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.
1.7
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,643 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.
Check engine light indicated a problem. After review by a Nissan dealer, there is a crack in the radiator assembly that will cause fluid to leak into the transmission, rendering the vehicle inoperable. Nissan knows about this issue and a class action lawsuit was brought against Nissan. A settlement was made giving only an extended warranty, not a recall. Data shows that it breaks on most cars after the so-called extended warranty time. Leaving most with no help from Nissan to fix this issue. This should have been a safety issue not a money issue.
When I purchased my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder from a dealer in 2012. Vehicle was inspected and deemed safe to drive. I noticed my tire pressure sensor stayed on all the time. Even after filling to the recommended psi. Didn't think much of it. Went on to drive the vehicle with no issues until the next year when I would get this shaking and rumble at about 2500 RPM. Took it to a local mechanic and he couldn't find anything wrong except for needing new brake pads and engine tune up. Had that done but still my car continued to rumble when I would accelerate. It was intermittent on and off until it got so bad that I had to pull over and let my engine cool before it would do it again. Recently I took it to a different mechanic and had them look at it. She ran a test on the computer and the car gave codes that linked back to the transfer case. She then had it looked at by her transmission expert and he discovered coolant and fluid inside the transmission. Only then was it linked to all other occurrences that fall back on Nissan. I read online that there is a class action lawsuit against Nissan for failing radiators and transmissions. It was never brought to my attention when purchasing the vehicle even though this was during the height of the dispute. With it being out of date for any coverages under the lawsuit. I'm now left without a vehicle and a hefty $3,600 repair bill that should have never been there to begin with. I hope Nissan has a plan to fix this issue without the consumer paying out of pocket. If not I will be pursuing a case against the dealer for selling me a car that is unsafe to drive.
While in motion in a very busy traffic, the vehicle suddenly started stalling prompting my pumping of the gas pedal in panic, as well as deployment of the hazard light. The energy generated from the engine, while pumping the gas pedal, is not being transferred to the transmission. Eventually the vehicle rolls to a complete stop with the engine dead in the busy traffic, effectively putting me in harms way. I turned the ignition and the engine started, after about a quarter mile it will stall and quit again. This process repeated several times and eventually the vehicle quit for good. It will not start again. I had a wrecker tow the vehicle to the Nissan dealership where the service agent told me, approximately 24 hours later, that the problem resulted from a cracked radiator that leaked antifreeze into the transmission and subsequently damaging or destroying the transmission. The agent told me that it will cost several thousand dollars since it will entail installing new radiator and transmission.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving 2 mph, the steering wheel seized and the traction control, check engine, and the ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.
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.
- Houston, TX, USA
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Transmission failure. I have service records from reputable mechanic shop that the transmission problem started at $77K miles. Nissan does not care. The court ordered settlement (class action suit) lets them off the hook after $80K miles. $2,500 copay to fix a problem caused by radiator leaking into transmission. Terrible customer service at dealership (why I never went to them for repairs). They try to charge for stuff under warranty (my fuel gauge issue a few years back). I thought Nissan na would help but I was wrong.
Pathfinder experienced complete transmission failure. Car stalled in the middle of an intersection and the engine started smoking and fluids spilled out from underneath. People behind us had to swerve around us to avoid hitting us. Some good samaritans helped my husband push the car to the side of the road. He could no longer drive the car. Earlier in the day the car was having trouble accelerating and would jerk. We managed to get off the freeway before it stalled completely. We had the car towed to mossy Nissan and we were told by the service advisor that the manufacturer radiator that came with the car was badly designed. The radiators crack causing cross contamination of the radiator and transmission fluid which then results in complete transmission failure, which is what happened to our car. He told us there was a class action lawsuit, actually, and the settlement terms were that if your car was under 80,000 miles Nissan would cover the cost of repairs. Our car had 87,000 miles and so we had to pay $2500. Over 90,000 miles and you have to pay $3000. Over 100,000 miles and you're out of luck. We were told the repair runs about $7,000 outside the warranty period. This should have been a recall issue, not an extended warranty issue, because it is unsafe to be driving on the road when your car stalls and the transmission fails. The car has since been repaired but I no longer feel safe in a Nissan. Nissan North America refuses to take responsibility for a design flaw and the extended warranty from the lawsuit benefited no one but Nissan. You couldn't have your radiator replaced under the warranty if it wasn't malfunctioning yet. Your car needed to break down before the warranty could kick in, and at that point you were already outside the 100% coverage window.
