IllustrationSOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION.
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 reportsRADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE (ORIGINAL) AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING BREAKDOWN OF TRANSMISSION, NEUTRAL/PARK SENSOR, COMPUTER. NEED TO REPLACE RADIATOR, REBUILD TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE SENOR. $5K JOB. NEVER WAS NOTIFIED OF DEFECTIVE RADIATOR PROBLEM AND THUS DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WOULD BE AN ISSUE. NISSAN WON'T DO…
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RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE (ORIGINAL) AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING BREAKDOWN OF TRANSMISSION, NEUTRAL/PARK SENSOR, COMPUTER. NEED TO REPLACE RADIATOR, REBUILD TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE SENOR. $5K JOB. NEVER WAS NOTIFIED OF DEFECTIVE RADIATOR PROBLEM AND THUS DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WOULD BE AN ISSUE. NISSAN WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 112,000 MILES WAS DRIVEN TO FRED ANDERSON NISSAN IN ASHEVILLE FOR SERVICE REGARDING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IMPROPERLY. AFTER WAITING 4 HOURS, I WAS DELIVERED A QUOTE FOR OVER $7,000 REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF MY RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION, THERMOSTAT, AND AIRBAG SYSTEM. I PURCHASED THIS VEHIC…
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2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 112,000 MILES WAS DRIVEN TO FRED ANDERSON NISSAN IN ASHEVILLE FOR SERVICE REGARDING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IMPROPERLY. AFTER WAITING 4 HOURS, I WAS DELIVERED A QUOTE FOR OVER $7,000 REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF MY RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION, THERMOSTAT, AND AIRBAG SYSTEM. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 6 MONTHS AGO WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FLOW HONDA OF WINSTON-SALEM.
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ROUGH. AT 65 MPH ON I25 THE TRANNY CLANKED, AND DROPPED TO FIRST GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER, RESTART. IT DID IT AGAIN, BUT HAD A BURNING SMELL. IT THREW THE CODE P1774. A SINGLE DEALERSHIP CARE FOR ALL MAINTENANCE WORK, ON TIME FOR 10 YEARS, DID ALL RECALL TYPE WORK. FIX QUOTES ARE COM…
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THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ROUGH. AT 65 MPH ON I25 THE TRANNY CLANKED, AND DROPPED TO FIRST GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER, RESTART. IT DID IT AGAIN, BUT HAD A BURNING SMELL. IT THREW THE CODE P1774. A SINGLE DEALERSHIP CARE FOR ALL MAINTENANCE WORK, ON TIME FOR 10 YEARS, DID ALL RECALL TYPE WORK. FIX QUOTES ARE COMING BACK BETWEEN $3500-$4500, WHICH AFTER BUYING A HOUSE AND A SURPRISE PREGNANCY I CAN'T AFFORD PUTTING MY LIVELIHOOD AT RISK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL COLE AUTO MALL ASHLAND AT 606-29-2288 (2701 WINCHESTER AVE, ASHLAND, KY 41101) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL COLE AUTO MALL ASHLAND AT 606-29-2288 (2701 WINCHESTER AVE, ASHLAND, KY 41101) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.
THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING VERY ROUGHLY AND LOUDLY DURING ACCELERATION, THEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT ON A VERY BUSY FRONTAGE ROAD TO THE HIGHWAY. SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER IT ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT STOPPED COASTING; AND SEVERAL PEOPLE STOPPED TO HELP HER PUSH IT INTO SAFE…
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THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING VERY ROUGHLY AND LOUDLY DURING ACCELERATION, THEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT ON A VERY BUSY FRONTAGE ROAD TO THE HIGHWAY. SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER IT ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT STOPPED COASTING; AND SEVERAL PEOPLE STOPPED TO HELP HER PUSH IT INTO SAFETY IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID HAD LEAKED THROUGH CRACKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAUSING IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, WE DISCOVERED THIS WAS A KNOWN AND ACKNOWEDGED PROBLEM WITH 2005-2010 NISSAN PATHFINDERS, BUT NEITHER A RECALL NOR A WARNING WAS EVER ISSUED. WE ARE NOW BEYOND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE IN TIME AND IN MILEAGE, SO NISSAN WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSES TO REPAIR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS WITH FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOWELL MOTORS BUICK, GMC, NISSAN (1158 HIGHWAY 51-98 SUMMIT, MS 39666, (PHONE) 601-276-7711) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A RADIATOR LEAK.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS WITH FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOWELL MOTORS BUICK, GMC, NISSAN (1158 HIGHWAY 51-98 SUMMIT, MS 39666, (PHONE) 601-276-7711) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A RADIATOR LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BY THE SAME DEALER IN 2015; HOWEVER, THE RADIATOR REPLACEMENT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID ARE MIXED CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. I WAS NOT TOLD OF THIS ISSUE WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2010 FROM THE NISSAN DEALER - EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A KNOWN CONDITION. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING, SO IT'LL BE MY 3RD TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE CAR HAD…
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COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID ARE MIXED CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. I WAS NOT TOLD OF THIS ISSUE WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2010 FROM THE NISSAN DEALER - EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A KNOWN CONDITION. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING, SO IT'LL BE MY 3RD TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE CAR HAD 70K MILES. NOW IT HAS 115,000. SO THE 2ND TRANSMISSION LASTED ABOUT 45K MILES. NISSAN WANTS ME TO PAY $3000 OF THE $5,850 ESTIMATE. IF I KNEW THIS CAR WAS GOING TO BE THIS MUCH TROUBLE, I WOULDN'T HAVE PURCHASED IT. I REALLY THINK NISSAN SHOULD BE DOING A BETTER JOB OWNING UP TO THIS ISSUE AND COVERING THE EXPENSES FOR THEIR POOR QUALITY.
TAKATA RECALL . WE WERE ON OUR WAY BACK HOME WITH OUR CHILDREN AND A THE PATHFINDER MADE IT MADE A LOUD NOISE SO WE PULLED OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE PATHFINDER WOULDN'T START. WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW US HOME. WE WAITED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 3 HOURS WITH A 10 YEAR OLD AND A 3 MONTH OLD. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED…
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TAKATA RECALL . WE WERE ON OUR WAY BACK HOME WITH OUR CHILDREN AND A THE PATHFINDER MADE IT MADE A LOUD NOISE SO WE PULLED OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE PATHFINDER WOULDN'T START. WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW US HOME. WE WAITED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 3 HOURS WITH A 10 YEAR OLD AND A 3 MONTH OLD. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE 2007 PATHFINDER APPEARS TO HAVE A WIDESPREAD DEFECT WHERE COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE AROUND 100,000 MILES. REPAIR COSTS ARE TYPICALLY UPWARDS OF $4,500.
I BOUGHT MY 07 PATHFINDER IN JULY AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD DONE REPAIR ON THE RADIATOR AT THEIR EXPENSE, AND REPLACED THE COOLANT AND TRANNY FLUIDS AND STATED THERE WAS NO CROSS CONTAMINATION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING PROPERLY AND WE COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS THE TRANNY, ABS, OR 4WD GETTING CAUGHT. AS OF YESTERDAY THE T…
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I BOUGHT MY 07 PATHFINDER IN JULY AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD DONE REPAIR ON THE RADIATOR AT THEIR EXPENSE, AND REPLACED THE COOLANT AND TRANNY FLUIDS AND STATED THERE WAS NO CROSS CONTAMINATION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING PROPERLY AND WE COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS THE TRANNY, ABS, OR 4WD GETTING CAUGHT. AS OF YESTERDAY THE TRANNY WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. RESTARTING THE CAR HELPED. BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE IS NO HISTORY OF ANY OTHER WORK. ALL MAINTENANCE WAS KEPT UP WITH THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE VEHICLES LIFE. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT A STOP, AND MOVED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR/DRIVE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD ?CATCH? AND WOULD LAUNCH.
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.