2005 Nissan Pathfinder

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Power train is the leading concern among 1,050 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 1,050

Of the 2005 reports, 14 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernPower train585 reports · 56% of complaints
Owner complaints1,050Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship4 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Power train585
  2. Engine and engine cooling290
  3. Fuel system247
  4. Gasoline186
  5. Engine144
  6. Electrical system66
  7. Other61
  8. Other or unspecified40

Recalls and investigations

  1. Engine and engine coolingOct 28, 2010

    NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.

    THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

    Campaign 10V517000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Suspension, front, control arm, lower armMay 20, 2010

    NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

    IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

    Campaign 10E019000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Air bags, frontalDec 29, 2008

    NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.

    THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

    Campaign 08V690000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. EquipmentJul 3, 2007

    CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.

    THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WHEN THE TOWING VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE TOWING VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER BRAKE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED ABILITY TO STOP AND CONTRIBUTE TO A POSSIBLE CRASH.

    HOPKINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HARNESS WITH A REVISED HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HOPKINS AT 800-835-0129.

    Campaign 07E046000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling

290 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 15, 2012

    WELL MY PATHFINDER WAS WORKING GREAT AND I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT THEN ONE DAY I'M DRIVING IT TO WORK AND IT JUST STOP I KEPT ACCELERATING AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. A FRIEND OF MINE CAME AND LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME ON THE SPOT YOU RADIATOR BUSTED AND FILLED YOUR TRANSMISSION WITH COOLANT AND THAT DESTROYED YOUR TRANSMISSION AND DESTROY IT DID. MY FRIEND TO TOLD ME FUNNY THING IS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY INSTALLING AN EXTERNAL COOLING WHICH HE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR 100 BUCKS IF ONLY HAD NISSAN LET ME KNOW THAT THE 2005 PATHFINDERS HAD THIS ISSUE. OH WELL I FEEL CHEATED AND I SWORE IN MY LIFE I WILL HAVE A NISSAN CAR AGAIN OR ACURA FOR THAT MATTER NOR ANYONE IN MY FAMILY. THIS ONE I'M STUCK WITH BUT ONCE GUARANTEED THAT THE MECHANIC GAVE IT'S ABOUT TO EXPIRE I'M SELLING IT AND I'M DEFINITELY NOT BUYING NISSAN AGAIN! EVER! *TR

  2. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 3, 2012

    THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. IT IS COMMON TO THIS MODEL AND INVOLVES THE INTERMINGLING OF COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID DUE TO THE FAULTY DESIGN INVOLVING THESE SYSTEMS. THE RESULT IS RUINATION OF BOTH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR, IN ADDITION TO VARIOUS ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS. PLEASE, COMPEL NISSAN TO ISSUE A FULLY-COVERED RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND THE FACT THAT THE CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY FORCED TO BEAR THE SIGNIFICANT BURDEN OF THE SUBSTANTIAL RELATED REPAIRS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. *TR

  3. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 2, 2012

    I WAS LEAVING A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS. I PULLED TO THE PARKING LOT EXIT AND TURNED RIGHT ONTO THE 4-LANE BOULEVARD. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO TRAFFIC SPEED IN THE NEAR LANE BUT THE MOTOR SIMPLY RACED AND WOULD NOT PROPEL THE VEHICLE. AS TRAFFIC CAUGHT ME I HEARD TIRES SQUEALING AND HORNS BLOWING FROM THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME. THE TRAFFIC WORKED AROUND ME WHILE I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE AND BEGAN TO MOVE AT IDLE SPEED. AS TRAFFIC ALLOWED I WORKED OVER INTO THE LEFT LANE AND THEN THE TURNING LANE WHILE GRADUALLY ACCELERATING TO DRIVING SPEED, MERGED BACK INTO TRAFFIC AND PROCEEDED HOME, CAREFUL TO AVOID ANY STOP LIGHTS IN BUSY TRAFFIC. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I'M NO EXPERT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT A VEHICLE THAT SUDDENLY WON'T PROPEL ITSELF IN TRAFFIC IS AS DANGEROUS AS ONE WITH NO BRAKES. THIS WAS THE ONE AND ONLY TIME THAT WE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE FAILURE WHICH ALLOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT TO INTERMIX IN THE RADIATOR, ENGINE BLOCK AND TRANSMISSION, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. I'M SURE NHTSA HAS RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I'M HEARING MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS JUST IN MY AREA AND LIKELY THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPORTED. HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL HAVE TO DIE OR SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY BECAUSE OF THIS UNSAFE CONDITION BEFORE A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED. *TR

