TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS HAD MIXED ERRONEOUSLY AND BOTH THE TRANS…
2005 Nissan Xterra powertrain problems
moderate 271 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
271
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
RADIATOR DEFECT CAUSING ATF FLUID TO CONTAMINATE THE TRANSMISSION, LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WITH EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, AND EXTREME ASSOCIATED COSTS. THIS COMMONLY KNOWN DEFECT CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND NECESSITATES A FULL RECALL!
I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA AND I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION I PLACE IT IN GEAR AND HEARD A POP AND THEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO GO ANYWHERE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IF NISSAN KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS NO MATTER WHAT THE MILEAGE IS ON THE VEHICLE. I WILL N…
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL, I TURNED OFF THE OVERDRIVE AND THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY SHOWED THE VEHICLE HAD SHIFTED INTO 4TH GEAR BUT IN FACT IS WAS STILL IN OD (5TH) GEAR. UPON ACTIVATING THE BUTTON TO SHIFT BACK TO OD, THE VEHICLE NOW SHIFTED DOWN INTO 3RD GEAR BUT DISPLAYED THAT IT WAS IN OD (5TH) GEAR. I LIVE IN THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND I NEED TO DOWNSHIFT TO SL…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLES SPEED DECREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Nissan Xterra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 271 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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