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:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
103,399 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.
Car started to shudder when driving, heater would get cold when car was sitting, vibrations when driving. Garage said radiator cracked and leaked fluid into transmission fluid and destroyed engine.
My Pathfinder stopped defrosting/heating when the vehicle is idle. This is a symptom of the well known cracked radiator problem that leads to transmission failure in many 2005-2010 Pathfinders at around 95,000 mileage. The safety concern is that I like many others have to get to work on time and end up driving these vehicles without the windows being properly defrosted. This causes clear vision issues and increases the probability of getting in an accident, a major safety concern. For this reason, I would seriously consider instituting a recall to replace the radiators.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving various speeds, the transmission slipped and the vehicle overheated. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who would not diagnose the vehicle. The contact then took the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a cracked radiator that caused fluid to leak into the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 83,200.
My Pathfinder taking antifreeze inside of transmission fluid turning it to look like pepto bismol also my engine is taking in anti freeze also. There are recalls on this problem with their vehicles note my truck still run but it over heats tranny works too I've parked it for couple years now I haven't driven it to the point where it don't work.
I stopped at the gas station to get fuel. I turned the vehicle off and put gas in the vehicle. When I got back in the vehicle, it will not start.. I towed the vehicle to the Nissan dealership in elizabeth city North Carolina. After my vehicle was diagnosed it was determined that the internal cooler in the radiator burst and leaked transmission fluid in the radiator and antifreeze had leaked into my transmission. The tech explained that the antifreeze have cause the internal computer in the transmission to not function properly. He stated that the fuse kept blowing out. After speaking with the dealership they wanted to charge me $3000 dollars to replace the radiator and transmission. I explained to them that I had no warning signs at all. I was told by the tech to call Nissan corporation for further detail. Once I called the corporation, an investigation claim was initiated. She told me that some will contact me by Monday (10/24/16). So now its like a wait and see game. I was told that the radiator had a warranty on it up to 100,000 miles of until 02/2017. I did explained to the tech that the failed part in the radiator caused my transmission to get damage.
- Ahoskie, NC, USA
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The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. While parked, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was coolant leaking into the transmission, which caused transmission fluid and coolant to mix. The mechanic stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,687.
The SUV has always gone for service at the dealer and they never told us to watch out for the radiator passing water to transmision, and now that defective part has put water in my transmission it as damaged it.
Radiator recall for trans lines leaking into radiator contaminating coolant. And now the timing chain tensioner is causing a loud knock in the engine from the timing chain.
Enjoying our Pathfinder one afternoon and went to pass a car and it would not kick inot passing gear. When we stopped I could smell that it was hot, but could not find a leak. After letting it cool, I checked the coolant level and found that grey froth in the radiator. A quick check on the internet lead me to me worst fear. I am still in the process of flushing radiator and getting quotes. Local aamco guy said that transmission is doomed, and they see a lot of these. $4,000 - 4500 to rebuild. So much money for such an easy repair had I known before the radiator gave up. No more Nissan for this family!
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle started to lose power. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and later towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the radiator cracked and leaked water into the transmission, which caused the computer system, radiator, and transmission to fail. The radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
Check engine light came on and truck wouldn't shift into overdrive. Pull code P0717 indicating the transmission sensor or computer was out. Took to shop and they said the transmission cooling line in the radiator cracked, the transmission fluid was then mixed with antifreeze, and it fouled the transmission parts and knock out the computer. Transmission had to be replace and the shop noted that Nissan wouldn't warranty the transmission without replacing the radiator, which they knew had to be done anyway. They said they've seen sooo many of these it's ridiculous. $4,225.43 repair that could have been avoided if we'd just known to replace the $200 radiator.
