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.

2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,279 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2006 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #43

Aug 012021

Pathfinder

  • miles

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

UNKNOWN. Every time I drive above 50 mph the car vibrates hard and it-??s audible. It feels like the engine. I had it checked out by two mechanics but they couldn-??t figure it out. I had my wheels balanced, bought new tires at the mechanic suggestion. That hasn-??t helped. I-??m not sure if this is safe to drive and it doesn-??t make me feel safe. This has been going on for months. Please let me know if they-??re similar complaints and what I should do about it. Thank you

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #42

Jul 162020

Pathfinder

  • miles
Radiator fluid going into the transmission causing the tcm fail

- Portcharlotte, FL, USA

problem #41

Feb 122016

Pathfinder

  • 180,000 miles
My transmission stopped with no warning

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #40

Jun 162019

Pathfinder

  • 10 miles

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

Lately, my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder has been stalling or shutting down while I am driving my vehicle. I am not sure why, but everything stays on and runs fine, it is just that the vehicle will not move. I have to move my car to the side, if I can get it there on time, and turn it off. Then I wait a couple of seconds and start it back it. At times, after the startup, the car will run fine, but at other times, I will be able to drive for a little bit and then my car stalls again or dies down. I also have issues with the fuel sensor. It does not work and there is a recall for this, but my vehicle does not fall into the recall, even though there is a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder fuel senson recall. I have always caused numerous accidents because of my vehicle stalling or running out of gas in the middle of the freeway because my fuel lever does not work because of the fuel sensor.

- Tulare, CA, USA

problem #39

Jan 032019

Pathfinder

  • miles
Transmission is slipping bad because my radiator failure of mixing fluids and now im in a bind with onlybone vehical and my only way to work... I have 3 kids and I need help getting this fixed so I dont loose my job... please let me know if you can do something for me thanks so much

- Hickory, NC, USA

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problem #38

Mar 052018

Pathfinder

  • 152,900 miles
I was driving down the interstate when out if nowhere it got slightly shaky rumbly feeling and then it up shifted very very hard and redlined the vehicle so I hit brakes and got pulled over and turned it off. I got it towed back home and then next day towed to shop and they told me that the radiator malfunctioned and it had basicly drained antifreeze into my transmission. Said that problem is notorious for these vehicles and that I would need new transmission and radiator now.

- Metropolis, IL, USA

problem #37

Aug 012017

Pathfinder

  • miles

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

Catalytic converters front and back have to be replaced

- Serfner, FL, USA

problem #36

Jan 252018

Pathfinder

  • 105,000 miles
Have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder SE, while driving at 65 mph the car shut off and I lost total power of the car and thankfully was able to pull over without getting killed. This has happened 2X I loos total power and the car shuts off. I called Nissan to see if there was a recall and they said no, however there is a recall #10V517000 which Nissan says my car is not involved in that advised this model had a recall for this very problem having the engine shut off while driving it. If there is a recall for this very reason and I have the make & model while Nissan will not investigate why this is happened as it is a direct safety problem. I was told that I could take it into Nissan for them to see what the problem was of course at my expense.

- Goshen, OH, USA

problem #35

Sep 272017

Pathfinder

  • 98,900 miles
Car started giving problems with transmission in that the vehicle doesn't move when you release the break, you have to accelerate in order for it to start moving. After taking it to a Nissan dealer it was confirmed that it is a factory issue that has happened to many Pathfinder models, in which the water from the radiator gets into the transmission and damages the electrical components of the transmission. This issue is happening to many people. The estimated cost from a Nissan dealer is around $6,000 which is now more than the car is worth.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #34

Apr 202017

Pathfinder

  • 98,000 miles
Nissan class action suit-oil cooler settlement. Two days ago I took my Nissan 2006 Pathfinder into my mechanic after having continued shifting issues with it. He saw an oily sludge ( transmission fluid) in the radiator, diagnosed a radiator leak causing fluid exchange between radiator and transmission. I live on a remote island in southeast Alaska, so there is no access to a Nissan dealership. His shop could not flush the transmission so had me call a shop off-island. I learned from this mechanic of repeat issues with Nissan's leaky radiators. He said I should pursue calling Nissan for compensation of some kind. I did call, received a case number and today during a conversation with a regional Consumer Affairs agent for Nissan, was told that there was a class action lawsuit pertaining to this very issue but that I missed the filing date and therefore Nissan could not help me. I called Nissan in June of 2016 with an automatic transmission issue that could not be diagnosed because they have no access to any Nissan diagnostic software. I called Nissan then and received a case number and was told there was nothing they could do for me. There was never any mention of the fluid exchange issue that could be causing my transmission problems. I think Nissan should extend the filing date for compensation under this class action lawsuit at the very worst and remove the co-pay amount. This is their fault. Quite honestly there should be a total recall of anyone owning this faulty radiator. As I said I live on a remote island several hundred miles and a couple of ferry boat rides from any Nissan dealership, and now have no options before me. Nissan only disclosed the issue because I brought it to them, and then offered up information knowing that I was not eligible to receive any of the compensation. I am done with ever owning another Nissan!

