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:
95,146 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2006 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #11

Dec 232012

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 138,131 miles

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

I noticed my radiator reservoir was getting low, so I filled again, a week passed and the same thing, I told my brother in law who have some mechanical knowledge and we both check the reservoir unit, and then the radiator cap, and for my sad surprise, there were a oily brown residue, which means that my truck had mixed transmission fluid and anti-coolant, wow what a downside !!! now the cost to repair it is around $3000+ dollars and of course I changed the radiator already, due to the fact of that part being defective, and of course after that happened I received a letter from Nissan extending the warranty of the radiator, only if I had less than 80K miles on my truck, so guess what? I am not covered but that warranty !!!! because I have more than 130K anyways, 2 weeks ago I received a class action settlement against Nissan !!!!! yeah !!!

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #10

Jan 132013

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 132,000 miles
Driving my vehicle on the highway then controls on the cars went out of control and smoke started exiting the engine. Called dealership they immediately stated the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced at my cost.....same thing happened in 2010 the dealership replaced the entire engine stating that a hose went out and they needed to replace it... the service told me it needed replacing with ever physically inspecting my car...

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #9

Dec 092012

Pathfinder

  • 73,791 miles
On 12/7/12, while waiting at a stop light, the vehicle turned off. I was able to turn the car back on but within half a mile while waiting at a stop sign, the engine turned off again. On 12/9/12 at 10:45 P.M. while driving on the highway, going 65mph, the accelerator dropped less than 40mph, RPM needle began to go from 1 to 3 rapidly and the check engine light began to flicker. I was unable to accelerate for the first 10 seconds and when I was able to accelerate, it would not go above 30mph. After half a mile, I was able to pick up speed, after a mile of "normality" the vehicle began to have the same issue. After another mile, I was able pick up speed but it felt as if there were pressure in the accelerator. I was lucky enough to make it home that night. Took my Pathfinder into cerritos Nissan on 12/11/12 and it turned out it was the radiator and transmission causing the issue. It was supposedly fixed within 24hrs. On 12/17/12, while driving out of my driveway, the car jerked, accelerator stalled, RPM needle would go from gear 1-2 rapidly, and check engine light flickered. It lasted for about 10 seconds... I continued to drive the vehicle and within 3 miles (once I was on the highway on a stop and go traffic) the exact same incident occur. On 12/18/12, I returned the vehicle back to Nissan cerritos service dealer for another look, they are claiming everything is fine with the vehicle. I am now concerned because this is now a safety issue. I am scared to drive my vehicle, I've been lucky that I have not suffered an accident but if this issue continues, my luck could run out and I may not be so lucky next time. The life of my son and my life are at stake here. This issue should be a recall since it sounds, after much research, that this is not the first nor 100th time it has happened.

- Norwalk, CA, USA

problem #8

Feb 112012

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 82,230 miles

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

On 2-11-12 went out to start my Nissan Pathfinder 2006. Put the key and started to crank but it would turn over. Listen to see if I could here the fuel pump prime but didnt hear anything. So, Monday morning called the tow company and had it towed to Nissan dealer in mansfield, oh (whity's automall). They told me today 2-14-12 that ipdm- er was bad that it shorted out. And I need to replace it at my cost. Asked them about that recall if this ECM relay unit could have caused it to short out. Still waiting on answer for that. I dont have $600 to fix it.

- Mansfield, OH, USA

problem #7

Sep 172011

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 114,990 miles
Auto failed to start or if started failed to run with computer coordinated power production. Engine misfiring and powerless and immobile. Check engine light on. Garage said there have been several of these failures on Nissan autos and expect a recall to replace defective part failing with increasing regularity. Ipdm failure diagnostic is complete engine power failure and stop after extremely rough idling, even when accelerator engaged. The problem is without warning, instant and erratic onset with no preventative maintenance protocol. This is a part failure which will strand the driver wherever it happens until the part (ipdm) is replaced, after which the various computers on the car will perform as normal and auto functions normally. This part should be improved, recalled and reinstalled with defect free replacement to avoid further damage and stranding of other Nissan drivers. Nissan has not recalled the part as yet but the repair cost me $910 for diagnoses and replace the defective and failed ipdm on the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder and perhaps other Nissan vehicles. The records of Nissan should show the spike in orders for this part as other vehicles fail to function due to failure of the ipdm. A recall should be initiated to repair this defective essential and expensive part which cannot be maintained -just replaced when it fails.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #6

