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SMOD Hit List - Year, Mileage, User and Outcome

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291K views 399 replies 198 participants last post by  Mike W.  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Apologies if this or something similar is posted elsewhere. I tried searching for a poll, but I did read through some of the extensive threads and captured usernames, years, mileage, and outcome. If you are finding this from other sites, this is an issue that, in addition to Xterras, affects Pathfinders and Frontiers. Where the radiator fails and coolant mixes with automatic transmission fluid.

SMOD DOES NOT AFFECT MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS.

What is SMOD?
SMOD = Strawberry Milkshake Of Death (basically what your transmission fluid looks like after mixing with coolant.) The coolant and transmission fluid mix due to an internal failure in older model Nissan radiators.

Here's a Good Description of SMOD Causes, by Forum Member Robert Bills:

Robert Bills said:
If you take the time to read the thousands of posts theorizing about the cause of SMOD you will probably be more confused than ever, particularly so when you realize that many if not most of the opinions are based upon pure conjecture and repetition of what others have posited without any supporting scientific or forensic evidence to back up those opinions.

The most reliable evidence suggests that SMOD is caused by a manufacturing or design defect in the Calsonic radiators supplied between 2005 and 2009 which results in the failure of a joint in the ATF cooling tube allowing coolant and ATF to mix with disastrous results for the automatic transmission. (Calsonic is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nissan.) This conclusion is supported by these facts: (1) defective Xterra radiators have been dissected to observe the faulty joint; (2) a Nissan/Calsonic radiator with a different part number was introduced for the 2010 model year superseding the 2005-2009 radiators; and (3) incidents of SMOD are negligible for the 2010+ model years.

Many people believe that the use of any ATF other than "genuine Nissan Matic S" can cause SMOD, a belief which appears to be based entirely upon the fact that in 2009 Nissan announced that Nissan Matic S would supersede Nissan Matic J and recommended that only Matic S be used in Xterra automatic transmissions. However, it should be noted that Nissan made this recommendation for all Nissan automatic transmissions using Dexron III/Mercon type ATF, not just those vehicles with a history of SMOD. This, when coupled with the fact that multiple refiners market "Matic S equivalent" ATF, suggests that there is no provable connection between the type of ATF used and the incidence of SMOD and that the timing of the change in recommended ATF was coincidental.

If you buy a 2010 or later Xterra and confirm that your truck has the radiator with the new part number, then SMOD should not be a concern for you.

If you buy a 2005-2009 Xterra, then you should confirm that there are no traces of coolant in the ATF that indicate current or past SMOD (by visual inspection of the coolant, looking for deposits under the radiator cap and in the coolant overflow tank, and/or a chemical test of the ATF by Blackstone Labs), then immediately do the "radiator ATF coolant tube bypass" discussed in multiple threads on this website or replace the radiator with a quality aftermarket unit. Just factor the expense into the price you are willing to offer for the truck.

As for ATF, any quality ATF that is labeled as the equivalent of the Nissan Matic S will be fine. Some people like Amsoil. I like Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc ATF Multi-Vehicle (ATF) Full Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid - Valvoline.
Click to expand...
How can I tell if I have SMOD?
Symptoms include Strawberry Milkshake sludge on the underside of the radiator cap. (Check when the engine is cool.)
  • Rumbling / shaking around 50+ from the transmission (feels like you are driving over rumble strips)
  • General transmission issues (slipping, poor shifting, hard shifting, etc)

What can I do to prevent SMOD? / What is ByPassing?
You could upgrade to the new Nissan radiator (part # needed) or put in an aftermarket radiator.

Alternatively, you could potentially 'ByPass'. ByPass = Re-routing cooling lines so the transmission does not utilize the radiator for additional cooling. Members have mixed views on this. Some say it's fine, others feel that it reduces cooling capacity, especially in Xterras that are off-roaded or tow. "ByPassing" is a preventative measure. Once the damage has been done it's either new parts or possibly a flush.

Nissan also has an extended warranty in place (see below).

Additional information on by-passing:

What can I do if I have SMOD?
First, if you do or suspect you have SMOD - stop driving the Xterra as soon as possible to limit further transmission damage.

Next, most people end up with a New / rebuild of Transmission and new radiator system + updated fluid and removal of all contaminated fluid. Typically Nissan does cover this.

Alternatively, you could try flushing the system and just changing the radiator. Some members have reported they have "saved" the transmission that way. Depends on how long you have been driving with this issue and the level of damage done to the transmission.

