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 2007 Nissan Xterra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Complete transmission failure without warning. Going 70 miles per hour down interstate...during rush hr surrounded by 18 wheelers... Putting my wife's life in danger.... This is obviously a safety recall issue.... Thanks
I had brought the Xterra to the mechanic on May 4th for intermittent vibrations ( which I attributed to the rough roads s/p winter as it occurred at the same points on the same roads ) over 2 month and a new intermittent thumping noise heard when the vehicle was shifting gears in the last 2 weeks. Nothing came up on the computer system showing any issues other than the known alert for the gas level part that shift the bed 6 months ago and I refuse to pay $400 for a $40 part that should have lasted the lifetime of the vehicle, ( another issue Nissan is aware of as it comes up on the computer to the mechanic that this a known defect but won't replace it free of charge) end result, transmission fluid and radiator fluid were mixing due to a known issue by Nissan and defective parts. There is no recall. The radiator and transmission cooler needed to be replaced costing over $1600. …
I was driving on the interstate at 60mph when I attempted to speed up and switch lanes the truck suddenly lost power and shut off. I was almost rear ended three times lucky there was no one in the other lane so they went around I had no power steering or power brakes while trying to pay attention and not get hit I had to put the truck in neutral and try to start it back up the truck started and seemed to idle fine I put it back in drive and limped it to the side of the interstate whiteout getting hit luckily and called a tow truck and had it towed to a shop I had my wife and two small children in the truck thank god nothing happened. …
This complaint is in reference to a 2007 Nissan Xterra off road 4x4 with180,900 miles. The transmission began to spontaneously downshift to low gears while moving at speeds above 25 mile per hour. At one point, the transmission seized and locked up while traveling at 45 miles per hour, which resulted in a sudden stop in the midst of the traffic flow on a two lane road. I took the vehicle to the Nissan dealer for service immediately. Inspection revealed coolant had leaked into the transmission via a leaking transmission cooler assembly integrated into the main engine radiator. The transmission sustained substantial internal damage from the coolant mixing with transmission fluid and circulating through the transmission. The transmission and engine radiator had to be replaced in order to make the vehicle roadworthy again. Total cost of the repair with taxes was $4800.00. …
When I am drivinging at a slow speed , my transmission makes a noise and then feels like it's going to die, now I have noticed that there is fluid leaking from my radiator. When I researched the issue I was having and realizised this is a recurring problem that is being reported by many Nissan Xterra owners and that nission has been aware of this issue since 2007 , when I originally purchased my Xterra . Now that I understand what the issue is , the radiator is leaking fluid in to my transmission and is destroying the transmission and radiator . In doing research on the problem I was having , and what happens when this occurs , I'm frightened to even drive my Xterra at this point . …
Was having trouble with transmission on 07 Nissan Xterra. Found a lawsuit that had been settled with Nissan involving factory defects of the radiator oil cooler which leaks into transmission and destroys transmission. Took an oil sample from my vehicle to an independent company and was told that their was antifreeze in the oil. Took my vehicle and the oil sample into Nissan so that my transmission could be replaced. ($2500 cost to me per the Nissan lawsuit settlement) service department called back and tried to tell me that without dropping the transmission that they could tell that the antifreeze was not the cause of my failed transmission. …
My vehicle was driving perfectly without any issues at all until one day on the way home I stopped at a stop sign near my home. Then as I started to proceed down the city street the check engine light and 4wd lights came on in the dash and the vehicle would barely move. I just barely got it into the driveway of my home. After I turned it off I attempted to restart the vehicle it would not even attempt to turn over. I checked online to see what would cause these symptoms to find that hundreds upon thousands of other Nissan owners have had the same happen to them. It is a known issue of cross contamination of radiator fluid and transmission fluid due to a faulty design in the radiator. I had a mechanic check my engine as well and he confirmed that the grey sludge in the radiator and grit in my transmission fluid fit the symptoms of this issue. …
While driving, the car started not to shift well when changing gears. I've noticed on the highway and on the city roads. I took it to the dealer within that week and they said it was my transmission and that it will cost over $3000 to fix. When I purchased the car 2 years ago, I also purchased a bumper to bumper warranty that included the transmission. I did not have the paperwork with me so I had to go home to look for it. Once I found it, I called and sent the copy directly to the dealer. They called me the following day saying my warranty covers everything except intermix ingrid which was exactly what it was. I spent extra money to make sure if anything happens to my car I could get it fixed with the warranty. They told me they couldn't do anything and to fix it I must pay the $3000. I had my car for 2 years and it only has 75,000 mikes and now my transmission goes out? …
My SUV was on a highway, and 4wd indicator light came on and vehicle made a vibrating noise, pulled off and turned vehicle off and would not restart, the SUV was towed to the Nissan dealership for diagnostic test. Results: the codes u1000, p1807 and p0717 (transmission) cost $4, 491,58. In April 2016, I had a leak from the radiator that ruined the transmission. I initially had the radiator replaced and the transmission flushed, cost $1000 at Nissan dealership. This was only a band-aid however, and did not fix the problem. 6 months later transmission failed. Nissan put the consumer under the bus. I filed a complaint with Nissan consumer affairs case# 24403641 with no assistant, due to the mileage of 100K exceeds warranty. Nissan was aware of this default in radiators back in 2007 and did not notify a recall to the consumer. …
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 Xterra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2007 Nissan Xterra?
NHTSA has 231 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2007 Nissan Xterra, 41% of the model year's 557 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Nissan Xterra transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2007 Nissan Xterra, though it has 1 recall 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 2007 Nissan Xterra transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 110,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.