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.
9.1
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,940
Average Mileage:
118,800 miles
Total Complaints:
81 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace radiator & transmission (68 reports)
not sure (8 reports)
no solution. transmission and radiator must be replaced (5 reports)
Nissan Pathfinder/Frontier Transmission Bypass Solution - Step-by-step instructions to bypassing the problematic transmission fluid cooler in 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinders and Frontiers. This simple, 20-minute, $15 fix will permanently solve the famous transmission/coolant issue! Perform this procedure and you will prevent the only problem your Pathfinder will ever see. Save your beautiful rig!
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2008 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)
Radiator had a crack and transmission fluid leaked and mixed with coolant creating a sludge that doesn't work for cooling or transmission fluid. Had the Radiator replaced and coolant system flushed as well as transmission flush. A week later the transmission went out and has been out since. Only fix is transmission replacement.
Nissan was so gracious to extend the warranty to 100,000 miles for this. But if it didn't happen till after (like me 138,000 miles) then you get the screw job. Congratulations you own a lemon it is a known problem and there is zero communication from Nissan about it. Would have been nice to have a heads up about three years ago to say:
"Hey by the way, your radiator could be faulty and could cause you to have catastrophic transmission and cooling system problems so you might want to replace it NOW if not sooner, otherwise you will get the ROYAL screw-job from Nissan USA and end up spending $5000 to replace the radiator and transmission on your POS Pathfinder.
--- Always screwing you as best we can.. Spread your joy!!!
--- Nissan USA"
I didn't receive any such letter but oh well it's not Nissans problem at this point.. even though they knew about the problem and refuse to pay a dime for it. Way to do business Nissan there you go losing customers.
Nissan has know about this issue for some time and refused to do anything to assist me in this situation. I will never, ever...ever, ever, buy a Nissan again.
The radiator cracked and the oil spilled into the transmission causing the transmission to go out. There was liquid all over the garage. Had the Pathfinder towed to Bommarito Nissan. Was told needs new radiator and transmission would cost $5500.00 for radiator and transmission. The service man was very helpful. But he could not do much to help. This is a horrible experience. The check engine light came on Tuesday night was going to take to the dealer the next day, Wednesday, but did not make it, the transmission stopped working.
- Debra B.,
St Louis, MO, US
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Felt a shutter during acceleration. Took the car in right away. Was informed about the faulty radiator leaking fluid into trans. They suggested replacing the radiator. Did that but felt the shutter on the ride home!! Placed a formal complaint with consumer affairs and was told that I was 1500 miles out of warranty!! Want to get the trans fixed but would like some compensation. Totally disappointed with Nissan.
Nissan Knows about this problem and they do not tell you about it I did see a class action suit about it and it did not apply to me at the time now that I have more mileage and I am affected it TOO LAT I have to pay out of pocket for everything. this is not right.
Update from Aug 19, 2014: Adding VIN Number did not have it when I filled the inital complaint.
I recently bought this vehicle about 4 months ago from a dealer in Fontana CA, it had only 84639 mile and it was running very well, I was happy with my used toy.
Suddenly it starts making noises and taking a long time to shift gears and it only had 89400 mile when it started with problems. Suddenly it did not shift gears any more, it got stuck on the fourth speed and could not get it out of there, not even using the manual option to switch gears. As soon as I got home with the rattler, that is how I call it now, I opened the radiator cap to find out there is a big gray chunk of oil like mixture with coolant and the gasket is already started to expand twice its size.
I went online to look into any other people with the same problem and I found hundreds of complaints regarding the same issue and Nissan is doing anything about it. I am or I was a loyal Nissan customers, but let me tell you that after this I don't think that me or my family will go back to it. I'll make sure to never go back to their unreliable vehicles, this is the worst experience I have ever had with a vehicle at 89400 miles. If anybody knows of a solution or if Nissan is offering any help please advice. I do not want to spent $4500 on it, I cannot afford it.
