IllustrationTRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR. MY HUSBAND FOUND COOLANT IN THE TRANNY OIL AND THEN DID RESEARCH AND FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. OUR CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANNY COOLANT BUILT INSIDE THE RADIATOR. *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 WAS INFORMED ON MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2010 THAT MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH ONLY 68,900 MILES IS IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED NISSAN TECHNICIAN THAT AN INTERNAL FAILURE IN THE RADIATOR CAUSED COOLANT FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BREAKDOWN. APPROX 1 …
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I WAS INFORMED ON MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2010 THAT MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH ONLY 68,900 MILES IS IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED NISSAN TECHNICIAN THAT AN INTERNAL FAILURE IN THE RADIATOR CAUSED COOLANT FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BREAKDOWN. APPROX 1 MONTH AGO I NOTICED MY NISSAN PATHFINDER VIBRATING BETWEEN 40-60 MPH. IT TOOK THREE TIMES TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO MY VEHICLE ALONE. I GOOGLED THE "2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM" AND DISCOVERED 100 PLUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP TO THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE. MY FEAR IS PATHFINDER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES WILL DRIVE THESE VEHICLES UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THE TRANSMISSION MAY SEIZE CAUSING AN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN SEPT OF 08, IT HAD 39990 MILES ON IT. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPPED FROM A FULL TANK TO EMPTY. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, SO HE HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTE…
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I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN SEPT OF 08, IT HAD 39990 MILES ON IT. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPPED FROM A FULL TANK TO EMPTY. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, SO HE HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAID THE PROBLEM WAS. MY PATHFINDER HAS 94000 MILES ON IT NOW(54000 IS WHAT I PUT ON IT) I DID A SEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND AT TOPIX.COM, IN THE PATHFINDER FORUM OUT OF 48 POSTS 10 WERE THE 2005 PATHFINDER, 14 WERE 2006, 7 WERE 2007, 2 WERE 2008 & 1 WAS THE 2009 ALL WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM HERE. THE RECALL ON THE PATHFINDER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WAS FOR THE ONES PRODUCED BETWEEN 1/06 & 3/06 OR 10/7-1/08. I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I OWN 2 NISSAN MAXIMAS ONE IS A 1994 THE OTHER 2001 AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THEM. PLEASE SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS. *TR
THE MOLDED FUEL TANK SHELL HAS DEFORMED, CAUSING THE FUEL SENDER FLOAT ARM TO CONTACT AN EMBOSSMENT MOLDED INTO THE TANK SHELL CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE TO SHOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER TANK WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCRE…
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THE MOLDED FUEL TANK SHELL HAS DEFORMED, CAUSING THE FUEL SENDER FLOAT ARM TO CONTACT AN EMBOSSMENT MOLDED INTO THE TANK SHELL CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE TO SHOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER TANK WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS IS THE SAME CONDITION AND PARTS THAT ARE ON THE 2006 PATHFINDER. NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL TO REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS A MODIFIED FLOAT ARM.ON THE 2006 AND 2008 YEAR MODELS OF PATHFINDER BUT NOT THE 2005. THE RECALL NOTICE ISSUED WAS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO: 10V075000. HOW CAN THIS CONDITION BE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE 2005 MODEL AND CONSIDERED UNSAFE FOR LATER YEAR MODELS? *TR
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAD NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT GETS WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT, BUT AGREED IT WAS NOT RIGHT AND TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY, HE PUT THE CAR ON T…
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TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAD NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT GETS WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT, BUT AGREED IT WAS NOT RIGHT AND TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY, HE PUT THE CAR ON THE ON COMPUTER AND GOT ERROR CODES BACK, CAR IS FINE.... I EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM AGAIN AND HE DECIDED TO TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. HE WASN'T GONE 10 MIN WHEN HE PULLS IN TO HIS GARAGE WITH TRAN FLUID POURING OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR. HE NEEDS TO USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AS THE FLUID IS SO HOT IT IS CATCHING ON FIRE. NOW AFTER ALL HAS SETTLED DOWN HE DOES GET ERRORS ON THE COMPUTER BUT NOTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE HAS YET TO TELL ME WHAT CAUSED IT EXCEPT THAT IT IS INTERNAL. THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS MODEL AND MAKE SOMEONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING. WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WOULD WE HAVE ALL GOTTEN OUT! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DID NOT INCREASE. HE STATED THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER FROM THE RADIATOR WAS GOING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DID NOT INCREASE. HE STATED THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER FROM THE RADIATOR WAS GOING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,704.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE FUEL AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE INDICATED THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE FUEL AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE INDICATED THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILES WERE 64,000.
RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX THE TRANS STARTED SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF O/D AT JUST OVER 40MPH (VIBRATING) AT ABOUT 99,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THE RADIATOR BUSTED AND MIXED WITH TRANS FLUID. HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED TWICE. AT A COST OF $1,058.00 IT WORKED FINE UNTIL 103,0…
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RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX THE TRANS STARTED SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF O/D AT JUST OVER 40MPH (VIBRATING) AT ABOUT 99,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THE RADIATOR BUSTED AND MIXED WITH TRANS FLUID. HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED TWICE. AT A COST OF $1,058.00 IT WORKED FINE UNTIL 103,000 MILES. IT JUST MADE A THUMP NOISE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO BAD IT BARELY GOT ME HOME. *TR
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER LEAKS COOLANT FLUID INTO TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSE GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEMS. REPAIR IS $6000 FOR RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. *TR
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT CONTAMINATION. RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION . MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH CAR. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER FAN, DRIVE SHFTS/UNIVERSAL JOINTS, BRAKES. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HAS FAILED AND COST ME MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CASH. *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.