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.
I only bought the car 2 years ago and thought it was great. That was until a year ago when Nissan replaced the throttle body and radiator that cost me $4000. They didn't even tell me this problem was a possibility or warn us of anything at all. Had I known about it I would have wanted the transmission to be checked over 100% to try detect any issues that were underlying. Now I owe over $13000 on a car loan for a car worth probably only $3000 if I am lucky and can't afford the $7000 repairs.
The Pathfinder has been generally reliable, but this transmission is a known problem. Apparently Nissan had some kind of settlement that doesn't cover my truck anymore. Should have been recalled with so much documentation about this problem (which I only discovered once I started having problems). Makes me not want to buy another Nissan.
After reading this forum, i didn't need to guess my problem. First I was told that i needed to replace the catalytic convertors and then they found some pink stuff in my radiator. Day later the truck was riding rough and i drove it to GMC. Traded it in and now have a nice GMC Terrain. Yes its smaller than my Pathfinder, but now i am free of the dreaded Nissan Lemon. I feel for everyone, Nissan really screwed us.
Nissan knew of the transmission/radiator problem long ago and decided not to notify anyone thereby causing damage that needed thousands of dollars in repairs instead of performing corrective repairs early on.
I really hate Nissan, I have taken my Nissan to Jim Burke in downtown Birmingham,Al. Complained about jerky and hearing things in the right tire, and this loud screeching noise when I would crank it up the morning. I had it fully tune-up and etc. down at 60,000 mile. The tune-up which include no changing of belts, hose, or spark plugs for the payment of over 600 dollars. The noise never left and now i'm having trouble with jerkying and pulling cause I think my transmission is GOING away.
Since this is the most complained about year model and the most complained about problem for this year model I feel that Nissan has let this go on while knowing that there was a design flaw. I am very disappointed in there non-action. It seems that if they recalled these vehicles and fixed them before the transmission that's in them tore up that it would be cost effective and a very good way to keep customers that they have and get them to be future customers.
It is the same thing you read about as soon as you Google 2005 Pathfinder. Transmission failure, gas gauge failure, ECM relay failure. Nissan totally non responsive an never taking responsibility for making a bad product and offering to make things right with the customer. I will never own another Nissan because they don't stand behind their product. If I win the lottery I am going to buy TV time and advertise against them on this issue.
We just bought the Pathfinder in Jan 2011 and had no problems with it till this past week. The Pathfinder has started shaking when u get to about 40mph. Trying to call the dealership and see what truly is going on.. Wish i new this was an ongonig issue with these.
Ok i have a nissan pathfinder and my car is a 2005 it look new. But is giving me a big problem my car is shakes and it whining too. And my car only have 103,000 miles not that bad. So I call Nissan because my friends who had nissan before had the same problems and they fix his car and now i find out that more people have the same problem i do. Right now i not working and i cant pay $5,000 to got my car fix. But as i see that a lot of people have the same problems, i think nissan should fix my car for free. This is nissan problems why should i pay for something that happen a lot to nissan.
They told me they can only fix it less then 80,000miles but come on 103,000miles is not that bad. And all i want is to got my car fix.
Not much to say when the car start to shake and your driving 50 miles an hour, only prayers. I again was told by the dealer's rep that there does not appear to be anything wrong with the car and I was dismissed. Never another Nissan.
I started experiencing the vibratation back in September but thought it was related to worn tires. We don't drive the vehicle on a daily basis it sit a considerable amount of time. I purchased it in November 2009 with 38000 miles and it now has 52,000 miles. I had a new set of tires installed in November the problem persisted so I eventually went back and had the tires rebalanced to confirm they were not the problem. I just discovered the issue with the radiator causing the transmission to fail and the symptoms everyone else describing or very similiar to what I am experiencing now. I have made an appointment with the Nissan Dealer to have the issue looked at and will drop the vehicle off today.
When I spoke to the service agent with the dealership earlier without even looking at the car he automatically attributed the vibration to the tires. I informed him of the recent purchase of a new set of tires and rebalancing of the with less than a thousand miles on them. I can tell this won't be an easy issue just from that conversation he appears already intent to shift the blame somewhere else. I took the advice of one of the others who posted and notifiec Nissan of America of the issue and the response I got from the service writer so that a incident number would be assigned. I will post later with the outcome on this issue. I am hoping my problem isn't as bad as some of the others. NO WARRANTY SCARY THOUGHT.
5 years old, 60 days ago I got a transmission flush thinking it would fix the problem. Nissan told me everything else that was wrong with the vehicle except that my transmission was leaking into my radiator and vice versa. Now suddenly I need a new trans and radiator!!?? WHAT!! "Well sir is there a payment plan I can do for a large job such as this?"..."Well Nissan tried to pass a new system such as that but because of the "recession" it didn't follow through"..."so I am just supposed to dish out $6000...in a recession...for a five year old vehicle?!?!?!?!?!" I know Nissan could care less about my financial state, they just want my money, that i don't have...and they don't care. That's pitiful. I am all for a class action law-suit, just give me my script ASAP.
Not sure if what I'm experiencing is related to the tranny but I was stopped at a light and when I applied the gas the vehicle immediately started to shake and did not advance. I had to turn the truck off and restart it to which it worked fine.
One other strange thing happened... when I put it in reverse to pack out of a parking stall it just died. Once I started again it worked fine.
Same issue as every one else. Took car to dealer when I first strated to notice issue a few thousand miles BEFORE warranty was up. Was told I needed a transmission flush and all pathfinders shook a little....Now my car is out of warranty and has 75,000 miles. In the last few months when I am driving on highway my car shakes so violently it is dangerous. They obviously knew there was an issue and did nothing. I am getting rid of car in the next few weeks. Will NEVER buy a Nissan, ever!!!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Terrible! I hate this vehicle!!!! Car shakes like crazy during acceleration. I wish I never bought this car.
- magdalina, Cibolo, TX, US