NHTSA Complaint #10510799 — 2006 NISSAN XTERRA

XTERRA BEGAN TO FEEL SLUGGISH AND WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS APPROPRIATELY (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC), AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF MILES. RETURNED HOME TO CHECK FLUIDS AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DID NOT LOOK 'RIGHT'. CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS CROSS CONTAMINATION OF RADIATOR FLUID WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE CAUSE WAS THAT THE RADIATOR HAD FAILED. CORRECTION REQUIRED IS THAT THE RADIATOR AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF $8438.43. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN WOULD COVER 70% OF THE COST OF THE REPAIR, HOWEVER REQUIRED THAT I PAY $3000 DOLLARS UP FRONT BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN ORDER THE PARTS. ONCE I GAVE THEM THE $3000 BY CREDIT CARD BECAUSE A CHECK WAS ACCEPTED, I WAS TOLD IT WILL TAKE THREE WEEKS FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE AND THEN ANOTHER TWO DAYS FOR THE INSTALLATION. IN ADDITION, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE RADIATOR IS NOT A COVERED PART ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY. THE FINE PRINT STATES THAT IF A NON-COVERED PART CAUSES A COVERED PART TO BE DAMAGED THEN THEY DO NOT COVER THE COVERED PART. *TR