Other general information:
  • Nissan has issued an extended Warranty that covers transmission failures related to the flawed radiator design. Covers 2005-2010, 100% till 80,000 - over 80k deductibles are required.
  • Link to extended warranty: Home - Nissan Assist
  • So far there have been no failures from 2009 onwards (and the 1 2008 listed is likely a false positive).

Disclaimer, (in other words, before you freak out): The data reflected in this post, and on this board is of a small subset of total Xterras on the road and sold. Overall, the Xterra is a reliable truck. Most users who find this post are here because they have SMOD, and few people sign on to say "everything has been great". You'll also note that the data so far reflects early year Xterra's (2005, 06 & 07). These are also the years with the most Xterra's sold and those that have the most miles on them. However, these are also the years with the old coolant type and radiator design.

Outcomes:
Saved = Typically new radiator, hoses, and multiple flushes with Matic-S
New Transmission: Exactly that. Some were covered, and some weren't.

I plan to make this list eventually more sortable and capture counts. But for now, here it is.

Additionally, I'd love to get data points for those that have bypassed how long they have been running it, whether or not they have an aux cooler, and if they have had any issues (overheats or still SMOD).

Lastly, I'm trying to find out what year the switch from Matic-J to S occurred (updated: 2009 = fluid switch) and when (if at all) a new radiator part was issued. <-- General consensus is that a new radiator has been implemented. The exact date is unclear (either in MY 2009, 2010, or 2011).

PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME IF I DON'T HAVE YOU ALREADY.

SMOD List (updated 10/30/2015)

2005
• 56,000 – mac_man2507 (new transmission)
• 120,000 – 6pack (saved)
• Texterra (saved)
• 65,000 – synjohn
• 115,000 – GhostX (saved )
• 103,000 – TRON (saved)
• 79,000 Riehle (unknown)
• Drains (unknown – frontier)
• 100,500 – tsiturbomightym (new transmission)
• 92,000 – zambonikane (new transmission)
• 56,000 – alexterra (new transmission)
• 80,000 – rock dog (new transmission)
• 84,000 – Michel M (new transmission)
• 90,000 – Hinsx (new transmission)
• 103,000 – guide signs (unknown)
• 82,000 – jaysonics (upgraded to 2011 Xterra)
• 72,000 – KpnObvious (new transmission)
• 110,000 – Blucas (new transmission)
• Machine>Matter (new transmission)
• 39,000 no records (new transmission)
• Nexus_7
• Peasy207
• First class X (new transmission)
• 40,000km sandman
• 130,000k - mango (saved)
• 78,000 - pkiddddd (new transmission)
• 77,000 - Dirtbag (new transmission)
• 137,000 - Salsa E 2005 Pathfinder (saved)
• 80,000 - Texterra (saved - 2 flushes and new radiator) - Now at over 316,000+ miles w/out issues!
• 105,000 - skipper172
• 175,000 - gorilla men (Saved: by-passed, but had overheat issues and by-pass removed. Got SMOD sometime after.)
• 115,000 - tax (new transmission)
• 117,000 - EsotericSYN (saved)
• 114,000 - chicago111 (saved)
• 120,000 - mmkco (saved?)
• 123,391 - Strat1tude (saved)
• 59,778 - jeffnjm3 (new transmission)
• 127,000 - drink
• 330(km) - Scoop
• 120,000 - nixorz
• 69,000 - alex_godmar (saved)
• 93,000 - DucXterra (new rad and trans)
• 69,000 - Shagaroo (new rad and trans)
• 168,000 - Raleigh (new rad and trans)


2006
• My3rdx (saved)
• 98,000 p.staff
• 160,000 – paffcon (saved)
• 85,000 – klrkknt81 (new transmission)
• 06_xterra_s (saved)
• 50,000 - Xterra3100 (new transmission)
• 63,000 - az_jerry (new transmission)
• 69,000 - dutch169 (new transmission)
• 86,000 - Mnemonic (new transmission)
• 80,000 - Metal-X-Militia (new transmission)
• DaveGH
• 105,000 - oskon187
• 207,000 - Notread - (possibly saved?)
• 176,000 - DriverX
• 74,500 - dig now (new transmission)
• 81,000 - G&L (new transmission & new radiator)
• neflihim (saved)
• noles fan (saved, then bought 2013)
• 117,000 - socaloverlander (flushed / saved)

