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.
I was driving to work traveling on the highway going approximately 65 mph when the truck started to over heat and the transmission started to slip out of over drive. I pulled off the highway and stopped at an auto parts store. I pulled the transmission dip stick. It was milky. I also found the coolant overflow was bubbling out a mix of milky fluids. I had the car towed to a local garage and they explained the issue. The radiator had failed and blew apart inside, which created an issue with the transmission line inside the radiator. The coolant mixed with the transmission fluid. The garage replaced the radiator and flushed the transmission fluid. This cost me $650. The transmission wasn't right from this point on. A few months later the same thing happened. I have replaced the radiator this time myself and took it to the garage to have the transmission flushed. At this point the transmission slips into every gear and will continuously slip if its in overdrive. The car is un drivable and has been sitting in my driveway for almost a year now. Transmissions for this car are over $2500 and I just cant afford to put one into
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the transmission exhibited severe vibration. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the radiator and flushed the transmission twice. The failure continued after the repair was performed. The mechanic recommended that the transmission be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
Transmission failed due to coolant leaking into transmission. Had my whole family when transmission gave out don't want to image what would have happened if I was going faster than 35 mph. Cost to repair $5800. Dangerously unacceptable.
As I was driving the vehicle on the highway it started to shudder and shake and then finally completely turned off on the highway. Once I got it started again it would only go about 20mph I was able to move over to the shoulder and exit the highway. Once we took the car to the dealer, they told us that the radiator had leaked into the transmission and also that I needed to replace two catalyctic converters. The total repairs and replacements would cost me $8000 as I would also need to replace the transmission and radiator. We replaced the radiator but of course that is only half the problem. I still owe about $13K on the vehicle, have only had it for 8 months and am now stuck because I dont have the money to replace the transmission and I cant get rid of the truck knowing this problem.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving 5 mph, the transmission failed to shift gears and the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the transmission control module and the radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000.
- Williston, FL, USA
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I was just informed by a fellow Nissan owner about her transmission replacement. Why was I not notified by Nissan that there was an issue? no card, letter... nothing! I would have had my car inspected for defect if I knew!!
We purchased our 2007 Nissan Pathfinder on May 21 of this year. Today makes 39 days we've had it. On the 32 day we noticed it was having some roughness in the transmission when changing gears. It felt like we were running over really rough roads or rumble strips. It continued to get worse the longer we drove it. Then around a week ago I put it in reverse and it continued to roll forward. I immediately drove home to inform my husband. When he checked the transmission fluid it appeared to be empty. When he further checked it and cleaned the dip stick it was a tanish colored liquid that was showing up. I went to google and found that many others with this same or similar vehicle was having the same problem, and that the problem was a leak in a radiator hose that runs thru the transmission and leaks fluids back and forth. My husband went to check the radiator and sure enough there is transmission fluid in the radiator and it appeared in the engine as well. So now we have transmission fluid, water, and antifreeze in our transmission, radiator and engine. Nissan needs to step up and take care of this problem. Its clear that this is a flaw in their workmanship. We were told by Nissan to bring our Pathfinder in for an evaluation and be prepared to pay $2,500 dollars. Needless to say we are paying a payment already on a vehicle we have had for one month. We cant afford this kind of repair. So now were stuck with a car we cant even drive.....updated 09/03/15
Towed my car to the local shop and found out that the radiator has an internal crack and leaked into the transmission. Burned out the tcm and now I am going to have to pay more than $5000 to get it fixed. Called Nissan and was told I needed to replace the radiator and transmission. Not happy about this at all.
2007 nissian Pathfinder -radiator leaked into transmission, causing failure to transmission. Replaced radiator, all fluids and flushed out secondary radiator and reservour and new thermostat, flushed out transmission fluids. Now needs new transmission, which is the most expensive part of the job!
Onset of issue was inspection to determine service engine light. Code P0850 - indicated park/neutral safety switch input circuit. Switch replaced and service engine light back on within 48 hours. Returned additional codes related to transmission. Concurrently the vehicle was stumbling at certain speed/RPM with rumbling noise in drivetrain and hesitation during accelleration. Transmission found to have been contaminated by radiator fluid. Complete rebuild of transmission performed and bypassed radiator transmission cooler with auxiliary cooler to prevent having to replace radiator. Transmission rebuild and rental car for a week >$5000. The consumer requested ti be reimbursed for the cost of repairs.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving at approximately 50 mph, the vehicle started shaking and an abnormal noise was heard under the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that coolant leaked from the radiator into the transmission and the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,500.
Possible transmission failure. Brought vehicle to be inspected and could get a clear answer which one of the observations was perform at a Nissan dealer. The fluids seems to be mixed, transmission with radiator fluid. Seems as this has been and on going problem with Nissan. Dealer tells me the cant find the recall.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that when shifting, the vehicle would jerk violently and the check engine light illuminated. Within minutes, the vehicle stalled and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that antifreeze fluid seeped into the transmission. The mechanic stated that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 133,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving at various speeds, an abnormal roaring sound emitted from the transmission. The transmission pulled when the vehicle was driving at a consistent speed. The dealer diagnosed that the antifreeze was mixing with the transmission. As a result, the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.
I bought the vehicle a year ago at 79,000 miles. In January of 2015, I hit the 100,000 mile mark and almost immediately started having transmission problems. Loud and jerky shifting and smelling foul in the air conditioner. Nissan dealership said that there was an issue and since I was out of warranty, (100,000 miles) that they weren't liable. He said I could drive it because it shouldn't break down for another few thousand miles. So I just parked it. I would only drive it if I absolutely had no other choice. Friday, May 15 2015 I was coming home from a doctors appointment and the vehicle completely broke down. The transmission went out and I was in the middle of a busy road with my 4 year old in the car with me. At 40 mph, the RPM was at almost 5,000. I pulled over to call my husband and when we put it in reverse to back out of the parking space, it wouldn't go into reverse. I had to tow it home and it's completely broken down. I don't have 4,000 to spend on a transmission and radiator.
I have a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder that started making loud rumbling noises while driving. We replaced the radiator after the car over heated and a milky substance leaked. We've had the transmission flushed twice. We were told by a mechanic that the radiator liquid mixed into the transmission. I'm very disappointing to find that there are so many others with the same issue and that Nissan is doing nothing to help.
My 2007 nisson Pathfinder began having problems and when I brought it to the mechanic, he stated the coolant fluid went into the tranmission and caused major problems and now the radiator and transmission need replacement to the tune of $4900 (approximate price given by lee myles). I actually brought the car to a Nissan dealer and their quote was $5800 and then they statated other isses needed to be repaired and they stated the total cost would be $10,000! book value of the car through kelly blue book is $9,600 in excellent condition! I saw this is an ongoing problem with Pathfinders and I wanted to tell my story. I hope there is something that can be done against Nissan!
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving at 10 mph, there was an abnormal noise that came from the transmission as if the vehicle were in neutral. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,500.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Corning, NY, USA