As a single father of three teenagers, I needed two vehicles with enough room and safety features to handle high school and college needs. I bought two Pathfinders, a 2007 SE and 2008 le, one for myself and one for my son (which would be passed on, etc). My decision was based on my previous experience with Nissan products and my loyalty to the brand. However, I now have both Pathfinders needing major repairs to their automatic transmissions. The 2008 Pathfinder's transmission failed in very heavy houston traffic while driving with my younger son, which caused other vehicles to slam on their brakes and almost created a large pile-up on a major highway. While we avoided being killed by oncoming vehicles, we were also in danger as we moved the car to the side of the highway. After towing the vehicle to a reputable transmission shop, he found the issue to be a known problem with the coolant fluid leaking into the automatic transmission, causing total failure. Estimates are over $6,000 for rebuilding or replacing the transmission with parts and labor, including the required addition of a "cooler" instead of the radiator. I attempted to file this with my car insurance but was denied coverage. Now, the 2007 Pathfinder is having the same symptoms with slippage and inability to use overdrive, which almost cause another multi-car pile-up in houston traffic until I was able to downshift and move aside. It's only a matter of time before the 2007 Pathfinder transmission also fails completely, and I still owe $12,000 to the credit union on both loans combined. I attempted a loan for repairs through the transmission shop, but was denied due to bad credit from a lay-off last year. Nissan, please issue a recall for those of us without hope and unable to buy a new vehicle. This is your chance to save lives and boost your brand to a higher level, through integrity.
Vehicle lost power, will not transmit power to the wheels, appears to be a highly complaint among all owners. Transmission has failed in a heavy traffic area. Fuel level sender is no longer working.
Check engine light appeared and I pull two P0717 codes indicating an issue with transmission control valve with tcm. Took to shop and they found coolant mixed with transmission fluid requiring a transmission replacement.
On Friday, August the 8th on the way to work on the interstate I accelerated going up a hill and the gear change in the transmission was extremely rough. It was like when a manual transmission is knocked out of gear, of course this vehicle is an automatic transmission. Like a manual transmission being knocked out of gear the vehicle had a very quick deceleration although I as still pressing the gas pedal. This almost caused the car behind me to rear end me. Eventually the vehicle acted like it went back in gear. When I exited off of the interstate, came to a stop at the end of the off ramp, and tried to accelerate the vehicle again acted like the motor was engaging but not the transmission, almost causing another rear end collision. I managed to get the vehicle to the parking lot at work. It set there for the day until I was leaving to go home. The vehicle would not start. The vdc and slip lights would come on when I attempted to start. I left the vehicle at work. I returned on Saturday. I got a auto code from the vehicle of P0717 referring to the turbine speed sensor. I found the 10 amp A/T ECU fuse was blown. I replaced the fuse and the vehicle cranked but immediately blew the fuse again and would not start again if turned off. I left the vehicle and did some research finding the issue with the radiator fluid contaminating the transmission and causing the transmission to go out. My company mechanic and I looked at the vehicle on Monday and found the radiator empty of fluid and the transmission fluid contaminated. Someone is going to be severely injured id this issue is not brought to the owners of these vehicles. The vehicle is still sitting where I left it until I decide whether I am going to have to replace what I am sure is a bad transmission due to a faulty manufacturers design.
Radiator defect, that Nissan has known since 2012, class action suit, for Pathfinders and xterras leaked fluid into transmission blowing my transmission. Nissan replaced transmission and radiator but charged me $3,000 as co-pay. Nissan has been aware of this issue for a while and yet never subject of recall nor were owners notified of this engineering defect of the radiator. Nissan refused to indemnify me for the co-pay claiming I was lucky I got that from them. When questioned as to why these radiators were never recalled, they refused to respond and stated they were under no obligation to notify owners of this defect. My transmission and radiator went while I was driving the vehicle causing my car to swerve almost resulting in an accident. This is an extremely dangerous defect it is absurd that the owners should have to pay anything because of this radiator that was engineered defective.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle vibrated severely from the front end of the vehicle multiple times without warning. The vehicle was driven to a mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission fluid leaked into the radiator. The radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.
3rd event. Driving at highway speed, engine loses power, will not accelerate over 30 mph. On previous events reverse remained useful and vehicle recovered. Taken to shop, told nothing could be found wrong and event did not recur on their test drive. Continued to drive vehicle many months, no issue. This event, car would not reverse and was driven to the home of my family where I was ending my vacation. Now stranded 4 hours from home. Called out from work tomorrow to research and decide what actions to take.
Car would not start. Local mechanic could not figure out why. Towed 30 miles to dealership. Was told coolant leaked into transmission and would need to completely replace transmission at a cost of $5,000. Nissan knows this is an issue, however the mileage is too high for them to help me out at all.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Albany, OR, USA