2007
• 111,000 – White07x (new transmission)
• 63,000 xguy4life (saved)
• 84,000 camaro194 (new transmission)
• 65,000 miketerra07 (new transmission)
• Frasersxterra (saved)
• 75,500 - Chug
• 106,000 - Weber58 (new transmission)
• 79,300 - Evan77 (new transmission)
• 105,000 - JohnCB (new radiator + flush)
• 124,000 - Un4Seen (new radiator + flush)
• 137,000 - ThorX (New rad + flush, lasted for 1 year, needs rebuild or new trans)


2008
• 158,000 - Sullivan (new radiator, flushes, saved)
• 61,000 - Ramsker (new transmission & radiator - dealer covered)

2009
• 100,013 - jimmpotter
• 75,000 - pain roller (new radiator + trans)


2010


2011

ByPassed Trucks –
- List members and mileage/time they have been bypassed

  • 2007 X - KillSwitch, bypassed for 30k miles, no SMOD or issues
  • 2005 X - Surf and Snow - bypassed for 3 years, no issues
  • 2007 X - rthinchey - Bypassed at 78k. now at 94k and no problems
  • 2005 X - Tib - Bypassed for over 3 years, over 40K miles since bypass, no aux cooler, no smog, no issues.
  • 2008 X - El'Zilcho - Bypassed for 5,000 miles, no issues
  • 2005 X - shralp313 - Bypassed @ 110k
  • 2010 X - g6620 - Bypassed @ 36k, plus external cooler
  • 2006 X - unamused - Bypassed @ 35k, now at 100k, no issues
 
#2 ·
Nice! I thought there was already a list for this but can't find it either. This is a good list though and the question has been asked over and over what year the SMOD affects so this is good.

For the bypass list, I bypassed at ~65k miles I think. I installed removed the stock cooler and put in a B&M cooler with a built in fan on a thermostat switch.

I THINK the ATF switched from Matic J to Matic S in 2007 but not sure on that.
 
#3 ·
Thanks. What mileage are you at now? (i.e. how long have you been bypassed for)

That's scary if the Matic switch happened in 2007 as there are SMOD cases for that year.
 
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#6 ·
This is a good post. Mine's a 2008 at about 67K miles. (It was changed over to Matic-S about 2 years ago. I don't recall exactly when...I'd have to go back through my maintenance records. I had it done at the dealer & they marked a big "S" on the tranny dipstick.) I too will be doing either a radiator replacement or the bypass + secondary tranny cooler & fan at about 79,999 miles...
 
#8 ·
List updated with the responses.

If you are bypassed, please list how long or how many miles you have been bypassed.

If you have SMOD, please let me know the year of your X, mileage you got it, and the outcome.

Thanks.
 
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#9 ·
The Matic J to Matic S switch was either in 2008 or 2009 model year. I'm curious to know what fluid people were running when then got the SMOD, how long they were running it, and how often they change the fluid.

Personally, I switched over from Matic J (in my 2006) to Amsoil ATF at 20,000 miles, and have done a drain and fill every 20,000 miles after that. I'm currently at 130,000 miles, and have not had issues yet.
 
#12 ·
2005 X S, bypassed for about 500 miles with an aux tranny cooler (the exact same setup in the How To on this forum) and flushed with Matic S. No tranny problems, bypass was done before any SMOD issues showed up. Works great on and off the road.
 
#18 ·
Awesome post ... you sir get a beer from me if we ever hang out, I know how long it must have taken to compile that list.

You can ad my buddy's '05 Pathy to the list (yup the same one for whom I put together the 'salient threads' sticky). His trans went last fall(ish) ... always dealer serviced, probably ~130k miles ... trans was toast, as was the rad, both were replaced; then he got t-boned last week & insurance totaled the truck.
 
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#19 ·
2007 S 4x4 - 106,000 miles.

Will be replaced under an extended warranty (3rd party). Otherwise, it would have been over $8k.

Apparently, there are no transmissions available in the US right now according to the dealer. They told me that 37 are en route from Japan, and I am on a list to get one but it isn't certain that I will. Could take about 3 weeks...
 
#26 ·
Got my truck back on Friday after over a month of waiting (initially diagnosed with SMOD on April 9th). Big fiasco with my transmission order...dealer ordered it on April 9th, said it was backordered until mid May, called me on Thursday, May 9th and said my order was mysteriously cancelled and Nissan NA could not explain to them why...

I made a formal complaint with Nissan NA. I actually talked to one of the mythical regional consumer affairs specialists (Leslie-she was very nice and helpful). Got my transmission to my dealer by Wednesday the following week and it was installed by Friday, May 17th. The dealer gave me a 2012 Maxima as a loaner throughout the whole process, which might be my wife's next car after driving it for this long (nice car!)

