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.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the vehicle failed to shift into reverse. The vehicle was placed into neutral and the contact was able to drive. The problem has occurred several times. The contact called an independent mechanic who stated that the failure might be due to the radiator fluid leaking into the transmission. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
On 08/15/14, I was pumping gas and as I was leaving I noticed that the Pathfinder's transmission would hesitate and shift hard. As I drove home, I noticed that it did the same thing after every stop. It wouldn't run as it usually did. Then I noticed that the "service engine soon" light came on. My boyfriend then went to aamco transmission total car care but was told to go at 9:30 a.M. the following day. We took it the next day, which was 08/16/14 and we received a diagnostic. The multi-point check revealed that the transmission fluid level was okay and the condition was contaminated. There is coolant contamination in the transmission. A computer scan revealed the following codes: P1710 trans oil temp, P1764 direct clutch solenoid valve circuit fault, P1731 first gear engine breaking logic error. The manager then told me that the 2005-2007 Nissan Pathfinders had this defect. When my mother called Nissan at the 1-800 number, she was told they couldn't do anything about this problem. The Pathfinder is paid off, as of this year, only to have it sit in the garage until I get it fixed. This is ridiculous! needless to say, we were never informed of any of the 5 recalls.
- Bakersfield, CA, USA
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I was driving down a residential street and came to a stop light. Once the light turned green I eased off the brakes and push the gas. It jerked and it moved very slowly making a loud noise. I started smelling something burning. Had to get it towed to a shop and the mechanic called me yesterday afternoon and told me the transmission was gone. Now I'm looking to have to pay $3000 for a transmission.
Coolant leak into transmission rendering vehicle useless. Out of pocket cost was $2500 based off of class action suit. Nissan picked up rest. Found hundreds if not thousands of similiar complaints in this regard.
Transmission started vibrating badly at 55 or more mph causing us to pull off the road in a very unsafe environment in the freeway. We waited for 3 hours for a tow truck.
From dead stop at stop sign, pushed on gas with resultant "grind" of transmission. Happened 3 more times over the course of 2 weeks. Took into dealer. Transmission failure due to cracked radiator leaking coolant into transmission. Known problem with certain Nissan models. Nissan only did an extended warranty that tapered off every year/10,000 miles. After 100,000 miles no help. This was not a result of worn out transmission, this was a result of engineering/manufacturing defect and should have been covered by Nissan 100%.
A light turned green, as I began to accelerate, my truck would not get into the next gear. I had to pull off the road as other drivers had to go around me. I almost caused an accident. I managed to make it to a transmission expert the next day, and a diagnosis informed me of contaminated transmission fluid by way of a faulty transmission fluid line coming from the radiator. My research of this problem led me to the fact that Nissan is fully aware of this flaw and is not taking responsibility for this faulty design and my fear is that this happened so suddenly that it will eventually lead to a major accident and possible death. This needs to be recalled. It's not just about the thousands I must pay in repair (new transmission), but for the safety of owners, and for the safety of those on the roads with us. Nissan needs to take accountability and let their customers know that they are in danger unless this is corrected! contact customers Nissan and let them know!
The transmission has been slipping for a number of months. It's only up to 96,000 miles. We are trying to trade it in and have been told we'll get nothing for it because Nissan settled a lawsuit for this year and model to replace the transmissions. I can't find details of this settlement and the dealer never contacted us about it (it was bought brand new). Firstly, it's disgusting that they didn't reach out, and secondly, what can we do? I have heard that we can spend $3K to get a new transmission installed at this point. But if they'd contacted us sooner, it would have cost less.
110,000-115,000 miles -> was driving down a two lane hwy in the evening (busy time with work traffic) - I am glad I was driving the car and not my wife, as she typically has our child in the car with her at all times - it could have caused a major incident due to the nature of the hwy being traveled. Next, there was a brief incline and it took a bit more power to get up and then the awful noise happened. Was so disturbed by the noise/shutter that I pulled over to see if I had lost a tire. After inspection, there was nothing wrong that I could see. I continued to drive home and felt it a few more times over the course of the next 15-20 min. Honestly, I was praying that nothing would happen until I could make it home - that noise was alarming. Upon arrival home, I looked up what could be wrong, then that is when I found everything online about Pathfinders. We do not have the money to fix this problem and have had to wait for several weeks to save the money just to get the transmission rebuild process started. I cannot believe a company that is as highly respected in the industry as Nissan is not stepping to the plate to make this right. It is an obvious defect for 3 different model cars. The "deductible" that they are offering does not come close to the cost of the total fix for the issue(s) at stake - especially if you go through Nissan dealership for repairs - not even guaranteed to be completely fixed since it is a defect - just replacing the problem it already has and will continue to have. Love my Pathfinder but will look at every opportunity to never buy a Nissan or infinity product, ever, again. Safety is my biggest priority when buying a car - this car fit the mold when I bought it in 2008/2009 and never again, but not anymore. Loss of complete power/operation in a vehicle at 55 mph is not safe. Btw, I'm ocd about servicing my car(s) - all records to show.
