CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005-2007 Pathfinder appears to have a widespread defect where coolant leaks into the transmission, causing transmission failure around 90,000 miles. Repair costs are typically upwards of $3,500.
According to the New York Times & a class action lawsuit, the defect actually extends through 2010 model year. More info here.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
94,822 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I got this vehicle from my parents which they bought brand new. So no other owners. When I got it was acting up and took to repair. They said my radiator was bad and had leaked radiator fluid. They thought could replace radiator and flush the system. I started looking at issues online. I found so many people with the same problems. I also found that Nissan was aware of a faulty crack in radiator. Which is the exact problem I had. I already spent 1000 $ in repairs with radiator and flushing system. I Am now out that money and the transmission has been effected by this issue. Tried everything possible with flushing system. Unfortunately this crack was the problem that has now left me with a perfect car that needs a transmission. So disappointed that Nissan ignores all the issues that unfortunately happened after 100,000 miles. Especially when they claim to know the radiator crack is a faulty part. That crack destroyed a perfect vehicle. Nissan should be accountable of these issues especially when their faulty part not only needed a new radiator but leaked into transmission. I am still sitting with this car. Unsafe to drive and unsafe to sell.
I drive the car and park and then when I go to start the car again it doesn't start so I have to call a tow company to get a jump to start the car and starts right up. I have taken to Nissan many times and they said nothing is wrong with the car. I have been stranded many times in the middle of the night.I got stuck the last time and it was far so I had to leave it at a family members house. This has been an on going problem and Nissan does not honor their manufacture warranty and also the extended warranty I had. I would like Nissan to buy back my car because I can't even sell it like this and I need a car to get around I'm disabled also. I'm totally discussed with Nissan.
- Bremerton, WA, USA
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My 2005 Nissan Pathfinder started stalling while I was driving down the road. This often happened on busy streets and in busy intersections. I would have to put the car in neutral, turn the ignition, and then put the car back in drive. Sometimes I would have to repeat this process several times. I have a 4 year old child, and this was very dangerous for us. I took the car to heritage Nissan for a diagnosis and was charged $115 to be told that my antifreeze had mixed with my transmission fluid causing my transmission to fail. I then learned that this problem happened because of a faulty radiator used by Nissan in several of their vehicles, one being my Pathfinder. Nissan has refused to issue a safety recall, even though there is a very obvious safety concern at hand. Heritage Nissan quoted me a starting price of $5000 for the repairs needed. Repairs that are needed because of the faulty radiator used by Nissan. Of course, my car was out of warranty, and Nissan is aware that the radiator can fail out of mileage range of their warranty. I am now a single mom without a vehicle, partly to Nissan's negligence.
Without any warning and sporadically as I am driving the vehicle it will jerk and then shut off, leaving me with no control over the steering or brakes. Sometimes it will be hard to start but will eventually start and this is also a random occurance. My main concern is it shutting off while driving and leaving me with no control.
The coolant leaked into the transmission, destroying my transmission. The leak was caused by a defect in the radiator. The vehicle started shifting hard and several times the vehicle stalled while I driving down the the highway.
My vehicle shut off on me when I was driving on highway, after it started to smoke like burning plastic. I took to my mechanic and he checked it out and I was told my raidator brusted in my transmission. It's not drive able at all.
2012 Nissan repaired radiator; 2005 Nissan Pathfinder just lost reverse. It has 115,000 miles. Nissan should help with replacing reverse. Is this under a recall?