After buying this 2008 Pathfinder from a private seller who deemed it in perfect condition, no problems whatsoever, and after due diligence..ie" carfax, vin check, 24 step used car buying checklist, mechanic approval, etc, and only driving in ONE time...this car now needs a new timing chain kit $1,650 along with several other related issues, AND I have been advised by several Nissan mechanics NOT drive it at all until replacing the well known faulty radiator . This also well known, class action leaky radiator/transmission issue, runs approx $900 for the new radiator, not including the labor. This car will cost me another approx $3000 to make safe, but even then will have other related problems that will need to be attended to asap!! Nissan Corp has been contacted,a case opened but as to date, no help is being offered. This is a horrible vehicle, and Nissan should be ashamed of themselves for the danger, expense and worry they have caused so many people!
My issue is the same as many I am finding as I research this issue. Cracked transmission due to the radiator seal leak. Known Nissan issue but of course they didn't do the right thing and notify me. Problem occurred at 120,000 miles so of course, out of warranty. Repair estimate is $9,000 for new parts, $4,800 for refurbished.
Filed a complaint with Nissan but basically got a "We extended the warranty for this issue but unfortunately you're outside of that extension". Really?? Had I known this was an issue with these vehicles, I would have had it checked out before warranty expired. On top of that, when I asked the Nissan service adviser what made my transmission crack I was told "you probably ran over a pot hole or something" Really?? I did not know this was a KNOWN issue until I began to research the problem, the service adviser sure didn't offer the truth!
Another adviser at a different Nissan dealer just said warranty doesn't cover this issue, didn't tell me either this is a known Nissan failure!!
Since purchasing this vehicle, I have done nothing but rave to all who asked, how dependable this car has been for me and what a pleasant purchase experience it was, and up until this issue that held true. This is major, they knew about it and instead of stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing by their customers, they basically say "sorry about ya" and leave you stranded with astronomical repair charges.
I am filing a complaint with NHTSA, who knows if it will go anywhere but this isn't right and it has to be a serious safety concern if our transmissions fail at high speed on the freeway!
Stranded us at 1am. Car is useless and now needs $5000 in repairs. Nissan knew about this issue!! Their limited warranty extension didn't help me because I was over the miles and would have had to pay $3000 anyway!!
I bought this car because my 2001 Pathfinder was reliable. I got 265,000 miles on it and it was still running like new. I was so impressed with that vehicle that I splurged on this 2008 Pathfinder with all the bells and whistles. What a rip off! I do not know how manufacturers sleep at night robbing people like this and misrepresenting their products. I am so disgusted that Nissan chose to be irresponsible about this and not stand behind what they put on the road! The lawsuit should have been more pubic because I didn't even know about it until I was well over the 100k miles stranded out of state. It cost us $1500 to tow it home and then just fix the radiator. We haven't even touched the transmission yet. People who rely on their vehicles that are supposed to be reliable are being lied to and stolen from. I will never buy a Nissan again and hope many others stop. This company deserves to go bankrupt. If they would do the right thing and fix all the problems at no charge to the customer, they might be able to save some business. You'll reap what you've sown, Nissan!
I started feeling my car slip gears when it reached certain speeds, as well as the VDC, slip and engine lights came on. Within the next few days, as I was driving, my car overheated and the antifreeze poured out of it. The radiator was cracked and had leaked into the transmission. When my husband called Nissan and told them our issue, and that our mileage was 103,000, they said we were no longer under warranty and it would cost approximately $6,000 (obviously knowing what the issue was from all the other transmissions that were ruined from their error). My husband's friend, who is mechanic, replaced the radiator and flushed the transmission fluid. It seemed to run fine for the next few months, with the occasional flush of the transmission fluid. Within the last week, the car began slipping again. By yesterday, it would not come out of second gear. My transmission is shot and needs to be replaced. I am extremely disappointed with Nissan, as we have been loyal customers for the last 14 years. I loved my Pathfinder, and would think that after spending $36,000 on a car, it would hold up longer than 6 years. It is absolutely unacceptable that Nissan will not take responsibility for their manufacturing error and that they do not stand behind their product. I am so disappointed and disgusted, I will NEVER buy another Nissan.