Nissan Pathfinder just got to 100,000 miles when started experiencing transmission issues, turns out there was a factory warranty that I was never informed of that would have covered the radiator/transmission issue. However because I was not having an issue until the extended warranty ended Nissan is refusing to cover the cost of repairs despite knowing about this engineering fault. It is extremely frustrating that a large company such as Nissan is able to send a vehicle out into the public with known engineering flaws and put a mileage limit on repairing the issue. It is something that will inevitably fail but it is only a matter of time so it might have occurred within the limit for some and outside the limit for others. It is my hope that you will expose this shady and unsafe practice that Nissan has going and help get people the repairs they deserve.
Vehicle transmission stopped shifting while driving in traffic. Sounded like vehicle couldn't switch gears any longer. This is serious problem and lucky it did not result in an accident. We have kept the vehicle on the proper maintenance schedule. With so many complaints this needs to be a recall.
Noticed vehicle pulling off sluggish and wasn't shifting gears. When I made it home, I had it checked out and found transmission fluid mixing with the engine coolant. I started searching online for recall and found this is a common problem, but there isn't a recall to fix the issue. I also didn't know they extended the warranty to 80,000 miles to only have the radiator replaced. They to do something to fix the problem and make it right for their customers.
Driving down the road, vehicle becomes sluggish. Notice that the temperature begins to rise rapidly. In afternoon work traffic and have difficulty negotiating traffic trying not to break down in the middle of a busy road/intersection at 5:20pm. Vehicle was take to a repair shop where I was informed that the radiator had ruptured, thus sending coolant into the transmission and transmission fluid into the engine. Current estimate is approx $3000.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that when vehicle was in reverse, the engine would grind. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the coolant was leaking into the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the engine stalled and the electronic throttle control warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle restarted on the first attempt and resumed normally. The failure occurred on several separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 94,000.
This vehicle's timing chain, automatic transmission, and radiator need to be replaced due to premature mechanical failures. The radiator is faulty and the radiator coolant now mixes with the transmission causing transmission failure. Repair costs are around $8000. A quick look at "Nissan radiator/transmission cooler litigation" on the internet reveals class action lawsuits filed for these same complaints via thousands of consumers. This is a widespread problem known by Nissan and they have not issued any recalls or warned the consumer of these problems. Nissan has offered some owners extended warranties but nothing above 100,000 miles for those with consequential damage to their transmissions due to their knowingly defective radiators. Clearly, Toyota's recent acceptance of a $1.2 billion federal fine for deliberately concealing auto defects and safety risks from its buyers and general motor's current regulatory woes because they cynically judged their vehicles defects not recallable when they clearly are, these are signs that enough is enough. To have faulty products is one thing, but to not inform a consumer of a faulty product that will further destroy their vehicles is reprehensible.
Car shudders and shakes at low and high speeds. At stops car will rev high before accelerating. Engines stalls on both freeway and highway. Had ECM replaced a week ago. Had a 6 point inspection and was told all is fine. Vehicle is very dangerous.
Noted that transmission was slipping when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear as well as issues with radiator fan coming on at idle along with no heat at idle. Took vehicle to two separate car repairs to identify the problem and was told that vehicle had failed transmission cooler which allows coolant to mix with the transmission fluid, causing internal damage to the components. Was advised that repairs would be upwards of $3K to replace transmission.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking oil. The contact also stated that the vehicle would violently shake while driving 60-70 mph. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer stated they could not duplicate the failure. The manufacture was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact T own a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited a recurring stalling failure. In addition, the vehicle would sporadically engage into limp mode without warning and the vehicle would not accelerate over 30 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the battery cable, steering angle computer, and the electronic control unit however, the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The current and failure mileage was 103,000.... updated 03/24/14
2006 Nissan Pathfinder - took in for tune-up and was notified about broken seam on radiator. Coolant was leaking into the transmission. Ended up spending over $1,000 on a new radiator and repairs and may need a new transmission. Researched the defected parts and discovered that this is a common problem with Nissan Pathfinders. Nissan needs to issue a recall for this problem. They know it exists, and it is irresponsible of them to do nothing about it. It is a safety concern.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mount Prospect, IL, USA