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:
94,867 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.
While driving transmission began shifting erratically. After stopping at a traffic light the vehicle would not accelerate above 20 mph. While attempting to get the vehicle home smoke was noticed coming from the transmission. Inspection verified transmission fluid was contaminated with coolant.
Transmission: Having problems with transmission - it will not go on reverse. Researching on the internet I found that this is a manufacturer defect. The radiator would crack causing the coolant to mix with the transmission fluid.
As my wife and I with our 5 children were on our way to church, driving at 45mph the car started jerking dropping at 20mph with traffic behind us on a two way highway we had to pull over on a dirt embankment. We took the car to Nissan dealership and the service rep estimated the cost of $9,000. Problem in radiator crack line inside transmission fluid cooler. Antifreeze leak into transmission causing damage.
Just found out that I have the coolant mixed with the transmission fluid causing transmission failure.... called Nissan Consumer Affairs and was told I had to go get diagnosis at dealer witch I did at a cost $100. Called Nissan back and said I was out of luck and nothing they would do.... how can they get away with selling such a defective part for so long is beyond me and the fact that there is numerous class action law suits on this issue and nothing is being done about it..... this is a major safety issue as a transmission failure will cause the vehicle to stop in traffic.... someone needs to do something about this.
On the highway, the transmission started to feel as if the car was going to stall. The coolant light indicator moved rapidly to the high end, which seemed to indicate a radiator or coolant problem. I pulled off the highway and let the car cool down, before proceeding on back roads to get home. The car continued to act as if it was going to stall even at 15-20 miles per hour. Shortly thereafter, the service engine light came on. I had the car towed to my Nissan dealership and was advised that the radiator caused the transmission to fail. Nissan is aware this is a problem but as my car is over 80,000 miles, I will need to pay $2,500 to fix the problem!
- Bellmore, NY, USA
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The car stalled in oncoming traffic more than once. Nissan dealership says it needs a new transmission, radiator, catalytic converters, cam sensors and fuel system. It has been nothing but trouble since we purchased it and it dangerous to drive.
During highway speeds noted chattering/chuttering when accelerating at approximately 60-65 mph. Later after exiting the interstate, slowing down while approaching intersection, during automatic transmission down shift, vehicle seemed to lunge forward. Scary in city traffic. Upon return to home, removed radiator cap, coolant fluid was color and consistency of peanut butter. Fearing blown head gasket, check engine oil which was fine, check of transmission fluid revealed very runny and more of a peanut butter color on the dip stick. Removed transmission drain plug for a better fluid inspection, what drained was very watery, reddish, brownish, peanut butter colored fluid. Drained approximately 3 quarts. Replaced drained fluid with new, set up appointment and drove vehicle to Nissan service center. Cursory search of the web identified excessive number of other consumers complaining of same issue. Couple hours later, Nissan service manager informed me that there was cross contamination between coolant and transmission. Because vehicle had greater than 80000 miles, service manager informed me would be a co-pay of $2500. Repair work completed, money paid, now attempting to have Nissan reimburse.
Shuttering at about 40mph. Dealer said nothing was wrong. Later took it to the Nissan dealer and the dealer flushed the transmission fluid. A week or so later, the transmission started jerking and not shifting correctly. I found transmission fluid and water were mixed. Nissan dealer said there was no recall on the radiator. I purchased a new radiator, had it installed. The installer said that the transmission had water in the transmission fluid. I purchased new transmission fluid(for Nissan) and had the transmission fluid replaced, then had it replaced again after 100 miles. To remove any residual water. Nissan still denies any problems with the radiator or transmission. The radiator problem renders the entire vehicle useless. NHTSA - please remember that our government is by the people and for the people. You need to make Nissan repair our defective vehicles. Its your job.
