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.
7.8
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$530
Average Mileage:
89,350 miles
Total Complaints:
32 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace fuel sender unit in the fuel tank (22 reports)
Should be a recall on this. I can fill my car up and it will show completely empty. Then sometimes, it will slowly gain up to the correct amount. Before long, it's bottomed out again and there may be 1/2 tank left. They really need to recall this.
The stupid gauge stopped working and of course ran out of gas. Walked a quarter of a mile at 8:00 a.m. to but both gas container and gas only to return to the vehicle to find out that the entire system failed. The car had to be towed and a whole new fuel system installed. Again I thought it was because I was dumb enough to run out of gas only to find out late last year that it was defective to begin with. Another mistake by Nissan on the 2005 Pathfinder. Never another Nissan.
It is always a good thing to know how much gas your tank will hold but, its aggravating as CRAP to have to watch the mileage that you are driving rather than watching the gas hand. Especially when you have to pay for something and to see the check engine light on every day!
One day I went to the fueling station to fill my gas tank. After I filled the gas tank, I started up my vehicle and noticed that the fuel gauge still said empty. I thought someone had stolen my fuel while I was inside getting snacks in the food mart. After confirming that the fuel tank was completely filled with fuel, I had my first realization that the fuel gauge had just broken. I was hopeful that it would start working on its own again but here I am nearly a year later and dealing with my fuel gauge always reading empty. I've resorted to using the odometer to help me determine when to head to the fueling station. I took the vehicle to Nissan and explained the problem and they said they wanted $130.00 to diagnose the problem. I told them that this is a fuel sensor problem and that they should be well aware of the issue. They said they still need the $130.00 to diagnose the issue and that even though they are aware of the defect, Nissan has not issued a recall and has only extended the warranty of the fuel sensor to 80k miles. Unlucky for me, I was passed the 80k miles and was never notified of the extended warranty for this defective part. I never got the quote to replace the fuel sensor but after looking online to see other 2005 Nissan Pathfinder owners complaints, I estimate it is about $600 to fix this issue. I have chosen to continue using the odometer until Nissan does the right thing to issue a recall. From the looks of it, I'll be waiting indefinitely.
The gas gauge not reading correctly is just one of many failings in this vehicle,my second and last Pathfinder. It's a shame that Nissan has such poor quailty control on a vehicle they put a tag of "offroad"on,I'm afraid to drive it off my block.It's back to Ford or Chevy for me.
- loboyazoo,
Commack, N.Y., US
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I was having problems with my fuel gage not reading correct amount of gas in the vehicle. I call our local mechanic and he said it was the fuel sending unit and he has had to replace several of those. I called our nearest Nissan repair (Nissan of Rivergate, Madison, TN) and he said "quote" yes what you are describing sounds like the fuel sending unit needs to be replaced, I have already replaced several of those and there have been some recalls on that let me check. Of course my year was not included in the recall. I called Nissan cosumer affairs and they told me that I need to get a diagnostic done on the car and to report back to them and they could see if they could reimburse me. I told him not to send me on a rabbit trail if they knew they were not going to fix it (because I could go to my local mechanic and fix it for a whole lot cheaper) he said couldn't say for sure if they would or would not fix it. Well I took it up to the nissan dealer, they said that's what it was, so I told them to fix it in hopes that Nissan would take care of their problem. I faxed Nissan the bill and where I paid for it, and it took them 5 days to decide they couldn't help. Knowing all along they had no intentions of doing it anyway! We as consumers need to take a stand. Nissan should not get away with it. Maybe there name needs to get dragged in the mud like Toyota.
I LIVE IN MA. AND THIS 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW FROM QUIRK NISSAN IN QUINCY MA.. SINCE WE HAVE HAD IT THE REAR VALANCE OVER THE REAR HATCH WINDOW KEEPS FALLING ALONG WITH THE REAR HATCH WINDOW STRUT ALSO KEEPS POPPING OFF. THE COVER ON THE STEPS KEEP COMING OFF,THE REAR CUP HOLDER ON THE BACK OF THE CONSOLE HAS BEEN REPLACED. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER TOLD US IT NEEDS A FUEL TANK VENT AND WQE WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE GAS TANK $550.00. NOW ITS THE FUEL TANK SENSOR AND WE WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE TANK NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER TO FIX THAT. I AM FAIRLY MECHANICAL SO THE NEXT ITEMS I REPLACED MYSELF LIKE BOTH U-JOINTS ON THE REAR DRIVESHAFT THE FAN CLUTCH AND THE REAR BRAKE PADS. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND IT HAS 59,650 MI. ON IT AND ITS DRIVING US CRAZY HOW THIS VEHICLE NEEDS SO MUCH SO SOON. NOT NEGLECT JUST POOR DESIGN, WHEN IS NISSAN GONNA CALL A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK ISSUES FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR SEEING I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS
I am told that I need to bring the car in when the fuel tank is empty then will have the fuel tank dropped so that the sender unit can be replaced. Meanwhile the fuel level is faulty especially when fuel level is low. When you fuel, the level does not register right away and you cannot depend on the gauge to register properly. Nissan has stated that they will not cover this.
Nissan knows about the problem the fuel sensor in the tank is defective , loses reading at low fuel levels . causing you to run out of gass if you dont keep a full tank or know your miles...they refuse to fix it cause its not a safety issue ...but they don't have to walk with children in the snow...this is on alot of nissans not just pathfinders and it is about $400 to fix
Apparently Nissan didn't include 2005 pathfinders in the recall for the fuel sensor, so my dealer wants to charge me $700 to fix it. I will NEVER own another nissan.
Not only does our gas gauge show empty, but it triggers the service engine soon light. Our cd player also does not accept or eject cds, making it unusable!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Should be a recall on this. I can fill my car up and it will show completely empty. Then sometimes, it will slowly gain up to the correct amount. Before long, it's bottomed out again and there may be 1/2 tank left. They really need to recall this.
- Sherrie M., Donaldson, AR, US