2006 Nissan Pathfinder Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATED A PROBLEM. AFTER REVIEW BY A NISSAN DEALER, THERE IS A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY THAT WILL CAUSE FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT AGAINST NISSAN. A SETTLEMENT WAS MADE GIVING ONLY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, NOT A RECALL. DATA SHOWS THAT IT BREAKS ON MOST CARS AFTER THE SO-CALLED EXTENDED WARRANTY TIME. LEAVING MOST WITH NO HELP FROM NISSAN TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE NOT A MONEY ISSUE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH JUST OVER 60,000 MILES. STARTED ENGINE WHINE THAT MEASURED WITH ENGINE SPEED. FOUND TO BE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TSB EXISTS. COST OVER $1500 TO REPAIR. IF LEFT UNADDRESSED, CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT SPEEDS CAN OCCUR AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY AT RISK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS STAYING ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND SES CODE READ CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM 02 SENSOR DOES NOT REPORT AIRFLOW. $1200 DEALER REPAIR. NOT SURE WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE WOULD GRIND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY SHAKE WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT T OWN A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A RECURRING STALLING FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY ENGAGE INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY CABLE, STEERING ANGLE COMPUTER, AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. ... UPDATED 03/24/14 *BF
UPON STARTUP, LOUD WHIRLING SOUND EMANATES FROM ENGINE. WHEN ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, THERE IS A "WIND DOWN" SOUND AS IF A ROTATING PART IS GRADUALLY SLOWING TO A STOP. MECHANIC STATES IT IS A TIMING CHAIN GUIDE FAILURE - ADVISES TO REPAIR VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR NOT DRIVE IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD REPAIR. SAYS ENGINE CAN LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING IF TOTAL FAILURE OCCURS. *TR
OUR 2006 PATHFINDER'S RADIATOR WENT OUT, SOMETHING JUST POPPED AND FLUIDS JUST STARTED LEAKING OUT, IN JULY OF 2012 AT UNDER 90,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD FLUIDS MIXED AND COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. GOT THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND WAS TOLD IF THE TRANSMISSION STARTS ACTING UP, IT WOULD NEED REPLACED. LATER I GOT THE NOTICE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. SINCE I SPENT LESS THAN THE CO-PAY, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. NOW, MY RADIATOR NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN, ALONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION, BUT I'M JUST OVER THE 100,000 MILES OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AS OF MAY 2013. I WENT THROUGH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, GOT TO THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME SINCE I WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WAS GOING TO NEED MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED I WOULD HAVE HAD IT DONE WHEN THE RADIATOR WENT OUT THE FIRST TIME, NOW AFTER IT WAS "FIXED" AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, IT FAILS AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT REQUIRES A NEW TRANSMISSION. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATORS THEY ARE INSTALLING, I'LL BE ON MY 3RD ONE NOW, AND IT'S CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS. IF MY FIRST PROBLEM DIDN'T HAPPEN TILL AFTER THE 100,00 EXTENDED WARRANTY IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY, BUT I ALREADY HAD 1 RADIATOR FAIL, AND NISSAN SAID THEY FIXED IT. I SEE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE CAME AFTER A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT FROM THE RADIATOR FAILING WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
UPON STOPPING AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION, CAR HAD LITTLE POWER. HAD GAS PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND COULD ONLY GO 2 MPH. ALMOST REAR ENDED AND BARELY MADE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. BOUGHT MY CAR USED IN MARCH2013 WAS NOT AWARE THEIR WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. NOW I HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND NOT FEARFUL OF THEIR SAFETY WHEN PUTTING THEM IN MY CAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE FOUND ON THIS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT AS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN, THE DEALER, AND OUR SAFETY DEPARTMENT. GUESS IT HAS TO TAKE SOMEONE LOSING THEIR LIFE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. *JS
WAS UNAWARE OF KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE JUST WOULDN'T GO. HER SPEED DROPPED AND SHE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF A DARK BUSY ROAD. WE GOT THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY GAVE A US A QUOTE AND THEN CALLED A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND GAVE ME A QUOTE. BOTH QUOTES ENDED UP BEING AROUND THE SAME. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND AM UPSET THAT IT HAPPENED TO SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AND I WASN'T MADE AWARE OF IT AND THAT NISSAN ONLY PUSHED OUT THE WARRANTY DATE INSTEAD OF MAKING A RECALL. *TR
