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.
2.0
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,817 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.
As I was driving my 2007 Nissan Pathfinder (120,000, miles) through a busy intersection, I lost the ability to accelerate at all. After a very frightening couple of minutes I was able to steer the vehicle through and coast down a small incline to a nearby parking lot. After threedays our local mechanic determined that he was unable to fix the car, as he concluded that the ECM had failed. The vehicle was towed to the local Nissan dealership, who agreed that the problem was the ECM ($1014 repair). After three more days, they've now told us that the problem is not the ECM, but the fact that the radiator fluid has leaked into the transmission, destroying it. They are quoting a repair cost of $7500. I have been without a vehicle for over a week (renting a car became cost prohibitive), and now will spend the morning trying to find a more cost effective way to have the vehicle repaired. I've learned that this is a common issue of which Nissan is completely aware. The coolant leak/transmission failure is in fact a design defect in the vehicle. It is completely unacceptable that Nissan has not recalled these vehicles, or at the very least made the repair free for consumers regardless of vehicle mileage. I will never purchase another Nissan after this experience.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle began to shutter. A local mechanic diagnosed that radiator fluid was leaking into the transmission. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer and manufacturer denied any assistance with the repairs to the vehicle. The failure mileage was 83,400 and the current mileage was 83,600.
My son was on his way to school when I received a call from him informing me that the Pathfinder was running hot. I advised him to pull over and wait until I arrive. When I let the hood up, I saw foam-like substances coming from the radiator. I had the vehicle towed to a mechanic shop to have it checked out. He informed me that the radiator had burst and leaked into the transmission. He changed the radiator and informed me that the transmission would stop working soon. Since than, I have changed the fluid 3 times @ $60 each time and the fluid is still pinkish. Now my transmission vibrates between 40 and 50 mph
Received warranty extension on my 2007 Pathfinder radiator to 80,000. Radiator has faulty transmission cooler inside which leaks into transmission causing transmission failure. Why not a recall. Called Nissan corporate and they said they will only fix the known defect after the failure which of course leaves you stranded somewhere. This makes the vehicle an unreliable mode of transportation, especially on long trips. Very dissatisfied with this vehicle due to transmission cooler defects, timing chain tensioner defect, and the fuel gauge inop defect. These are all major defects in which Nissan got off easy by warranty extensions and not preventative repairs of known defects.
- Keller, TX, USA
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Like some of the other complaints, I also had transmission problems with my 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. In October 2009, with 48,000 miles, my transmission started to act up, shifting in and out of overdrive very abruptly, and violently. Also, when I was at a cruising RPM of 1500-2500 RPM, in overdrive, the car would vibrate very violently. I took it to the dealership, and they stated that it was the transmission, and fortunate for me, it was covered under warranty. 6,000 miles later, in February 2010, the problem came back. Once again, I took it to the dealer. This time they stated that they found antifreeze in the transmission fluid. They stated that they needed to contact a Nissan rep for further instructions. 3 days later I received a call stating the problem (antifreeze was leaking into the transmission lines from inside the radiator, and it needed replaced), and they said that Nissan would cover the transmission, but not the radiator. When asked the price of the radiator, they quoted me 650 dollars! the radiator ended up costing me 677 dollars after taxes, and they replaced the transmission under warranty, although they stated that they should not, since the problem was due to the radiator. I see that this was not just a fluke problem with my vehicle, but it seems to be common with this vehicle. Something needs to be addressed over this matter, for it is a saftey issue, and someone is bound to get injured, if they have not already. I have found hundreds of complaints online over the leaking and mixing inside of the radiator, leading to the transmission problem. Today, on August 24, 2010, I learned that the torque converter will now need replaced. A 2007 Nissan Pathfinder with 64K miles, on its 3rd transmission, new radiator, and now will need a torque converter. This is unacceptable!!! Nissan refuses to accept fault for the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fairview, PA, USA