IllustrationSERVICE ENGINE LAMP LIT. TRANSMISSION FLUID'S RADIATOR COOLER FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER INTO TRANSMISSION RUINING TRANSMISSION. *TR
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
What owners actually said
1,050 reportsI OWN A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER THAT RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION GO OUT ON ME. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND FINALLY AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION MECHANIC, IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS RADIATOR LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AN ONLINE SEARCH LED ME HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH NISSAN PATH…
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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER THAT RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION GO OUT ON ME. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND FINALLY AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION MECHANIC, IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS RADIATOR LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AN ONLINE SEARCH LED ME HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH NISSAN PATHFINDERS. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FIXING WHAT IS AMOUNTING TO A DEFECT IN THEIR CARS. *TR
DETAILS: VEHICLES FUEL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. I NOTICED THAT THE GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY AFTER HAVING A FULL TANK OF GAS, ADDITIONALLY THE DIGITAL "DISTANCE TO EMPTY" DISPLAY DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. AT TIMES THE LOW GAS INDICATOR WILL BE DISPLAYED EVEN AFTER I FILLED THE TANK UP. I HAVE BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS WHERE I RAN OUT …
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DETAILS: VEHICLES FUEL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. I NOTICED THAT THE GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY AFTER HAVING A FULL TANK OF GAS, ADDITIONALLY THE DIGITAL "DISTANCE TO EMPTY" DISPLAY DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. AT TIMES THE LOW GAS INDICATOR WILL BE DISPLAYED EVEN AFTER I FILLED THE TANK UP. I HAVE BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS WHERE I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY THINKING THAT I HAD ENOUGH GAS FOR MY JOURNEY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN REPLACED THE PARTS ON 2006 & 2007 VEHICLES BUT REFUSE TO REPLACE MY 2005 DEVICE QUOTING THAT IT HAS HIGH MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT MIXED TOGETHER WHICH CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION AND JUMP GEARS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT MIXED TOGETHER WHICH CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION AND JUMP GEARS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT MIXING TOGETHER. THEY STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 11/15/10
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO THE CONTACTS ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. SECONDS LATER, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE BODY ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO THE CONTACTS ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. SECONDS LATER, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE BODY ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ENGINE FLUSH WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR HEATING PIPES WERE LEAKING ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PIPES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ENGINE FLUSH WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR HEATING PIPES WERE LEAKING ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PIPES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THE PIPES WERE LEAKING DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE FRAME AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH BY LEAKING FLUIDS ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GASOLINE GAUGE WOULD NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL INSIDE OF THE GASOLINE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS N…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GASOLINE GAUGE WOULD NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL INSIDE OF THE GASOLINE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118000.
2005 NISSAN IPDM PROBLEMS. AFTER READING ONLINE EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHAT ARE RECALLS FOR? 63,000 MILES AND A DEAD TRUCK. THE BIG COMPANY NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS SMALL PROBLEM INSTEAD OF MILKING CONSUMERS FOR UNNECESSARY REPAIRS "TRYING" TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AS I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR JUST DIED AND THE SAME ALMOST HAPPENED TO ME! THE FUEL SENSOR WENT OUT SO COULDN'T FIND OUT THE FUEL LEVELS, THEN IT STALLED OUT AS I WAS DRIVING!! I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FUEL PUMP, BUT I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AND WANT THIS TO BE A 2005 RECALL! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IPDM (INTELLIGENT POWER DISPLACEMENT MODULE) HAD FAILED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN 40 MPH. THE IPDM CONTROLLED THE AMOUNT OF GAS PROVIDED TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE SPUTTERED BEFORE IT STALLED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMAT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IPDM (INTELLIGENT POWER DISPLACEMENT MODULE) HAD FAILED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN 40 MPH. THE IPDM CONTROLLED THE AMOUNT OF GAS PROVIDED TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE SPUTTERED BEFORE IT STALLED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
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.