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER QUOTED ME 1400.00. THERE IS A HIGH PITCHED WHINE FROM THE ENGINE, MOST NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE RUNS OK BUT I'M AFRAID IF THE TENSIONERS FAIL, SO WILL THE TIMING BELT AND SO WILL THE ENGINE.

CRACKED RADIATOR LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION COOLER, AND RADIATOR AT ABOUT 109,000 MILES IN TRAFFIC. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH 2005-2010 NISSAN XTERRAS, FRONTIERS, AND PATHFINDERS. AS PART OF A SETTLEMENT TO A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT, NISSAN OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 10 YEARS / 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST (ALTHOUGH AN INTERNET SEARCH SAYS THE AVERAGE MILEAGE AT WHICH THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IS 95,000 MILES). NISSAN NOR ITS DEALERSHIP NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THE DEFECT OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SO NOW I'M TRYING TO DECIDE IF I FORK OUT $6100 FOR THE REPAIRS OR TRADE-IN THE VEHICLE.

CRACKED RADIATOR LEAKING FLUID INTO TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING WHEN I FELT A SLIP I PARKED THE CAR AND WITH IN MINUTES A CREME COLORED FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS A GOOD THING I TOOK IT THEN BECAUSE IF IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO LEAK IT WOULD HAVE DAMAGED MY TRANSMISSION. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE NEW RADIATOR PUT IN THERMOSTAT PUT IN AND ENGINE FLUSHED THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE I WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS. VOICING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE AND DEALER SHIPS AND MANUFACTURERS DO NOT DO MUCH ABOUT IT. THEY TAKE OUR MONEY BUT DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FACT. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE BUT WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN VERY SAD.

I TOOK OUR 2008 XTERRA INTO A LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE THE ALL THE FLUIDS EXCEPT THE OIL SERVICED (ALREADY HAD IT CHANGED AT A NISSAN DEALER) ON FEB 7 2015. WHEN THE SHOP CALLED, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS OIL IN THE RADIATOR AND WHAT THEY SUSPECTED AND TOLD ME I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A DEALER. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE RADIATOR FLUID IT HAD WHAT LOOKED LIKE OIL AND THE OVERFLOW TANK LOOKED LIKE A CHOCOLATE SHAKE WAS IN IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON FEB 9TH 2015 AND WAITED FOR 1/2 DAY TO FIND OUT THAT IT NEEDED THE RADIATOR AND TRANNY REPLACED, BUT THEY COULDN'T DO IT THAT DAY. HAVING RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE I HAD SEEN THE STORIES ABOUT THE VEHICLE SEIZING UP ON THE HIGHWAYS/ROADS. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN AND ASKED THAT THEY CONTACT THE AFTERMARKET WARRANTY INSURANCE AND DISCUSS WHAT NISSAN WOULD COVER AND WHAT MAXCARE WOULD COVER. I WAS THEN PUT INTO A RENTAL FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS WHILE IT GOT REPAIRED. NOW LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER GETTING IT BACK IT HAS A SMELL, IS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER UNDER THE HOOD, AND HAS A CLANGING NOISE FROM THE SAME AREA. UPON POPPING THE HOOD AND I FOUND A DARK OILY SUBSTANCE IN THE RADIATOR AND FOAMY 'STUFF' ON THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW CAP AGAIN. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED OR BAD REMANUFACTURED PARTS WERE USED, OR IT WASN'T COMPLETELY CLEANED OUT PRIOR TO PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW AN ISSUE THAT CAN MAKE A VEHICLE SEIZE UP ON THE ROADS CAN NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL OF THIS AFTER PURCHASING THE XTERRA OCT 31 2014 AT OUR LOCAL CARMAX FACILITY. CARMAX SUPPOSEDLY DOES A THOROUGH JOB OF CHECKING OVER THE VEHICLES THEY SELL BUT THEY SURE DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. NOW JUST AFTER THE 12 MONTH 12000 WARRANTY ON THE REPLACED PARTS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AGAIN, 5 DAYS WITHOUT THE XTERRA AND STILL WAITING FOR MAXCARE TO APPROVE THE REPAIRS. WONDERING ABOUT KEEPING IT AFTER THIS REPAIR IS DONE.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKS AND HORN DOES NOT WORK. I CONTACTS NISSAN AMERICA CASE # 21920897. BECAUSE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY NISSAN DOES NOT ANT TO COVER ANY COST INCLUDING THE DIAGONIST TEST THAT IS A MINIMUM CHARGE OF 300 DOLLARS. THE REPAIR CAN ONLY BE MADE BY NISAN.

REAR LEFT DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR WAS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND AN OCCUPANT NEEDED TO GET OUT VERY QUICKLY.