2007 NISSAN QUEST

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Slipping between gears, especially 2nd to 3rd, Shuddering or hesitation during acceleration, Transmission overheating, limp mode activation, Metal shavings in fluid, burnt smell

Fix: The RE5R05A transmission is notorious for valve body and torque converter failures. Rebuilt units often fail again. Replacement with remanufactured unit is 8-12 labor hours, plus extensive R&R of subframe components and cooler lines. Many owners opt for used low-mileage units due to reman quality issues.

Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Burning through 1+ quart of oil every 1,000 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on cold starts or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs, misfires on multiple cylinders, Low oil pressure warning if allowed to run low

Fix: VQ35DE engines in this era suffer from piston ring land collapse and excessive bore wear. Requires complete engine rebuild with new pistons, rings, and often cylinder honing or bore/sleeve work. 20-28 labor hours for full rebuild. Many shops recommend reman long-block swap instead due to core condition. Catching it early with frequent oil top-offs can delay but not prevent.

Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking from radiator area, Pink or red fluid mixing with coolant in overflow tank, Transmission slipping after coolant contamination, Milky appearance in transmission dipstick

Fix: The internal transmission cooler in the radiator fails, allowing coolant and ATF to cross-contaminate. Requires radiator replacement, full cooling system flush, transmission fluid flush (sometimes multiple exchanges), and filter change. If contamination reached transmission, expect internal damage. 3-5 labor hours if caught early, but often precedes total transmission failure.

Estimated cost: $800-1,500

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Excessive vibration at idle or under load, Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Engine visibly moving side-to-side during acceleration, Rattling over bumps from engine bay

Fix: The Quest's transverse V6 layout stresses mounts heavily. Front and rear engine mounts plus transmission mount commonly fail together. Requires subframe access for rear mount. 2-4 labor hours to replace all three mounts. Use OEM or quality aftermarket; cheap mounts fail within 20k miles.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking or knocking over bumps from front suspension, Steering feels notchy or catches when turning while stopped, Creaking noise when turning steering wheel, Uneven tire wear on front tires

Fix: The top strut mount bearings wear prematurely, especially in cold climates. Often goes undiagnosed until it's severe. Requires strut removal to replace mount assemblies. If doing the work, replace struts simultaneously as labor overlaps heavily. 3-4 hours for both sides, mounts only.

Estimated cost: $400-800

Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Door stops mid-cycle, beeps error code, Manual operation feels jerky or binding, Door reverses or won't latch properly, Grinding noise during power operation

Fix: Power sliding door cables stretch or fray, motors burn out. Each door is independent. Cable replacement requires full door trim removal and cable routing through track system. 2-3 hours per door. Motors are dealer-only parts and expensive. Many owners disable power function and use manual operation.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200