Cracked cooler tube caused transmission oil & coolant to mix causing transmission failure.
2009 Nissan Xterra powertrain problems
moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE, WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN RUSH-HOUR IN AUGUST IN PHOENIX, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND LOST ALL POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION, I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HAD FAILED AND SPRAYED FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE,-THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH ZERO WARNING AND NO SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY HOUSE AND INSPECTED FURTH…
A FAULTY RADIATOR CAUSED MY TRANSMISSON AND COOLANT TO LEAK TOGETHER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. NOW MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
I PURCHASED THIS 1 OWNER TRADE IN 4/11/19. AS OF 5/9/19 I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PRONOUNCED ISSUES WITH LOSING POWER AROUND 40 MPH . DIAGNOSTICS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE COOLING COIL WHICH RESULTED IN COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM UNDER THE CLASS ACTION REQUIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY. AS I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND DIDN'T KN…
PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE IN 2ND GENERATION NISSAN XTERRA. CLUTCH BURNT OUT AT UNDER 5000 MILES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW IN 4WD LO. I HAVE 20 YEARS MANUAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE, AND HAVE NEVER BURNED OUT A CLUTCH. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS A WEAR ITEM. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM - SOME WITH TRANSMISSION DISENGAGING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WHICH COULD BE VERY DAN…
RADIATOR INTERNAL FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2009 Nissan Xterra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 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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