While pulling onto a busy highway my transmission malfunctioned and gears wouldn't shift properly. I barely avoided an accident. We contacted our local dealership & transmission shops to find out that tons of other people are having the same problem. The radiator hose/connection gets leak & radiator fluid is sent into transmission which corroded gears making the transmission slip or not function. We have spoken to Nissan usa themselves and got no where. I'm disgusteded that this is not a recall and people aren't being notified of this issue in 2005-2010 Pathfinder, frontier, &xterra. I have also had the frontier. Never once was I told that after or before my warranty went out that this specific part would malfunction. I'm continually told it's my fault for not getting extended warranty. I did have an extended warranty, but the issue at hand is one specific malfunctioning part not the age or warranty of my vehicle. This is complete disregard for human life and they said "sorry for the inconvenience." We also can't be included in the class action lawsuit because we are out of warranty. I really fail to see why this is not a recall instead of warranty. Do research and find that not only in my area but all over the usa people are having the same exact malfunction of the same exact part.. this should be a recall because I wouldn't have spent $5000 extra for an extended warranty if this would happen no matter what..
We bought this SUV back in 2005 from my local Nissan dealer. There have been other issues like a faulty pedal which back on that date when it failed, it almost made me crash. They did fix that problem at my expense since they stated I was not covered by the warranty. Now, my car is 10 years old with 90K miles and the transmission just died while driving to my relatives wedding. I did the regular trans fluid service and a few hours later the transmission failed. I took it back to Nissan to get it checked. They want me to pay over $5,000 for a new transmission. I asked them why the transmission failed at only 90K miles. They did not give me any specific explanation as to why this happened. They only stated that "this type of Pathfinders have had a lot of problems" and that was it. I asked if there was any recall regarding this issue, the guy said no. I am left with no other choice than to pay the 5 grand to get my car fixed. They should not be selling faulty cars to consumers!!! I will never buy a Nissan vehicle ever again!
While driving my 2005 Nissan Pathfinder off road on april30th 2016, the vehicle abruptly stalled and shut down on the highway, while I was driving with my young children in the vehicle. This was an extreme dangerous life threating scary situation for my children any myself. Consequently, I was forced to get he vehicle towed and was informed by the mechanic, the transmission has failed and no longer is operative, even though the transmission has and continued to be properly maintained prior to the transmission failing incident on April 30th, 2016.
Cooling leaks into transmission causing vehicles to stall which can cause crash. Nissan America advise they all are aware of problem. Had no resolution advised the would repair for $3000. The vehicle hesitate when pressing the gas
Radiator leaked into transmission. Causing transmission failure. Also something went wrong and now they say there is something wrong with the seat that causes the passenger airbag not to work.
The radiator cooling system leaked into my transmission and caused it to stop working so I need to replace it at a cost of $5400 for transmission and radiator is $1000. I was in motion when I first felt a trimmer every now and then for about 3 weeks then it got worst at any speed or surface and places. Nissan will not help me on this because it has 120497 miles on it. I explained to Nissan if they had sent out notice about this I would have gotten my car fixed before now. I can not get anyone to help me on this. I have read on the internet that I am not alone on this situation. Can anyone help. I have bought several new Nissan but I will buy no more and I really loved my Pathfinder.
Issues with the transmission. Began with radiator issues. Come to find out, there has been many issues with coolant mixing into places it shouldn't. then the torque converter went out, and now the safety neutral switch and valve body. Very short engineering and problem after problem obviously known to Nissan but no recalls reported.
After receiving a complimentary multi-point inspection from the local Nissan dealership, my wife told me that on the way home that the transmission seemed to not want to shift properly. Went to check transmission fluid and found that the dipstick is locked into place. Did some quick research to find out how to check fluid level and then found out about issue with Nissan Pathfinders radiators having a problem with leaking coolant into the transmission cooling system. Checked radiator and found frothing foam on the inside of the pressure cap indicating that the radiator had failed. Contacted dealership and asked them why the section of the inspection for the cooling system and transmission system were checked as "ok". did not receive an answer. Also, we were never notified by Nissan about the issue with radiator in our Nissan. The vehicle is currently parked since the dealership said it would cost up to $3000 dollars in repairs under the agreement reached. I do not understand why this was not a recall. This situation could of caused a catastrophic failure of the transmission at speed while driving or catastrophic failure of the engine because of lack of cooling causing the engine to seize up at speed while driving.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lees Summit , MO, USA