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2007 NISSAN QUEST

3.5L V6 VQ35DE•FWD•AUTOMATIC•gas•VQ35DE
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5-Year Cost of Ownership
$33,662 maintenance + known platform issues
~$6,732/yr · 560¢/mile equivalent · $6,191 maintenance + $8,521 expected platform issues
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3.5L V6
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3.3L V6 VG33E
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2007 Quest is Nissan's full-size minivan powered by the reliable VQ35DE 3.5L V6, but this generation suffers from catastrophic transmission failures and a known engine oil consumption defect that can destroy the motor if ignored.

Transmission Failure (RE5R05A)

Common · high severity
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

Excessive Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Failure

Common · high severity
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

Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks

Common · medium severity
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

Engine and Transmission Mount Failures

Common · medium severity
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

Front Strut Mount Bearing Failure

Occasional · medium severity
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

Power Sliding Door Motor/Cable Failures

Occasional · low severity
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
Owner tips
  • Check oil level every 500 miles religiously—oil consumption can escalate quickly and starve the engine
  • Change transmission fluid every 30k miles with Nissan Matic-S fluid only, and inspect cooler for leaks simultaneously
  • Avoid extended idle times and heavy trailer loads—this transmission runs hot and has minimal safety margin
  • Budget $1,000/year for deferred maintenance beyond routine service; this platform nickel-and-dimes owners after 100k
Pass unless under 80k miles with bulletproof service records and oil consumption test—the transmission and engine issues are too expensive and too common to gamble on a high-mileage example.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
482 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Mechanic · 20+ years.
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