CarComplaints.com Notes: While there are fewer "radiator leaked into transmission" complaints for the 2008 model year, they are starting to pile up. Buyer beware.

Nissan has extended their radiator warranty on 2005-2010 Pathfinders to 8 years/80,000 miles. However the average mileage for transmission failure for earlier model years is 95,000 miles, which conveniently (for Nissan) is just past the limit of their extended warranty. Owners beware.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
106,660 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.

2008 Nissan Pathfinder drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 5 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #73

Sep 052015

Pathfinder

  • 101,406 miles

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

At just over 100K miles (101406) my radiator leaked into the transmission and ruined the transmission. Nissan will not cover the repair at all because I am 1406 out of the class action settlement. Speaking with the local dealer they said there was nothing I could have done from the service side to prevent it.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

problem #72

Oct 102015

Pathfinder

  • 130,000 miles
Car began experiencing difficulty shifting. Repair shop reports transmission fluid and coolant intermixing, requiring replacement of both the radiator and the transmission.

- Statham, GA, USA

problem #71

Nov 252015

Pathfinder

  • 122,600 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. While accelerating, the vehicle made a vibrating motion. Also, while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the radiator was leaking onto the transmission and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,600.

- Norwalk, CT, USA

problem #70

Oct 082015

Pathfinder

  • 110,000 miles

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

Transmission cooling system runs through the radiator. Faulty design/construction lead to failure, resulting in cooling fluids in the transmission, and transmission fluid in the radiator. Occurred at 110K miles but Nissan will not acknowledge & repairs are $5770. Began with vehicle not shifting properly and then not getting out of first gear. Turned around & drove the 1/2 mile back home to discover viscus emulsion in radiator reservoir. Investigated & discovered this is a common problem on Nissan Pathfinders.

- Pueblo, CO, USA

problem #69

Nov 062015

Pathfinder

  • miles
On November 6, 2015 around or about 7:00pm my V6 2008 Nissan Pathfinder service engine light turned on while in first gear in mostion; the SUV engine and transmission turned off had no brakes and had a fender bender while in motion, had the SUV towed home and checked the code on the obd and it read code: U1000 controller area network (can) communcation line sigal malfunction.did a visual check inside radiator filler port, electrical fuse (10amp fuse to the transmission blew which atomcticly told me a communication harness is open or shorted; or a faulty engine control module(ECM))and also checked the resivor filler port, found red transmission fluid and green engine coolent fluid incorporated in radiator (contamination),also checked transmission dip stick to see if transmisson fluids low but instead found rust at the end part of the dipstick inside the transmisson indicating engine coolent contamination (water) all inside the transmission.who know how much rust is inside the transmission until a full tear down and thorough inspection is performed.....car is stationary and will not start

- San Antonio, TX, USA

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problem #68

Sep 052015

Pathfinder

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. After shifting the vehicle into reverse, a loud noise was heard and the vehicle would not move. The vehicle was towed to dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Jackson, TN, USA

problem #67

Oct 212015

Pathfinder

  • 140,580 miles

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

Our Pathfinder seemingly lost power and control, almost resulting in near collision with another vehicle approaching and another vehicle behind almost rear ended while turning into shopping plaza. Coasted to side while smoke and yellowish/ green liquid poured out from the hood. Had to have it towed. Mechanics analysis was related to contamination from coolant / radiator / transmission. Complete failure of transmission and radiator and cross contamination of all related parts. Possibly $6000 to $8000 repair costs. Total loss to us, and we still owe for financing, truck is probably not even valued at that.

- North Smithfield, RI, USA

problem #66

Sep 082015

Pathfinder

  • 120,000 miles
When I pulled out in to oncoming traffic my car revved but did not go anywhere. My 5 year old was in his baby seat with car and trucks honking and swerving around my truck to avoid us.

