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:
5 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
106,216 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.
Transmission went out while with 2 small children in the SUV. I had only had the SUV for 4-6 months. Transmission was repaired by dealer service department. Shortly after the radiator needed repair. It was repaired, and Nissan helped with partial cost. Recently (02/19/2018)transmission went out again while yielding in a busy intersection to go on the highway. Transmission went out a second time on 02/22/2018 again. I was stopped at a light, the light turned green and I began to push on the gas to make a left hand turn in a busy intersection and once again, the SUV only coasted. I took the vehicle to Nissan service department, paid $110 for a diagnostic test and was informed once again the transmission needs to be replaced. A 6,000.00$ job. The transmission has only been about 4-5 years old presently. I am out of a vehicle.
Transmission shutters repeatedly while picking up speed. It is increasingly getting worse. Now, once the vehicle has been driving awhile- the transmission shifts hard and doesn't want to go past 20 mph once you stop and then go again. It sounds like I am in neutral while trying to accelerate. Once it cools, the process starts over.
Car has experienced leakage from the transmission cooler radiator to the automatic transmission, causing the transmission to fail. We will need to have it rebuilt, which will cost us $4,500+. we may also need to have the radiator replaced. Nissan knew of this problem years ago. They didn't do a recall or issue a service bulletin to owners of these vehicles, which is unconscionable behavior.
The radiator cracked where the transmission line runs through it. This caused the tranny fluid and coolant to mix and ruin the transmission. I noticed a severe vibration at 40-60 mph which almost caused me to get into an accident. These are very dangerous to drive on the highway with this issue and may lead to severe accidents. The radiator and transmission should be recalled.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the transmission was slow to engage and the contact was unable to drive the vehicle over 50 mph. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.
Coolant mixed with the transmission fluid causing catastrophic failure.after researching the issue, there are thousands upon thousands of the same problem occurring which could possibly be life threatening in certain instances...the transmission failed while driving on the interstate the first time 3 years ago. And has now happened again this morning getting on the entrance ramp to the highway.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving 55 mph with the cruise control activated, the rpms accelerated and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart on the first attempt, but the gears failed to shift. The vehicle was towed home. It was diagnosed that the transmission was flooded with water and the radiator needed to be replaced. The radiator was replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 179,000.
At almost 70,000 miles, I started getting a vibration when accelerating at or above 40 mph. I was told by the Nissan dealership that it was coolant intermixed in the radiator and transmission and they needed to be replaced at a cost of $6800. Nissan knew about this problem back in 2007 and didn't notify owners. Not happy!
Started loosing speed while driving on the interstate with my daughter in the SUV with me, so scary. But I managed to coast to the nearest exit roll in time for it to get to 0 on odometer. Then had it towed to my home. Few days later took to two different auto repair shops(towed to 2nd shop because SUV would not go pass 20 and it would just stop once down to 0)who informed me there were transmission issues, final shop said the radiator ruptured causing water, transmission fluids, and etc to all mix which has caused transmission to go bad my options are to rebuild, but another transmission or let the SUV go..upongoogling to see if others have or had this problems I'm totally not alone and yes I'm pass the 50,000 N 100,000 range however I still think some etching shouldbe done, being I took N trace very gd care if my SUV only allowing Nissan to repair and maintenance my SUV. I was told to repair this will cost me 3900 plus. I shouldn't have to pay any to be honest but done type if help would be greatly appreciated for not only me but everyone experiencing this issue.
I was stranded in a parking lot because my car would not start. After having it towed to the dealership, I find out it is the "intermix" between the radiator and the transmission. I never received any information about this from Nissan, but now understand it was a known and frequent failure - by design. Essentially, after 90,000 mile, the car is worthless because of this issue. After paying $5,000 for the repair, I drove off the lot only to have my fuel pump fail. Literally, I drove off the lot and the engine began misfiring. Unbelievable.
Pathfinder 2005 has only 73,000 miles and now has a problem of cross contamination between transmission and radiator fluids. Requires replacement of transmission. Very expensive - requires to replace transmission and wash radiator. Transmission does not shift properly. Problem confirmed by the dealer shop as well as am independent car shop.
2005 Nissan Pathfinder 92,000, vehicle won't start and had it towed, was told it was due to the radiator leaking into the transmission. After having spent $800 @ vadan Nissan, because my car would jerks and stop whilst driving, was told it was a coil problem, and a sensor issue, nothing was ever said to me about this huge problem the 2005 to 2010 Pathfinders are having, totally disgusted with Nissan.
Takata recall I have coolent in my transmission due to radiator failure causing my transmission to slip causing my car to crash into my house in my carport the repair for the transmission is $3800 and I'm on a fix income
Purchased a used 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. Had the vehicle about 2 years. Driving home one day the vehicle started to loose power as the RPM's started to spike. We had to pull off the road in a very unsafe spot because the car could no longer move. There were no warning signs of the transmission failing. We had the vehicle towed. With a quick glance into the coolant tank, seems to have a mixture of coolant and transmission fluid. Repair cost are estimated from 2500 - 5,000+. something needs to be done about this problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Whiting, IN, USA