2005 Nissan Xterra Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled inadvertently on several occasions. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road on several occasions. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact continued driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V517000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11720443

Incident

Dec 25, 2025

Mileage

130,000 mi

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power. The service engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle stalled with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle moved forward and stopped suddenly intermittently. On another occasion, the A/C became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and unknown repairs were performed. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not insured due to the several failures, and the not being able to be repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (AIR BAGS). The vehicle was not repaired for the recent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11647503

Incident

Mar 10, 2025

Mileage

50,000 mi

I have a 2005 Nissan Xterra. I am the original owner and have been driving it over 16 years. Two years ago, in 2020 while driving my car on the road and with kids inside (with a 1 year old and a 6 year old child), the car began to shake and turned off (we were stranded in the middle of the road, at a traffic light). Since it was my only means of transportation I kept driving it (no kids inside anymore--which was another HUGE inconvenience having to coordinate and at times pay for babysitters). During my continued usage, it will continue to fail to accelerate causing great danger on the freeway and or on public roads. After a while, I managed to drive it to a transmission shop, who told me they had to either hold onto the car or have it towed--as it was deemed unsafe to drive. Upon inspection, the transmission shop confirmed "coolant bypassed into transmission," among other issues (vehicle does not accelerate, chick engine light is on, etc.) I paid with credit card, $4359.34. Once paid and transmission shop fixed issue, I continued to drive the car with family inside. Now two years later July 2022--I am experiencing the same "vehicle does not accelerate" issue.

NHTSA ID

11477659

Incident

Jul 27, 2020

Bought vehicle from used from private owner a year ago and noticed less then two weeks later while driving including on the freeway the engine just turns off with no steering control, almost no brake control, and sometimes takes a few minutes to start up again just to get out of the way of other vehicles. Now it’s overheating and leaking coolant on front passenger side floor along with the ground now shutting off more frequently . Also shortly after I bought the vehicle I could hear squeaking noises from under vehicle while driving over the smallest bump and every turn and is so loud it’s heard from 2 small streets away and feels like any second the body might separate from the wheels. I’m not sure about the rest.

NHTSA ID

11428187

Incident

Mar 16, 2020

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON THEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED STALLING AND DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE OFF ALMOST GOT ME KILLED. AND NOW THE O2 SENSORS BLINK IS ON AND SHIFT SOLENOID WHAT'S NEXT I LOVE MY NISSAN BUT IT'S ALMOST GOTTEN ME KILLED 4 TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11405180

Incident

Jan 22, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER NEIGHBOR WHO OWNS THE 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A WHINING NOISE AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF FUEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND A UNKNOWN SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 247,352.

NHTSA ID

11351361

Incident

Jul 10, 2019

Mileage

247,352 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. STARTED CAR AND HAD NO POWER WHEN PULLING OUT INTO STREET. SEEMED TO DRIVE IN 4TH GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11350114

Incident

Jun 19, 2020

Mileage

128,000 mi

ON 8/2542018 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA DOWN A HIGHWAY IN THE SUBURBS OF PHOENIX, AZ AND WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY BEGAN TO JERK AND GO OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON MY DASH THAT WOULD TELL ME THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND I HAD TO WAIT IN THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS IN THE 105 DEGREE HEAT FOR A TOW TRUCK WITHOUT WATER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN MIXING WITH MY COOLANT WHICH WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THAT YEAR AND NISSAN TRIED TO WIPE THIS UNDER THE RUG. I AM IN NEED OF AN ENTIRE NEW TRANSMISSION AND MY CAR HAS 82K MILES ON IT AND IS NOW 13 YEARS OLD. NISSAN AGREED TO PAY FOR THE COST FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BUT IF A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FOR UNDER "$150. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN HELPING ME RECOVER THE DAMAGES THAT SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY NISSAN AS THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING TO ASSIST ME .

NHTSA ID

11122726

Incident

Aug 24, 2018

Mileage

82,000 mi

TRANSMISSION RADIATOR AND LOW OIL PRESSURE FAILURE

NHTSA ID

11118697

Incident

Aug 9, 2018

Mileage

117,000 mi

ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKING AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. SLUGGISH TO RUN, ETC. NISSAN ALREADY KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL VEHICLES AND CORRECTED THE ISSUE. NOW I AM OUT ALMOST $3000.00 PAYING FOR AN ISSUE THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT BUT IS NOT WILLING TO CORRECT.

NHTSA ID

11092726

Incident

May 4, 2018

Mileage

163,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO CHANGE GEARS AND ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR SERVICING AND TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR KEPT ILLUMINATING AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED (MASSAPEQUA NISSAN, 200 SUNRISE HIGHWAY, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701, (516) 799-2800). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V517000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP-12004 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED FOUR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) ON THE ENGINE AND FOUR TSBS ON THE POWER TRAIN, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,074.

NHTSA ID

11054771

Incident

Dec 4, 2017

Mileage

66,074 mi

NISSAN XTERRA 2006 THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC THE RADIATOR LEAKED AND RUINED THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO SAID THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS AND CONTINUES TO ALLOW THE CAR TO BE ON THE ROAD. THE CAR IS DONE AND SO IS MY WALLET. THANK GOODNESS WHEN THE CAR WENT OUT, I WAS ON A BACK ROAD AROUND NO OTHER PEOPLE!

