Nissan Armada Transmission Problems and Ways to Fix the Unit

Nissan Armada is one of the most famous SUVs that is still really popular with American buyers. The first Armada appeared in 2004 and gave birth to the Nissan QX56. Also, in 2017, Nissan presented the new generation of the Armada and made it really modern. The revolution in technologies of this vehicle will make it an absolutely different model compared to the first-gen SUV.

Nissan Armada automatic transmissions highlights

• Average lifespan:190,000-240,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Rarely
• Price for repair after failure:$1,200-$2,300
• Price for replacement:$6,000-$7,800
• Availability of parts:Bad
• Common problems:issues with shifting, electronic glitches, weak control unit, torque converter premature failure.

The first-gen Nissan Armada transmission - any issues?

In the first generation, Nissan Armada used the 5-speed automatic transmission made by Jatco, the Nissan-owned company from Japan. The transmission was pretty simple. Its code name is RE5R05A but it's much better known as 5R05. Of course, the same transmission was used for numerous Infiniti vehicles and some Nissan models.

This is a good and reliable automatic transmission that can approximately go 150,000 miles or even more with good maintenance. But still, the 5R05 transmission has some problems and common issues that you should know about.

Here are some issues to consider:

1. Now, this is an old transmission that is hard to consider reliable just because of its age. It means that the gearbox has high mileage on it and many years of heavy service. So, it's probably destroyed already.
2. Also, these transmissions are not modern in any way. This means they offer pretty bad fuel efficiency. A couple of the 5.8-liter V8 engine and this equipment are not going to care much about your expenses on fuel.
3. The valve body problems are pretty common for the 5R05 transmission in the first-gen Nissan Armada. The best solution is to install a new valve body with modifications because the construction of the original one is not the best in the world.
4. TCM fails at high mileage. The control module is not going to live a long life. Sometimes, the TCM in your Armada may die at 100,000 miles which is too soon for this kind of transmission.
5. Direct clutch problems. Although the clutch system is pretty good and reliable here, the vehicle can surprise you with numerous symptoms referring to the direct clutch. Repairing it is quite a hard task.
6. Gear damage. Well, this is not a very common issue, but if you tow something with your Armada, you should be careful. Never go over the towing capacity stated in the manual for your vehicle.

We can't say that the 5R05 automatic transmission in your Nissan Armada (first-gen) is bad. It's quite a good and maybe even problem-free transmission compared to counterparts on the market. But now it's not the best choice to buy a vehicle powered by this transmission.

Its worst problem is low fuel efficiency and also old technologies that are harder to repair and maintain. Of course, the age and the mileage of these transmissions add to their problems. After 200,000 miles on it, the gearbox is going to become a big box of problems that are hard and expensive to solve.

The second-gen Nissan Armada transmission problems

In the second generation of the Armada, Nissan used the RE7R01B transmission. This gearbox powers basically the same 5.6-liter V8 engine with light modifications for ecology. The gearbox has seven speeds which enhances its fuel economy and makes it more flexible than the previous version of the automatic transmission in the Armada.

Also, the gearbox is not bad in terms of reliability. Yes, we still don't know a lot about the high-mileage Armadas because they were first presented in 2018. But the transmission has been in production since 2008 and it's a very well-studied unit.

Here are some problems you may encounter with it:

1. Quite a rough ride. Unfortunately, all newer technologies and modifications didn't make the transmission more comfortable in use. Drivers report a rough ride and shaking.
2. Many RE7R01B transmissions are reported to have problems with the software. But until they were first installed in the Armada, the software had already been updated, so no problems should be here.
3. The cooling system is pretty bad. If you tow something or overload your vehicle, the transmission will heat extremely. And this will lead to shaking, bumping, and even possible transmission damage.
4. TCM is still bad. Even though Jatco tried hard and updated the control module for this transmission many times, it's still working poorly and wants to let you down very often.
5. Clogging. Due to overheating and also some special factors of debris accumulation, this transmission may get clogged really fast after the oil change. If you don't provide good maintenance, the clogged transmission will be your usual problem with the Armada.
6. Oil leaks. Again, overheating leads to problems with gaskets and seals, so oil leaks are not uncommon for the RE7R01B transmission in the Nissan Armada.

These problems are not fatal and the transmission in your second-gen Armada still can last long. Customer reports say that the 7-speed automatic transmission in the Armada can easily go for about 200,000 miles. After that, they will need a thorough repair which may cost more than the replacement transmission.

Some first problems start attacking the owner of the Armada at 100,000 miles or even sooner. But they won't kill the transmission. They will just make you go to one of the Nissan dealers and pay for diagnostics and repair. Sometimes, those payments will be extremely high due to prices for parts.

What are the symptoms of upcoming problems with the Armada transmission?

Before you go and look at the mileage on your vehicle and think about selling your Armada before it started showing problems with the transmission, calm down and read this part of our article. We'll tell you about the most common symptoms that should make you think about transmission repair.

Here are the most important signs:

• The transmission is jerking when accelerating or shifting.
• The gearbox doesn't shift to a certain gear or makes it too late or too soon.
• The engine RPM has changed and now the engine rotates too much or always works on a low RPM level.
• The transmission doesn't downshift (doesn't go from the 4th to the 3rd speed when you brake, for example).
• The transmission goes only in reverse or doesn't work in reverse.
• You hear grinding, clunking, or any other unusual noises from the transmission when driving.
• The transmission shifts chaotically between gears and doesn't let you drive the Armada.
• There are some error codes on the dashboard that make you worried about the transmission.

Sometimes, a couple of these symptoms may appear. But in most cases, just one symptom is enough to make the decision to go to the specialist.

What should you know about Nissan Armada transmission repair?

The first thing you should remember is that any other parts but OEM are good for the gearbox in your Nissan Armada. Also, never let inexperienced people mess with the transmission. Once you do it, you will just need to replace the gearbox and this is a very expensive process.

Unfortunately, repairing the Armada transmission is never cheap. This is a pretty expensive unit with enormously high prices for parts and labor. So, the best decision is to maintain your transmission according to the manual. This way, it will live much longer and won't need any repair.

Through good maintenance, we understand optimal oil change, regular temperature checks, cleaning of the cooling system, filter replacement, etc. When you see that problems are already here, the best decision will be to go to the specialist and to have the transmission thoroughly checked. Without this, you will not be able to locate the problem.

Final words

If your Armada transmission starts glitching and doing some unusual things, it's not obviously a very expensive breakdown that is hard to repair. The problem may be with the software or maybe the trans just needs some fresh oil and radiator cleaning. So, the best option is to go to the specialist and check the gearbox.

But if the mileage is already over 200,000 miles, you should understand that the transmission is half dead and it will need some investment. It won't be too cheap to repair or replace the gearbox in your Nissan Armada, but without this, your vehicle will become a monument.