IllustrationHEATER BLOWS COLD WHEN IDLE, HEATER BLOWER DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN FULL. *KB
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
Visibility complaints
7 reports8-9-2010 I BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CROWDED HIGHWAY, MY CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH, AND I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. WHEN I FINALLY FOUND A SPOT TO PULL OVER AND PARK, A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID LEAKED ALL OVER THE GROUND. I WAS ALONE, IN AN ARE…
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8-9-2010 I BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CROWDED HIGHWAY, MY CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH, AND I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. WHEN I FINALLY FOUND A SPOT TO PULL OVER AND PARK, A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID LEAKED ALL OVER THE GROUND. I WAS ALONE, IN AN AREA I DIDN'T KNOW, AND NEARLY GOT REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN IT WOULDN'T SHIFT GEARS. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL SHOPS, AND THE TRANSMISSIONS WAS RUINED. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED, BOTH TOTALING THOUSANDS OF $ I DON'T HAVE. I BORROWED MONEY TO HAVE IT REBUILT. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, I STARTED HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THE TECHNICIAN SAID RADIATOR COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED AGAIN. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, APPROXIMATELY 5/2010, THE FUEL GAUGE WILL DROP TO EMPTY, EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL STILL BE FUEL IN THE TANK. SOMETIMES IT WILL STICK TO MID-FULL WHEN THERE IS NO FUEL. ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO WARM IT UP, IT WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR, NEVER WARM NO MATTER HOW LONG IT RUNS. *TR
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNVISOR WAS MADE WITH A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC ASSEMBLY AND WHEN DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE SUNVISOR WOULD FALL AND BLOCK THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,695. KMJ
I HAVE SUNROOF AND WHILE WE ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE GLASS FLEW OFF. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW BECOMES LOOSE. I RATTLES HARD WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR. IF I ROLL IT DOWN HALFWAY AND GRAB THE TOP, I CAN SHIFT IT BACK AND FORTH ABOUT AN INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION. 1ST INCIDENT WAS AT 19K MILES ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. NISSAN REPLACED THE PART. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT 33K MILES. NISSAN REPLACED THE PART. IT HAPPENED…
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THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW BECOMES LOOSE. I RATTLES HARD WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR. IF I ROLL IT DOWN HALFWAY AND GRAB THE TOP, I CAN SHIFT IT BACK AND FORTH ABOUT AN INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION. 1ST INCIDENT WAS AT 19K MILES ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. NISSAN REPLACED THE PART. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT 33K MILES. NISSAN REPLACED THE PART. IT HAPPENED A 3RD TIME AT 45K MILES. NISSAN SAYS IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND REFUSES TO REPLACE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 4/11/05. THE SEAT BELT FAILURE BEGAN ON 2/1/07 AT 32,000 MILES. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS NOT LATCHED AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE WARNING SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING SOUND TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 4/11/05. THE SEAT BELT FAILURE BEGAN ON 2/1/07 AT 32,000 MILES. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS NOT LATCHED AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE WARNING SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING SOUND TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE SEAT BELT WASN'T LOCKED. ON 2/3/07, THERE WERE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS TO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. HOWEVER ,THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, AND WAS CURRENTLY TALKING TO NISSAN TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. ON 2/4/07, THE CONTACT ADVISED THE DEALER THAT THE HEATER VENT CONTROL MOTOR THAT ADJUSTS THE VENTS WAS CONSTANTLY ON BLOWER MODE. THE HEATER VENT CONTROL WOULD NOT CHANGE TO THE DEFROST POSITION WHEN SELECTED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VENT MODULATOR MOTOR ,AND THE HEATER FAILURE WAS RESOLVED. THE CONTACT WANTED THE SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,369.*AK CONSUMER STATES HISSING NOISE COMING FRONT RIGHT REAR DOOR EVEN WHEN RADIO IS INOPERABLE. UPDATE 4/9 *TR
REAR WINDOWS SOMETIMES WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AT TIMES. *NM
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.