  4. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 2, 2012

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE HEATHER AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE RADIATOR. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,841 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,121. UPDATED 1/7/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, WAS IN JULY 2011, AND NISSAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR AT A COST OF $ 6,981.86. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED WAS IN SEPTEMBER 2012, AT A COST OF $ 1499.19. NISSAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN AFTER MARKET TRANSMISSION AND FLUSHED THE RADIATOR. UPDATED 01/09/13

  5. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 26, 2012

    MY VEHICLE QUIT DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT WOULD ONLY IDLE WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY RADIATOR HAD AN INTERNAL LEAK AND THE COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO SHUT DOWN. I WAS NOTIFIED WHEN SEARCHING FOR A RADIATOR, THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES AND IS DOCUMENTED WITH COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I AM CURRENTLY A NURSING STUDENT, AND I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR THAT I MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE NOT MY FAULT WHEN I AM NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY COSTLY REPAIR AND I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED SO I WILL HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL. *TR

  6. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 24, 2012

    2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AS WELL AS THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, THEY ADVISED HER TO OPEN THE GAS TANK, TO SEE IF A PUFF OF AIR CAME OUT. ONCE SHE TOLD THEM NO, SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE, SHE THEN PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND IT STILL DID NOT MOVE,. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED HER TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FOR A HALF HOUR. SHE RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK AND IT STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATED A GASKET BETWEEN THE RADIATOR BROKE AND ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, IT WOULD COST $6,000 FOR THE REPAIRS. *JB

  7. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 15, 2012

    RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CASE COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. PER NISSAN, THE COST TO FIX IS $5900 AND REQUIRES A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. FIRST SYMPTOM WAS LACK OF ACCELERATION. *TR

  8. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 5, 2012

    DRIVING VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND WOULDN'T DRIVE. TAKEN TO SHOP AND SAID DEFECT IN RADIATOR ALLOWED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION RUINING BOTH COMPONENTS. THIS IS A KNOWN COMPLAINT WHICH NISSAN FAILS TO ADDRESS. THEY UPED THEIR WARRANTY WHEN PROBLEM WAS SEEN BUT MOSTLY HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. I SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND SHE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

  9. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 4, 2012

    RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXED. INTERNAL RADIATOR FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. CAUSING LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. IT IS A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR AND IT CAN BECOME VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE. I HAVE CHOSEN TO LET MY VEHICLE SET. I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE A FATALITY TO MYSELF OR MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP NOT TO LET NISSAN GET BY WITH THIS. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 01/02/13

  10. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 17, 2012

    ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I CANNOT REMEMBER THE DATE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT. MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. MY FAMILY WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE LEAVING A PLACE OF BUSINESS, WHICH WAS KIND OF ON A HILL AND WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, BUT STARTED TO GO BACKWARD. I CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED AGAIN AND WE WERE OFF AND GOING, UNTIL WE WERE ON THE ROAD AND IN TRAFFIC GOING ABOUT 45MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL, AND WE HAD TO GET OURSELVES OUT OF TRAFFIC. I GT THE VEHICLE GOING AGAIN AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO GO FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, THEN ON SEPT 15 I WOKE EARLY TO TAKE A FAMILY MEMBER TO A WEEKEND CLASS, AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY STREET I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 2005 PATHFINDER I ROLLED MY WINDOW DOWN TO HEAR THE SOUND AS I WAS LISTENING THE SOUND WENT AWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, I WAS PUSHING ON THE GAS AND IT WOULD NOT GO, THE LIGHT WAS GREEN AND I HAD CARS BEHIND ME. I HAD TO TURN MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND TRY TO GET MYSELF OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO SAFETY, ONCE I DID I HAD TO PARK MY VEHICLE IN A BUSINESS PARKING LOT AT A SHOPPING CENTER THAT IS CLOSE TO MY HOME. AT THIS POINT MY VEHICLE IS PARKED DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PUT IN DRIVE. I HAVE TALKED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OF THE RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE CASE WITH MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND THAT IT IS COSTLY TO GET IT REPAIRED. THE COST IS ULTIMATELY LEFT UP TO ME, AND I FEEL AS IF THIS IS A NISSAN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME FOR SOME OTHER NISSAN CUSTOMERS THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED A RECALL AND NISSAN SHOULD BE FIXING THIS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *TR

