IllustrationMY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. YOU DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN THE VEHICLE THEREFORE COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE INJURY IF DRIVING AND RAN OUT OF GAS AND DIDN'T KNOW IT! *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 reports2005 NISSAN RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEFECTIVE RADIATOR CAUSES ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION WHICH MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ENTERING TRAFFIC, MERGING OR ENTERING INTERSECTIONS CAUSING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AS THE VEHICLE FAILS TO MOVE, DECELERATES QUICKLY OR THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BAD…
Read full complaint
2005 NISSAN RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEFECTIVE RADIATOR CAUSES ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION WHICH MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ENTERING TRAFFIC, MERGING OR ENTERING INTERSECTIONS CAUSING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AS THE VEHICLE FAILS TO MOVE, DECELERATES QUICKLY OR THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BADLY AND FAILS TO ACCELERATE. HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS OF FAILURES ARE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET. AN APPARENT DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW IN THE RADIATOR CAUSES THE CONDITION. NISSAN HAS TAKEN NO RESPONSIBILITY OR CORRECTIVE ACTION. THOUSANDS OF UNSUSPECTING CONSUMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE AT RISK EACH DAY DRIVING OR RIDING IN THESE VEHICLES. CONSUMERS ARE LEFT PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPLACEMENTS. *TR
VIBRATION IN TRANSMISSION, COOLANT IN TRANSMISSION OIL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN C…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER: FUEL GAUGE SENSOR PROBLEM. WHEN I FILL THE TANK THE GAS GAUGE DROPS BELOW "E" AND THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON. THE DTE INDICATORS FLASHES - - - - LINES (INDICATING I AM AT 0 MILES TIL EMPTY), AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. ONCE I USE ABOUT 100 MILES OF THE GAS THE GAUGES WILL ALL CORRECT THEMSELVES…
Read full complaint
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER: FUEL GAUGE SENSOR PROBLEM. WHEN I FILL THE TANK THE GAS GAUGE DROPS BELOW "E" AND THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON. THE DTE INDICATORS FLASHES - - - - LINES (INDICATING I AM AT 0 MILES TIL EMPTY), AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. ONCE I USE ABOUT 100 MILES OF THE GAS THE GAUGES WILL ALL CORRECT THEMSELVES. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS AS IT IS NOT A RECALL. THERE ARE OVER A DOZEN ARTICLES ON LINE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE NOTED THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL GAUGES. NISSAN WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM - IT WILL COST APPROX $700 FOR US TO FIX. PLEASE PUSH NISSAN ALONG AND HAVE THEM RECALL THE VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
THE PROBLEM IS THE LOST POWER / DIED RANDOMLY IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS ON THE NISSAN PATHFINDER 2005. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW SPEED ACCELERATING INTO AN INTERSECTION, AT A STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AT A STEADY SPEED ON A CITY ROAD, AND AT A HIGHWAY SPEED. THE FAILURE ALWAYS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING OR FAILURE INDICATION. I LOST …
Read full complaint
THE PROBLEM IS THE LOST POWER / DIED RANDOMLY IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS ON THE NISSAN PATHFINDER 2005. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT A LOW SPEED ACCELERATING INTO AN INTERSECTION, AT A STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AT A STEADY SPEED ON A CITY ROAD, AND AT A HIGHWAY SPEED. THE FAILURE ALWAYS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING OR FAILURE INDICATION. I LOST COMPLETE POWER; THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE OTHER LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD LIKE IF THE KEY WAS JUST TURN ON WITHOUT STARTING. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN VERY SCARY FOR MY FAMILY AS IT HAS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY. NO ENGINE CODES WERE FOUND, SO NO REPAIRS WERE ATTEMPTED BY THE DEALER. WHAT IS MOST DISCOMFORTING IS THAT WHEN I DID RESEARCH ON THE WEB, I FOUND THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. HERE IS A ONE OF THE MANY LINKS I FOUND: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2005/NISSAN/PATHFINDER/ELECTRICAL+SYSTEM. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER NEW FROM THE DEALER. AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN HAD A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND RUINING IT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AT A COST OF ABOUT $600.00. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECAL…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER NEW FROM THE DEALER. AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN HAD A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND RUINING IT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AT A COST OF ABOUT $600.00. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS SO WIDELY DOCUMENTED. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP WHICH COST ME $500. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WON'T BE LOOKING FOR A NISSAN PRODUCT WHEN I SHOP FOR MY NEXT CAR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE AND THE ACTUAL FUEL IN THE VEHICLE COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM BUT DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE AND THE ACTUAL FUEL IN THE VEHICLE COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM BUT DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE A REMEDY REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD OPEN THE RECALL TO LATER MODELS SINCE THE PARTS WERE THE SAME IN THE MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. SHE WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT IT DID NOT START. SHE CALLED A TOWING COMPANY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. SHE WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT IT DID NOT START. SHE CALLED A TOWING COMPANY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES FOR THE FAILURE BUT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A VIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.
I OWN A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE, WHICH I BOUGHT USED. AFTER A FEW MONTHS AND AT 85, 000 MILES THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON MY FATHER-IN-LAW, MECHANIC, CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. IT CAUSES MY DTE (MILES LEFT TO DRIVE BASED ON FUEL LOAD) TO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES MY LIGHT COMES ON INDICATION…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE, WHICH I BOUGHT USED. AFTER A FEW MONTHS AND AT 85, 000 MILES THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON MY FATHER-IN-LAW, MECHANIC, CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. IT CAUSES MY DTE (MILES LEFT TO DRIVE BASED ON FUEL LOAD) TO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES MY LIGHT COMES ON INDICATION LOW FUEL WHEN IT IS HALF FULL. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS THE EMISSION TESTING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID I HAD TO REPAIR IT ON MY OWN SINCE I HAVE NO WARRANTY. TO TOP IT OFF ASIDE FORM THE SENSOR THAT NEEDS REPLACED ANOTHER PART CONNECTED TO IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FROM ESTIMATES I HAVE BEEN GETTING IT WILL COST ME BETWEEN $379-$500 TO FIX. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OVER 300 COMPLAINTS ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE HTTP://AUTOFORUM.CLASSIFIEDS1000.COM/NISSAN-PATHFINDER/FUEL_LEVEL_SENSOR_INPUT_A. ............ I HOPE NISSAN DOES A MAJOR RECALL AND NOT LET ITS CONSUMERS DOWN. THIS MAY BE THE LAST NISSAN I BUY. *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.