180 complaints reported

2005 Nissan Pathfinder ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
180
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2013

TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKS, ALLOWING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT TO MIX, LEADING TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. NISSAN DEALER IS AWARE OF THE INCIDENT AND OFFER A $2500 DEDUCTIBLE, THIS IS NOT A FAIR DEDUCTIBLE AND NISSAN IS NOT PLAYING A FAIR GAME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2013
Jul 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN HESITANT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,500.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2013
Jul 2013

IT APPEARS THE RADIATOR FAILED LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I ASKED THE MECHANIC ABOUT IT HE SAID THAT NOW YOUR TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL SOON. I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON AND HAS HAPPENED ALOT WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE TOTALLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2013
Jul 2013

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT FELT LIKE MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THE RADIATOR FAILED AND THE RADIATOR FLUID SEEPED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING EVERYTHING TO FAIL. 80, 000 MILES IS THE WARRANTY. I AM JUST OVER THAT. THEY ARE OFFERING ME A $2500.00 CO PAY BUT I FEEL THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE RADIATOR TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2013
Jul 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT LEAKING TOGETHER, WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ASSOCIATED WITH A MANUFACTURER'S VOLUNTARY RECALL RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS INELIGIBLE DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE MILEAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,072. ...UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2013
Jun 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2013
Jun 2013

I FELT A GRINDING NOSE WHILE SHIFTED AND I STOP AND TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER NISSAN AND THE FIND OUT A PROBLEM FROM TRANSMISSION/ RADIATOR. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A FAULTY RADIATOR WHO LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM AND I SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR ON MY OWN. I FIND OUT THAT NISSAN KNOWS THAT PROBLEM NEVER SENT ME A RECALL FOR THAT AND I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW I SERVICED IT AND ALL THE MAINTENANCE AT A DEALERSHIP NO WORD I SHOULD CHANGE THE RADIATOR . THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO ME WITH MY 2002 ALTIMA. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2013
Jun 2013

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AND VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING WOULDN'T TAKE GEAR HAD TO COAST OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED INTO STATION SERVICEMAN SAID THAT RADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO HAVE BOTH TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR REPLACED THE MAN AT THE STATION SAID THAT WAS THE SIXTH VEHICLE THAT HE HAD TO DO THE SAME REPAIRS TOO SAME MAKE AND MODEL SAID THAT NISSAN HAD A RECALL ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL FOR A DEFECT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2013
Jun 2013

I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY MECHANIC, THAT THERE IS TRANSMISSION FLUID IN BOTH MY RADIATOR AND COOLANT SYSTEM. THOUGHT I'M THANKFUL THAT NO INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED YET, IN DOING RESEARCH I HAVE HEARD OF MANY NISSAN PATHFINDER 2005-2010 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES. SOME HAVE EVEN REPORTED REPAIR COSTS IN EXCESS OF $3000 FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE REPAIRS. I AM GETTING MIXED INFORMATION AS TO WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE IN REGARD TO A CLASS ACTION SUITE AGAINST NISSAN. I NEED SOME CLARITY IN THIS ISSUE BEFORE I FIND MYSELF IN AN UNFAVORABLE SITUATION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2013
Jun 2013

WHILE DRIVING THE PATHFINDER AT 45MHP IT STARTED TO SHAKE AND SLOWED DOWN EVEN WHILE PRESSING GAS PEDAL DOWN... FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE ON.. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE HOME I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF... IF WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEEDS IT COULD OF BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2013
May 2013

I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR. I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SPUTTERING WHEN I GOT TO ABOUT 40 OR 50 MPH. I HAD IT TAKEN IN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THEY TOLD ME THE RADIATOR FAILED AND LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN THIS THING DECIDED TO FAIL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2013
May 2013

I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND RADIATOR FLUIDS HAVE MIXED AND THAT I NEED TO REPLACE BOTH OF THEM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE AROUND 2007. I CALLED NISSAN AND ASKED THEM WHAT DO THEY PLAN TO DO TO HELP ME GET MY TRUCK FIXED AND THEY TOLD DUE TO THE MILES THAT THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. I *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2013
May 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RADIATOR, THE CONTACT WAS PARKED WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2010
May 2013

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND DIFFICULTY PICKING UP SPEED TO MERGE INTO 65MPH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ALMOST RESULTING IN A COLLISION. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THESE NISSAN PATHFINDERS ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING BAD RADIATORS CAUSING WATER TO ENTER TRANSMISSIONS MAKING THE TRANSMISSION TO SUDDENLY GO OUT. ..I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO A SECOND SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED RADIATOR WENT BAD. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BUT TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY OUT DUE TO THE RADIATOR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2013
Apr 2013