The vehicle had some shifting and hesitation issues while driving at highway speeds, especially upon accelerating after decelerating about 5 mph at highway speed. I brought it in to the dealer who said the radiator needed to be replaced due to cross contamination with the transmission. Upon the dealer replacing the radiator and flushing the cooling system/transmission, they called and said that the vehicle is now throwing off codes and that the transmission needed replacement. In researching the issue online, I noted there was an open investigation as well as and extended warranty offered by Nissan for this defect. The dealer failed to mention this, so I forwarded them the information and visited them to discuss the defect. The dealer stated that there was a lower cost valve body service they could attempt, but if that did not work, I would need the full replacement, so therefore they recommended the replacement. The valve body service was $1300 and a new transmission was $5300, so if the service did not work I would be looking at $6600 plus another $350 for the cooling system and transmission flush they had already performed. The vehicle has 109,000 miles on it, so it is outside of the extended warranty Nissan issued for this issue. I did try their customer care line to attempt to have them cover the repair since it is only 9000 miles outside the warranty, but they said there is nothing they can do. Based on the cost of the repair versus the value of the vehicle, it's hard to justify the expense and therefore I considered not repairing the transmission. However, the vehicle is used by my wife to drive our kids around, and I can't imagine the consequence of not repairing and then have a complete failure like some owners have experienced while driving. It's evident that this is a major quality and safety issue, and that Nissan should be responsible.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while traveling 40 mph, the vehicle made a rumbling noise and stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the radiator hose had failed and caused coolant to penetrate the transmission and that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 85,238.
My Nissan came to a stop while driving home. I was going no more than 30 mph and my car started to shake and then it stopped and would not move anymore. I took it to a shop and they said it was the transmission and would have to rebuilt it. The shop kept my car for a month and was unable to fix it, even after rebuilding the transmission. I finally took it to a Nissan dealership and they stated that the problem was the radiator and transmission. They would fix it, but it would cost me $6,700. Because my car is over mileage in the extended warranty that Nissan had offered, I would get no financial assistance to fix my car--even though this is a manufacturing defect. This is just outrageous and irresponsible that Nissan will not recall the transmission and radiator problem. Luckily I was not traveling on the expressway at the time the transmission failed or there would have been fatalities. I will never purchase a Nissan ever again!!
My car has coolant in transmission and starting to give me problem I told Nissan 2 year ago when my car had 78,000 miles but they said no now it has 103,000 and my transmission is bad and they don't want to fix issue.
The coolant was leaking into the transmission fluid. Nissan must have known there was an issue to extending the warranty from 60,000 to 80,000. The Pathfinder was taken in for service for a few months because something wasn't right and finally found out the issue was coolant leaking into the transmission fluid at 83,000 miles.
I was shocked to find out that my transmission and radiator needed replaced after such low mileage. Dealer said it was a design defect and it would be covered by Nissan who extended the warranties on vehicles with this problem because of a class action lawsuit. What disturbs me is that I was told I could have had a catastrophic failure in my Pathfinder. I literally could have pulled out onto a highway and my transmission might have failed. With 3 small children who ride in the backseat, this might have resulted in serious injury or death. How can this admitted defect not result in a recall so all affected vehicles could be inspected for safety"?" and my "new" remanufactured transmission has a very limited warranty now, not the 60,000. On my original transmission so I'm afraid of future repair costs. So unfair!!!
My Nissan pahtfinder 2006 sudden jerking when traveling at highway speeds, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate while driving. Diagnosed as a failed transmission cooler which allows, coolant to mix with the transmission fluid.
The transmission failed due to the on going problem with Nissan. Coolant is leaking into transmission and ruining them. There should be a recall on these now.
We purchased our Pathfinder from a dealership June 1, 2012. On July 2, 2013 we were driving back home and the transmission started to slip. Upon researching online immediately when we got home, we found that many, many others had the same issue and that it is caused by faulty design of the radiator and transmission. The radiator cracks and leaks directly into the transmission so there is no warning that there is an issue until it's too late. The next morning I immediately drove it to our nearest Nissan dealer to have it checked out. They informed me after my description of what was going on that indeed, that is probably what was wrong but they couldn't get me in to check it out for another 6 days (and it would be $109) to diagnose. They also informed me that Nissan has issued a conditional warranty of them. Up to 80,000 miles, they cover any expense past $2,500. Up to 90,00 miles, they cover any expense past $3,000. Up to 100,00 they cover any expense past $3,500. There is no coverage past 100,000 miles and the average cost to repair is $7000. Our transmission failed at 108,000 miles. Now we are stuck paying out of pocket for a flawed design that Nissan acknowledges is their fault. How is there not a mandatory recall on these models and Nissan not required to replace these issues in full on their dime.. for their mistake" the conditional warranty offered is a joke and I am infuriated that Nissan is not covering our flawed vehicle also. This failure is in no wise due to any neglect or misuse of the owner/operator's part. Where is the responsibility for this product? why must we continue to promote a mindset of neglecting responsibility for what we produce? where is the quality? where is the follow-through"
My transmission failed because the cooling lines that run through the radiator cracked allowing the coolants to mix. I will have to replace the transmission and the radiator.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kingsland, GA, USA