Problems · by component

2007 Nissan Xterra engine problems

85 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2007 Nissan Xterra cite engine, 15% of all 557 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
85
15% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Oil is getting into the radiator and causing a gray gunk build up in radiator and possibly the engine. I have had the car less than a 1 1/2 years And I've already had to have the same issue fixed 3 × first time. The heater hose blew out caused an air bubble in the radiator which caused us to have to burp the radiator Which is when we found it the first time had sent it to the mechanic. Had it flushed, had it fixed. it was fine or so we thought until about a month ago. Car overheats radiator fluid spews out everywhere. Fix the hose, add radiator fluid and start. The burping process again and out comes the gray gunk. Sent it back to mechanic had it flush had gaskets to the transmission cooler and Oil cooler fixed. Mechanic cannot find how it's getting into radiator. Break pads wear prematurely due to calipers constantly sticking. Rust is everywhere on frame, suspension, shocks undercarriage and body. Vdc/slip light will come on while driving causing the car to stall at any speed. Fixed those sensors 2 times since I bought the car in December 2023 from a used car lot. State I I've in has no laws to protect people buying from used car lots but they do for new cars…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2025Power train, Service brakes, EngineODI 11656933
“The vehicle was driving just fine, then about a month later the heat gauge started to fluctuate, i replaced the radiator caps, thermostat...it ran good for another month, started to overheat....i made sure water was in radiator and overflow...about a month went by the gauge started to fluctuate again, i had it towed to sayre auto parts in sayre, al to have a water pump installed and the mechanic told me their is now there is water in my oil, meaning a cracked head gasket...the vehicle never got over the 3/4 mark on gauge and this is the 2nd vehicle ive purchased that the same thing has happened to.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2024EngineODI 11594708
“TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ANTI FREEZE LIQUID MIXED IN BOTH RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2020EngineODI 11339162
“PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JULY 2019 FROM OWNER. AFTER 3 WEEKS TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING WEIRD WHILE ON VACATION TRANSMISSION SEIZED DUE TOO COOLANT LEAKING FROM RADIATOR COOLER INTO TRANSMISSION. TOTAL REPAIRS TOW COSTS AND RENTAL CAR RENTAL EXCEED $5000.00. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSION AND COOLING SYSTEM RELATED PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD APPROX. 100,000 MILES ON IT WHEN PURCHASED. AND ONLY HAS APPROX. 128,000 ON IT. NOW. CAN I GET ANY TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS PAID OUT OF POCKET???? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11327823
“I KELP VEHICLE REGULARLY MANTIANCED SHUT IT OFF ONE EVENING NEXT MORNING IT WOULD START WHEN FINALLY STARTED IT WOULDN'T PULL IN 1ST GEAR. TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT A CRACK HAD ACCURED AND THERE WAS COOLANT MIXED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID .SO 3 DAYS AFTER I PD IT OFF ON A 3 YR PAYMENT PLAN IT BROKE DOWN ON ME . VERY HARD TO FIND D A PLACEMENT AND SOMEONE WHO WILL DO WORK ON IT BC IT'S SO COMMO”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2019Electronic stability control (esc), Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11282818
“IN MARCH 2019 THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GETTING SLUGGISH WHILE DROPPING MY DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL ONE DAY. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS AS I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY FROM MY 1.5 MILE TRIP TO/FROM THE SCHOOL. EVENTUALLY IT WOULDN'T EVEN START IN MY DRIVEWAY EVEN WITH GOOD BATTERY. REPLACED A FUSE FOR THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT BLEW THE FUSE. HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT MIXED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE EVERYTHING INVOLVED. ALSO, THE MECHANISM THAT OPENS THE TAILGATE/TRUNK DOOR/LIFTGATE WILL NOT STAY OPEN, ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WEATHER. IT HAS HIT SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE HEAD AND IS A DEFINITE HAZARD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2019Power train, Structure, EngineODI 11230660

Showing 6 of 85 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.