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.
9.0
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,060
Average Mileage:
110,750 miles
Total Complaints:
231 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace transmission and radiator (131 reports)
rebuild transmission and replace radiator (40 reports)
not sure (26 reports)
replace radiator and transmission (16 reports)
new transmission (6 reports)
radiator and transmission cooler replaced (5 reports)
Nissan Assist Program - Information about extended warranties for Radiator Assembly, Fuel Sensor
Lawsuit Against Nissan For Transmission/coolant Issue - The attached link will take you to the actual Law firm that is handling the lawsuit against Nissan for continuesly ignoring the defect on their Nissan vehicles 2005 and 06. where the coolant has leaked into the transmission and causing complate failure.
Go to the site and add your information. I'm hoping the lawsuit will have more meaning if you let them know of your experience with your Nissan vehicle.
Radiator Assembly Customer Satisfaction Program - Nissan has decided in the interest of customer satisfaction, to further extend the warranty for the Radiator Assembly on all 2005-10 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions.
On a small percentage of vehicles, an internal crack on the oil cooler tube may occur leading to internal leakage of engine coolant. While the majority of vehicles will not experience this issue, for customer satisfaction purposes, Nissan has decided to further extend the coverage of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty on the radiator assembly, subject to certain customer co-pays that vary with age/mileage.
The New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage on applied vehicles for the Radiator Assembly (original terms 3 years/36,000 miles) will be extended from the current extension of 8 years/80,000 miles to 10 years/100,000 miles (whichever occurs first), including damage, repairs, replacement, and towing resulting from this issue.
With the additional extension, the following warranty coverage and corresponding customer co-pays will now apply:
Up to 8 years/80,000 miles (whichever comes first): No customer co-pay
After 8 years/80,000 miles (whichever comes first) up to 9 years/90,000 miles (whichever comes first): Customer co-pay is $2,500
After 9 years/90,000 miles (whichever comes first) up to 10 years/100,000 miles (whichever comes first): Customer co-pay is $3,000
As with the prior extension, this extension of warranty on the radiator assembly will cover damage caused to other affected components, including the vehicle transmission, as a result of an internal leakage condition in the radiator assembly. However, existing powertrain coverage applicable to the transmission (5 years/60,000 miles) otherwise remains unchanged.
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2006 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 3 of 12)
Transmission failed due to their crappy design, I was not aware of this issue until it happened, never notified by Nissan. Now I still owe $7500 on the car and it is going to cost me $4,000-4,500 to have the control module inside replaced, gears and solenoid and another $175 charge to program the stupid thing. I will never by a Nissan again and I will absolutely let everyone know the issues and how they will do nothing to help.
Since the radiator cooler is the design flaw - bypass the thing, and use an auxiliary transmission cooler. Poor design of the radiator, NISSAN - those engineers went to what school? Why do you have your dealers replace bad radiator design with another poorly designed system which WILL fail again? Only idiots would do such a thing. The fix should have been (back when original problem was shown) to get rid of that radiator cooler, and use an auxiliary one. Then the problem would be sure to NEVER happen again!
Well, this time I knew the symptoms early enough and sure enough, there it was again, 75,000 miles after the first time (my Pathfinder now has 150,000 miles). So I bypassed the raditor cooler, added an auxiliary transmission cooler, and flushed out that chocolate syrup from the transmission. And now I am back on the road again.
We love our Pathfinder, it is awesome in the snow. The only problem has been this transmission - which now shall never see antifreeze again.
Dealer was very congenial and informed us that extended warranty would cover costs - except the u-joints. Worked great for 75,000 miles (see next complaint).
Cross-contamination of transmission fluid and coolant was discovered in my radiator necessitating a radiator replacement and multiple transmission fluid flushings. At the time of discovery, the transmission was showing no signs of problems. Approx one month after this service, the "Service Trans" dash light came on and wouldn't clear. Error code pointed to a defective valve body in the trans but no specifics on exactly what was happening other than the trans was dying and I was on borrowed time. Three repair shops basically stated the same thing to me, that the repair would require at least a new valve body with NO guarantee the problem light wouldn't return indicting a more systemic problem ahead. Although I can't prove it, it is highly likely that the dying trans was a result of the radiator fault. Just didn't catch it in time to save it.
