Problems · by component

2007 Nissan Xterra power train problems

231 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2007 Nissan Xterra cite power train, 41% of all 557 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
231
41% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

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
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE SUV STARTED LOOSING SPEED UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETELY STOP IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE BALTIMORE BELTWAY 695 WHICH MADE A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME. CARS FLYING BY ON BOTH SIDES OF ME. HAD A POLICE OFFICER STOP TRAFFIC SO THAT I COULD DRIFT IT BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE DDEFAULTY RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT. IT DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY NOTICE THAT IT WAS ANYTHING WRONG. EXCEPT LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT COSTS ME THOUSANDS TO GET A REPLACEMENT RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT THE NISSAN DEALER. MY VEHICLE HAD 105,000 MILES ON IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2021Power trainODI 11395808
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN PINK FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR, WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT CALLED NISSAN OF ST. AUGUSTINE (2755 US-1, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL 32086, (904) 447-2960). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2021Power trainODI 11395607
“CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE MY HOME,PUT VEHICAL IN DRIVE.APPLIED ACCELERATOR,TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HARDLY PULL,PUT IN REVERSE.OPERATES IN REVERSE PROPERLY, PARKED MY VEHICAL.TURNED ENGINE OFF.ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE TO GET MY VEHICAL TO LEVEL GROUND TO CHECK FLUIDS,ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE,ENGINE NOW WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2021Power train, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11388623
“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
“THE CORNER CUTTING DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE COMMONLY KNOWN AS SMOD (STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE OF DEATH, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE COOLANT MIX IN BOTH THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION) HAS CAUSED THE TCM TO BECOME DAMAGED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS GOING UP A HILL THEN WOULDNT START AFTER TURNING IT OFF, WEVE CHANGED THE FILTER, FLUID AND SOLENOIDS ON THE VALVE BODY, BUT THE TCM STILL ISNT WORKING. WE CAN START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT AROUND A BIT, ONCE IT GETS TO 3RD GEAR IT RUNS FINE, BUT IN LOWER GEARS (EXCEPT FOR WHEN IN REVERSE) IT STRUGGLES, THEN AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS BECAUSE THE TCM ISNT WORKING PROPERLY, THIS ISSUE PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING AGAIN WITHIN ABOUT 1 HOUR OF TURNING IT OFF. AS STATED EARLIER THIS TCM ISSUE CAME TO LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO GO UP A HILL, IF TRAFFIC WERE ANY WORSE THAN IT WAS THIS COULDVE POTENTIALLY LED TO A DISASTER THAT WOULDVE MADE HAVING TO WAIT ABOUT AN HOUR FOR PICKUP SEEM LIKE NOTHING. THIS ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY NISSAN CUTTING CORNERS AND ITS A COMMON ISSUE THATS LED TO MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVING TO COVER REPAIRS OR JUST GIVE UP ON THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2020Power trainODI 11319694

Showing 6 of 231 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.