IllustrationAT ALMOST 70,000 MILES, I STARTED GETTING A VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT OR ABOVE 40 MPH. I WAS TOLD BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS COOLANT INTERMIXED IN THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6800. NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BACK IN 2007 AND DIDN'T NOTIFY OWNERS. NOT HAPPY!
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
260–25K
5625–50K
20650–75K
29075–100K
318100–150K
60150K+
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 reportsSTARTED LOOSING SPEED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE SUV WITH ME, SO SCARY. BUT I MANAGED TO COAST TO THE NEAREST EXIT ROLL IN TIME FOR IT TO GET TO 0 ON ODOMETER. THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME. FEW DAYS LATER TOOK TO TWO DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS(TOWED TO 2ND SHOP BECAUSE SUV WOULD NOT GO PASS 20 AND …
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STARTED LOOSING SPEED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE SUV WITH ME, SO SCARY. BUT I MANAGED TO COAST TO THE NEAREST EXIT ROLL IN TIME FOR IT TO GET TO 0 ON ODOMETER. THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME. FEW DAYS LATER TOOK TO TWO DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS(TOWED TO 2ND SHOP BECAUSE SUV WOULD NOT GO PASS 20 AND IT WOULD JUST STOP ONCE DOWN TO 0)WHO INFORMED ME THERE WERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, FINAL SHOP SAID THE RADIATOR RUPTURED CAUSING WATER, TRANSMISSION FLUIDS, AND ETC TO ALL MIX WHICH HAS CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD MY OPTIONS ARE TO REBUILD, BUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION OR LET THE SUV GO..UPONGOOGLING TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE OR HAD THIS PROBLEMS I'M TOTALLY NOT ALONE AND YES I'M PASS THE 50,000 N 100,000 RANGE HOWEVER I STILL THINK SOME ETCHING SHOULDBE DONE, BEING I TOOK N TRACE VERY GD CARE IF MY SUV ONLY ALLOWING NISSAN TO REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE MY SUV. I WAS TOLD TO REPAIR THIS WILL COST ME 3900 PLUS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANY TO BE HONEST BUT DONE TYPE IF HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT EVERYONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. *TR
I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FIND OUT IT IS THE "INTERMIX" BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FROM NISSAN, BUT NOW UNDERSTAND IT WAS A KNOWN AND FREQUENT FAILURE - BY DESIGN. ESSENTIALLY, AFTER 90,0…
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I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FIND OUT IT IS THE "INTERMIX" BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FROM NISSAN, BUT NOW UNDERSTAND IT WAS A KNOWN AND FREQUENT FAILURE - BY DESIGN. ESSENTIALLY, AFTER 90,000 MILE, THE CAR IS WORTHLESS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. AFTER PAYING $5,000 FOR THE REPAIR, I DROVE OFF THE LOT ONLY TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP FAIL. LITERALLY, I DROVE OFF THE LOT AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING. UNBELIEVABLE. *TR
PATHFINDER 2005 HAS ONLY 73,000 MILES AND NOW HAS A PROBLEM OF CROSS CONTAMINATION BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. VERY EXPENSIVE - REQUIRES TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND WASH RADIATOR. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER SHOP AS WELL AS AM INDEPENDE…
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PATHFINDER 2005 HAS ONLY 73,000 MILES AND NOW HAS A PROBLEM OF CROSS CONTAMINATION BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. VERY EXPENSIVE - REQUIRES TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND WASH RADIATOR. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER SHOP AS WELL AS AM INDEPENDENT CAR SHOP.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER 92,000 , VEHICLE WON'T START AND HAD IT TOWED, WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER HAVING SPENT $800 @ VADAN NISSAN, BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD JERKS AND STOP WHILST DRIVING, WAS TOLD IT WAS A COIL PROBLEM, AND A SENSOR ISSUE, NOTHING WAS EVER SAID TO ME ABOUT THIS HUGE PR…
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2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER 92,000 , VEHICLE WON'T START AND HAD IT TOWED, WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER HAVING SPENT $800 @ VADAN NISSAN, BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD JERKS AND STOP WHILST DRIVING, WAS TOLD IT WAS A COIL PROBLEM, AND A SENSOR ISSUE, NOTHING WAS EVER SAID TO ME ABOUT THIS HUGE PROBLEM THE 2005 TO 2010 PATHFINDERS ARE HAVING, TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH NISSAN.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON INTERSTATE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME 50 MILES
DRIVING AND CAME TO A LIGHT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE.
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE COOLENT IN MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO SLIP CAUSING MY CAR TO CRASH INTO MY HOUSE IN MY CARPORT THE REPAIR FOR THE TRANSMISSION IS $3800 AND I'M ON A FIX INCOME
PURCHASED A USED 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. HAD THE VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS. DRIVING HOME ONE DAY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AS THE RPM'S STARTED TO SPIKE. WE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IN A VERY UNSAFE SPOT BECAUSE THE CAR COULD NO LONGER MOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. …
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PURCHASED A USED 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. HAD THE VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS. DRIVING HOME ONE DAY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AS THE RPM'S STARTED TO SPIKE. WE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IN A VERY UNSAFE SPOT BECAUSE THE CAR COULD NO LONGER MOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. WITH A QUICK GLANCE INTO THE COOLANT TANK, SEEMS TO HAVE A MIXTURE OF COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. REPAIR COST ARE ESTIMATED FROM 2500 - 5,000+. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
Official recalls
210V517000 · 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
1DP12004 · 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.