2008 NISSAN FRONTIER Engine Problems

Transmission fluid cooler integrated in the radiator that allowed engine coolant to mix with and contaminate the automatic transmission fluid causing damage to the transmission. Radiator had to be replaced along with flushing out of the trans fluid at a service station costing a few thousand of dollars. Months later the check engine light went on and found out that the transmission is slipping caused by the fluid contamination.

DRIVING ON STREET TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE I LOSS POWER AND CAR COULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR IT SEEMED I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. CAR I STARTED IT BEGAN TO DRIVE AND IT WUDNT GO OVER 30MPH I STOPPED AND NOTICED LEAKING UNDER THE TRUCK TOWARDS THE ENGINE AND WHEN I PRESSED ON GAS IT WOULDN'T GO STILL SO I STOPPED AND GOT TOWED

Mileage: 180,000

THE ANTIFREEZE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID GOT MIXED TOGETHER IN MY TRUCK AND I AM NOW TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW THAT THE TRUCK WOULD AT LEAST GIVE ME 100,000 MILES BEFORE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

THE COOLER TUBES FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR CRACKED, ALLOWING FOR FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RESULTED IN RAPID DEGRADATION OF THE FRICTION ELEMENTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRONTIER IS NOW UNDRIVABLE.

Mileage: 150,000

THIS VEHICLE HAS KNOWN TIMING BELT ISSUES. THE VEHICLE STARTS MAKING A LOUD NOISE(WHINING) THAT GETS LOUDER AS I DRIVE FASTER ON ANY ROAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NISSAN HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IT WILL COST OVER 2400 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE

Mileage: 128,000

TRUCK STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 45MPH. ENGINE OFF.

Mileage: 90,000

TRANSMISSION COOLER IN RADIATER FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND OVERHEATING.BROKE DOWN ON SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED.

Mileage: 63,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, HE OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL THUMPING SOUND FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MADE THE MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HIS LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER (TOM HESSER NISSAN , 900 ONEIL HWY, DUNMORE, PA, 18512) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,892. ... .UPDATED 11/16/17 *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 11/30/2017*JS

Mileage: 46,892

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND SLIP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

MY TRUCK WOULD GO IN TO GEAR BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING WATER AND COOLANT IN TO MY TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY HOSE ON RADIATOR AND IT WAS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF FRONTIERS AND XTERRAS. WHEN MY HUSBAND QUESTIONED THE TECH ON THIS BEING A RECALL HE STATED THAT IT SHOULD BE, BUT IS NOT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE. HE TOLD US WE WOULD NEED A NEW RADIATOR, HOSES, AND TRANSMISSION. THE TRUCK BREAKING DOWN IS A SAFETY ISSUE! WE THEN HAD OUR TRUCK TOWED TO OUR NORMAL MECHANIC AND HE IS REPAIRING IT NOW.

Mileage: 119,000

THE ENGINE MAKES A WHINING NOISE THAT INCREASES IN FREQUENCY WITH ENGINE RPM. THE TRUCK HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT BUT THE NOISE HAS BEEN APPARENT FOR SOME TIME. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS WERE WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,800.

Mileage: 69,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A WADDLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Mileage: 6,000

MY NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE 4.0L V6 ENGINE IN MY TRUCK REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. THIS TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEALER CHARGES $2,140 FOR THE WORK. TIMING CHAINS ARE NORMALLY EXPECTED TO LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD DESTROY THE ENGINE AND, IF IT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM ON THIS AND RELATED ENGINES SINCE AT LEAST 2004, YET THEY CONTINUED TO USE THOSE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAINS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 2010. NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE THE CHAINS UNDER WARRANTY.

Mileage: 59,600

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART MINUTES LATER. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE FLIP ERROR LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Mileage: 61,000

1) $1473 TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM @ 53,610 MILES 2) NISSAN HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN NTB09-128 REVEALING A KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE ON AT LEAST 3 MODELS OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME 3) CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO CHECK ON REIMBURSEMENT SINCE NISSAN KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM. IN FAIRNESS, THEY RESPONDED WITHIN 24 HRS. ONLY TO TAKE LESS THAN 1 MINUTE TO DENY THE CLAIM 4) WROTE 3 LETTERS (1 PER MONTH) TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS UNTIL THEY CONTACTED ME AGAIN TODAY 1/13/2016 ONLY TO DENY THE CLAIM ONCE AGAIN. I'VE OWNED ONLY NISSAN TRUCKS SINCE 1984 AND BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR PRODUCTS AND QUALITY. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN 2008 AND ONLY HAD 53,610 MILES WHEN THIS ISSUE CAME UP. I'M THANKFUL I HEARD THE NOISE AND HAD IT FIXED BEFORE THE CHAIN(S) SEIZED AND CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE OR EVEN A WRECK. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I HAD AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM (BAD LUCK) IF IT HADN'T BEEN DOCUMENTED VIA THE SERVICE BULLETIN. NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE VIA THE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT COVERED AT LEAST 3 MODELS OVER A 5 YEAR TIME SPAN. THEY NOW REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITY. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS SEVERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS CONCERNING THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. I'M VERY UNHAPPY WITH NISSAN'S LACK OF PRODUCT SUPPORT ON WHAT WAS WAS CLEARLY A QUALITY ASSURANCE PROBLEM. I WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BUY (NOR RECOMMEND) A NISSAN PRODUCT ANYTIME IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

Mileage: 53,610

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 167,514.

