IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
2006 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Pathfinder years
Owner complaints for the 2006 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
210–25K
5525–50K
11950–75K
22575–100K
256100–150K
66150K+
742 reports with mileage · 95 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 450 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 185 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 147 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
185 reportsCOOLANT LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION RENDERING VEHICLE USELESS. OUT OF POCKET COST WAS 2500.00 BASED OFF OF CLASS ACTION SUIT. NISSAN PICKED UP REST. FOUND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS IN THIS REGARD. *TR
FROM DEAD STOP AT STOP SIGN, PUSHED ON GAS WITH RESULTANT "GRIND" OF TRANSMISSION. HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 WEEKS. TOOK INTO DEALER. TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED RADIATOR LEAKING COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN NISSAN MODELS. NISSAN ONLY DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT TAPERED OF…
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FROM DEAD STOP AT STOP SIGN, PUSHED ON GAS WITH RESULTANT "GRIND" OF TRANSMISSION. HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 WEEKS. TOOK INTO DEALER. TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED RADIATOR LEAKING COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN NISSAN MODELS. NISSAN ONLY DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT TAPERED OFF EVERY YEAR/10,000 MILES. AFTER 100,000 MILES NO HELP. THIS WAS NOT A RESULT OF WORN OUT TRANSMISSION, THIS WAS A RESULT OF ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY NISSAN 100%. *TR
WITHOUT WARNING THE RADIATOR LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLING PART OF THE RADIATOR AND CAUSED AN ALMOST INSTANT BURNING OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT WAS FOUND TO BE RUINED BEFORE I COULD EVEN SAFELY STOP AND HAVE IT TOWED. THE CAR LOST TEMPORARILY LOST POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS AND STRANDED ME IN A DANGEROUS INTE…
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WITHOUT WARNING THE RADIATOR LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLING PART OF THE RADIATOR AND CAUSED AN ALMOST INSTANT BURNING OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT WAS FOUND TO BE RUINED BEFORE I COULD EVEN SAFELY STOP AND HAVE IT TOWED. THE CAR LOST TEMPORARILY LOST POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS AND STRANDED ME IN A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION WHERE I WAS ALMOST T-BONED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED..... *TR
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD OCCURED AND CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO SWAY OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID COLLISION. CAR DRIVEABLE AFTER, BUT DETERIORATING DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION CASE. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE NISSAN ORGANIZATION, BUT REMAINS UNADDRESSED SUFFICIENTLY. THIS PL…
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CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD OCCURED AND CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO SWAY OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID COLLISION. CAR DRIVEABLE AFTER, BUT DETERIORATING DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION CASE. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE NISSAN ORGANIZATION, BUT REMAINS UNADDRESSED SUFFICIENTLY. THIS PLACES A MAJOR COST ON 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS AND ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SO THIS NEGLIGENCE CANNOT PERSIST. I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR SOME OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS AND FOR SOME OF THE REPLACEMENT COST, BUT NISSAN MOTOR CORPORATION SHOULD FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION PER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN 2012. *TR
I HAVE HEARD THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION FLUID GETTING RADIATOR FLUID IN IT. THE CLASSIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT HAVE STARTED WITH MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER ARE: 1. HORRENDOUS SHUDDERING WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS TO INCREASE MY SPEED, 2. OCCASIONAL BANGING WHEN MY AUTOMATIC CAR SHIFTS INTO G…
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I HAVE HEARD THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION FLUID GETTING RADIATOR FLUID IN IT. THE CLASSIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT HAVE STARTED WITH MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER ARE: 1. HORRENDOUS SHUDDERING WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS TO INCREASE MY SPEED, 2. OCCASIONAL BANGING WHEN MY AUTOMATIC CAR SHIFTS INTO GEAR, 3. DELAY IN SPEED WHEN I ATTEMPT TO PASS. SINCE ALL OF THIS HAD STARTED RIGHT AFTER 100,000 MILES A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NOT COVERED. I AM A SINGLE MOM WHO IS A HOSPICE NURSE, I DRIVE ALL DAY, HAVING A RELIABLE CAR PUTS FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR MY KIDS. I DON'T HAVE $3,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I COULD CRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. RIGHT NOW I JUST KEEP DRIVING IT KNOWING IT IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN ANY DAY. I WAS INFORMED BY SO MANY PEOPLE THAT NISSAN WAS A GREAT COMPANY AND MANUFACTURED A GREAT VEHICLE WHEN I DECIDED TO BY THIS PATHFINDER. I AM SOOOO DISAPPOINTED!!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE, I'M SORRY, FOR THE AMOUNT THAT I ORIGINALLY PAID FOR THIS VEHICLE, IT SHOULD NOT START FALLING APART AT 108,000 MILES. *TR
THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL MIXED WITH THE COOLING. THIS RESULTED IN THE DAMAGING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. *TR
MY RADIATOR IS EVIDENTLY CRACKED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO MY TRANSMISSION, CAUSING FAILURE TO SHIFT. MY VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER. AT ONE POINT, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION FROM A STAND-STILL AS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AS MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING, LIKE…
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MY RADIATOR IS EVIDENTLY CRACKED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO MY TRANSMISSION, CAUSING FAILURE TO SHIFT. MY VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER. AT ONE POINT, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION FROM A STAND-STILL AS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AS MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING, LIKE BEING STUCK IN NEUTRAL. *TR
FLUID FROM RADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION, COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. *TR
HAVE A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE AND NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS STARTING TO MAKE A RUMBLE STRIP NOISE AROUND 45 MPH. DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT NISSAN HAD A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH COOLANT LINE. KNOWING THAT THE RADIATORS WERE DEFECTIVE WHY WASN'T NISSAN ORDE…
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HAVE A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE AND NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS STARTING TO MAKE A RUMBLE STRIP NOISE AROUND 45 MPH. DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT NISSAN HAD A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH COOLANT LINE. KNOWING THAT THE RADIATORS WERE DEFECTIVE WHY WASN'T NISSAN ORDERED TO RECALL THEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU ARE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOUR TRANSMISSION FAILS!!! I NOW HAVE TO PAY $2500 TO PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT TO HAVE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION REPLACE. *TR
Official recalls
310V517000 · 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.
10V075000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank
Mar 3, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 FRONTIER, XTERRA AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE MOLDED FUEL TANK SHELLS CAN DEFORM, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS A MODIFIED FLOAT ARM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 22, 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.