CarComplaints.com Notes: While there are fewer "radiator leaked into transmission" complaints for the 2008 model year, they are starting to pile up. Buyer beware.

Nissan has extended their radiator warranty on 2005-2010 Pathfinders to 8 years/80,000 miles. However the average mileage for transmission failure for earlier model years is 95,000 miles, which conveniently (for Nissan) is just past the limit of their extended warranty. Owners beware.

2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,615 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.

2008 Nissan Pathfinder miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2008 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Apr 162023

Pathfinder

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle suddenly started having problems while driving. Loud whining noise and shaking and scrubbing sound while driving. Was driving fine before sudden issues. Quotes by three different mechanics stated possible issues that incuded wheel bearing, ball joints, water pump, fan clutch, and brakes. Was told that all parts under vehicle were loose and close to becoming unraveled.

- Florence, SC, USA

problem #21

Jun 152022

Pathfinder

  • miles
Bought vehicle I-??m second owner it was sold as is from a dealership with airbag lights on after a certain amount miles check engine light came on said I had e -regular voltage to fuel injectors 1 gear started slipping then loss of power when accelerating next revolutionary trans-sensor went and now when I start the vehicle the A/T ECU Fuse keeps blowing out and the radiator coolant has transmission fluid mixing into it.

- Pennsville, NJ, USA

problem #20

Apr 092021

Pathfinder

  • 159,000 miles
Faulty radiator. Leaking coolant into my transmission. Noticed losing coolant and smelled radiator fluid after driving. Did research on the problem was able to find the faulty radiator part number which happened to match the one I had.

- Paw Paw, MI, USA

problem #19

Feb 042021

Pathfinder

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving in the freeway and the engine was making a wierd noise and the engine seemed to be losing power and skipping gears, I pulled over and there was a mixture of of water and something else, looked like milk comming out the radar area my car only has 153000 miles

- Spring Valley, CA, USA

problem #18

Jun 012017

Pathfinder

  • miles
Coolant fluid contaminating the transmission

- Inglewood, CA, USA

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problem #17

Dec 262018

Pathfinder

  • 160,000 miles
Car drove fine on Dec 26th 2018 I started it up on dec27th it started amd I put it in reverse it wouldnt move I cut it off amd it would not start again had it towed to shop a few days later they kept it for a week amd found out the tcm was fried due do to coolant contamination car still not running as of 5/24/19 it is still sitting in the yard I still owe 18 months on it no warning no nothing just died out of nowhere

- Gloucester Courthouse, VA, USA

problem #16

Dec 292017

Pathfinder

  • 145,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag light is on vehicle and Nissan says not part of years of Pathfinder recall ''. same issue as other but a 2008 model. Nissan wants to much money to fix a Nissan issue with the airbag system says connector. Will not deploy in accident or may deploy any time"????" safety issue for public. Approx time of issue started

- Burleson, TX, USA

problem #15

May 042018

Pathfinder

  • 127,000 miles
Radiator failure.... causing radiator fluid to leak into the transmission. Ruining the transmission and computer board. I was driving it and it was acting weird, so I parked it turned the car off went to turn it back on and it wouldn't start.

- Liberty Township, OH, USA

problem #14

Dec 012017

Pathfinder

  • miles
Takata recall I read that there has been some colaints on Nissan Pathfinders 08 to 10 on transmissions. I'm having a problem out of my transmission. It sticks and sometimes I have to cut my car off for it to shift back so I can pull out.

- Princeton, WV, USA

problem #13

Jan 102018

Pathfinder

  • miles
This car has been having issues of a vibration that comes and goes every now and then and I have taken it to Nissan dealership and mechanics and no one can tell me what's making that vibration on the vehicle and just the other day 01/10/2018 my wife was about to leave work and she said that the car started vibrating very bad that it felt like it was going to fall a part and the service engine soon light came on and it stop vibrating after a little bit and was able to drive but the light is on so I have to take it back to the mechanic and see what's the issue and hopefully he finds it this time.

- Miami Springs, FL, USA

problem #12

Nov 212016

Pathfinder

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The airbag light on the dash continues to flash and the car horn doesn't always blow>

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #11

Sep 192017

Pathfinder

  • 108,000 miles
My hose S from the radiator to the heater core exploded while I was driving in the city and trow some kind of gunk that the dealer says it is transmission fluid mixing with the antifreeze causing the hoses to become weak also my transmission start slipping and not working properly the dealer says it is a extended warranty on it but my car has 108000 miles and the extended warranty it is only until 100000 {with a 3000 dollars out of pocket for the owner of the vehicle } but they never send me a letter to fix that problem even do I have done more than 2 services on a Nissan dealer that warranty or problem was never mentioned to

- North Arlington, NJ, USA

problem #10

Aug 312017

Pathfinder

  • 190,000 miles
The factory radiator cracked internallly allowing coolanrbyi mix with transmission fluid leading to transmission failure. When I was made aware of the problem, I had the radiator replaced and the transmission flushed, however the damage had already occurred. At the time of failure I was turning left into a parking lot across /?lanes of traffic. My car barely made it across the road and barely avoided collision. This is absolute he a safety issue.