Mileage: 167,514

TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TENSIONERS NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THE TIMING CHAINS [3]. IF THESE FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY, A SEVERE ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. NISSAN HAS PUBLISHED BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS ABOUT IT. THERE ARE EVIDENTLY CLASS ACTION SUITS FILED AGAINST THEM. THESE PART ARE DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN AND QUALITY AND POSE A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

Mileage: 78,132

I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO WHINE AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT WILL COST $1,500 TO REPAIR. I TOOK A LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE STATING THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE PRESSURED TO SEND OUT A RECALL TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON THESE ENGINES. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT WERE MIXING. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,355 AND CURRENT MILEAGE 102,400.

Mileage: 102,355

I HAVE THE WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR COOLANT ENTERING AND DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION. I AM HAVING IT REPAIRED A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I WILL HAVE TO PAY OVER 3200.00!. THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT IS RIDICULOUS!. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT EVEN OCCUR UNTIL OVER 80000 MILES WHEN NISSAN WILL NOT COVER ANYTHING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A WHINING NOISE THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD IN MY 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER 4.0 TRUCK. THE NOISE IS NEW AND OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO, IT COMES AND GOES. VEHICLE WENT OUT OF WARRANTY 2.5 MONTHS AGO AT 5 YRS 2.5 MONTHS OLD. 54500 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE WHINE PITCH INCREASES WITH ENGINE SPEED. IN NEUTRAL AS YOU REV THE ENGINE YOU HEAR THE WHINE NOISE GO UP AND DOWN WITH THE RPMS. VERY DISAPPOINTING TO THINK I AM STUCK WITH A LARGE $1500 TIMING BELT ISSUE WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A WELL DESIGNED VEHICLE FROM A COMPANY I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST HIGH QUALITY. *TR

Mileage: 54,500

TRANS COOLER RUPTURED WITHIN RADIATOR CAUSING WATER/COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID DESTROYING TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 89,212

ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FLUTTERS WHILE IN GEAR. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN AROUND THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, ETC. IT WENT OVER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD STILL LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY NEED A THROTTLE ADJUSTMENT. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE MECHANIC HE SAID THE THROTTLE WAS WITHIN RANGE AND IT WAS REPORTED TO HIM THAT ALL FRONTIERS AND PATHFINDERS HAVE THAT PROBLEM. SOMEONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FORCE NISSAN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

A WHINING OR BUZZING TYPE NOISE HAS DEVELOP FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AREA CAUSED BY EXCESS SLACK IN THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS. NISSAN HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (NTB09-128) REGARDING THIS ISSUE. REPLACEMENT OF BOTH SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS AND THEIR TENSIONER SHOES WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPAIR THIS CONCERN. MY 2008 FRONTIER HAS 89K MILES ON IT (OUT OF NISSAN'S 60K WARRANTY) AND HAS BEEN WHINING FOR SOMETIME NOW. NISSAN KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM PER THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED TSP. IT IS MY WORRY THAT IF THE CHAIN BREAKS OR FAILS WHILE DRIVING IT THE MOTOR WILL INSTANTLY STOP/FAIL AND POSSIBLY LOCK UP THEREFORE PUTTING MYSELF AND FAMILY AND OR OTHERS AT GREAT RISK FOR INJURY. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I RECEIVED A LETTER FOR A SETTLEMENT OFFER FROM NISSAN ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE WHICH LEADS TO TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I STARTED TO RESEARCH WHAT WAS WRONG AND WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT SEEING AS MY FRONTIER HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE SETTLEMENT OFFER. AS I DID SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT ABOUT A SYMPTOM BEFORE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURS WHICH IS AT AN IDLE YOU HAVE A LOSS OF HEAT UNTIL YOU REV THE ENGINE OR START TO ACCELERATE AND HEAT RETURNS. I NOTICED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED AROUND NOVEMBER 2012 WHILE I HAD LEFT MY TRUCK RUNNING WHILE PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES WHICH I NORMALLY DO NOT DO. I STARTED TO DRIVE AND THE HEAT WAS WORKING AGAIN SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A THERMOSTAT STICKING AND WATCHED MY VEHICLE FOR THE SIGNS OF THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE I DO NOT LET MY TRUCK SIT IDLE LONG ENOUGH UNTIL I TESTED IT TODAY AND WHEN I LET IT SIT IDLE FOR A MINUTE THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY AND RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION WHEN I STARTED DRIVING IT. I AM TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT GETS WORSE BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. SO AS FOR THE TIME BEING I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE MY ONLY VEHICLE TO WORK AND HOPE THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT FAIL COMPLETELY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. HOPEFULLY I CAN FIND A AFFORDABLE REPAIR OR NISSAN WILL BE FORCED TO REPAIR IT BEFORE SOMEONE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS HAS THIS HAPPEN AND US CONSUMERS SUFFER BODILY INJURY OR FATALITIES BEFORE THEY WILL DO THE HONORABLE THING AND ADMIT THEIR VEHICLE HAS FAULTY MATERIALS USED IN ITS CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR THEM. ONLY THEY WILL SUFFER IN THE END IF THEY DO NOTHING. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

FAILED TRANSMISSION TWICE DUE TO LEAK OF COOLANT CAUSED BY RADIATOR LEAK. OCCURRED AT 50K AND 64K MILES. FIRST FAILURE CAUSED A DELAY AFTER PRESSING ACCELERATOR ALLOWING ENGINE TO REV BEFORE ENGAGING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. BOTH REPLACEMENTS COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 50,000