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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of transmission failure during the gear shifting. The contact stated that the gear shifter would remain in neutral. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,364.
.Transmission failed do to coolant in transmission..got stuck in traffic and couldn-??t go anywhere.this is a known problem with these vehicles.vehicle has been inspected by owner who is a mechanic.there were no warning signs
The transmission started slipping a little let for us when I start from the stop sign or from a dead stop when the engine is cool and I 1st stop it runs fine for the 1st minute or 2 but then as I'm driving all of sudden it start slipping real bad if I'm in regular drive would you overdrive on which in 5th gear cannot go on the highway after 55 miles an hour and just that slipping real bad unless I put it in 4th gear by taking the overdrive off daniel ride okay for a while but it's soon as I go to a stop sign or I stopped the vehicle taking off it's slip so bad it almost is not move at all once you get some moving and runs not too bad but the longer I drive it to where she gets until I shut it off cooled off and then it works again for a couple of minutes
The vehicle will not shift gears due to coolant in the transmission. This has essentially ruined the transmission due to the radiator failing and allowing coolant into the transmission via the transmission fluid coolant lines that run through the bottom of the radiator.
To add to my previous complaint my transmission totally went out when I was driving to my moms friends house. I can't even drive it to get places I need to go.
I have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder and I was driving to the doctor and there was a shudder. I didn't know exactly what it was until I did some research which explains there are a lot of problems with Nissan transmissions in general. I can't afford to fix it due to being on a fixed income. I'm paying payments on it and also insurance which I can't even drive it. I need my vehicle to get places I need to get. I'm not sure what to do. I really believe Nissan should recall transmissions and fix them.
The transmission is shuttering, feels like it is slipping at times. The coolant looks like creamy paste. The SUV wants to bounce or pull to the sides. Also at times it feels like the motor is running high and the vehicle will move slow.
All 4 of my catalytic converters have had to be replaced (or need to be replaced - I've already replaced bank 1. now bank 2 is bad) in the past 12 months or so and now my radiator is leaking into my transmission. I discovered there was a class-action lawsuit on the radiator/transmission issue, but I'm outside of the warranty period. With respect to the catalytic converters, I occasionally smell exhaust, but the check engine lights stay on. With the transmission, it started out as gear slipping, causing rough driving (which the dealership told me was the catalytic converter). Then, it started running slow out of first gear and hard shifting. I took it to a transmission place that pulled transmission codes and when they dropped the pan, the fluid looked like a milkshake. The rough driving/gears slipping didn't matter - it could be on the highway or in the city. I don't know the exact date in 2018 that I had the issue, but I've been dealing with this issue for a year.
I was driving on an interstate at normal highway speed when the car shuddered as if going over rough pavement. The engine started racing, but the car gradually lost forward propulsion. I steered to the emergency lane and stopped. After a minute, the car regained just enough forward motion to get me to the next exit, across an intersection (where the light just happened to be green, thank goodness), and into the parking lot of a large grocery store before the vehicle lost all propulsion. We pushed the car the last few feet into a parking spot. It was towed to a Nissan dealership. I was told the next day that the transmission warmer had failed, allowing radiator coolant to leak into the transmission, which ruined the transmission. The repair would cost $6000. I cannot put another $6000 into a 13-year-old vehicle, even though I've only had it for five months, so now I've lost the money I put into it and will have to start over with another vehicle.
Radiator failed causing leak of radiator fluid into transmission causing vehicle to be towed to auto shop. Vehicle was in motion on highway and then would all of the sudden no longer accelerate. Mechanics, (got 3 estimates) all said same thing; that this was a problem with these Pathfinders. My cost is about 6,500. I had just bought this vehicle for 8,500 about 3 weeks prior.
Transmission is failing quickly. I had to replace my radiator a few months ago because it cracked. That event left my wife and children stranded on the interstate.
There is a system design flaw with the 05-10 Nissan trucks; Pathfinder, frontier, xterra. The radiator houses both coolant and transmission fluid. When the radiator fails, it leads to coolant and transmission fluid mixing; resulting in catastrophic failure and premature destruction of the transmission. Our transmission was replaced with a brand new transmission after the original transmission failed at 89K miles. After the new transmission was put in, the transmission was destroyed at 90K miles and the issue was traced back to a cracked/ruptured radiator; leading to mixing of coolant and radiator fluid which in turn ruined the transmission. The cost of the initial transmission replacement was $6000; the estimated cost of replacing the transmission again along with the radiator and flushing the system and replacing the fluids is $8000. In both instances of transmission failure, it happened during driving conditions on a highway without symptoms of transmission issues. The worst part of this is not the cost. The worst part is that this known issue on Nissan trucks should have been classified as a recall issue because the failure can happen anytime, especially during driving conditions and has the potential to cause a crash, serious injury, or death.
Transmission fluid leaked into transmission causing transmission and radiator failure. Was on mainroad at time and had to be towed to mechanics where upon learning this is a typical issue for these vehicles. Cannot drive vehicle and repairs are very costly.
My vehicle suddenly started to have a delay in acceleration when the gas pedal was pushed, and then would catch and lurch forward. I have been told that the transmission inner cooler ruptured and has ruined both the radiator and transmission. Further research indicates this is a known issue that Nissan has failed to accurately advise owners about, or issue a recall. This is negligent and wholly unethical. Negligent in that the symptoms could lead to serious harm out injury, as there is no warning prior to the damage being done. Unethical in that now Nissan gets to profit from their negligence, as it will cost $5,000 to remedy what could and should have been much less costly.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the "overheated" warning indicator illuminated while driving approximately 25 mph. The following day, the vehicle failed start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the radiator failed and caused coolant and transmission fluid to mix. In addition, the transmission control module failed. The mechanic stated that the engine had to be rebuilt and a new radiator needed to be installed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 87,270.
Car overheated/no start, had SUV tolled to auto repair shop was told by techician was told the following. Radiator failed causing coolant and trans fluid to mix. Transmission control module failed causing vehicle not to start.
My problem is with the radiator and transmission fluid contamination.. some hoses inside the radiator that carries transmission fluid and coolant cracked and contaminated both the radiator and transmission. This problem has caused my vehicle to lock into 4 wheel drive and contaminated both my radiator and transmission this problem will need to be repaired before the vehicle can be driven. It will be a costly repair that should be covered by Nissan on a recall according to all the complaints I have read about.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- East Bernstadt, KY, USA