- Walton, KY, USA

problem #9

May 152016

Pathfinder

  • miles
Radiator leaked in transmission causing transmission to break

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #8

Mar 012015

Pathfinder

  • miles
Where do I begin with with problems that I have had with this vehicle" I purchased the vehicle in 2010 with 48,000 miles on it. Looked brand new, now, I think I know what they traded it in. I have had one problem after another. I have spent over $7000 in the past year and a half, outside of normal upkeep like tires and brakes, on repairs for this vehicle. I am a single mother with 2 small children! my husband was killed in 2014. Do you know how hard it's been for me to get all this done?!?! but I had to, it's paid off and I don't want a new car note! replacing a transmission that the company I feel knows is faulty is really unjust. I initially paid $1800 to get it fixed for it only to continue messing up again. I was told them they probably replaced the transmission but not the computer and radiator which is the major problem with the vehicle. I then paid another $2400 to get it fixed correctly. Then, there was the timing chain issue, why did it break, who knows, but it shouldn't have.. so that was another $2300. I've also had to replace both sides of the catalytic converter which were about $300 each and a ball baring I believe its called was gone. Currently, my horn only works when you turn the steering wheel left and steering is getting harder to turn so I think my pump is going out; checked the fluids and they are fine. I dont have the money to get either of those problems fixed right now. Oh, did I mention my electrical problems" my windows are temperamental and don't always go down when I want them too. I was told that would probably be about $500, maybe more, to get electrical work done. I will likely never by another Nissan again after this one! if this vehicle wasn't already paid off, I would have traded it in already!

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #7

Mar 132016

Pathfinder

  • 108,000 miles
A crack in the radiator mixed fluids between the radiator and transmission causing the vehicle to lock up. Both the radiator and transmission are damaged and need to be replaced. A class action lawsuit was filed against Nissan and even though Nissan lost the case they still refused to issue a recall. The only compensation was an extended warranty to a max of 100,000 miles and $3,000 up front to fix this known issue. Studies also show that this usually occurs to 2008 Nissan Pathfinders after the 100,000 mile mark, essentially making this extended warranty useless. Nissan needs to stand by their product, broken or not, and recall all defective radiators and transmissions.

- Clintwood, VA, USA

problem #6

Aug 182015

Pathfinder

  • 109,000 miles
I noticed a shudder when the car shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear but seem to drive normal otherwise. I contacted Nissan service department and scheduled the first available appointment, which took exactly 1 week from date first symptom. On the morning of my appointment, my car would not shift gears at all once I got on the highway, causing very dangerous situation for both myself and other drivers. I was able to coast my car to the dealership where I was later informed from the service department that a faulty radiator leaked fluid and contaminated the transmission fluid, resulting in a failed transmission. Repair costs would be $5230, but the manager would agree to do it for $4165. I was told at the dealership they were aware of faulty radiator in the 2005-06 models but were unaware other models had the same issue. I had already researched the problem, to find that numerous complaints had been filed regarding 2005-2010 Pathfinder, xterras, and frontier and Nissan had settled a class action law suit by offering an extended warranty for the radiator assembly. Since I was barely outside of the extended warranty, I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs to inquire about assistance with goodwill repair since the transmission failure was the result of a manufacturing defect. I was informed by the regional specialist she would need a week to review the case. One week to the date, she returned my call inquiring if I would be willing to pay the copay listed in the extended warranty and I informed her yes. She then inquired if I would be interested in a possible vpp discount on a 2015 Nissan automobile. I informed her I was interested in all options in order to make the best choice for my situation. She asked for two more days to review case and returned my call two days later to tell me Nissan was unable to provide any type of assistance to me in my repairs.

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #5

Jul 082015

Pathfinder

  • 183,000 miles
After driving at about 30 miles, my car stopped running and a little smoke came from the hood. When I parked the car it would crank but would not start. Whenever I turn the key in the ignition it cranks but wont catch as if the battery is dead or low on fuel. I have been having problems with my battery for a while but if I hit the starter it would crank. I dont believe it is anything major because it didnt show any signs.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #4

Aug 032015

Pathfinder

  • miles
Transmition failure hard shifting due to coolant contaminates the transmition, radiator and transmition needs to be replace

- Burlingame , CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 132015

Pathfinder

  • 135 miles
I turned on my truck in the morning it made a weird noise it sounded like something was rattling in the truck I checked the truck water oil everything looked normal except the noise... I went who work after work I a son as I turned on truck noise was louder and I couldn't drive it more then 20miles it started shaking and swerving I rite away took it to a mechanic...and he said that the timing belt and transmission were the cause of that rattle noise and that's why I couldn't run it more than 10-20miles... now to fix it's 4,500 for a new transmission... I had just got the viechle 3 months ago from the dealership now they won't help me fix. Now am stuck with a car that doesn't work and still making payments... I've seen online that Nissan SUV's have this kind of problem that's like a manufacturer defect.

- Gilroy, CA, USA

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