Apr 192010

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 79,500 miles
-1st incident: At 79500 miles fuel gauge dropped to empty once level below half a tank. Nissan technician diagnosed as faulty fuel level sensor. Vehicle past 75000 mile extended warranty. Repair cost estimated at $450. -2nd incident: At 107000 miles drive-shaft broken in transit mid-span across 4 mile 4 lane interstate bridge at the beginning of rush hour. Potential for a catastrophic multi-vehicle crash. Vehicle towed at owners expense. -3rd incident: AT108600 miles vehicle failed to start. Vehicle towed at owners expense to Nissan service dept. Told next day transmission fuse blown and "radiator internal leak caused cross contamination into transmission" needs transmission and radiator. Advised work is out of warranty. Repaired at over $6000 at owners expense. Vehicle returned, owner noticed 20 amp fuse and unknown relay in cupholder console. 1 day later owner notices high-beam lights inoperable. -4th incident 1 week and 3 days after transmission and radiator repair less than 1 month old battery is found dead. Battery replaced vehicle still exhibiting electrical issues. Dashboard lights out, battery, brake and 4WD warning lights illuminated. Battery test ok. Alternator test ok, starter draw test ok. Owner becomes aware of Nissan recall campaign PC068 regarding ECM recall. Vehicle towed back to Nissan service department at owners expense. Owner requested ECM recall be performed no less than 4 times, service manager advised electrical problems not related to ECM and will not replace, then states no knowledge of recall, then claims owners ECM recall was previously performed. Complaint logged with Nissan Consumer Affairs. 5 days later owner told vehicle ready, owner goes to pick up then told vehicle is not ready as there is still electrical issue. Now 1 week without vehicle, no contact with service advisor in 2 days.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #5

May 102010

Pathfinder

  • 110,000 miles

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

The engine in our 2006 Nissan Pathfinder randomly stalls. Twice it has stalled on my wife while making a left-hand turn at intersections (causing the oncoming car to brake hard to avoid an accident. The vehicle's engine also randomly shuts off while driving on city streets and the highway. The engine's random stalling has the potential of causing a very dangerous situation while driving. This problem has happened about 10 times in the last month.

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

problem #4

May 072010

Pathfinder 4WD 6-cyl

  • 78,756 miles
The vehicle randomly stalls while driving. Nissan service bulletin confirms the issue is the ipdm randomly cutting the power to the ECU and causing the vehicle to stall. The stalls at first were minor and just made the vehicle sputter. Now the vehicle shuts down completely losing power to engine, power steering, and power brake. Our vehicle did this on the highway multiple times. Causing us to stall in the middle of the highway.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #3

Mar 132010

Pathfinder

  • 23,000 miles
The contact owned a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving at speeds of 10 mph during normal weather conditions, the vehicle stalled without warning. All other components of the vehicle remained operable, including the hazard lights. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. The manufacturer confirmed similar complaints were received for his year, make and model vehicle. The vehicle was permanently released to the dealer. The failure and current mileages were approximately 23,000.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #2

Oct 122009

Pathfinder

  • 33,400 miles
2006 Nissan Pathfinder le gas gauge read 1/4 tank on my way to work with baby in car, ran out of gas when I thought I had 1/4 tank. Brought it to dealership they said they replaced the fuel level sensor. At a red light last night with 1/2 tank (according to gauge) all of the sudden gas low level light flashes and dte reads---- apparently dealership did not do what they said they did or problem lies elsewhere. There are thousands of other Nissan owners with this same problem. There needs to be a recall issued plain and simple!

- Stuart, FL, USA

problem #1

Sep 032009

Pathfinder

  • 83,000 miles
I have a Nissan Pathfinder (2006) and as I was driving along around 50mph, everything died. The gauges, blinkers, lights, etc went dead. The motor was still running, but the accelerator would not work. I had to coast off of the road. I took it to the dealer, and they found nothing wrong. It has happened since then, every time I have driven the car for more than 15 miles. There is also a burning odor and when everything dies, there is a high-pitched static sound that comes through the speakers. The scary part is, I loose all power from the vehicle and if I was on the interstate or turning in front of oncoming traffic, it could be fatal.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

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