It does not seem fair that Nissan is ding nothing for this issue. We bought the Pathfinder new and paid for an extended warranty to 100,000 miles. The Pathfinder has 120,000, is in great shape other than this issue with the transmission. There were no signs of a problem until we took it in for service and they noticed that the coolant was discolored, they changed the radiator and flushed the transmission, said to come back after 2,000 miles and have transmission flushed again. After about 7,000 miles we noticed that it would shake at 40 miles per hour, so we had it checked and the transmission flushed again, less than a 1,000 later the transmission is gone and I'm stuck paying $4,800 for a new one. This is my 5th Nissan, and they could care less.
On 01/09/2014, the radiator leaked fluid into the transmission of my 2008 Nissan Pathfinder and on 01/10/2014 I had my Pathfinder towed to the dealership in the city of La Puente, California. They said I needed a new radiator and transmission and the cost would be $5,500.
Dammmm, and they knew all along what would happen and to top it off I still owe 2 payments on it. Wow what a kick in the ass, and the Nissan Corporation still won't recall the radiator or transmission.
Now, my question out there to any body that is now in my situation and too late for the class action law suit I just missed, I want to know who wants to start up another one? A new one but one where Nissan Corporation admits to all and fixes it all for free. Why do we have to pay when we're already paying enough with all our maintenance in their Nissan services. Dam, please, I need help. Well, I'm still going over to the court house and start a petition claim law suit because this problem is not even over from a long shot. I can bet my money there will be thousands of other families in this. Thanks for your time.
Lost tranny back on Sept of 2011... It is Jan 2013 and truck is starting with the same issues again .... Second times Nissan has flushed my coolant because I loose heat when just sittin and I have shuddering at 40 mph... They are trying 2 tell me my tranny is fine.. bullshit..... Nissan needs 2 fix this problem and noone should have 2 b dishin any money out 4 there problem....
My vehicle with 77,000 miles on it had a slipping issue with my transmission and was brought to the dealership, along with the Warrenty upgrade notice provided by Nissan, for service. I notified the dealership of the transmission slipping and of the warrenty notice, and that I wanted it looked at. They came back to me and verbally stated that there was no issue with my transmission. Dealer did not note it on the work order that they test drove and said there was no issue. Nissan is known to have radiator problems that lead to transmission failure for my type of vehicle. There is a class action lawsuit out right now about the issue. Nissan refused to do the work unless I paid for the $3000 co-pay, and paid for the timing chain shoes, another Nissan known issue, another $1800. My vehicle is a 2008 Pathfinder with 92000 miles on it now. Just want Nissan to stand behind their product properly and replace the items required at no charge to me. Both of the issues could lead to a failure and cause a major accident.
Update from Mar 6, 2013: Nissan still denying to pay for repairs. I am a 20 year owner of Nissan vehicles and was offered $150 Good Will on a $4800 repair. What a slap in the face Nissan NA. I am disgusted at the way corporate is handling the Radiator Transmission intermix problem. You have a class action lawsuit agianst you, which I am now gladly a part of. The consumer will eventually have the corrective action taken if we keep making enough noise. Force Nissan to make the Corrective action by taking a stand against them and file on the NHTSB website and safercar.com. Don't let corporate Nissan abuse us.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Radiator had a crack and transmission fluid leaked and mixed with coolant creating a sludge that doesn't work for cooling or transmission fluid. Had the Radiator replaced and coolant system flushed as well as transmission flush. A week later the transmission went out and has been out since. Only fix is transmission replacement.
- taronsr, Choctaw, OK, US