SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2005 Nissan Pathfinder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Pathfinder years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder are substantially higher than the model-year median of 97.

About this comparison →
1,050Owner complaints

Model-year median: 97

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
156
2002110
200367
20041,050
2005837
2006561
2007328
2008
Compare all Pathfinder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
585Engine And Engine Cooling
290Fuel System, Gasoline
186Engine
144Electrical System
66
All reported categories
Fuel System, Other
61Unknown Or Other
40Fuel/propulsion System
31Vehicle Speed Control
31Air Bags
22Structure
14Equipment
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Steering
9Suspension
9Service Brakes
7Visibility
7Electronic Stability Control (esc)
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Tires
3Seat Belts
2Seats
2Wheels
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Service Brakes, Electric
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

956 reports with mileage · 94 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 585 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 290 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 186 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports6 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

22 reports
Clear category filter
175,000 miles · Feb 7, 2024
Air Bags

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed the front passenger’s side air bag was defective and needed to be replaced. The air bag was not replaced due to the cost. The manu…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed the front passenger’s side air bag was defective and needed to be replaced. The air bag was not replaced due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.

NHTSA ODI #11570480

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2023
Air Bags

The component that is malfunctioning is the emblem on the airbags. Nissan has known of this issue for a while. In the event of a crash, when the airbags deploy, the emblem will also explode with the airbags and send shrapnel from it flying towards the driver and nearby passengers. If the crash wouldn't kill the driver, then this…

Read full complaint

The component that is malfunctioning is the emblem on the airbags. Nissan has known of this issue for a while. In the event of a crash, when the airbags deploy, the emblem will also explode with the airbags and send shrapnel from it flying towards the driver and nearby passengers. If the crash wouldn't kill the driver, then this issue could as it could hit the driver in a vital part. They are taking too long to fix this issue, as it is such a vital problem that can cost people their lives.

NHTSA ODI #11523319

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2023
Air Bags

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact received recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repai…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact received recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11516485

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2022
Air BagsEngine

Car stalled out and won't restart.

NHTSA ODI #11496519

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2022
Air Bags

Air Bag Front Impact Sensor has failed due to road salt. Not covered under recall because someone doesn't think Virginia uses road salt.

NHTSA ODI #11493008

138,000 miles · Sep 11, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CORROSION OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A COPY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CORROSION OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A COPY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V690000 (AIR BAGS) AND INFORMED HIM TO CONTACT A DEALER. THE DEALER (WAIKEM AUTO FAMILY, 3708 LINCOLN WAY E, MASSILLON, OH 44646 (330) 478-0281) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT RECALLS WERE VIN SPECIFIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNSURE IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000. UPDATED 11/03/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHING BOUGHT IN TO MECHANIC; SAID IT WAS FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SENSOR, SAID IT HAD A RECALL (NOT VIN SPECIFIC). UPDATED 7/16/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI #11022621

165,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017
Air Bags

MY VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD OVER THE WEEKEND AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY. I CONTACTED MY DEALER I PURCHASED FROM TO SEE IF A RECALL EXISTED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT AFFECTED EVEN THOUGH OTHER PATHFINDERS DID RECEIVE A RECALL. I BELIEVE MINE SHOULD HAVE ONE AS WELL SINCE THIS IS A SAFET…

Read full complaint

MY VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD OVER THE WEEKEND AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY. I CONTACTED MY DEALER I PURCHASED FROM TO SEE IF A RECALL EXISTED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT AFFECTED EVEN THOUGH OTHER PATHFINDERS DID RECEIVE A RECALL. I BELIEVE MINE SHOULD HAVE ONE AS WELL SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #11021519

148,000 miles · Aug 15, 2017
Air BagsCrash

LAST WINTER (DEC 2016) MY AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. IN MARCH 2017 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE I HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON AT 40-50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #11015590

144,000 miles · Sep 7, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS AND THE THIRD ROW SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS AND THE THIRD ROW SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ODI #10904386

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2016
Air BagsPower Train

WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 40 MOST SPEED LIMIT IT FELT AS IF I WAS DRIVING ON SAFETY STRIPS ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE STRUDDER.

NHTSA ODI #10882490

Official recalls

2

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.

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

1

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)

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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission

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.

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.

Power Train

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.