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.
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 contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving 10 mph, the engine stalled without warning and the steering wheel seized. In addition, the brakes failed, and the slip, engine, and edc indicators illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted without hesitation; however, the failure recurred on several occasions without warning. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 113,200. Updated 10/18/16 the consumer was informed the cam sensor needed to be replaced, updated 10/31/16.
2006 Nissan Pathfinder. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle timing chain tensioning system problems. The consumer stated while driving, she heard a strange rattle and hissing noise coming from the engine area underneath the hood. The consumer had her local repair shop investigate. The technician stated without taking the motor apart, it appeared the motor was failing. The consumer started investigating the issue and discovered Pathfinder's from 2005-2015 had problems with timing chain, guides and shoes.
Another classic story of Nissan Pathfinder transmission failing due to engine coolant leaking into the transmission fluid cooler system resulting in catastrophic failure of the transmission.
The transmission fluid and the radiator fluid are mixed up due to vehicle design issues. Nissan is conveniently getting out of the complaint by putting in stuff that there is no warranty on the vehicle.
- Coraopolis, PA, USA
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I purchased my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder in 2013 with 109K miles on it. I loved it for 1yr and a half. 2 months ago it started shifting rough, I took it to a local place to be looked at. I was told that Nissan Pathfinders have a faulty radiator that leaks internally into the transmission causing complete transmission failure! would cost $3600 to fix. I called suntrup and was told by the service department that they had never heard of this before and to bring it in, which I did and $100 later they told me the same thing I already knew from the other place for free. They again said they had never heard of this happening before but they could fix it for $6800! I began searching (not too difficult since it is all over the internet!) I called around trying to find a more affordable transmission place and every single place I called knew about the Nissan faulty radiators!! this is a prevalent problem for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 Pathfinder, xterra and and frontier! Nissan refuses to do a recall stating it isn't a safety issue but there was a class action suit closing in 2013 (year I bought my car) and would fix the transmissions up to 100K (I bought mine at 109K. The national transportation safety board is looking into this issue. I did contact suntrup and talked to the sales manager who said to come in and they would "try and help me". their solution is to roll the $4,000 I am upside down into a brand new car causing my payments to go up exponentially! (also as a single mom of 3 kids in car seats a car isn't helpful, neither is super high payments). You can not tell me that they didn't know about this Nissan transmission issue being a Nissan dealer! they didn't know about the class action suit, the year I bought the car"!"! perhaps there isn't anything that can be done in my case but I do not think it is ethical to continue selling these models and years!!
Leak in radiator causing cross contamination between radiator and transmission fluids. This is causing hesitation in power during operation of vehicle. Per the Nissan service provider we took it to, the cars needs a new transmission and radiator at the cost of $6000 or it will soon die. We believe this is a manufacturer 's defect and a known flaw- many other complaints are posted by other owners.
Fluid cross contamination from radiator to transmission causing hesitation during operation of vehicle. Per Nissan service department, unless transmission and radiator are replaced this is unfixble and car will soon die. Repairs estimate is 6,000 dollars.
The car is not heating up. The transmission fluid and radiator fluid is mixing together making a pink color.. we have had it only for less than a year. We have loan on the car. I keep seeing online that even after replacing the transmission. More problems keep happening. I looked up the VIN number and it's saying our car make is recalled for the air bag? is there anyway you can help us or could we just trade to get a different vehicle. I would much appreciate someone to help.
My Nissan Pathfinder was not heating/ defrosting...also, there was excessive noise when the truck was shifting gears. I brought it into my mechanic who told me coolant was leaking into the transmission, and the transmission and radiator would need to be replaced at a cost of approximately $4400.
Radiator failed and cross contaminated transmission with anti-freeze and transfluid. Replaced radiator and flushed transmission in Sept 2014 and three months later dec18, 2014 the transmission failed. Repair center said it will cost $4500-$5000 for repair of transmission.
Transmission failure due to radiator coolant mixing with transmission oil: Reading other similar complaints about 2005-2010 Pathfinder on carcompalints.com, I am wondering if there is a $90 solution to bypass the original setup and have a separate radiator for transmission, why couldn't Nissan do it or atleast inform all owners about it so we could have avoided spending 4-5K on repairing something that is manufacturing design defect. I am in no way claiming to be a mechanic, but I am assuming other vehicles also have a similar setup, even other Nissan models. How come this is the problem only for Pathfinders? this is a design flaw and there should have been a recall instead of a class action lawsuit, but I guess our government is too busy looking out for special interest lobbyists. I am disgusted in Nissan's conduct and also the conduct of NHTSA & cas who did not do anything when there was class-action lawsuit to prove these were not isolated issue with a few vehicles, but a design flaw. As is evident from multiple complaints on www.carcomplaints.com, this problem mostly occurs around 95K+ mile mark and by that time the extended warranty offered by Nissan as part of their class action lawsuit is over. The settlement is an admission of fault on Nissan's part and NHTSA/cas should force Nissan to issue a recall or have them pay for the full repair of all affected vehicles and have them provide a remedy such as separate cooling system for transmission for vehicles which have not experienced this problem yet.
I am the owner of a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder with current mileage of 106,000. I just learned today that I will have to replace the transmission and radiator for $6000. Due to this known product defect. I am infuriated as I read through all the post by people like myself who have been told Nissan will do nothing since the vehicle is over 100,000 miles, especially since the problem does not show up on average until 95,000 miles or more. It would appear Nissan who just reported billions for their earnings could have done the proper product recall of all units manufactured/effected regardless of mileage and fixed the issue!
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.
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%.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Madera, CA, USA