IllustrationRADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID. *JS
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING A NORMAL HWY SPEEDS, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL FORWARD SPEED AND BEGAN TO SLOW. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, ALTHOUGH, THERE WAS NO PROPULSION TO THE REAR WHEELS. HAD PATHFINDER TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER ( BANKSTON LEWISVILLE, TX) WHERE IS WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION CONTAMINATION FAILURE. OPENED …
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WHILE DRIVING A NORMAL HWY SPEEDS, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL FORWARD SPEED AND BEGAN TO SLOW. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, ALTHOUGH, THERE WAS NO PROPULSION TO THE REAR WHEELS. HAD PATHFINDER TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER ( BANKSTON LEWISVILLE, TX) WHERE IS WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION CONTAMINATION FAILURE. OPENED CASE NUMBER WITH NISSAN REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR. AWAITING A RESPONSE, HOWEVER, WAS TOLD THAT "IT DID NOT LOOK GOOD" AS WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF SERVICE HISTORY WITH THE DEALERSHIP. I'VE OWNED 8 NISSANS OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS AND OBVIOUSLY LOYAL TO THE BRAND. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE, OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE DEADLY. *TR
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION, DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION.CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO NOT ACCELERATE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM JUST GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. TERRIBLE ENGINEERING, TERRIBLE VEHI…
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2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION, DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION.CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO NOT ACCELERATE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM JUST GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. TERRIBLE ENGINEERING, TERRIBLE VEHICLE, MY LAST NISSAN. *TT
DRIVING AT APROX. 55 MPH MOTOR LOST POWER TO MOVE THE UNIT DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ERROR CODES P1757 AND P1759. THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE A CRASH. *TR
COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXED TOGETHER DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NOW NOT EVEN START BECAUSE OF INLINE COMPUTER INSIDE TRANSMISSION.
RADIATOR CRACK AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING DAMAGE. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO NISSAN. *TR
RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION, WITH CROSS CONTAMINATION INTO THE RADIATOR AT 96,000 MILES. THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF RADIATORS FAILING FROM THE INSIDE, LEAKING COOLANT, THUS RUINING THE TRANSMISSION. NISSAN EXTENDED RADIATOR WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES BUT MOST FAILURE IS BETWEEN 80K-120K. I HAD RADIATOR REPLACED…
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RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION, WITH CROSS CONTAMINATION INTO THE RADIATOR AT 96,000 MILES. THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF RADIATORS FAILING FROM THE INSIDE, LEAKING COOLANT, THUS RUINING THE TRANSMISSION. NISSAN EXTENDED RADIATOR WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES BUT MOST FAILURE IS BETWEEN 80K-120K. I HAD RADIATOR REPLACED AND A TRANSMISSION FLUSH FOR $900. I FEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS RUINED. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ALL OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM RATHER THAN IGNORING IT. *TR
I BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR APPEARED TO STAY IN LOW GEAR. TOOK IT TO NISSAN THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FOR $5,000! I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON GOOD FAITH KNOWING NISSAN IS A QUALITY PRODUCT AND THIS IS NOW HAPPENING. NISSAN APPARENTLY KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH A LE…
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I BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR APPEARED TO STAY IN LOW GEAR. TOOK IT TO NISSAN THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FOR $5,000! I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON GOOD FAITH KNOWING NISSAN IS A QUALITY PRODUCT AND THIS IS NOW HAPPENING. NISSAN APPARENTLY KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH A LEAK STARTING IN THE RADIATOR, AND LEAKING FLUIDS INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE RADIATOR TILL 80,000 MILES KNOWING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT AFTER DOING RESEARCH EVERYONE HAVING THE PROBLEM IS OVER 80,000 MILES! NISSAN WILL NOT DO A RECALL! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. I PAID VERY GOOD MONEY FOR THIS CAR, AND NOW HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER $5,000 TO REPAIR, WITH A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT NISSAN WILL NOT COVER. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE, SINCE THEY DO NOT APPARENTLY CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR STALLED OR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AFTER THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR AND WERE ADVISED TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND ALSO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION TO REMOVE ANY RADIATOR FLUID. PAID OVER …
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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR STALLED OR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AFTER THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR AND WERE ADVISED TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND ALSO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION TO REMOVE ANY RADIATOR FLUID. PAID OVER $1000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 4/11/12. ON THE EVENING OF 4/12/12 THE CAR STALLED AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AGAIN WHILE IN DRIVE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ($4700 REPAIR). HAVE NOT MOVED FORWARD WITH THE REPAIR BUT FOUND THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. HOPING TO PARTICIPATE IN A LAWSUIT TO AVOID THIS ISSUE FOR OTHER OWNERS IN THE FUTURE. ON MARCH 26 APPROX. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE WE WERE HAVING WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD JUMP AT THE START AS IF IT WERE IN DRIVE. THE ISSUE COULDN'T BE FOUND BY HE SERVICE TECH SO THEY ADVISED US TO GET A TUNE UP. WE PAID OVER $500 THAT WEEK FOR A TUNE UP. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AT THAT SERVICE VISIT BUT NOTHING WAS MENTIONED OR NOTICED ABOUT THE RADIATOR. WE WONDERED HOW THIS CATASTROPHIC BREAKDOWN COULD APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND INSPECTED. *TR
MY WIFE NOTICED ACCELERATION DECREASING AND THEN WHEN SHE CHANGE THE GEAR TO DRIVE THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. THEN, IT FINALLY WENT INTO DRIVE. WE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WE HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAPPENING FREQ…
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MY WIFE NOTICED ACCELERATION DECREASING AND THEN WHEN SHE CHANGE THE GEAR TO DRIVE THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. THEN, IT FINALLY WENT INTO DRIVE. WE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WE HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAPPENING FREQUENTLY WITH OTHER NISSAN PATHFINDERS. THEREFORE, WE CONTACTED 1-800-NISSAN1 TO SEE IF WE COULD GET SOME KIND OF HELP. I TALKED TO A REPRESENTATIVE NAMED [XXX] FROM A COMPANY THAT CREATES A CASE WITH THE HOPE THAT NISSAN WILL COVER THE COSTS. AFTER TWO AND HALF WEEKS A DECISION WAS MADE NOT TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR DUE TO THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED AND IT IS OVER THE 80,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF IT IS A DEFECT, ISN'T THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS NOT CAUSED BY THE CONSUMER AND IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE A NISSAN ALTIMA WITH OVER 230,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL PRODUCING. I LOVED NISSAN CARS UP UNTIL THIS VERY MOMENT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING TO PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN, BUT AFTER THIS MY MIND HAS CHANGED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
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.