With no help from Nissan, I stumbled across this problem myself and then found out the radiator and trans issue was a known defect and a "silent recall" had been issued years back. As a registered Nissan owner, the company took no effort to inform me of the extended warranty and recall which could've at least brought this to my attention much earlier with the possibility of actually saving my transmission. Instead, they allowed me to operate the vehicle with a known defective radiator to the point where my trans was damaged. The true measure of a company is how they behave when things go wrong. In my case, Nissan chose to hide behind the warranty cut-off (over by only 4K miles) and would not even acknowledge that they failed to inform me to get their vehicle checked ASAP before it's too late. They only did what they legally had to do, I guess, which didn't include helping me, the owner. I wasn't asking for a new tranny but merely trying to get them to acknowledge that they contributed to this situation and made it WORSE by keeping it hidden from me until too late. Not a good practice for keeping customers coming back.
My vehicle was well-maintained and not abused nor over-driven and it was the first vehicle I ever owned with a serious automatic trans issue. I gave Nissan opportunity to treat me like a customer and they failed miserably. This was the first (and last) Nissan product I will own as a result of their "high-horse" treatment. There's too many other product choices out there which will provide a better customer support service. I basically got the cold shoulder and they hid behind a technicality without placing themselves in my situation with a defective product they built.
While driving on turnpike at 75mph my transmission started to stutter. I pulled to side of busy highway and once vehicle stopped it would not move again. Had truck towed to local transmission place they did flush replaced a leaking line and filter. Transmission is now junk slipping in and out of gear sometimes not getting out of 1st gear at all. Spoke with transmission shop and looking at at least $3000 to rebuild or replace. Merry Christmas to my kids. More than mad, bought vehicle less than a year ago used, replaced radiator and lines right away as I read some comments and was hoping to be safe.
- Nicole H.,
Standish, ME, US
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2006 Nissan Pathfinder with 129K miles succumbed to what turns out to be a known issue with this model year. Check engine light came on, and auto parts store (Advance Auto) showed code to indicate bad O2 sensors. I ignored it for a couple weeks because it seemed to be OK, then the car stopped driving one day. No forward or reverse! Had to coast into a parking lot and call for a tow. Told auto shop (Goodyear shop I have used several times and trust) about O2 code, so they tried that first...replacing two sensors for $820! Then they discovered the radiator had leaked fluid into the transmission and said both were irreparably damaged.
Total repair bill for the sensors, new (remanufactured) transmission and radiator system: $5700+! I really had no choice but to fix it, otherwise it would have just gone to the scrap yard for a couple hundred bucks and I would be stuck scrambling to find another car right before the Christmas holidays. Well, my online research showed me the widespread scope of the problem with this model year Pathfinder (XTerra and Frontier as well).
NO recourse with Nissan from what I have learned, as no recall was ever issued and the class action settlement has expired. I have always spoken highly of my Nissan, as it was virtually trouble-free before this ridiculous turn of events. No more. Absolutely infuriating to be stuck with this repair for an issue that Nisan should have addressed years earlier.
HAD THE 2006 PATHFINDER TO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR SYMPTOMS OF LACK OF POWER, SHUDDERING WHEN ACCELERATING... NISSAN DIAGNOSED IT AS FOULED PLUGS. HAD THEM REPLACED 6-8 MONTHS AGO AND THE CAR RAN FINE FOR A WHILE. SAME SYMPTOMS CAME BACK RECENTLY SO WE TOOK IT BACK. NOW THEY SAID ITS THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING. FIRST I WAS QUOTED $5900 TO FIX IT AFTER MY TOOK IT IN. I CALLED BACK AND ASKED THEM ABOUT ALL THE ISSUE PEOPLE ARE HAVING AND IF ANYTHING WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THEN THEY TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY DEAL NISSAN DID. NEEDLESS TO SAY $3000 COPAY VS $5900 IS A HELL OF A LOT BETTER BUT STILL A HUGE ISSUE NISSAN HAS. I SUGGEST EVERYONE KEEP THEIR RECEIPTS FROM GETTING THEIR CARS FIXED BECAUSE NISSAN WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO CLAIM THIS AS A RECALL-ABLE ISSUE AND REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY PAID TO GET IT FIXED.