  11. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 13, 2012

    COOLANT MIXING IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. SOME ISSUES WITH SLIPPING AT FIRST, MECHANICS COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE APART THE TRANSMISSION TO FIGURE IT OUT SINCE THERE WERE NO CODES BEING TRIPPED. THEN THE SLIP GOT WORSE AND THEY HAPPENED TO DISCOVER HOW BAD THE FLUID LOOKED BY THE U-JOINT UNDERNEATH THE CAR. IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE RADIATOR COOLANT LEAK. THEY PROCEEDED TO FIX THE RADIATOR AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND FLUSHED THE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES ($726.81) ONLY 2 MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP AGAIN AND ALMOST FAILED ON THE FREEWAY, STUTTERING THE ENGINE AND SMOKING A BIT. FORTUNATELY, WE WHERE ABLE TO LIMP THE VEHICLE HOME AND GET IT TO THE MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. VEHICLE WAS AT THE SHOP FOR 3 WEEKS, THEN THE MECHANIC THOUGHT HE HAD IT FIXED. WE DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND SLIP AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP, THEY CHECKED THE CODES AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS...... WHEN YOU PAY THIS MUCH MONEY FOR A VEHICLE, THERE IS NO REASON WHY A TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL IN 94,000 MILES. I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE HORROR STORIES I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET RELATED TO THIS NISSAN TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I FEEL A SICK TO MY STOMACH RIGHT NOW JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT THIS HAS AND WILL CAUSE TO MY FAMILY. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT NISSAN SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CATASTROPHE. ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

  12. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 10, 2012

    WHILE DRIVING UP TO SPEED AT 55 MPH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A RUMBLING NOISE LIKE IF DRIVING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO IT OVER DRIVE GEAR IT STARTS RUMBLING. RADIATOR FLUID IS CONTAMINATING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

  13. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 10, 2012

    RADIATOR CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT FLUIDS TO LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AND NOT DRIVE. *TR

  14. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 10, 2012

    THERE IS A NISSAN MANUFACTURER DEFECT OF FAULTY RADIATORS THAT ARE CAUSING RADIATOR COOLANT TO LEAK INTO AND DESTROY THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VEHICLES AND ENDS UP KILLING VALVES, SEALS AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON 2005-2010 NISSAN PATHFINDERS, NISSAN XTERRAS, AND NISSAN FRONTIERS. THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE AN OWNERS TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND LOSE FORWARD PROPULSION ON A HIGHWAY AND CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC LOSS(ES). *TR

  15. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 4, 2012

    THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH IN THE FREEWAY. AFTER A FEW SIMILAR INCIDENTS I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL THAT DESCRIBED A SIMILAR ISSUE, A RELAY WAS CHANGED.. THE VEHICLE CONTINUE EXPERIENCING THE JERKING UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT IT LOOK LIKE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST SHOP FOR A CHECK UP. APPARENTLY COOLANT WAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN WE THE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD HONOR A WARRANTY EXTENSION, THEY ASKED AS TO PAY FOR A TEST TO CONFIRM WHAT WE ALREADY NEW. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEEDED TO CONTACT NISSAN'S 800 NUMBER CORPORATE OFFICE CAUSE THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY EXTENDED THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY TO 80K DUE TO THIS COMMON ISSUE. THEY TOTALLY DENIED THE EXTENSION CAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD 107,000 MILES. THANKS GOD THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. NOW WE HAVE TO INCUR THE EXPENSIVE COST OF REPLACING THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. THIS FACTORY DEFECT SHOULD BE PAID BY NISSAN AND WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS COMMON ISSUE. PLEASE LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL A FATALITY OCCURS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION TO INITIATE IT. *TR

  16. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 27, 2012

    COOLANT LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION. WELL-KNOWN NISSAN ISSUE. VEHICLE STARTED RUMBLING INTERMITTENTLY GOING BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR AROUND 40 AND 60 MPH. THE RUMBLING WILL LAST BETWEEN 2 AND 5 SECONDS UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED HARD ENOUGH TO FORCE THE VEHICLE TO DOWNSHIFT WHICH RESULTS IN A LOUD BANGING NOISE AND A JERK. ALSO NOTICED WHAT LOOKS LIKE CURDLED MILK ALL AROUND THE RADIATOR CAP. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP, NISSAN OF SACO, ON 08/28/2012 AND AM ALMOST CERTAIN THEY WILL TRY AND GET OUT OF COVERING THIS UNDER THE "LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY". *TR

  17. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 27, 2012

    RADIATOR FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION. *TR

  18. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 21, 2012, fire

    I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON AUGUST 11TH, 2012 WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ROLLING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 40 TO45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED ACCELERATING. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHILE INSIDE THE VEHICLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, A PASSERBY TOLD ME HE SAW A FIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY GOT MY FAMILY OUT AND CALLED 911 TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT ON SCENE, THE FIRE HAD DIED OUT. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP BECAUSE A FIREMAN SUGGESTED IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME A COOLER UNDER THE RADIATOR BUSTED CAUSING COOLANT TO GET INSIDE MY TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO GET ON MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH STARTED THE FIRE. THEY QUOTED ME $4900 IN REPAIRS, TELLING ME I NEEDED TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR REPLACED. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET BECAUSE FOR ONE, MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED INCLUDING MYSELF, MY WIFE, AND 3 SONS AGES 3 9 & 13. SECONDLY, I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 5 AND HALF MONTHS AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. IN FACT, I OWE JUST ABOUT $1000 MORE ON THE LOAN FOR THE VEHICLE VERSES THE COST OF REPAIRS. SO NOW I AM LEFT WITH NO VEHICLE, NO WAY TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, AND THE UGLY FACT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL. IN CLOSING, I AM JUST LOOKING FOR ANY SORT OF HELP I CAN GET TO HELP GIVE ME AND MY FAMILY SOME RELIEF OF THIS TRAGIC AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. THINGS COULD HAVE ENDED UP MUCH WORSE AND I REALLY FEEL THIS VEHICLE PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD TO OUR ROADWAYS. *TR