NHTSA ID

11013668

Incident

Dec 30, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

CRACKED RADIATOR, CAR DIED WITH NO WARNING GOING DOWN FREEWAY

NHTSA ID

11012767

Incident

Aug 3, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE RADIATOR FAILED AND THE FLUID ALL WENT INTO THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRING BOTH A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2005 XTERRAS AND NISSAN REFUSES TO COVER THIS FAULTY DESIGN. WE HAD NO ADVANCE NOTICE OF THIS HAPPENING. WE WENT OUT ONE DAY AND THE CAR DID NOT START.

NHTSA ID

11000218

Incident

Jun 12, 2017

I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I STOPPED AT MY DRIVEWAY AND MY CAR HAD SPRUNG A LEAK FROM UNDER MY PASSENGER SIDE. MY CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING, I RECEIVED NO WARNING THAT ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC- MY TRANSMISSION COOLER HAD FAILED AND MIXED IN WITH MY RADIATOR. HOPEFULLY MY TRANSMISSION ISN'T SHOT, WITH A NEW RADIATOR AND FLUSHING ALL THE LINES IS ALMOST $1000. THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD SOME WARNING. MY CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING JUST FINE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10990640

Incident

May 18, 2017

Mileage

209,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "ECM" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BATTERY AND CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,000.

NHTSA ID

10969073

Incident

Mar 27, 2017

Mileage

223,000 mi

2005 NISSAN XTERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RADIATOR HOSE RUPTURED AND SENT COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING BUT, THERE WAS NO POWER. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND THEN STOPPED. A HOSE IN THE RADIATOR RUPTURED. THIS CAUSED COOLANT TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO ENTER THE RADIATOR. THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10966748

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10935101

Incident

May 10, 2013

Mileage

99,000 mi

2005 NISSAN XTERRA - COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT APPROX. 102,000 MILES, CAUSED BY FAULTY RADIATOR THAT LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH NISSAN KNEW ABOUT BUT REFUSED TO RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ABOUT THE RADIATOR ISSUE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER!! IT WOULD COST APPROX. $300 FOR NISSAN (OR THE CONSUMER) TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, AS OPPOSED TO $3800 TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE RADIATOR UPON FAILURE; THEREFORE, NISSAN LET THEIR CUSTOMERS DRIVE DANGEROUS VEHICLES IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION COULD - AND DID - FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, STOPPED AT A LIGHT DOWNTOWN HEADED TO THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE ROARED BENEATH MY FOOT. I COULD NOT EVEN TRAVEL THROUGH THE STOP LIGHT. THE XTERRA WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. HAD I MADE IT TO THE FREEWAY AND BEEN TRAVELING AT 50 - 60 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND ACCELERATED TO FIND I HAD NO POWER - NO ACCELERATION, I (AND OTHERS) COULD HAVE VERY EASILY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. WHEN MY XTERRA WAS TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, THEY WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND INFORMED ME THAT A CLASS ACTION HAD BEEN FILED AND WON, (AND WAS ALREADY CONCLUDED) OVER THIS EXACT ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE CONSUMERS IN THE CLASS RECEIVED A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS (APPROX. $800 AT THE HIGH END). I AM CONTEMPLATING FILING AN ACTION IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT AGAINST NISSAN AND THE LOCAL DEALER IN JACKSON, MS, FROM WHOM I HAVE BOUGHT 3 SUVS IN THE PAST 20 YEARS. I TELL EVERYBODY I SEE DRIVING A NISSAN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HAVE SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, FRAUDULENT, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT BY NISSAN, AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT TO MAKE THE CONSUMERS WHOLE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10924272

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

Mileage

114,804 mi

DEAR NHTSA, HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL. THE REASON OF MY MESSAGE IS TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AN ISSUE REGARDING NISSAN'S RADIATOR -TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE BY OTHER NISSAN DRIVERS. I OWN A 2005 X-TERRA AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS YEAR THAT I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IT STARTED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN MY CAR SIMPLY STALLED IN A PARKING LOT. AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN $200 IN TOWING PLUS $1500 IN FIXING THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. IN MAY, DRIVING BACK FROM TAMPA TO MIAMI, THE CAR STARTED TO ACT AGAIN BUT THEN IT WENT AWAY. ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY CAR HAD ANOTHER EPISODE OF 'LOOSING' POWER. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER IN MIAMI FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AND THEY SUGGESTED TAKING IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AS THEIR PROTOCOL FOR CASES LIKE THIS CALLS FOR AN EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION CHANGE. THE WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 7TH, I WAS HEADED TOWARDS MY PARENTS HOME AND MY CAR STALLED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST IN CORAL SPRINGS AND $4,600 LATER, I HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. HE GAVE ME THE EXPLANATION ABOUT THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. MY BROTHER POINTED TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SETTLEMENT WITH NISSAN REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHICH ARE THE NEXT STEPS AS IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NHTSA CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE THIS CASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION REGARDING THIS MATTER. KIND REGARDS, *TR

NHTSA ID

10916692

Incident

Oct 7, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SOME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS CONTAMINATION OF COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. *JS

NHTSA ID

10916619

Incident

Oct 5, 2016

Mileage

127,000 mi

ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ID

10904580

Incident

Jun 16, 2016

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHAMBER AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10904297

Incident

May 11, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

LOWER RADIATOR ASSEMBLY FAILED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION . TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY OWNER. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR LOOSING CONTROL ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY AND HAVING TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. NISSAN SHOULD PAY FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10899855

Incident

Apr 11, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND IS UNABLE TO START. WITH VEHICLE IN OFF STATE THERE IS NOT CONTROL OVER SPEED, BRAKING, STEERING. NISSAN IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AFTER DIAGNOSIS. CODE P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.

NHTSA ID

10899850

Incident

Aug 13, 2016

Mileage

116,000 mi