IllustrationRADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
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 reportsOUR 2005 PATHFINDER LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY IN OUR TOWN TO TAKE OUR DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WOULD NOT CHANGE OUT OF FIRST GEAR. WE LIVE UP ON A SLIGHT HILL, AND IT HONESTLY FELT LIKE I WAS PULLING A SEMI BEHIND MY VEHICLE JUST TO GET IT BACK HOME WITHOUT REQUIRING A TOW. N…
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OUR 2005 PATHFINDER LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY IN OUR TOWN TO TAKE OUR DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WOULD NOT CHANGE OUT OF FIRST GEAR. WE LIVE UP ON A SLIGHT HILL, AND IT HONESTLY FELT LIKE I WAS PULLING A SEMI BEHIND MY VEHICLE JUST TO GET IT BACK HOME WITHOUT REQUIRING A TOW. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE HAD TO KEEP BOTH OF OUR CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL THAT DAY BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE WE OWN. IT ANGERS ME THAT NISSAN REFUSES TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE!! THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE HAS CAUSED US TO BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ALMOST A MONTH NOW!! IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO HELP YOU OUT LONG TERM!! THIS IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE TO OUR FAMILY, & WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET THIS FIXED. A LOCAL MECHANIC NEAR WHERE WE LIVE SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS ISSUE TONS OF TIMES, AND HAS FIXED NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF NISSAN VEHICLES DUE TO THE CRACK THAT CAUSES THE ANTIFREEZE & TRANSMISSION FLUIDS TO COMBINE AND MESS UP EVERYTHING IN THE TRANSMISSION OVER TIME. WITH THIS BEING AN ISSUE ON NISSAN'S PART, I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED!!! MY HUSBAND IS OUT OF WORK DUE TO AN INJURY AND WILL BE OUT FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. I WORK PART TIME AT A LOCAL BBQ RESTAURANT IN OUR TOWN, AND DON'T BRING HOME VERY MUCH EACH WEEK. I PRAY THE CORPORATION WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FINALLY RECALL ALL THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS. $3500 DOLLARS IS THE BEST WE CAN FIND & WHEN IT GETS FIXED, THE PERSON WE HAVE SPOKE WITH SAID THEY WILL BYPASS THE RADIATOR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GETS REINSTALLED MAKING SURE WE NEVER HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVER AGAIN!!!! SADLY WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS OR I WOULD NOT BE MAKING THIS COMPLAINT. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY INFORMATION THAT I DON'T KNOW OF PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!! I AM DESPERATE TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK!!! WE HAVE NO ONE TO HELP. THX
I NEEDED TO CHANGE ALL SENSORS BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE DVD AND SLIP LIGHT STAYED ON.NOW IT WILL NOT START ALL THE TIME AND IF IT DOES IT WILL DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER.
8/31/2016 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING, I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHICH SHOWED THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THIS IS DUE TO THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION INTERMIX PROBLEM IS HOW NISSAN NOTES IT AND VALIDATED BY MY CALL TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. THE CAR IS OUTSIDE THE NISSAN EXT…
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8/31/2016 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING, I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHICH SHOWED THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THIS IS DUE TO THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION INTERMIX PROBLEM IS HOW NISSAN NOTES IT AND VALIDATED BY MY CALL TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. THE CAR IS OUTSIDE THE NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THIS ISSUE WHICH IS 10 YEARS BUT WELL UNDER THE 100,000 MILES AS IT HAS 80K MILES AT TIME OF EVENT. NISSAN IS UNABLE TO OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SO THE OUT OF POCKET COST TO REPAIR ($5-$6K) MAKES IT NOT WORTH THE REPAIR SO I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT TO DATE I HAVE MAINTAINED VERY WELL. THERE WAS NOT WARNING SIGNS AND I AM SURE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME AS IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT NISSAN DOES NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED HUNDREDS OF NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO PENETRATE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTED RADIATOR REPLACEMENT PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE RADIATOR …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO PENETRATE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTED RADIATOR REPLACEMENT PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE RADIATOR COOLANT PENETRATED THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,00…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000. UPDATED 12/01/16*LJ *TR
VEHICLE WOULD BARELY PULL OUT IN DRIVE, JUST STOPPED PULLING. CHECKED FLUID IN TRANSMISSION AND ITS A MILKY COLOR. RADIATOR COOLANT IS MILKY BROWN.
WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 40 MOST SPEED LIMIT IT FELT AS IF I WAS DRIVING ON SAFETY STRIPS ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE STRUDDER.
WHEN OPERATING MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP AT SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH IN MOTION ON STREET'S AND HIGHWAYS.
WATER IN TRANSMISSION OIL DUE TO BAD TRANS COOLER WICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM W/ THESE VEHICLES BY NISSAN BUT WAS NEVER RECALLED.
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.