- Babylon , NY, USA

problem #65

Aug 182015

Pathfinder

  • 109,000 miles
I noticed a shudder when the car shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear but seem to drive normal otherwise. I contacted Nissan service department and scheduled the first available appointment, which took exactly 1 week from date first symptom. On the morning of my appointment, my car would not shift gears at all once I got on the highway, causing very dangerous situation for both myself and other drivers. I was able to coast my car to the dealership where I was later informed from the service department that a faulty radiator leaked fluid and contaminated the transmission fluid, resulting in a failed transmission. Repair costs would be $5230, but the manager would agree to do it for $4165. I was told at the dealership they were aware of faulty radiator in the 2005-06 models but were unaware other models had the same issue. I had already researched the problem, to find that numerous complaints had been filed regarding 2005-2010 Pathfinder, xterras, and frontier and Nissan had settled a class action law suit by offering an extended warranty for the radiator assembly. Since I was barely outside of the extended warranty, I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs to inquire about assistance with goodwill repair since the transmission failure was the result of a manufacturing defect. I was informed by the regional specialist she would need a week to review the case. One week to the date, she returned my call inquiring if I would be willing to pay the copay listed in the extended warranty and I informed her yes. She then inquired if I would be interested in a possible vpp discount on a 2015 Nissan automobile. I informed her I was interested in all options in order to make the best choice for my situation. She asked for two more days to review case and returned my call two days later to tell me Nissan was unable to provide any type of assistance to me in my repairs.

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #64

Aug 312015

Pathfinder

  • 97,490 miles
Cross contamination of the radiator fluid and transmission fluid due to faulty mfg(Nissan) design caused transmission to fail. $3000 out of pocket due to a mfg fault!

- Huntington Woods, MI, USA

problem #63

Jun 302015

Pathfinder

  • 100,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle started violently shaking without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Berkeley Springs, WV, USA

problem #62

Aug 032015

Pathfinder

  • miles
Transmition failure hard shifting due to coolant contaminates the transmition, radiator and transmition needs to be replace

- Burlingame , CA, USA

problem #61

Jul 012015

Pathfinder

  • 135,000 miles
Felt jerking while driving at 40-45 mph to the point where it felt like I was losing control of the vehicle on the road. It felt like it would go to neutral and suddenly back into gear really hard so it would cause something like a torque pull. So, took to dealer service shop and was diagnosed as defective radiator cracked and leaked coolant fluid into the radiator cooler causing a catastrophic failure of the automatic transmission. Fortunately, didn't lose control while driving but it felt close to sometimes. I believe a less experienced driver could have lost control of vehicle.

- Queen Creek, AZ, USA

problem #60

Jul 202015

Pathfinder

  • 124,326 miles
Was told transmission failed due to faulty radiator.

- Elkhart, IN, USA

problem #59

Jun 052015

Pathfinder

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the transmission failed to change gears properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a transmission flush but the failure recurred. The contact indicated that the vehicle was shaking and vibrating with an abnormal noise as the failure progressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that there was a fracture in the connection piece to the radiator and that caused the transmission fluid leaking into the radiator. The dealer stated that the radiator and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.

- Denham Springs, LA, USA

problem #58

Jul 162015

Pathfinder

  • 110,000 miles
Transmission fluid mixed in with radiator fluid. Leaking out of truck. Know issue with Nissan trucks.

- Branchburg, NJ, USA

problem #57

Jun 032015

Pathfinder

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan pathifinder. The contact stated that the transmission failed. The dealer stated that anti-freeze and oil leaked into the transmission causing it to fail. The manufacturer stated that this was an isolated incident and would not be covered. The transmission was replaced. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 110,000.

- Harleyville, PA, USA

problem #56

May 102015

Pathfinder

  • 74,148 miles
How is this not a recall?? im driving down the freeway with my family in the vehicle and the transmission decides to start shaking and slip right out of gear as I am in the far left lane trying to get over to stop the car!! almost causing a huge accident!! all my transmission fluid has leaked in with my coolant for my rad. Destroying my transmission.

- Maple Ridge, WA, USA

problem #55

May 022015

Pathfinder

  • 89,000 miles
My radiator was replaced in 8/14 due to a hose coming loose and causing fluids to comingle. 5/2/15 while driving my children home from soccer my check engine light came on, the car could barely accelerate. I drove to a garage, and was told that the radiator needed to be replaced. Towed car to the garage that replaced radiator 8/11/14, after two and a half days am being told my 08 Pathfinder must be towed to a dealer to have the transmission control module replaced and reprogrammed. The car has 89,000 miles.

- Downingtown, PA, USA

problem #54

Apr 152015

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 125,000 miles
The radiator failed causing engine coolant to mix with the transmission fluid. This caused damage to all of the engine coolant parts and caused a complete transmission failure.

- Fort Worth , TX, USA

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