2011 Nissan Frontier: Cracked radiator transmission failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2011 Frontier report: cracked radiator transmission failure. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 146,700 miles.
NHTSA has 9 owner complaints for the 2011 Frontier in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11697002 (filed 11/02/2025): “Transmission fluid mixing with coolant in radiator!…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11233784 (filed 07/22/2019): “Truck started not engaging in reverse at around 50,100 miles. took my truck to larry h miller nissan where i paid 157.00 to have them tell me that my transmission was over full. they pulled about 3 liters of extra fluid from tranny. the fluid appears darker b…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: rebuild transmission, radiator, sensors (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $4,080 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Cracked radiator transmission failure (2011 Frontier)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2011 Frontier
Page last updated .