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.
I recently had an inspection done on my 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. My mechanic said the radiator's seam at the top is leaking, and I will need a new one soon. I was very surprised since I had a new radiator put in my Pathfinder in December of 2104 (less than 2 years ago), due to a leak in the original radiator, which was leaking into the transmission. From what I have read, radiators leaking into the transmission is a common problem for 2007 Pathfinders. Many people are out of the warranty and have to replace their radiators and transmission on their own. Ouch! Nissan replaced the radiator and rebuilt the transmission since the original power train had been extended due to a lawsuit against Nissan. I had about 70,000 miles on the vehicle at that time. The power train warranty was extended to 80,000 miles, so it was to no cost to me. 20 months have passed with the new radiator that Nissan put in. I took it to my local Nissan service center, and they confirmed what my mechanic saw, that the seam is leaking at the top, and the radiator needs to be replaced. They quoted me $600 to install a new one. The warranty on the radiator that I had put in in December 2014 was for 12 months or 10,000 miles. I am over both.
Since I am only 20 months removed from the radiator being installed, I called Nissan to ask what they could do. I was hoping for a new radiator at no cost, but doubted they would do this. I figured they may pro-rate it; I would have to pay some part of it, which I was willing to do. Everyone I talked to (my mechanic, the Nissan service tech, family and friends) was surprised that I need a new radiator so soon. They've never heard of a radiator failing after 20 months. The service tech at my local Nissan service center said that there is an obvious problem in the radiator that took a little while to show up. The response that I got from Nissan when I called the national number is that there is nothing I could do since the warranty is up. Two different Nissan case reviewers said that they have already replaced the radiator and rebuilt the transmission free of charge.They sounded very arrogant, and it sounded like they were doing me a favor. I agreed and pointed out that the original radiator and transmission was not manufactured correctly and that if they were correctly made, they wouldn't have had to be replaced. I also pointed out that at the time they replaced those things "free of charge," I also needed to replace a timing chain that was an issue as well, which cost me about $1,000, and it was only that "low" because they were already working on the transmission.
The final kick in the pants is that I purchased a 2013 Nissan Altima last week, prior to replacing the spring and finding out about the radiator issue in the Pathfinder. I told the Nissan case reviewers that had I known this was the treatment I was going to get, I wouldn't have spent tens of thousands of dollars on a Nissan Altima. I hope Nissan is happy. They saved $600 on a radiator, but lost a loyal customer who has now purchased 2 Nissan vehicles! Never again! By the way, I looked at the top 20 worst vehicles on car complaints.com. The 2013 Nissan Altima is number 5 on the list. I can't wait!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I recently had an inspection done on my 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. My mechanic said the radiator's seam at the top is leaking, and I will need a new one soon. I was very surprised since I had a new radiator put in my Pathfinder in December of 2104 (less than 2 years ago), due to a leak in the original radiator, which was leaking into the transmission. From what I have read, radiators leaking into the transmission is a common problem for 2007 Pathfinders. Many people are out of the warranty and have to replace their radiators and transmission on their own. Ouch! Nissan replaced the radiator and rebuilt the transmission since the original power train had been extended due to a lawsuit against Nissan. I had about 70,000 miles on the vehicle at that time. The power train warranty was extended to 80,000 miles, so it was to no cost to me. 20 months have passed with the new radiator that Nissan put in. I took it to my local Nissan service center, and they confirmed what my mechanic saw, that the seam is leaking at the top, and the radiator needs to be replaced. They quoted me $600 to install a new one. The warranty on the radiator that I had put in in December 2014 was for 12 months or 10,000 miles. I am over both.
Since I am only 20 months removed from the radiator being installed, I called Nissan to ask what they could do. I was hoping for a new radiator at no cost, but doubted they would do this. I figured they may pro-rate it; I would have to pay some part of it, which I was willing to do. Everyone I talked to (my mechanic, the Nissan service tech, family and friends) was surprised that I need a new radiator so soon. They've never heard of a radiator failing after 20 months. The service tech at my local Nissan service center said that there is an obvious problem in the radiator that took a little while to show up. The response that I got from Nissan when I called the national number is that there is nothing I could do since the warranty is up. Two different Nissan case reviewers said that they have already replaced the radiator and rebuilt the transmission free of charge.They sounded very arrogant, and it sounded like they were doing me a favor. I agreed and pointed out that the original radiator and transmission was not manufactured correctly and that if they were correctly made, they wouldn't have had to be replaced. I also pointed out that at the time they replaced those things "free of charge," I also needed to replace a timing chain that was an issue as well, which cost me about $1,000, and it was only that "low" because they were already working on the transmission.
The final kick in the pants is that I purchased a 2013 Nissan Altima last week, prior to replacing the spring and finding out about the radiator issue in the Pathfinder. I told the Nissan case reviewers that had I known this was the treatment I was going to get, I wouldn't have spent tens of thousands of dollars on a Nissan Altima. I hope Nissan is happy. They saved $600 on a radiator, but lost a loyal customer who has now purchased 2 Nissan vehicles! Never again! By the way, I looked at the top 20 worst vehicles on car complaints.com. The 2013 Nissan Altima is number 5 on the list. I can't wait!
- Rick P., Strafford, NH, US