I am truly disappointed in Nissan i truly am, the truck was given to me by my uncle that passed away on my bday and when all this was going on i didn't know anything about the coolant leaking in the transmission. I was noticing something wrong with my car and decided not to drive it because i am not good with cars and the truck means a lot more to me because my FAV uncle that passed gave it to me. He purchased the truck brand new in 2006 and i am the 2nd owner. so my mom was getting my truck towed and the tow truck guy was like they have had a lawsuit about these trucks, and he was like take it to nissan. So my mom took it to nissan and she stated they were so rude to her, they only wanted her to buy new car. Like i am a single mom with a child i need my car and i already put so much money in this truck already. i wasn't aware of this issue nor do i get recall information because it was all at one point going to my sick uncle. So i called the dealer and he was liek yes your coolant is leaking out in your transmission and he was a jerk to me and he was like your 10,000 miles over on what we will honor i am like are you serious i didnt know there was a guideline especially when they know of this issue...I gave it to God and i called the nissan corporate. its truly sad they make alot of money i know they can fix this issue. this world i tell you.
I have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder with only 88,000 miles on it. I was just told that I needed to have the transmission replaced because it got radiator water in it and damage the inners.
I've been told that this is a known issue with Nissan and they aren't doing anything about it. That I would need to get a lawyer and file a class action lawsuit against them.
I contacted Nissan and they said I'm not covered because my 5yr 60,000 mile warranty is up.
If this is a known issue should Nissan be held responsible?
Dealer sold me a used 2006 Nissan Pathfinder recently. It immediately began showing many of the transmission failure signs as listed by other owners of this model. Dealer tells me it was caught quickly enough that replacing the defective cooling unit and flushing the transmission and coolant systems has taken care of the problem. Any comments on that?
This is a problem known to Nissan, to the extent that there is an extended warranty covering a whole $800 of the $3,800 cost as a result of a Class Action Settlement. What the hell kind of settlement is that when the consumer gets to pay $3,000 for damages to the transmission caused by a faulty part (radiator) and the automobile manufacturer pays a whopping $800??? What government bureaucrat agreed to this???
Why wasn't a recall issued for the radiator to address the problem BEFORE the transmission is destroyed by the leak??
To say that we are upset by this is an under-statement. This is $3,000 we do not have. Clearly we are stuck because our only recourse would be to buy a different car. Needless to say there will not be another Nissan product in our future.
RADIATOR LEAKS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND A WHITE MILKY SUBSTANCE IS COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR WHEN WE OPEN IT. THE SAME STUFF FOUND INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. LICENSE MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED AND HE FOUND THAT RADIATOR WAS LEAKING TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DAMAGE BOTH THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION.
I WILL NEED A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THIS 2006 PATHFINDER AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MY INTERNET RESEARCH ON THIS PARTICULAR 2006 PATHFINDER, MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.
I WILL NEVER BUY NISSAN PRODUCT AGAIN OR REFER FRIENDS TO BUY NISSAN CARS. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN. NISSAN USE TO BE MY FIRST CHOICE BUT NOW I WILL PREFER TO TAKE A BUS RATHER THAN BUY NISSAN CAR BECAUSE NISSAN FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, RECALL THE CARS AFFECTED AND FIX THE PROBLEM.
THIS IS A SHAME ON NISSAN COMPANY NO MECHANIC REALLY KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, SHAME ON YOU NISSAN SHAME ON YOU.
