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.
8.4
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,600
Average Mileage:
113,250 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (4 reports)
replace both transmission and radiator (4 reports)
The car revs when going up the mountain at 50 and also slips when going into second gear. There is a sweet spot where you're not driving too slow or too fast where the car is fine, but if it goes too slow it revs too.
Transmission is slipping when trying to drive & have to coast in neutral until it catches again. Had the radiator replaced & now being told the same about the transmission by Nissan of Omaha. Opened up a case with Nissan USA, but they are unwilling to provide any assistance. Estimate repairs are at $9,000.
I can't believe it!!! I bought this car 2 years ago at Car Max for $15k. I'm not even done paying it and the car suddenly gave out with a transmission problem! This sucks!
This is a problem that Nissan is fully aware of and they did not make consumers aware. With the issue with the transmission this is a very serious and dangerous problem. I am currently having my vehicle repaired which really seems unfair that I have to pay for something
that Nissan is aware of. The repair is costing $3000. I was really unsure if I should put this kind of money into a vehicle with almost 100,000 miles. But I am unable to purchase a vehicle at this time. I purchased a Nissan because of the record they have with very little problems and last a very long time. I do not think that I will purchase another Nissan.
This is our 3rd Nissan and 6th SUV, but after reading about Nissan's refusing to admit and continuing to ignore a major flaw with their cooling/transmission construction really takes my confidence away from wanting to own another Nissan product. I've even have seen a Nissan vehicle that I thought could be an effected lemon and search out the owner to tell them of the problems, if they haven't already heard the depressing stories. This Pathfinder just rolled over the warranty mileage when the transmission problems started. This Pathfinder was a sweet find with so little work needed other than regular maintenance and this was our 1st SUV that we could sleep in the back without having to curl up into a ball. I realize it will cost more than a few bucks if Nissan stands up to the plate and admits there's a problem they will help solve, but this responsible action will keep many existing owners and will attract many new owners that will cover these helping solve costs.
Update from Nov 25, 2015: This is our 3rd Nissan/6th SUV, but after reading about Nissan's refusing to admit and continuing to ignore a major flaw with their cooling/transmission construction really takes my confidence away from wanting to own another Nissan product. I've even have seen a Nissan vehicle that I thought could be an effected lemon and searched out the owner to tell them of the problems, if they haven't already herd the depressing stories. Our Pathfinder just rolled over the warranty mileage when the transmission problems started. This Pathfinder was a sweet find (so I thought) with so little work needed other than regular maintenance and this was our 1st SUV that we could sleep in the back without having to curl up into a ball. I realize it will cost more than a few bucks if Nissan stands up to the plate and admits there's a problem they will help solve, but this responsible action will keep many existing owners and will attract many new owners that will cover the helping solve costs. With a Canadian Nissan estimate of over $8000 to fix this problem. No, we can't afford to do this yet (if ever)!
Thanks for nothing Nissan!
Update from Jan 19, 2016: We've come accross numerous Nissan Pathfinders over the last few months and have told these owners all about this transmission/coolant issue. No too many of these owners knew about this ongoing problem, but a few of them have experienced some of the signs of the problem.
- ggb,
Merritt, BC, Canada
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The transmission has begun to slip, like all the other 2006 Pathfinder transmissions on here. Oh no! I haven't gotten it fixed yet. Before we left San Diego, one transmission shop looked at it and said it looked ok. I guess not!
MY CAR IS ALMOST 9 YEARS OLD WITH 117,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, POWER LOSS WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A NEAR ACCIDENT. THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF OTHER PATHFINDERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE THING IS, THAT IS NOT COVER BY THE WARRANTY AND THE COST IS HUGE, OVER $5,500. THIS IS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT FROM NISSAN. SOUNDS LIKE NISSAN ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TO HELP ITS CUSTOMERS. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED.
2 years ago, I had the transmission contaminated by a cracked radiator, radiator was replaced first, then I had to replace the transmission, I spent around $2,500. Due to lawsuit settlement I was reimbursed with $423.00. Now I have the same problem again, Nissan told that I have to replace the transmission, their estimate is around $6,000, money that I don't have now. I still have some pay off balance, and I'm very frustrated because I can't even sell the car, and I'm not sure if is worth to repair, is 124.500 miles.
After one year of this problem....it's gotten worse. Only to find out that the slipping of my transmission is due to the radiator leaking. There is transmission fluid in my radiator! That explains why I've had heater issues, and increased transmission slipping and noises!
I notified my Nissan dealer......he says this has been an ongoing problem my model vehicle!! To contact Nissan direct to open a case with them. There was a warranty extension given to Nissan owners who had this problem. But you only found out about this extension when taken your vehicle to the dealership.
Letters to owners with this known problem "was not mailed out" to warn owners about this problem. A Law suit case action court awarded owners with this problem. Nissan was found guilty of faulty parts!!
Why was I not notified of this problem??? I just found out after I opened my case last week 2/5/15 that this warranty expired only 11 days earlier!!! Not Fair!
I expect Nissan to take responsibility for the problems of my vehicle. I didn't buy a Nissan to have to pay to replace the transmission and radiator!!! These are factory faulty issues!
The worse part is I bought this car two years ago with 89,000 miles and the transmission failed on me at 111,469, Which means I have only driven this car for 22,469 miles and the catalytic converter is gone also. Now I need $4830.17 for transmission and $1204 for a catalytic converter ... a total of $6,000.00.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The car revs when going up the mountain at 50 and also slips when going into second gear. There is a sweet spot where you're not driving too slow or too fast where the car is fine, but if it goes too slow it revs too.
- skerlin44, Amberson, US