  19. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 7, 2012

    2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER...RADIATOR CRACKED LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION. COMMON PROBLEM NISSAN WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT. *TR

  20. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 6, 2012

    MY 2005 PATHFINDER WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL IT STARTED DEVELOPING A CASE OF THERMOSTAT FLUCTUATION; IT WOULD ALMOST GO INTO THE RED AND THEN DROP ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN TO THE NORMAL LEVEL. I TOOK IT TO PRECISION TUNE AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR HOSE ASSEMBLY. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT, THE TRANNY STARTED SLIPPING. AS I HAD ALREADY READ FROM OTHER CONSUMERS, I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY TRUCK, AND BECAUSE THE TRUCK ALREADY HAD 120K + MILES ON IT, I KNEW WHAT NISSAN WOULD LIKELY SAY. SURE ENOUGH, ONE AFTERNOON, I GOT IN THE TRUCK AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN IN APRIL AND BEGAN THE FIGHT TO GET IT FIXED; THEY QUOTED ME $5100 TO REPLACE THE TRANNY AND RADIATOR DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION CASE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INTO THE RADIATOR. I CONTACTED THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND NOT ONLY DID THEY TELL ME THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT, BUT REFERRED ME TO THE BBB (A VERY BRAZEN MOVE IN MY MIND, TO HAVE A COMPANY REFER YOU TO THEM ABOUT THEM). THEY ALREADY KNEW THE BBB WOULDN'T HELP BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. NEARLY FOUR MONTHS LATER, IT STILL SITS AT THE DEALER, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE REPAIR COST (I STILL OWE FOR TWO YEARS ON THE VEHICLE), AND NISSAN REFUSES TO FIX IT, ALTHOUGH THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS. SOMEONE HAS TO DIE, I GUESS, BEFORE THEY PULL THEIR VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

  21. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jul 28, 2012

    IN 2009, AT 74,000 MILES, I NOTICED THE CAR "BUCKING" WHEN DRIVING. STARTED DOING RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION. NISSAN OFFERED NO HELP OR RECALLS DESPITE THE FACT THAT HUNDREDS OF THE SAME VEHICLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. SHORTLY AFTER MY VEHICLE PASSED 80,000 MILES, NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL ON ONLY THE RADIATOR WHICH DOESN'T HELP ME. I IMMEDIATELY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR TO TRY TO AVOID COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION, BYPASSING THE TRANSMISSION COOLER PART OF THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE DROVE BUT THE TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPPED IN AND OUT OF GEAR AT RANDOM TIMES THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 30,000 MILES. LAST WEEK, THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT. NOW THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT WILL COST ME $6,000 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I LOVE NISSANS (THIS IS MY 3RD) BUT AFTER THIS PROBLEM I MAY NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. *TR

  22. Engine and engine cooling, Jul 25, 2012

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WITH EXTREME HESITATION AND THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

  23. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jul 10, 2012

    I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE I-95-N NEAR EXIT 7 AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A CRACK(FAULT )IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY UNIT. AS I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE WHILE LOSING SPEED, I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER AND HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. EVENTUALLY, AFTER COASTING DOWN HILL TO AN INTERSECTION OF CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND/ NEW LONDON TURNPIKE, HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH THE VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM OTHER PERSONS TO NEAREST SERVICE STATION. NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON RADIATOR ASSEMBLY UNIT TO 8YR/80,000. I HAVE 6YRS+/92000, TOOK EXTREMELY GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND AM NOW BEING TOLD I NEED TO PAY $6,500.00 TO FIX VEHICLE (WHILE I STILL OWE $12,000.00). SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED (IF NOT ALREADY) AND /OR THE WARRANTY SHOULD BE OFFERED FOR AT LEAST 120,000 MILES. WHAT A POOR ATTEMPT TO COVER UP AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, WHILE TRYING TO HIDE FROM THEIR OBVIOUS LIABILITIES FOR THIS SITUATION.

  24. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jun 8, 2012

    RADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID. *JS

  25. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, May 10, 2012

    RADIATOR CRACK AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING DAMAGE. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO NISSAN. *TR