While driving the vehicle the engine would rev up but not shift very well. I pulled off of the road and the check engine light, 4 Wheel Drive Light came on and the display for the transmission went blank. After being inspected at the garage, they mentioned that there was radiator fluid in the transmission. The radiator had been replaced over a year ago because it was leaking. After doing research I found out that this is a problem that has been occurring with the Pathfinder model. If this is something that Nissan knows about, why don't they fix it!!!! It is going to cost me $2000 to get done now.
The vehicle was having issues shifting. I had a local shop check it out. After the inspection they came back with the bad news. The transmission and radiator need to be replaced at a cost of over $3,000. They said the radiator fluid had leaked in to the transmission and caused the problem. I did not want to pay for the repair so I took the truck home.
After looking online I found this is a common problem with Nissan Pathfinder's. I called and spoke to my local Nissan Dealer's Service Department. They told me that their was a previous problem but since I was over 100K miles, I was out of luck and to have a nice day. Now I am forced to either pay for a repair that makes no sense or sell the vehicle as it is. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get Nissan to repair this at their expense?
I got the truck in September of 2014 and it's been nothing but an expensive problem every since day one. Six months after purchase the f*cking transmission starts slipping, so I get a diagnostic test done, only to find out my coolant system is leaking into the damn transmission. I get the coolant system replaced and the transmission flushed twice. Cost me $1680, what a muthaf*cking waist of money, patience and f*cking time. I finally pay off the repair shop and less than 10 f*cking miles later, you guessed it....son of bitch right back to slipping again.
I'm so f*cking infuriated with this got damn truck, I wanna set it on fire because this is issue number three since day f*cking one! I got the truck with 75,000 miles on it so you know how pissed I am about a piece of sh*t truck it turned out to be. My first experience with Nissan was in 2006 with a 1994 Maxima that ran like a champ, so i figured I would have a better experience with Nissan, bu they f*cked me so hard, my ass hurts every time I sit in the f*cking truck. I wouldn't recommend another Nissan vehicle to anyone else....F*CK THEM!
Nissan is well aware of this problem. They will pay most of it, but the manufacturer is making me pay a $2,500 deductible. The vehicle has 57,000 miles.
I bought my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder back in 2005 of the dealer lot. Never had any issues with it until this month. My vehicle would not accelerate, then began the shaking and when I took it in, found that the radiator had cracked and the coolant leaked into the transmission.
I called Nissan and they are asking over $3000 to repair the problem. I have already paid $900 to replace the radiator, and clean out the transmission however I did not expect the problem to get fixed. I learned through this website that about all the other Nissan owners are and have experienced this same type of problem. Is there a class action lawsuit I can join.
Nissan needs to be held accountable for this. Please advise. I can be be reached at jose34911@gmail.com
I bought this SUV brand new back in 2006, never had major problem till now. Vibration during shirting and shows oil on radiator overflow when I try to replace my fluid.
BEWARE!!!! Brand new 2006 Pathfinder from Nissan worst car ever. 9 years later and now our transmission died. Keep in mind over a year ago we had to replace our radiator. We just found out Nissan's radiators are a huge problem they leak into the transmission and that explains why our transmission died now. We got no warning on a 2 hr trip we got stranded in the middle of the highway our car stopped on us several times and started shaking really hard and making a rattling sound, scary. Thank God we did not get into an accident and I pray no one ever gets into an accident due to this because the car just stopped in the middle of the highway with oncoming traffic. Nissan refuses to recall this problem so now we are stuck with a dead car and a huge expense in our hands. Thanks for nothing Nissan. I will never buy or recommend Nissan to anyone.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Transmission failed due to their crappy design, I was not aware of this issue until it happened, never notified by Nissan. Now I still owe $7500 on the car and it is going to cost me $4,000-4,500 to have the control module inside replaced, gears and solenoid and another $175 charge to program the stupid thing. I will never by a Nissan again and I will absolutely let everyone know the issues and how they will do nothing to help.
- Steven G., Old Lyme, US