2008 Nissan Xterra Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Cooling system › Radiator assembly
  2

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  13%
• 25k–50k
  13%
• 50k–75k
  310%
• 75k–100k
  931%
• 100k–150k
  828%
• 150k+
  724%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Nissan Xterra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to lose power and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road where it began to smoke under the hood. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the head gasket failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The contact called royal Nissan at [phone] (located at 9325 airline hwy, baton rouge, la 70815) and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 34416631. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Purchased a 2008 Nissan Xterra x VIN [redacted] mileage 77107 on June 6, 2015. After owning this vehicle for just over 2 years we had very bad experience my wife was doing her daily errands as she was returning home with our child in the back seat here vehicle began to accelerate and loose acceleration potentially causing her to be accident. When she returned home the vehicle wouldn't even turn over I had it towed to my mechanic and he informed me that this has a defective radiator cooler tank that ruptures and forces coolant into the transmission through the cooler lines and subsequently I was looking at over $3500 dollars in repairs. For a know problem reported Nissan has been aware of. Its very disheartening $3500 in repairs for a know problem it hurts in fact its affected even my surrounding family members, my mother is or was proud owner of Nissan altima 2015. …

Less than 45,000 miles on the vehicle, no engine lights were on and no other issues prior to the incident. Traveling on i75 at about 65mph when the vehicle suddenly and rapidly slows down and almost caused an accident. Got to the side of the road and tried to accelerate, the vehicle would only go about 25-30mph so I had it towed home. I later had it towed to the dealer and paid for a diagnosis, the service tech said an aftermarket mass airflow sensor caused the all the catalytic converters to go bad and they wanted $3,500 to replace the catalytic converters and exhaust manifolds before they would continue diagnosing the vehicle. I called my sae certified mechanic and had it towed to him. He said the mass airflow sensor was the factory sensor that came on the car, and shouldn't have caused a failure in the catalytic converters especially without a check engine light. …

While driving, the vehicle surges and sputters and rpms skyrocket and the vehicle loses power and shuts down. This happens at various speeds on interstate highway, town streets and county roads. The vehicle will also lose power and shut down while idling at a stop sign or traffic light. There is no way to steer or restart when this happens and I have depended on hazard flashers to warn other drivers of disabled vehicle until I can get assistance to get vehicle off of highway. After 20 minutes of being dead, vehicle will sometimes restart and go a few more miles before same thing happens again. After 3 weeks at a dealership and a cost so far of $3,000, the problem has not been pinpointed and fixed. Dealership has contacted Nissan customer service who has two open cases of the same issue with the same model vehicle. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. The contact received an unknown manufacturer recall notification. The vehicle was taken to bill robertson Nissan (928 n 28th ave, pasco, wa 99301, [phone]) where the contact was provided a rental. The contact then received a call from the dealer stating that the parts were not available for the recall repair and he needed to return the rental. Two weeks later, while driving, the transmission failed and the radiator overheated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle had to be repaired at a Nissan dealer rather than an independent mechanic. The contact was provided case number: 29163686. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, the transmission hesitated to shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was transmission fluid in the radiator, and the radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure recurred and the service engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000. The VIN was unavailable.

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.

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.

Was driving Xterra 4x4 on the street when all of a sudden the vehicle shut itself off. Was able to luckily turn the vehicle back on but when we arrived home the vehicle would no longer start. Had it towed to Nissan who discovered the car has a defective ECM unit. This could have been very very dangerous and I believe many other Nissan Xterra/frontiers/pathfinders have been affected as evident by searching google regarding this issue. Nissan would not repair the vehicle free of charge and wanted 1400 dollars to replace ECM. This day and age an ECM should last much much longer and should not shut down the vehicle nor, impair its ability to drive.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Xterra. While operating the vehicle, the fuel gauge displayed false readings. The gauge showed that the fuel tank had less fuel than what was actually present. Also, on several occasions, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when it was depressed and the vehicle did not immediately stop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no failures were found. Later, while driving, the vehicle stalled after depressing the brake pedal. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 73,000.

Engine complaints in other Xterra years