Power Train. Review the 262 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports8 fire reports9 injury reports

Power Train complaints

262 reports

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Mileage unknown · May 10, 2016

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHUDDER AT AROUND 45 MILES AN HOUR. DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY. WENT OUT TO START VEHICLE NEXT DAY AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RADIATOR HAD AN INTERNAL RUPTURE WHICH CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO CONTAMINATE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING THE TCM MODULE TO FAIL ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO INTERNAL PARTS. THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $5300.00. SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED, I LEARNED THAT NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT NO NOTIFICATION WAS SENT TO ME WARNING ME OF THE PROBLEM. DESPITE NISSANS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM, THE COMPANY HAS RECENTLY REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10864089

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2016

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TIMING CHAIN ON 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD WHINING NOISE DUE TO THE CHAIN CONTACT. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOTION IT MAKE THE NOISE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IN MOTION IT CHANGES GEARS AT A HIGHER RPM. I HAVE SENSORS THAT WERE OPERABLE BECAUSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10859816

102,000 miles · Mar 9, 2016

EnginePower Train

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IN 2013 I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION ABOUT A NISSAN VEHICLES RELATED TO POSSIBLE RADIATOR FLUID LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION DUE A DEFECT THAT PERMITS CROSS-CONTAMINATION OF ENGINE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. IT DID NOT INCLUDE VEHICLES BEFORE IT HAPPENS. IN 2013, I WENT TO A AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER TO CHECK IF MY RADIATOR CAN BE AFFECTED BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT IN THAT MOMENT THE RADIATOR WAS WORKING WELL WITHOUT GIVEN ME THE OPTION OF REPLACING IT TO PREVENT DAMAGES. AT THE TIME I WAS UNDER THE WARRANTY LIMITS, LESS THAN 10 YEARS AND LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. NOW IN FEBRUARY 13, 2016 MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS TO MOVE , HAD A HARSH SHIFT , IT SLOWED DOWN AND DID NOT DRIVE AT TIMES. I CLEARLY SAW A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I CALLED UNITED NISSAN SERVICE FOR A DIAGNOSE . THEY CHECK MY VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT MY RADIATOR LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION DUE THE RADIATOR DEFECT. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CLASS ACTION DID NOT INCLUDE VEHICLES THAT WILL FACE THIS DAMAGE IN A FUTURE . IT DID NOT INCLUDE PREVENTION OF DAMAGES. NISSAN DID NOT RELEASED A RECALL FOR THE FAULTY RADIATOR. I KNOW I AM NOW OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY LIMITS, BUT AT THE TIME WHEN I VISITED NISSAN SERVICE TO PREVENT THIS NO ONE PROVIDED MY HELP OR INFORMATION THAT WOULD HELP IN PREVENT SUCH DAMAGE. THE PRICE FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IS 6,000 DLLS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR ALL GOES UP 9,000 DLLS. ALSO I RECEIVED A RUDE CUSTOMER SERVICE BY THE SERVICE AGENTS OF NISSAN SERVICE . NOW I HAVE TO COVER THESE COSTS BY MYSELF. MY SON WAS DRIVEN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPEN. THE GOOD THING IS THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY MAKING IT SO DANGEROUS. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH PEOPLE LIKE US? THE LEGAL CASE WAS CLOSED IN 2012 BUT NISSAN STILL HAVING VEHICLES SUFFERING THIS THIS DAMAGE . THIS IS A NEGLIGENCE THAT PASS THE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ODI #10845833

91,000 miles · Mar 8, 2016

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLOODED WITH COOLANT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI #10845525

136,968 miles · Feb 11, 2016

Power Train

ORIGINAL MANUFACTURED RADIATOR DEFFECT CAUSED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE TO MIX WITH COOLANT CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH DO TO VEHICLE STALLING AT HIGH SPEEDS. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY DENIES THE RADIATOR AS PART …

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NHTSA ODI #10825738

89,125 miles · Jan 21, 2016

Power Train

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LAST NOVEMBER 6TH I HIT A DEER, FRONT IMPACT. TOOK TRUCK TO LOCAL GARAGE TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE ONLY DAMAGE THEY SAID OCCURRED WAS BODY DAMAGE. 3WKS LATER GOT MY TRUCK BACK WITH BODY DAMAGE REPAIRED. ABOUT 3WKS AFTER THAT I STARTED TO NOTICE A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN MY TRUCK WHEN I GOT TO A CERTAIN SPEED. I REALLY DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT AND THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD A TIRE OUT OF BALANCE. WELL THE VIBRATION STARTED GETTING WORSE AND I STARTED TO NOTICE A STRONG VIBRATION AND DECREASE IN POWER WHEN IT SHIFTED. SO I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE GARAGE TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIGURE ANYTHING OUT. I THOUGHT MAYBE THE DEER CAUSED MORE DAMAGE THAN EXPECTED BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THE DIDN'T CHARGE ME ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SO I DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS AND IT GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN 30MINS THEY DETERMINED A TRANSMISSION COOLER RUPTURE AND THAT IT BASICALLY HAS RUINED MY TRANSMISSION AND WOULD NEED TO REPLACE IT, A SERVICE CHARGE OF $6,000!!! THEY TOLD ME I WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY ON IT. I'VE BEEN READING ON THIS ISSUE AND KNOW NISSAN HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10YRS OR 100,000 MILES. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON THE 19TH OF JANUARY. 19 DAYS OUT OR WARRANTY!!! WHEN I HAD ORIGINALLY HAD AN ISSUE IN LATE DECEMBER AND NOTHING WAS FOUND!!! THE TRUCK IS BARELY 10YRS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10821591

145,000 miles · Jan 15, 2016

Power Train

TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. RPM INCREASES WITHOUT INCREASE IN SPEED. INTERMITTENT BUT GETTING WORSE. THIS IS MY SON'S TRUCK AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT HIS SAFETY WHEN MERGING INTO THE INTERSTATE. HE ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI LAST WEEK WHEN MERGING INTO I-20 AS THE SLIPPING WAS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI #10820548

125,000 miles · Jan 13, 2016

Power Train

RADIATOR LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND REQUIRES A REBUILD. EXPENSIVE $3000 REPAIR. CURRENT LITIGATION AND COURT CASE DOES NO GOOD TO MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. NO WARNING FROM NISSAN THAT THE RADIATOR IS FLAWED.

NHTSA ODI #10819917

97,668 miles · Jan 6, 2016

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE GEARS WERE STUCK OCCASIONALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10818333

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2015

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COOLANT LEAKS FROM RADIATOR INTO TRANSMISSION. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10806938

Official recalls

10V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

08V690000 · Air Bags:frontal

Dec 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

06V092000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Mar 30, 2006

ON CERTAIN KING CAB TRUCKS, IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT CRASH, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT DEFORMATION OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY COULD CAUSE THE FUEL FILLER CAP TETHER TO BE STRETCHED TO THE POINT OF UNSCREWING THE FUEL FILLER CAP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A FUEL SPILL WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL CAP TETHER PIN ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12004 · Transmission Failures

Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter

On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Power Train:automatic Transmission

Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter

Power Train