Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Nissan Frontier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at speeds over 40 MPH, the vehicle would shake and vibrate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the radiator fluid had leaked into the transmission causing severe damage to the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 86,000.
Transmission fluid cooler integrated in the radiator that allowed engine coolant to mix with and contaminate the automatic transmission fluid causing damage to the transmission. Radiator had to be replaced along with flushing out of the trans fluid at a service station costing a few thousand of dollars. Months later the check engine light went on and found out that the transmission is slipping caused by the fluid contamination.
The transmission cooler integrated into the radiator failed damaging the transmission by cross contamination of fluids. Loss of power on a narrow country mountain road was not safe. I learned that this problem is very common. I feel that Nissan should have replaced the radiator before thousands in transmission damage occurred.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle did not accelerate. In addition, the vehicle started smoking. The contact stated that the front driver's side air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where it was diagnosed by an independent mechanic that the radiator and the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,514.
Nissan has acknowledged that a manufacturer defect in 2005-10 Frontier, pathfinder, and xterra vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions have an internal crack on the oil cooler tube May occur leading to internal leakage of engine coolant. This defect has destroyed my transmission and many other consumers' transmissions, as evidenced by the class action lawsuits which have been filed against Nissan. Nissan offered customers an extended warranty for the radiators for vehicles with less than 100,000 miles, but never addressed the transmission issues, which range from $4000-6000 to rebuild. I realized I had an issue with the transmission while making a left turn on hwy 98 in florida, where oncoming traffic is traveling at speeds of greater than 60 miles an hour. The transmission slipped while I was making the turn and was nearly t-boned by two oncoming vehicles. …
Upon pennsylvania state required inspection the inspector recognized that the rear seals of the axle were "leaking" fluid and that the fluid had saturated the entire braking assembly including the caliper, pads, rotor and emergency brake shoes causing the operation of the vehicle to be a hazard to the operator. When asked when this occurred the inspector said that it must have been this way for some time based on the amount of axle grease covering the braking mechanisms. For a driver of said vehicle there would be zero indications of failure of the seals due to high temperature when applying the brakes causing the oil to gel and/or burn away which would leave no visible signs of leakage on the ground. I feel that this causes an immediate danger to the driver and their occupants of the vehicle. …
I was driving my vehicle in a parking lot, but it seemed like it wasn't getting power. So, I shut it off and when I tried starting it again the fans and lights came on but nothing else. I took it to Firestone and they said it was the starter. They replaced the starter and that didn't fix the problem. They changed the atecu fuse. It started and ran for three minutes and then died again. Then I took it to an electrical shop. They couldn't find anything wrong. Then I took it to the Nissan dealer and they said it was the brain ECM. They fixed that and it still wouldn't start the car. Then they said it was the ECU and transmission. They said the transmission was no good due to cross contamination (radiator fluid into the transmission). This is a Nissan defective radiator and they charged $5500 for a mistake that wasn't my fault.
This is in regards to an item already under investigation by the NHTSA. I am another victim of Nissan's leaking transmission cooler leading to a catastrophic transmissoin failure. My transmission locked in second gear upon accelerating from a stop sign. Fortunately I was 1/2 mile from my home on a side street and not on the interstate where such a problem could lead to an accident. Consumers need to know about this problem. The fix is relatively cheap before the transmission cooler begins to leak. Unfortunately consumers are unaware of the issue until it is too late, and the repair requires a new transmission and radiator costing $5000 to $6000. Although no wreck was involved in my incident, the potential for an accident is definately present if such a failure where to happen on a congested interstate.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, he observed an abnormal thumping sound from the hood of the vehicle without warning. The contact made the manufacturer aware of the failure, and the manufacturer referred the contact to his local dealer to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to local dealer (tom hesser Nissan , 900 oneil hwy, dunmore, pa, 18512) where it was diagnosed that the radiator hose was leaking fluid into the transmission causing the transmission to fail. The dealer stated that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 46,892. ... .updated 11/16/17 the consumer requested to be reimbursed for the repairs. Updated 11/30/2017
My check engine light went on as I was driving home on a Sunday afternoon. With in an hour, and almost arriving home... The vehicle began to slow down and could not accelerate past 25mph. I stopped at a traffic light and felt a very large bang under the truck. As I tried to accelerate from the light I could only get up to 25mph. Then the truck stalled completely, in the middle of a busy street. Luckily no one was close behind me and I had my hazard lights on, otherwise this would have been a sure crash. I took it to a mechanic who checked and informed me that my radiator was faulty and had contaminated and ruined my transmission. I paid $2900 to have it fixed. No help, or money back from Nissan, not even an apology for their faulty parts.
NHTSA investigations
Transmission Failures
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.
Transmission complaints in other Frontier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2008 Nissan Frontier?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2008 Nissan Frontier, 40% of the model year's 136 complaints. The component named most often is axle assembly › axle shaft › seal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Nissan Frontier transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2008 Nissan Frontier, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Frontier transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 96,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.