CAR WOULD NOT START, GOT IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, RADIATOR ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. CONTAINMENT THE TRANSMISSION. RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. JOB WILL COST $5346.74. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2013
Apr 2013

THE TRANSMISSION COOLER OF THE RADIATOR IS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2013
Apr 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY BACK FROM GETTING GROCERIES IN A TOWN 45 MILES FROM ME. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED REVVING. I TOOK IT OFF OF CRUISE CONTROL AND TRIED PRESSING ON THE GAS. NOTHING HAPPENED. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE DARK AND BY MYSELF, I GOT IT TOWED BACK TO MY TOWN, 35 MILES AWAY. I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND FIRED THE TCM. IT WILL COST ME $4600.00 TO FIX IT. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AFTER THE FACT OF IT HAPPENING AND NOW THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE. THEY WILL COVER UP TO 80000 MILES FOR THE RECALL AND UP TO 100000 MILES WITH A DEDUCTIBLE OF $2500.00. AND NOTHING AFTER 100000. WHY DID THEY NOT INFORM US OF THIS PROBLEM? DOES ANYONE HAVE A LAW SUIT GOING ON THIS? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2013
Apr 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO SHIFT INCORRECTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR THAT WAS ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE ALSO CRACKS IN THE HOSES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 127,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2013
Apr 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND FAILED TO ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO TO THE TRANSMISSION AND AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2013
Mar 2013

RADIATOR CRACKED ALLOWING COOLANT TO CONTAMINATE TRANSMISSION FLUID. TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED ON HIGHWAY. NO WARNING SIGNS. VEHICLE WAS REVVING BUT NOT MOVING. DEALER SAYS INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. SPECIALTY SHOP SAYS RADIATOR IS CRACKED. PHOTOS AND PARTS AVAILABLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2013
Mar 2013

I WAS DRIVING AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE MOVED LESS THAN 5 M.P.H. THIS CONTINUED ALL THE WAY TO CHURCH ON MARCH 10TH, 2013. I DROVE TO THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND 2 DAYS LATER THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE. THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION, CROSS CONTAMINATING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS CAUSED THE VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE NISSAN DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE RADIATOR AND VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED BECAUSE I WAS OVER 100,000 MILES AND MY VEHICLE IS AT 104,000. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE RADIATOR IS DEFECTIVE BUT SINCE I CAUGHT IT EARLY THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T TOTALLY DAMAGED JUST PARTIALLY DAMAGED SAVING ME MORE MONEY. HOWEVER, MY REPAIR BILL WAS $2,999.94!! EVEN THE MECHANICS AT NISSAN TOLD ME THAT THIS IS AN KNOWN ISSUE (OFF THE RECORD) AND NISSAN SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR!! THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR AND NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. CONSUMERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF! IT EFFECTS 2005 THRU 2010 PATHFINDER, XTERRA AND FRONTIER VEHICLES. NISSAN IS VOLUNTARILY OFFERING TO CO-PAY FOR REPAIRS IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES BECAUSE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT IS STILL PENDING IN COURT. THE ISSUE ONLY OCCURS AFTER 100,000 MILES LEAVING MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS ON THE HOOK FOR AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT!! PLEASE HELP US RECOVER THE COST OF THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR?? PLEASE!!!! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2013
Mar 2013

I WAS LEAVING AN APPOINTMENT AT THE HOSPITAL AND AS I APPROACHED A SPEED BUMP I HEARD A LOUD DROP NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER MOVE UPON PRESSING THE GAS. THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND IT WENT INTO GEAR HOWEVER I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELLERATE OVER 40MPH AND HEADED STRAIGHT TO A DEALERSHIP. I RECEIVED A CALL ON FROM THE DEALER DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY THAT ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH AND CONTAMINATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, RESULTING IN DAMAGED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS AND A DAMAGED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2013
Mar 2013

WHILE DRIVING IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET, SUDDENLY CAR STOPPED DRIVING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. IT SEEMS THERE IS A COOLANT LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE. HOWEVER NISSAN'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY ALLOWS UP TO 100000 MILES OR 10 YEARS WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SINCE MY MILEAGE IS OVER THAT, NISSAN WILL NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2013
Mar 2013

FAILED TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY THAT ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH AND CONTAMINATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, RESULTING IN DAMAGED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS AND A DAMAGED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2013
Mar 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO EXHIBIT A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2005 Nissan Pathfinder has 180 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.