IN JUNE 2012 WE TOOK OUR CAR TO BE SEEN FOR STALLING AND SHAKING. NISSAN STATED "WE CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM" INSTEAD THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR. NISSAN STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING, BUT NEVER TOLD US THERE WAS A RECALL. NOW DEC WE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SHAKING OF THE CAR. TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN AND ONCE AGAIN THE SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I MENTIONED THAT I HAD READ ABOUT TRANSMISSION POSSIBLY BEING AFFECTED BY RADIATOR LEAKS ON OTHER PATHFINDERS. NISSAN SAID I CAN'T ALWAYS BELIEVE WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET. NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION FOR US. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE JUST WAITING FOR MY CAR'S WARRANTY TO BE UP. I FEEL HELPLESS AND SCARED THAT ONE DAY I WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND NISSAN NEVER HELPED MY FAMILY OUT. *TR
RADIATOR IS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION, MECHANIC EXPLAIN THAT IT WOULD COST $5500.00 TO FIX AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, IS A MANUFACTURE DEFAULT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *TR
MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER'S RADIATOR LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT AND DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JS
DEAR SIR/MADAM: MY HUSBAND, OUR THREE SMALL DAUGHTERS, AND MYSELF WERE PULLING OUT OF TOYS R US WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CAR JERKED AND CHOKED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR. WE NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING BROADSIDED BY A SEMI-TRUCK! THANK GOODNESS MY HUSBAND SWERVED AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHERE WE COASTED TO A STOP. IT WAS HARROWING TO SAY THE LEAST. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. HE WAS UNABLE TO "REPRODUCE" THE SYMPTOMS. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM TWICE SINCE THEN AND I'VE CONTACTED NISSAN USA TO NO AVAIL. WE WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY SINCE THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
IN OCTOBER OF 2011, MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER BEGAN VIOLENTLY VIBRATING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I REACHED 60 MPH. SOMETIMES IT WOULD STOP WHEN I LET UP OFF THE GAS. OTHER TIMES IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SHAKE. AFTER REPEATED VISITS TO THE MECHANICS AND NEW TIRES, ROTATIONS, BRAKES AND BALANCING, WE DECIDED TO GO TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS COOLANT THAT HAD MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AS A MATTER OF FACT HE HAD 5 NISSAN PATHFINDERS ON HIS LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER MULTIPLE SEARCHES, WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES OF PATHFINDER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY, THE CAR STARTED TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO NISSAN IN MY TOWN AND CONTACTED CORPORATE. I WILL BE FILING A CIVIL SUIT IF THEY DO NOT AGREE TO PAY AND FIX MY CAR THAT I HAVE HAD FOR ONLY 3 YEARS. *TR
MY BRAND NEW TIMING CHAIN FAILED, DESTROYING MY ENGINE AND COSTING ME OVER $8000 IN REPAIRS IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF THE TIMING CHAIN ($1100). *TR
NISSAN USED BAD RADIATORS IN 2005-2006 THAT BREAK, LEAK INTO TRANSMISSIONS, AND REQUIRE USERS TO PURCHASE BOTH A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENED TO MINE, AND THEN I FOUND COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ONLINE. NISSAN KNEW THAT THE RADIATORS WERE FAULTY, BUT DIDN'T PERFORM A RECALL, WHICH PUT A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROAD WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURES THAT ARE DANGEROUS. *TR
RADIATOR LEAKED WATER INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND WHEN DRIVING FROM THE COMPLETE STOP THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE IN A JERKING MOTION. IN ADDITION, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STEAM EMITTED FROM THE RADIATOR AND THE THERMOSTAT INCREASED RAPIDLY TO HOT WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE RADIATOR EXHIBITED A CRACK AND FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ UPDATED 08/19/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL ONCE IT REACHED A SPEED OF 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR ALLOWING RADIATOR FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,000.
2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER STATES FLUID IS LEAKING THROUGH TO THE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED FAILURES WITHIN THE CATALYTIC CONVERT, THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLES CONTINUED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 7134302. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
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Quick Summary
The 2006 Nissan Pathfinder has 57 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.