NHTSA Complaint #11124249 — 2005 NISSAN XTERRA

COOLANT MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE XTERRA WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS CORRECTLY AND THEREFORE I INVESTIGATED MORE BY CHECKING THE FLUID. I FOUND BROWN COOLANT SO I DECIDED TO DO A DRAIN/FILL. IT WAS RUNNING BETTER AND I RESEARCHED FURTHER AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I TOOK MY XTERRA TO A TRANSMISSION MECHANIC WHO ALSO DRAINED IT AND REPAIRED A VALVE THAT WENT BAD DUE TO THE COOLANT FLUID MIXING. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION COOLER ADDED AS WELL. HE ALSO DRAINED AND FILLED. I THEN HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH JUST TO MAKE SURE ALL COOLANT WAS OUT. WITH ALL THIS DONE, IT GAVE ME MORE TIME BUT THE DAMAGE WAS DONE AND I AM CONTINUING TO HAVE SHIFTING ISSUES. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE MY XTERRA TRANSMISSION. I REALLY ENJOY MY XTERRA AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT BY REGULAR FLUID CHANGES AND KEEPING UP WITH IT MAINTENANCE. IT HAS A STRONG ENGINE WITH NO LEAKS AND CONSTANTLY CLEAN MOTOR OIL. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT I HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE STRESS OF ALL OF THIS BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT NISSAN IS UNABLE TO REMEDY.