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oneclickwonder
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| Posted: Jun 17 2019 at 9:23pm | IP Logged
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Hey everyone,
So last week my 2008 Frontier LE v6 crew cab (5 speed auto
transmission) started acting funky. At first it was just an intermittent
slight jerk as the truck was downshifting - when I came to a stop or
slowed speed in traffic. It felt less smooth on those automatic
downshifts. In fact, it was so slight and intermittent that I wondered
if I was being overly sensitive. It carried on throughout the week,
not getting any worse until the weekend when it was extremely hot
out. Then I started noticing slippage upon acceleration from a
starting position - Id need to give it more gas and it would slowly
get up to speed instead of being responsive off the line. But again,
this problem was intermittent.
So i brought it to the shop today, whole drive out it was fine. Took it
for a spin with the technician - downshifting problem reemerged.
They pulled the fault codes, did some diagnostics and came back to
me a few hours later with the problem - your radiator is leaking
coolant fluid into the transmission fluid thus contaminating it. This
is getting into your transmission causing problems and possibly
damage. It seems to be a known problem on this vehicle. Your
options are A.) we replace the faulty radiator, the malfunctioning
valve, flush the tranny and reset the computer. Cost - $4grand
(Canadian). Oh, and caveat, we cant guarantee that it will work and
there may be damage that causes tranny failure later but from our
database, its a known fix that has had success. Option B.) Replace
the entire tranny and rad unit. Cost - $7grand.
So head spinning I tell them I'll get back to them. I do some
research and find out that indeed this is a known design flaw
problem with a factory recall and lawsuit attached. Seems failure of
this type is common on this year/model (2005 - 2010) and usually
happens around the 110,000 mile mark. Well, mine is at 108,000
miles. Right on schedule. I call the shop and say - if this is a known
design flaw, and youre replacing with OEM parts, is it not possible
this happens again? He said, well yes - it is possible given the flaw.
Im the second owner of the vehicle. Purchased from a private seller
2 years ago for $12,500. Its a great truck, in good shape otherwise. I
really like it. But 7grand on a 10, almost 11 year old vehicle seems
steep. Especially if it could fail again. Honestly, i dont know what to
do. Try the cheaper rad replacement, tranny flush option and cross
my fingers. Replace the tranny/rad and hope it doesnt fail again for
another 100,000 miles. Or take it to a dealership and say - what will
you give me if i trade it in for a new vehicle?
Have any of you had experience with this problem? What did you
do? Any thoughts / advice would be much appreciated! 
__________________
r2lihou
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Rubble
Moderator Group
Joined: Jul 31 2014
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| Posted: Jun 17 2019 at 10:13pm | IP Logged
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oneclickwonder wrote:
Hey everyone,
So last week my 2008 Frontier LE v6 crew cab (5 speed
auto
transmission) started acting funky. At first it was
just an intermittent
slight jerk as the truck was downshifting - when I
came to a stop or
slowed speed in traffic. It felt less smooth on those
automatic
downshifts. In fact, it was so slight and intermittent
that I wondered
if I was being overly sensitive. It carried on
throughout the week,
not getting any worse until the weekend when it was
extremely hot
out. Then I started noticing slippage upon
acceleration from a
starting position - Id need to give it more gas and it
would slowly
get up to speed instead of being responsive off the
line. But again,
this problem was intermittent.
So i brought it to the shop today, whole drive out it
was fine. Took it
for a spin with the technician - downshifting problem
reemerged.
They pulled the fault codes, did some diagnostics and
came back to
me a few hours later with the problem - your radiator
is leaking
coolant fluid into the transmission fluid thus
contaminating it. This
is getting into your transmission causing problems and
possibly
damage. It seems to be a known problem on this
vehicle. Your
options are A.) we replace the faulty radiator, the
malfunctioning
valve, flush the tranny and reset the computer. Cost -
$4grand
(Canadian). Oh, and caveat, we cant guarantee that it
will work and
there may be damage that causes tranny failure later
but from our
database, its a known fix that has had success. Option
B.) Replace
the entire tranny and rad unit. Cost - $7grand.
