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: other

101 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Other or unspecified, Oct 4, 2006

    I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE TERRIBLE SQUEALING/SCREECHING/CHIRPING NOISES EVIDENTLY COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY BRAND NEW 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED AND SUPPOSEDLY BEEN "FIXED" BY SCHAIERS NISSAN OF LONG BEACH WHO SAID IT WAS THE "BELTS" THAT NEEDED REPLACING, HOWEVER, NOT LONG AFTER THAT, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. WE HAVE TAKEN THE SUV THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY HAVE KEPT IT TWICE OVERNIGHT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. FED UP, WE EVEN ATTEMPTED TO TRADE THE SUV IN FOR ANOTHER PATHFINDER IN THE HOPES OF NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE ANY LONGER. THE DEALER WAS NON-COMPLIANT AND HAD NOTHING COMPARABLE OR EVEN WORTHWHILE TO OFFER. WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO SETTLE WITH DRIVING A NEW VEHICLE THAT SOUNDS LIKE ITS AN OLD VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OR PROPER COMPENSATION FOR OUR TROUBLES? IT IS NO ISSUE OF OURS THAT THE SUV IS MAKING SUCH HORRIBLE NOISES ON ITS OWN. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, SO WHY DON'T THEY FIX IT??!!*JB