IllustrationTRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING WITH RADIATOR FLUID. *TR
2007 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Pathfinder years
Owner complaints for the 2007 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
4125–50K
5750–75K
13375–100K
216100–150K
32150K+
500 reports with mileage · 61 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 337 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 128 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 114 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Power Train complaints
337 reportsI PURCHASED A USED 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY DAUGHTER ON 12/28/13. LAST WEEK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE MADE AN APPOINTMENT, ARRIVED EARLY AND 5 HOURS LATER WAS TOLD THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SUGGESTED THAT SHE TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AS THEY HAD EQUIPMENT SPECIFIC TO NISSAN V…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A USED 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY DAUGHTER ON 12/28/13. LAST WEEK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE MADE AN APPOINTMENT, ARRIVED EARLY AND 5 HOURS LATER WAS TOLD THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SUGGESTED THAT SHE TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AS THEY HAD EQUIPMENT SPECIFIC TO NISSAN VEHICLES AND HER WARRANTY COVERS THE WORK AT ANY DEALERSHIP. SHE ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS TOLD YES. SHE DROVE TWO MILES TO A NISSAN DEALER SPENT ANOTHER 2 HOURS THERE WHILE THEY RAN THEIR OWN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS CROSS CONTAMINATION IN THE RADIATOR. NOT ONLY DID HER RADIATOR NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT SO DID HER TRANSMISSION. SHE WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CALLED THE WARRANTY COMPANY WHO INDICATED THAT THE RADIATOR WASN'T COVERED AND THEREFORE THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T COVERED AS IT WAS CAUSED BY THE RADIATOR. MY DAUGHTER DROVE BACK TO AUTO NATION AGAIN AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. SHE WAS TOLD HE WASN'T IN AND THE USED CAR SALES MANAGER WOULD SPEAK TO HER. I LEFT WORK AND WENT OVER TO HELP HER. I ALSO ASKED FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER, WAS ASKED WHAT IT WAS ABOUT, I SAID I WOULD PREFER SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE GM AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING AS MY DAUGHTER. THE USED CAR SALES MANAGER RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION TWICE HE INDICATED THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SHE PICKED UP THE SUV TODAY AND 2 BLOCKS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE WENT BACK TO AUTO NATION AND WAS TOLD BY THE USED CAR MANAGER THAT THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS PAYING $3500 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HE TOLD HER TO JUST DRIVE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THIS IS SO WRONG! TO SEND A 22 YEAR OLD OFF IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THIS WAS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE ON THIS MAKE/MODEL & YEAR. NISSAN EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. *TR
CAR HAVING TROUBLE GETTING UP TO SPEED. NOW WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. *TR
WHILE DRIVEN IN NORMAL CONDITIONS ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 M/H IT START TO LOOSE SPEED,THE TRANSMISSION WON`T SHIFT BACK TO THIRD SPEED FROM FOURTH, WHEN IT NEED IT, NO OVERHEATING WHERE INDICATED BY THE HEAT INDICATOR JUST THE LOCK OF POWER,CAR NEED TO BE TOWED TO MY HOUSE. *TR
RADIATOR TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE ALLOWED CROSS CONTAMINATION BETWEEN TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ANTIFREEZE.THE RESULTING LACK OF LUBRICATION AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF ANTIFREEZE CAUSED ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
VEHICLE STARTED OUT SHIFTING HARD AND CHANGING GEARS HARD. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND/OR DRIVER, IT STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO VERY SLUGGISH WHEN HITTING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSIO…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE STARTED OUT SHIFTING HARD AND CHANGING GEARS HARD. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND/OR DRIVER, IT STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO VERY SLUGGISH WHEN HITTING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL HAD MIXED WITH THE COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR, CAUSING COOLANT TO BE IN MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN MY RADIATOR. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE TYPE THAT NISSAN WAS AWARE OF, BUT ONLY OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES. IF NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THEIR PARTS, THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THAT THIS DEFECT HAS CAUSED AND NOT PUT THE BURDEN ON THE BACKS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE AND WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT I KNOW NOT TO PURCHASE A NISSAN. *TR
TRANSMISSION WAS SHUTTERING AFTER INSPECTION THERE WAS WATER IN TRANSMISSION FROM LEAKING RADIATOR THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT BUT DIDN'T WARN CONSUMERS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK NORMALLY, IN THE MORNING, I CAME TO A STOP AT A STOPLIGHT. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED THE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRUCK WAS SLOW TO RESPOND (AS IF IT WAS IN A HIGHER GEAR TO START) ONCE IT WAS UP TO ABOUT 20MPH IT DROVE DECENT ENOUGH. I CAME TO ANOTHER STOP AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SAME AS BE…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK NORMALLY, IN THE MORNING, I CAME TO A STOP AT A STOPLIGHT. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED THE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRUCK WAS SLOW TO RESPOND (AS IF IT WAS IN A HIGHER GEAR TO START) ONCE IT WAS UP TO ABOUT 20MPH IT DROVE DECENT ENOUGH. I CAME TO ANOTHER STOP AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SAME AS BEFORE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS STOPPING AT A SCHOOL TO DROP KIDS OFF AND TURNED INTO A SPOT AND TURNED OFF THE TRUCK. IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON WHEN ATTEMPTED. I CHECKED THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES AND CAME UP WITH U1000, U1001, P0717. I HAD TO TOW IT AWAY FROM THE PARKING LOT A COUPLE DAYS LATER. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO CHECK THE TRUCK OUT, I FOUND A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID (FROTHED) IN THE COOLANT. I READ THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE INTERNAL RADIATOR TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILING AND MIXING THE COOLANT WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE REASON FOR THE TRUCK NOT STARTING WAS THAT THE 10A FUSE FOR THE A/T ECU BLEW. I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR, FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM, AND AM ABOUT TO TAKE A SAMPLE OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO SEE IF THERE IS COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE I TALK TO A REPAIR FACILITY ABOUT REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT RADIATOR FLUID WAS ENTERING THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
HAD CROSS CONTAMINATION OF COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. NISSAN GARAGE DISCOVERED THIS AFTER I TOOK TO THE SHOP FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNRELATED. FOR SOME REASON THE GARAGE NEVER CHECKED FOR THIS OR MENTIONED THE CLASS ACTION SUIT WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER 100,000 MILES. I HAD TO PAY $5,000 AND COULD NOT RECOVER ANYTHING …
Read full complaint
HAD CROSS CONTAMINATION OF COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. NISSAN GARAGE DISCOVERED THIS AFTER I TOOK TO THE SHOP FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNRELATED. FOR SOME REASON THE GARAGE NEVER CHECKED FOR THIS OR MENTIONED THE CLASS ACTION SUIT WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER 100,000 MILES. I HAD TO PAY $5,000 AND COULD NOT RECOVER ANYTHING FROM THE CLASS ACTION, AS MY VEHICLE HAS 112,000 MILES. I STILL OWE ON IT! THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL, BUT NISSAN DECIDED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY AND SAVE A TON OF MONEY, KNOWING THAT THIS ISSUE WOULD FREQUENTLY OCCUR AFTER 100,000 MILES. WE AS CONSUMERS, ARE DRIVING AROUND LIKE FOOLS, THINKING THAT OUR VEHICLES ARE RELIABLE AND SAFE. *JS
Official recalls
108V690000 · 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.