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.

1.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,643 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.

2006 Nissan Pathfinder engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 2 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #127

Mar 312017

Pathfinder

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Radiator fluid leaked into transmission, cause a replacement of transmission and radiator.

- Port Washington, NY, USA

problem #126

Nov 012016

Pathfinder

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. On several occasions, while driving between 10-50 mph, the transmission failed to operate as intended. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission failed due to contamination of the transmission from the radiator fluid acid. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #125

Sep 032016

Pathfinder

  • 129,000 miles
The timing chain is a known issue with Nissan usa. My timing chain has to be replaced at my cost due to its faulty design. Engine failure due to the timing chain while driving and turning, left my wife stranded. This item needs to be recalled by Nissan as there are thousands of complaints about this issue just after warranty expires.

- Princeton, MN, USA

problem #124

Sep 062016

Pathfinder

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Timing chain is messing up which its clear that all Nissan Pathfinders made from 2004-2010 have that problem as well as the automatic windows not working going up or down when using automatic as well as passenger airbag light going off randomly. Oh if it helps I worked at Nissan North America manufacturing and I can't even begin to tell you how managers would send defected parts to the line for assembly because they would always say "quantity over quality". its a shame and I hope that this will help push to hold Nissan responsible to fix what they already knew was bad.

- Canton, MS, USA

problem #123

Apr 112012

Pathfinder

  • 106,600 miles
Vehicle would hesitate badly while driving and almost caused an accident. When taken to a mechanic to fix issue, we found that the transmission fluid had turned pink. The technician stated that at fluid and coolant had mixed together. We had to have the transmission and the radiator replaced.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #122

Aug 172016

Pathfinder

  • 91,450 miles
I have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder with 91,450 miles. I notice a slight slip in the transmission on the way to work. I work at a auto repair shop. They took it for a test drive and found nothing. Approximately two weeks later, it really started to slip to the point I had to pull over, because it was not shifting correctly. When it was brought in to the shop again it did nothing. I called the local Nissan dealer in stroudsburg pa and was told there was a "silent recall" and to check the fluid if it was a milky color, pretty much I was going to be without a car. I always took care of my car and for this to happen was a real blow. The dealership told me pretty much the repair exceeds the value of the vehicle. I did check the value of my car was approximately $6-7000 for the shape that it was in. That's a lot of money to lose on a vehicle. Also, the hazard of not shifting properly could have caused an accident, I had to pull off the side of the highway until I could get it to shift and this kept repeating it self over and over. Nissan had a class action settlement, which when I called Nissan directly they said it did not include my VIN number. I believe Nissan knew this was a defect and only if you complained about it did you get attention from the company. I had an address change so I do not know if I received any information on this type of issue. I was the only owner of this vehicle and believed that Nissan should make good for the repairs it will cost.

- Saylorsburg, PA, USA

problem #121

Aug 012016

Pathfinder

  • 147,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall- blown transmission due to radiator leaking coolant into transmission fluid, resulting in blown tcm and transmission. Common problem with this make and model. Vehicle was stationary when problem happened. No warning signs given from vehicle.

- Lenoir, NC, USA

problem #120

Jul 152016

Pathfinder

  • 98,500 miles
Radiator cracked leaking coolant into the transmission that is impacting the ability for transmission control module to function properly. Now, while driving, the car randomly stalls and loses all power. While on the highway, it has become necessary to restart the car while rolling in neutral to avoid having to switch lanes into faster moving cars. I've been informed by Nissan that it's a common problem and an $8000 repair to replace the radiator, transmission, transmission control module, and flush everything out.

- Catonsville, MD, USA

problem #119

Jul 152016

Pathfinder

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that when he took his vehicle to the mechanic for maintenance, the mechanic stated that the vehicle coolant was abnormal. As a result, it was diagnosed that the transmission fluid and coolant had mixed. The radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. The VIN was not available.

- Jasper, IN, USA

problem #118

Feb 122016

Pathfinder

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle vibrated abnormally and stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the crank sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #117

May 072016

Pathfinder

  • 140,281 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Right after purchasing this vehicle the check engine light went on. Took it back to the dealer, they power sprayed the engine, said everything was fine. A few days later, vehicle is knocking. Took it back, radiator fluid was in trans. Replaced radiator and flushed trans. Week later, same thing now worse. Car is knocking load especially after hitting 40 mph. Sometimes it wont pass 40mph.

