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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

Power Train complaints

585 reports
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165,400 miles · Feb 23, 2018
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE SUV. I HAD ONLY HAD THE SUV FOR 4-6 MONTHS. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT . SHORTLY AFTER THE RADIATOR NEEDED REPAIR. IT WAS REPAIRED, AND NISSAN HELPED WITH PARTIAL COST. RECENTLY (02/19/2018)TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN WHILE YIELDING IN A BUSY …

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TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE SUV. I HAD ONLY HAD THE SUV FOR 4-6 MONTHS. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT . SHORTLY AFTER THE RADIATOR NEEDED REPAIR. IT WAS REPAIRED, AND NISSAN HELPED WITH PARTIAL COST. RECENTLY (02/19/2018)TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN WHILE YIELDING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A SECOND TIME ON 02/22/2018 AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I BEGAN TO PUSH ON THE GAS TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND ONCE AGAIN, THE SUV ONLY COASTED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, PAID 110.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS INFORMED ONCE AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A 6,000.00$ JOB. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ONLY BEEN ABOUT 4-5 YEARS OLD PRESENTLY. I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11074560

14,556 miles · Oct 23, 2017
EnginePower Train

TRAQNSMITTION OIL IN COOLANT HAD TO HAVE SHOP FLUSH OUT RAIADIATOR AND COOLANT SYSTEM AND REPLACE OIL COOLER TRANSMITION SEEMS TO BE SLIPING

NHTSA ODI #11035832

127,000 miles · Aug 11, 2017
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS REPEATEDLY WHILE PICKING UP SPEED. IT IS INCREASINGLY GETTING WORSE. NOW, ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVING AWHILE- THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND DOESN'T WANT TO GO PAST 20 MPH ONCE YOU STOP AND THEN GO AGAIN. IT SOUNDS LIKE I AM IN NEUTRAL WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ONCE IT COOLS, THE PROCESS STARTS …

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TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS REPEATEDLY WHILE PICKING UP SPEED. IT IS INCREASINGLY GETTING WORSE. NOW, ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVING AWHILE- THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND DOESN'T WANT TO GO PAST 20 MPH ONCE YOU STOP AND THEN GO AGAIN. IT SOUNDS LIKE I AM IN NEUTRAL WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ONCE IT COOLS, THE PROCESS STARTS OVER.

NHTSA ODI #11014775

132,975 miles · Jul 27, 2017
Power Train

CAR HAS EXPERIENCED LEAKAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION COOLER RADIATOR TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. WE WILL NEED TO HAVE IT REBUILT, WHICH WILL COST US $4,500+. WE MAY ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED. NISSAN KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO. THEY DIDN'T DO A RECALL OR ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN…

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CAR HAS EXPERIENCED LEAKAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION COOLER RADIATOR TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. WE WILL NEED TO HAVE IT REBUILT, WHICH WILL COST US $4,500+. WE MAY ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED. NISSAN KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO. THEY DIDN'T DO A RECALL OR ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES, WHICH IS UNCONSCIONABLE BEHAVIOR.

NHTSA ODI #11011172

105,000 miles · Mar 5, 2017
Power Train

THE RADIATOR CRACKED WHERE THE TRANSMISSION LINE RUNS THROUGH IT. THIS CAUSED THE TRANNY FLUID AND COOLANT TO MIX AND RUIN THE TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED A SEVERE VIBRATION AT 40-60 MPH WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS ISSUE AND MAY LEAD TO SEVERE ACCIDENTS. …

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THE RADIATOR CRACKED WHERE THE TRANSMISSION LINE RUNS THROUGH IT. THIS CAUSED THE TRANNY FLUID AND COOLANT TO MIX AND RUIN THE TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED A SEVERE VIBRATION AT 40-60 MPH WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS ISSUE AND MAY LEAD TO SEVERE ACCIDENTS. THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10958707

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2017
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10956567

102,000 miles · Feb 22, 2017
Power Train

COOLANT MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE,THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING WHICH COULD POSSIBLY BE LIFE THREATENING IN CERTAIN INSTANCES...THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE FIRST TIME 3 YEARS AGO. AND HAS NOW HAPPEN…

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COOLANT MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE,THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING WHICH COULD POSSIBLY BE LIFE THREATENING IN CERTAIN INSTANCES...THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE FIRST TIME 3 YEARS AGO. AND HAS NOW HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING GETTING ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10956408

109,000 miles · Feb 13, 2017
Power Train

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ODI #10954367

179,000 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE RPMS ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLOODED W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE RPMS ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLOODED WITH WATER AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

NHTSA ODI #10938586

110,000 miles · Nov 30, 2016
EnginePower Train

RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION RENDERING USELESS. CORRODED AND DESTROYED WHOLE INTERIOR OF TRANSMISSION .

NHTSA ODI #10928819

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.