- Craig, AK, USA

problem #33

Jan 012017

Pathfinder

  • miles

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

While driving the vehicle in coming to a stop light several times the vehicle has either stalled coming to the light when I depress the brake or it stalls once I am sitting waiting for the light to change I have not had a chance to look into the ipdm ECM or the crankshaft sensor problem as stated in other complaints I will do that this week. It has stalled possibly 6 to 7 times now 2 times exiting the highway and coming to the stop light and other times on city streets in traffic rolling and attempted to stall or coming to the light installed once I stopped or coming to the light

- Niagara Falls, NY, USA

problem #32

Dec 232016

Pathfinder

  • 103,000 miles
Radiator and transmission fluids mixed causing massive radiator blow out and replacement.. cost of $2000 then after being told the transmission survide and limited driving now a few thousand miles later and about a year later now the transmission is shot no reverse and only one forward gear!

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #31

Jul 012015

Pathfinder

  • 140,000 miles
In 2012, soon after we purchased our used 2006 Nissan Pathfinder, we knew it was a mistake. Not only did the fuel indicator not work (noticed the day we drove it off the lot) the SUV just didn't feel right while driving. I have been stranded in 100 degree weather on numerous occasions because the fuel indicator says I have fuel, but the light would immediately come on, and the car would cut off & lock up while I was driving it! fast forward to last year, 2015, we started experiencing problems when shifting into and out of park/drive/reverse. The transmission was slipping and sometimes wouldn't even change gears, just keep revving up the engine and not going anywhere. It has left my children and me stranded on numerous occasions since then. Finally, about 6 months ago, the Pathfinder decided to not move out of park at all after cranked. Today, 9/14/16, the transmission left me stranded in the middle of heavy 5 O'clock traffic. I barely had it pulled off the road when I almost got rear-ended! the transmission won't change gears, won't propel the car forward (or backwards) and the shop said it needed a whole new transmission, and maybe a new radiator! I am a student and my husband is in law enforcement - we certainly don't have an extra $4,000 lying around for repairs to a vehicle that should have been recalled! so, it is parked in our driveway, completely immobile and we have a car payment coming up next week (and every month afterwards). We are underwater, still owing $8,000 for a car we thought we'd drive forever, that is valued at around $4,000 on a good day with no transmission issues. Something has to be done! Nissan needs to repair our car asap!

- Clemson, SC, USA

problem #30

Feb 252016

Pathfinder

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

- Kinston, NC, USA

problem #29

Feb 052016

Pathfinder

  • 49,257 miles
Tranmision and radiator

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #28

Oct 012015

Pathfinder

  • 160,000 miles
Purchased Pathfinder in 2013 with 140,000 miles from a dealership. After less than 3 years and 20,000 miles the transmission has gone and it will cost over 4,000 to fix while I am still financing over 9,000 for it. All extended warranty deadlines and limitations have expired before I had even purchased the car. It is amazing that for such a severe issue that has been detrimental to many based on my research, that Nissan does not have more realistic and helpful warranty standards. I am not a loss at what to do and Nissan or dealership has offered any help.

- Washington, NJ, USA

problem #27

Jun 132015

Pathfinder

  • miles
Coolant is mixing with the transmission fluid and is creating the car getting over heated, the mix is getting discharge in a former of a brown chocolate mixture

- Clinton, MA, USA

problem #26

Mar 082012

Pathfinder

  • miles
Took our vehicle to be serviced in 2012 to find out our vehicle was affected by the intermix the radiator cracked and leaked into the transmission they gave us an estimated cost of over $10,000 stated it was no good and to trade it in asap said we shouldnt drive it that it was dangerous so we parke dit. I was devistated we did everything in our power made reports called everyone possible nothing! tried to sue however I fell ill (cancer) and couldn't keep our hearing apt here in sacramento ca. Its still parked in our garage.

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

problem #25

Jan 012016

Pathfinder

  • miles
The transmission failed on my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder due to a poor engineering issue from Nissan. This problem is a very dangerous problem. Transmission can fail at anytime.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #24

Jan 262016

Pathfinder

  • miles
I have the same problem that has been reported hundreds of times. I have over 100,000 miles, and was put in a very dangerous situation while driving my car. As I was making a left turn across two lanes and into the path of oncoming vehicles, the car stuttered, all of the lights were flashing, power steering went out, and the gas nor break would work. I was halfway through my turn when I realized my Pathfinder just shut down-I had no warnings, or trouble with the car coming up to making my turn. I was very fortunate that I was able to coast onto the street I was turning onto it was by the grace of god I didn't get into an accident. Come to find out the radiator leak into the transmission causing it to contaminate the transmission fluid and essentially blow the transmission. Repair is over $7000 from two different body shops as well as a Nissan certified service center. I of course was not happy when I was told my mileage exceeded the extended warranty coverage. I was also sad to find out Nissan wasn't doing anything for their customers, despite the many many complaints and lawsuits filed against Nissan wasn't doing anything for their customers, despite the many many complaints and lawsuits filed against them. They don't seem to care about consumer safety'even after the exact same issue is happening with hundreds if not thousands of their vehicles. I am hoping Nissan will do the right thing, and make it right. They shouldn't be waiting for people to die because of this issue to make a change. It seems like they don't care to do anything and less there is serious injury or death caused by this issue

- Atlanta, GA, USA

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