- Columbus, GA, USA

problem #116

Jul 012016

Pathfinder

  • 187,000 miles
Raditor leaks coolant in transmittion now my transmittion is not working and the coolant has transmitton fluids in

- Spruce Pine, NC, USA

problem #115

May 062016

Pathfinder

  • miles
We have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder that has transmission failure due to a defective radiator. This is a known defect that Nissan should be held accountable for. We followed all recommended maintenance, most of which was at a Nissan dealership. The dealership was negligent in its inspection and repair of our vehicle. When we began to experience transmission failure and had both transmission and coolant contamination, they failed to diagnose the problem. Two Nissan dealership inspections in May 2016 outlined that all was well with our vehicle, even after we found that there was no transmission fluid on our dipstick, and it did not appear that the bolt to check the fluid had not been recently removed. Our family's safety was put at risk driving this vehicle for over a month, while it was experiencing transmission failure and risked engine failure due to heavily contaminated coolant. After a few weeks of symptoms, we looked online and were shocked to see the widespread manufacturing defect that has been reported. We took our truck to an independent shop who diagnosed the problem. The Nissan warranty was extended to 10 years or 160,000 kilometers for possible radiator assembly failure. Although our vehicle fell within the 10 year time frame, we were outside the kilometer range by 40,000 kilometers. Nissan Canada and crown Nissan refused to extend the warranty to us. We feel the 160,000 km is far too low for a 10 year warranty. A recent Dodge warranty extension was 10 yrs, 240,000 km. Nissan put us in an unsafe situation, where they failed to diagnose the problem and we were out driving for several weeks, some of which involved towing our family camper on the highways. Nissan has been negligent on many levels and a recall should be extended to these faulty radiators.

- Winnipeg, ND, USA

problem #114

Apr 062016

Pathfinder

  • 191,270 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed due to coolant contamination. As a result, the transmission, radiator, and thermostat needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 191,270.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #113

Jun 162016

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While the gear lever was in reverse, the transmission failed to operate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the radiator connector hose leaked fluid into the transmission. The contamination caused internal damage to the transmission. The radiator and transmission were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000. Consumer stated while driving up a hill she acceleration and could not make it up the hill and made it to her job. Consumer attempted to put the vehicle in reverse and would not go in reverse. Car was towed, aamaco diagnosis was coolant had leaked into the transmission causing transmission to fail. Updated 6/13/18

- Festus, MO, USA

problem #112

Jun 252016

Pathfinder

  • 160 miles
My vehicle had problems in 2011 when a "warranty notice" was sent regarding a radiator problem. I took the car in and they found that it was a timing belt and did not change my radiator while it was under the extended warranty and had approximatey 70,000 miles. I now have 160,000 miles and my car is acting up again and the dealership advised me the radiator is cracked and leaking coolant into the transmission so I need both repaired or my car will get worse and can cause an accident. To me it appears that this defect with the car was from the inception and it should have been recalled because it was bound to fail and it should be fixed at Nissan's cost. My vehicle is still pretty good looking but I feel it is only a shell that I am driving because of the interior radiator flaw. They indicate that since no recalls were made I have to pay the total out of pocket. I missed the lawsuit in 2013 but am willing to file another class action lawsuit if a lawyer is willing to accept it. The vehicle was shaking when I was driving it on the freeway mainly and it felt like it was not in gear and pulling. These were also my concerns in 2011 when I took it in to be repaired and fixed, but they said I had no problems. Well I do now and I wouldn't have if they had fixed the defective radiator.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #111

Feb 252016

Pathfinder

  • 98,389 miles
Radiator fluid leaked into transmission. Had to replace both parts.

- Kinston, NC, USA

problem #110

Feb 202016

Pathfinder

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced shuddering and jerking. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the vehicle's radiator cracked which resulted in damaged a transmission. The timing chain, the radiator, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Nevada City, CA, USA

problem #109

May 082016

Pathfinder

  • 110,150 miles
Coolant leaked into transmission, destroying the transmission, and rendering vehicle useless without thousands in repairs

- Port Orange, FL, USA

problem #108

Apr 072016

Pathfinder

  • 115,000 miles
Service bullitin classification EM09-007, refrence ntb09-128, posted November 16, 2009. Buzzing/whining noise from timing chain area. Have contacted and stopped by dealership to inform them about issue I was having. Showed tech there the service bullitin and they stated that they were aware of the problem and knew about the issue with numerous vehicles. I was given the only way it was covered by Nissan was if the vehicle was still under factory or extended warranty. If it were not coverd that way then I, the customer, were responsible to all the cost and and rental fees if I chose to get one while it was in the service center. I was given the cost estimated at $1800 dollars and there was no guarentee that it would fix the problem.. and have a nice day. Left very frusterated knowing there were thousands more in the same situation I'm in now.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

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