NHTSA Complaint #10355556 — 2006 NISSAN XTERRA

A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN PATHFINDER/XTERRA/FRONTIERS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, IS THE RADIATOR FAILING AND LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION VIA A PORTION OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM THAT PASSES THROUGH THE RADIATOR. THIS PROBLEM IS MOST COMMON WITH 2005 TO 2008 MODEL NISSANS. THE FIRST SIGN OF THIS FAILURE IS A SLIGHT VIBRATION AT 40-50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS FROM 4TH TO OVERDRIVE (5TH) GEAR. AT THIS POINT THE DAMAGE, APPARENTLY, HAS BEEN DONE. IN WORST CASE SITUATIONS THE VEHICLES CAN FALL INTO "SAFE MODE" CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL DUE TO UNDESIRED TRANSMISSION OPERATION. BY VISITING MANY NISSAN OWNER FORUMS AND INTERNET SEARCH ENGINES, THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM FOR NISSAN OWNERS. IT HAS BEEN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT NISSAN HAS MADE NO OFFER OF ASSISTANCE FOR MOST CUSTOMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND DANGEROUS AND IS A DESIGN FLAW BY NISSAN AND/OR ITS PARTS VENDORS AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED AT NO COST TO VEHICLE OWNERS. NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE RADIATORS ON ALL MODELS EFFECTED AND SHOULD REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS IN ANY VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE. *TR