So head spinning I tell them I'll get back to them. I
do some
research and find out that indeed this is a known
design flaw
problem with a factory recall and lawsuit attached.
Seems failure of
this type is common on this year/model (2005 - 2010)
and usually
happens around the 110,000 mile mark. Well, mine is at
108,000
miles. Right on schedule. I call the shop and say - if
this is a known
design flaw, and youre replacing with OEM parts, is it
not possible
this happens again? He said, well yes - it is possible
given the flaw.
Im the second owner of the vehicle. Purchased from a
private seller
2 years ago for $12,500. Its a great truck, in good
shape otherwise. I
really like it. But 7grand on a 10, almost 11 year old
vehicle seems
steep. Especially if it could fail again. Honestly, i
dont know what to
do. Try the cheaper rad replacement, tranny flush
option and cross
my fingers. Replace the tranny/rad and hope it doesnt
fail again for
another 100,000 miles. Or take it to a dealership and
say - what will
you give me if i trade it in for a new vehicle?
Have any of you had experience with this problem? What
did you
do? Any thoughts / advice would be much appreciated!
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Nissan did an extended warranty for this issue, so 1st
thing in the morning I would call NISSAN CONSUMER
AFFAIR'S AND TELL THE THE WHOLE STORY to see if your
vehicle will fit into the extended warranty and if
Nissan can help you. That's the 1st thing that I
would do.
When you call them,, be prepared to give them the VIN
# and the date of the sale on the Bill of Sale.
It's my understanding that Nissan sent out letter's to
the original owner's of Frontier's that might be
affected by this issue. If you bought your Frontier
from an Authorized Nissan Dealership be sure to tell
Nissan Consumer Affair's that you did. If the Nissan
Dealership didn't divulge this issue if they sold you
the Truck,, then that might help your case more with
Nissan Consumer Affair's. Also if the Original Owner
didn't pass along the Notice from Nissan about this
Issue, then that may also help your case.
Be Nice when you talk with them, it won't help you to
argue with them or to be Disrespectful. Just ask in a
sincere and respectful manner if they can help you.
After you contact Nissan Consumer Affair's then let us
know,, and we can offer more advice after we know what
they will do, Might do, or not do.
At any rate, don't drive the Truck anymore till you
figure out what to do.
PS- Just in case you decide to Trade for a New
Nissan; Since you own a Nissan,, Nissan Consumer
Affair's will give you a VPP Discount on a New Nissan,
which is another reason to talk nice to them,, as they
are the same one's that will issue the VPP # Discount
to you. They gave me one,, which really helped me get
my '13 Frontier. I've recently checked TrueCar.com,,
and Nissan is really giveing some very good deal's on
Nissan Frontier's. From what I've seen even better
deal's now,, than when I purchased back in 2013.
Regards,
__________________
Barney
2013 SV V6 Frontier KC/AT/2WD; Previous 20 yrs ~ '93 I4 Hardbody KC/AT/2WD, Sold.
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frontierguy
Senior Member
Master Mechanic
Joined: May 20 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2591
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Location:
U.S. - Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Jul 21 2019 at 7:03pm | IP Logged
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Depending on the miles, you may have to pay based on pro
rated amount.
I have replaced many trans and rads w/ no reoccurring
problems. I would go the dealer route, just check and
see if you are responsible for any $$$$ due to miles.
__________________
'10 Altima SL
Traded 08 Frontier for 16 Frontier SV CC Long box, quite an upgrade. I do miss the 6 speed and Dynomax ex.
Nissan Technician 25 + years
2011 John Deere X720SE
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Nissan Frontier Forums : Problems / Technical
Topic: Transmission issues due to fluid leak