For several months there has been what a appeared to be as a torque shutter with the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. Once the speedometer hit around 60 mph it would make this frightening shutter and again at 75 mph, only while accelerating. Our mechanic was aware of this recall for the radiator and we replaced it. What I wasn't aware of the possibility of the coolant leaking into the transmission and slowly destroying a modular which sends the signal to start the car and tell the transmission which gear to be in. I tried to start my car one day before work and to my surprise it wouldn't start. Not even with a jump. That evening we replaced the positive battery terminal. Tried to start the car again and nothing. There is dash lights but no clicking or even an attempt to turn over. Head it towed to the mechanics shop. The next day the results were that the modular is done! what is so much more frustrating since I didn't qualify to get the radiator replaced because of the mileage! how does a company put faulting parts in many different models of vehicles and this be the consumers responsibility.
Without warning the radiator leaked coolant into the transmission cooling part of the radiator and caused an almost instant burning of the transmission failure that was found to be ruined before I could even safely stop and have it towed. The car lost temporarily lost power to the rear wheels and stranded me in a dangerous intersection where I was almost T-boned. There was no prior symptoms until the transmission failed.....
Catastrophic failure while on the road occured and car began to shake, causing other drivers to sway off the road to avoid collision. Car driveable after, but deteriorating due to coolant leaking into transmission case. This is a well-known problem throughout the Nissan organization, but remains unaddressed sufficiently. This places a major cost on 2006 Nissan Pathfinder owners and action needs to be taken so this negligence cannot persist. I am willing to pay for some of the damage caused by this and for some of the replacement cost, but Nissan motor corporation should fulfill its obligation per the class action lawsuit in 2012.
I have heard that several people are having problems with their transmission fluid getting radiator fluid in it. The classic signs and symptoms that have started with my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder are: 1. horrendous shuddering when pressing on the gas to increase my speed, 2. occasional banging when my automatic car shifts into gear, 3. delay in speed when I attempt to pass. Since all of this had started right after 100,000 miles a new transmission is not covered. I am a single mom who is a hospice nurse, I drive all day, having a reliable car puts food on the table for my kids. I don't have $3,000 to fix this problem. I could cry, I don't know what I am going to do. Right now I just keep driving it knowing it is going to break down any day. I was informed by so many people that Nissan was a great company and manufactured a great vehicle when I decided to by this Pathfinder. I am soooo disappointed!!! I will never buy another Nissan vehicle, I'm sorry, for the amount that I originally paid for this vehicle, it should not start falling apart at 108,000 miles.
The radiator cracked and the transmission oil mixed with the cooling. This resulted in the damaging of the transmission and we had to replace the radiator.
Transmission is failing especially in reverse, it shakes and slips. I took my truck to a transmission expert who informed me that these trucks have this manufacture issue and my truck should be under warrantee by the dealer, I did my research and I am now aware of the radiator issue and the extended warrantee will cover vehicles under 80K miles my truck just reach 60K miles which is when these issues start according to the internet. I took my truck to the dealer for repairs. They told me that my radiator was fine and I do have a transmission problem but not related to the radiator and wanted to bill me for a service fee. I called the expert I had been talking to and he advised me that this was bs and to ask if they did a glyco test which they did not and ask how they knew it was not mixing. The service manager stated to me that it will look slushy and mine was simply black or dark. Now I am no expert but antifreeze is green and trans fluid is red. Even a child knows that if you mix red and green you will get blue or a dark color, which to me explain why it is dark. The dealer just does not want to fix my truck for the price that the manufacturer will pay them which is approximately 2K so they rather tell me that it is not covered and try to bill me for 5K+ taxes so they can make a profit of 3K of which the service manager probably will get a 1K commission. I don't know what check they did but whatever it was my truck now leak antifreeze which was not an issue before I took it to them.
While driving approximately 60-65 mph on the highway during a family trip, the car began to shudder. The shudder returned several times over the next few hours, but we made it safely to our destination. Had to bring into the shop where I learned the defective radiator on 06' Pathfinder causes it to mix transmission fluid with coolant. This caused damage throughout the transmission resulting in a hefty bill ($4774). I learned there was a class action suite against Nissan for this problem, but it closed last year. Hoping to find information on perhaps another settlement.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Crossville, TN, USA