With the warranty, I paid a total of $105.50 for the radiator/transmission replacement. Thank God my wife talked me into that warranty when I bought the truck!
 
#20 ·
Updated OP, added weber. Added fluid changed in 2009 and added that this affects Pathfinders and Frontiers for those finding it via google.
 
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#22 ·
2011 Xterra S, 42,000 miles, security patrol vehicle for Signal 88 Security. I was driving it the night it ate the transmission at 2 am. Had pink coming out of the radiator and the overflow tank. We had been having some slipping issues with the tranny and it was slated to go into the shop the next morning. The truck went from starting to slip to the transmission going completely out in about 2000 miles.





























































But, this truck was involved in a collision with a deer about two months prior and the radiator was replaced as part of the repairs. All the work was done at the Nissan Dealership. We(us and the dealer) think that one of the previous design versions of the radiator was put in the truck during repairs. There seems to be a possibility that the part was already on the shelf at the dealer. Anyway, I have a 2011 Pro-4x and was terrified that my transmission was going to grenade until we checked the part numbers on the radiator that was replaced initially after the deer incident and found it was the old part number. All the work and repairs were covered under warranty, but make sure you have the dealership double check the part numbers on the radiator before install.
 
#23 ·
tcbrad98 said:
2011 Xterra S, 42,000 miles, security patrol vehicle for Signal 88 Security. I was driving it the night it ate the transmission at 2 am. Had pink coming out of the radiator and the overflow tank. We had been having some slipping issues with the tranny and it was slated to go into the shop the next morning. The truck went from starting to slip to the transmission going completely out in about 2000 miles.

But, this truck was involved in a collision with a deer about two months prior and the radiator was replaced as part of the repairs. All the work was done at the Nissan Dealership. We(us and the dealer) think that one of the previous design versions of the radiator was put in the truck during repairs. There seems to be a possibility that the part was already on the shelf at the dealer. Anyway, I have a 2011 Pro-4x and was terrified that my transmission was going to grenade until we checked the part numbers on the radiator that was replaced initially after the deer incident and found it was the old part number. All the work and repairs were covered under warranty, but make sure you have the dealership double check the part numbers on the radiator before install.
Click to expand...
Just to be clear... The dealer replaced it with an old part number and the old part number failed at 2k miles? It sounds like the dealer replaced it with an old USED part number that was well on it's way to failing.
 
#32 ·
2005 S Model Xterra

SMOD two months after I bought it, in December of 2009.

Symptoms - hard shifts, almost like someone was inside the transmission with a sledge hammering to get out. Started out as the infamous "rumble strip" vibrations between 45/60 mph, and progressed to the aforementioned trans slamming.

Took it to the dealership where I bought it and was quoted $6,100 for a new cooling system and transmission, plus 10 days down time.

While I was in the waiting room of the dealership I was also on thenewx.org communicating with Rook...who told me via PM to find an independent mechanic and take it there. I called my trusted mechanic and he told me to limp it there immediately, and also mentioned that a drain and fill should save the trans if completed fully.

He replaced the radiator, all hoses, thermostat, and did two drain and fills. $700 later, all fixed, no rumble strip/slamming.

This was at around 110,000 miles, and the Xterra now has 187,xxx miles and trans is still running strong. Just did another drain and fill at 183,xxx miles of the Matic S fluid and have had much smoother shifting. So, roughly 75,000 miles of hard driving between drain and fills (yeah, I know, I run it til' its black, TWSS) and no problems with my Post-SMOD transmission.

Great thread...great posts...great resource.
 
#33 ·
2005 S Xterra
Bypassed 2 years ago ~ 82,000 miles
Tranny flushed then, no signs of SMOD
I thought it was averted.

Took it into the dealer today for unrelated issue. Asked for a quote on the radiator for the heck of it. I thought it would be high and have been gearing up to replace it myself as the radiator has some issues (aside from possible SMOD). Quote was ~$400, I am going out of commission for knee surgery in a few days, and thought screw it - do the radiator.
They drained it and it was SMOD in the radiator and overflow res. WTF?
Pulled the tranny pan to check. Wasn't SMOD per se, but fluid was burnt and a weird orange color. Lots of debris, flakes, clutch material, etc. Due to the SMOD in the radiator it qualifies for the Nissan replacement. 99,400 miles.
Called around to tranny shops for rebuild/ replacement. They all know the deal with these. Quoted minimum $1750 without seeing inside it up to $2850 for rebuild/ replace.
I'm going the Nissan route - new radiator, thermostat, tranny, etc. I'm out $3000. :cussing::banghead:
 
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