COMPLETE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION DURING RUSH HOUR. VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR AT A COST OF $5,500.
2008 nissan Xterra powertrain problems
severe 40 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
COMPLETE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION DURING RUSH HOUR. VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR AT A COST OF $5,500.
TIMING CHAIN.I WOULD LIKE TO SEND OUT A LETTER OF COMPLAINT ON MY 2008 XTERRA. I'M ONE OF THE HUNDREDS WITH THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIMING CHAIN SHOE AND TENSIONERS MENTIONED IN YOUR 2009 SERVICE BULLETIN EM09-007; NTB09-128; NOV. 16, 2009. SUBSTANDARD PARTS. YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR
THE DIFFERENTIAL BROKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AWAY FROM MY HOUSE BUT FIRST IN WEIGHT WITH THE LIGHT OF THE TIRES I WENT TO CHECK IT AND NOTHING AFTER THE MUFFLER TILL THE LAST ONE BROKE THE DIFFERENTIAL AND NOW I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.
CODE P0717 THE SPEED SENSOR IS RUINED DUE TO A FALTY RADIATOR LEEK INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING DETERIORATION OF PARTS AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
I HAD REACH MY DESTINATION TO WORK AND FOUND THAT MY XTERRA WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. I HAD NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF THIS OR RECALL NOTICE FROM NISSAN. I HAVE 2 NISSAN XTERRA'S AFTER I PAY FOR THIS $4000.00 REPAIR I PLAN ON SELLING THEM BOTH AS THEY ARE NOT RELIABLE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION DEFECT.
driving and transfer case locked up sending me in to oncoming traffic and guardrail
I OWN A 2008 NISSAN XTERRA (4X4 4.0L 6CYL 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WITH VEHICLE MILEAGE OF 114K. IM THE SOLE OWN OF THE VEHICLE. IN LATE OCTOBER OF 2012 I HAD TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, DUE TO THE A INTERIOR CRACK IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE LINES OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS RESULTED INTO COMPLETE DISASTER, AS MY VEHICLE WAS NOT …
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 nissan Xterra?
It's a meaningful issue. 40 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
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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