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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
101,472 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.
Defective radiator from Nissan, dropped fluid into the transmission. As a result, both the transmission and radiator had to be replaced. If the radiator was defected the transmission would still be in tact. This happened just reaching the 100,000 mile mark.
Transmission has went out due to factory default there's a recall on the exact issue that I'm having with my car I need to know if there's an extended warranty or something to remedy this because it seems to be a known issue
Radiator malfunction cracked transmission lines, mixing antifreeze into the transmission lines, contaminated the transmission, the transmission is ruined! never informed about this defect in the radiator! never no recall!
Catastrophic transmission and radiator failure due to co-mingling atf and coolant at 136,000 miles. Contacted Nissan North America, they refused to help in any way, but acknowledged this as a "known" issue.
The transmission would not shift into overdrive, so I took the vehicle to aamco. The transmission was contaminated with coolant from the radiator, requiring a complete overhaul including the transmission computer. Estimated cost of damages is $4600! my vehicle is in excess of the extended warranty, however this is a design flaw that should be corrected by Nissan.
The radiator was cracked where the transmission fluid is and it mixed with the antifreeze which caused both the radiator and the transmission to have to be replaced. The engine was on and vehicle was stationary when we noticed the temperature increased greatly and rapidly until it maxed out. The vehicle was leaking a mix of antifreeze and transmission fluid. We replaced the radiator but the damage was done already to the transmission. The vehicle was in motion when the transmission failed.
I was driving my newly purchased used 2006 Pathfinder and noticed that I could not get up to speed until I got up to 45 or 50 mph noticed I had several error codes ended up that one was the transmission valve assy. Took it to transmission shop which tested the fluid and found that there was radiator coolant mixed with the transmission fluid. The car was great except for this issue. Now it barely drives only in 4th gear and I am told if I keep driving it that way it will burn it up. I need to replace both the valve assy and the transmission and radiator to solve the problem at a cost of 5K. I do not have the money. This is really unacceptable.
When I was driven my Nissan I make a stop and then I try to accelerate but my car didn't respond so I took the Nissan to the mechanic and he talk me the transmission was bad do I need a new transmission.I was very lucky because I was very close from home in city street other wise I would has to tow the car to the garage and put my family in danger
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. When the vehicle was taken to the alhambra Nissan dealer in alhambra, ca for a routine oil change, the contact was also advised to have a transmission oil change. The technician performed an oil change on the transmission and the transmission failed eight days later. The vehicle was towed to the alhambra Nissan dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission and the radiator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not serviced due to the repair fees. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was old in age and out of warranty. The manufacturer did not offer further assistance. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.
A known problem with radiator braking with coolant in transmission resulting in new transmission and radiator $4439.65. Nissan should be barred from selling cars in usa with such substandard products/
While driving on the highway, penultimate week. I observed loud engine noise, vigorous shaking and jerking and a reluctance in acceleration when I applied gas pedal. I was a little bewildered as I have been very punctilious with the regular maintenance of my car. I gently pulled into a parking lot to avert any danger on the freeway. Upon exiting the car, I perceived a pungent burning smell. At this point, I knew it would be unsafe and pernicious to drive the car home. I immediately called for roadside assistance through my insurance company and had the car taken to my mechanic. He called back the following day with the most disheartening news. For some uncanny reason, fluid from the radiator was leaking into and contaminating the transmission. He vehemently pointed out that he had seen quite a few of the same ominous problems brought to his shop, involving mostly 2006 Nissan Pathfinders. I was given a quote of about $4500-$7000 to fix this problem. I purchased the vehicle from a used car dealer with approximately 117,000 miles. I'm currently financing the car and because of my student loan and exorbitant fees, I still owe a lot on it. Honestly, I cannot afford the repairs at this juncture. It is very rapacious and immoral of Nissan to abdicate their responsibility and pass on the financial burden to innocent consumers. these cars had factory defects and design flaws that Nissan was aware of but chose to ignore. I enjoin anyone having similar problems and indeed conscientious members of the public to vociferously condemn Nissan's action and force a recall. This is corporate greed at its worst !!
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. On several occasions, while driving between 10-50 mph, the transmission failed to operate as intended. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission failed due to contamination of the transmission from the radiator fluid acid. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Total transmission failure on I95 in Connecticut,10pm at night, at 55mph, with family in car. Coolant leaked into the transmission causing a total transmission failure. Nissan knows about this problem and did not contact vehicle owners to warn of the problem or offer suggested repair. Replacing the radiator would have been a $300 fix. Instead Nissan offered no warning and the extremely dangerous transmission failure on an interstate at night happened. Total cost to repair was $4381, plus a week car rental.
I paid off my Pathfinder last year. Just about 2 months ago after leaving a friends house the truck started turning on all the dash board lights, I didn't know what to expect. I drove it very slowly home not even a mile away, I turned it off and next day..my surprise it didn't turn on to take to the mechanic. I called the tow truck to take it in to Nissan dealer and they found that the radiator fluid mixed with transmission oil and messed up the module too. They where originally charging me 7200 dollars to fix. I brought it back home and after when I was able to pay with credit I took it in to fix. They urged me to fix all at once because of a manufacturer defect on any of the above..most likely they said it could happen again.
The transmission and radiator fluid mixing and causing transmission to fail. I see that you have had many complaints about this issue and you choose not to help the consumers. This is a very dangerous issue and a very expensive repair. This is obviously a continuing problem and an extended warranty isn't fair to the consumer because this is a faulty issue with this model transmission/radiator.
The transmission and radiator fluids are intermingling and has caused my transmission to fail. It has ruined the transmission. It is my understanding that this has happened to thousands of the same make and model.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Philadelphia, PA, USA