Skip to content
KickTyres
MajorCommonTransmission

Nissan Navara: D40 Automatic Transmission Cooler Line Fatigue and ATF Leak

D40 Automatic Transmission Cooler Line Fatigue and ATF Leak is a common transmission fault on the Nissan Navara on the 2005–2015 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 45 documented faults on the Nissan Navara.

Vehicle
Nissan Navara
Years
2005–2015
Gearbox
auto
System
Transmission

This page covers the Nissan Navara as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Navara faults45 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

D40 Navaras fitted with the RE5R05A five-speed automatic transmission route ATF to an external oil cooler via metal-to-rubber crimped lines that pass close to the engine crossmember. Vibration and heat cycling cause the crimped ferrule joints to fatigue and crack, or the rubber section to harden and split. ATF loss is often gradual and goes unnoticed until severe transmission slipping or burning occurs. A complete loss of fluid results in irreversible transmission damage requiring full replacement.

What you would notice

  • Red ATF drips or puddle under the vehicle forward of the transmission
  • Transmission slipping, delayed engagement, or harsh shifts as ATF level drops
  • Burning smell from underneath after highway driving
  • Low ATF level on dipstick with no prior external leak visible

How to check it

Where to look. Transmission cooler lines running from RE5R05A gearbox to front-mounted cooler, near crossmember

With engine warm and ATF at operating temperature, inspect the full run of both transmission cooler lines from the transmission body to the cooler. Pay particular attention to the crimped ends where metal meets rubber. Look for red-brown ATF residue, seeping wet joints, or hardened cracked rubber. Check ATF level on dipstick and note any burning smell.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the automatic transmission ever slipped, flared, or had delayed engagement?”
  • “When were the transmission cooler lines last inspected or replaced?”
  • “Is there any red fluid residue visible under the vehicle near the gearbox?”

Now check the Nissan Navara you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Navara buyer questions

Is d40 automatic transmission cooler line fatigue and atf leak serious on a Nissan Navara?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Navara. D40 Navaras fitted with the RE5R05A five-speed automatic transmission route ATF to an external oil cooler via metal-to-rubber crimped lines that pass close to the engine crossmember. Vibration and heat cycling cause the crimped ferrule joints to fatigue and crack, or the rubber section to harden and split. ATF loss is often gradual and goes unnoticed until severe transmission slipping or burning occurs. A complete loss of fluid results in irreversible transmission damage requiring full replacement.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Navara?

$400 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Navara years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2005–2015 Nissan Navara. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

With engine warm and ATF at operating temperature, inspect the full run of both transmission cooler lines from the transmission body to the cooler. Pay particular attention to the crimped ends where metal meets rubber. Look for red-brown ATF residue, seeping wet joints, or hardened cracked rubber. Check ATF level on dipstick and note any burning smell. Look here: Transmission cooler lines running from RE5R05A gearbox to front-mounted cooler, near crossmember