IllustrationI PURCHASED A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAS 139,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN SLIPPING, AND I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACE, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $3500 MINIMUM. THEY SAID COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION DESTROYING 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 reportsCAR STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN DRIVING, HEATER WOULD GET COLD WHEN CAR WAS SITTING, VIBRATIONS WHEN DRIVING. GARAGE SAID RADIATOR CRACKED AND LEAKED FLUID INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID AND DESTROYED ENGINE. *TR
MY PATHFINDER STOPPED DEFROSTING/HEATING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLE. THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF THE WELL KNOWN CRACKED RADIATOR PROBLEM THAT LEADS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN MANY 2005-2010 PATHFINDERS AT AROUND 95,000 MILEAGE. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT I LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE TO GET TO WORK ON TIME AND END UP DRIVING THESE VEHICLES WIT…
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MY PATHFINDER STOPPED DEFROSTING/HEATING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLE. THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF THE WELL KNOWN CRACKED RADIATOR PROBLEM THAT LEADS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN MANY 2005-2010 PATHFINDERS AT AROUND 95,000 MILEAGE. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT I LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE TO GET TO WORK ON TIME AND END UP DRIVING THESE VEHICLES WITHOUT THE WINDOWS BEING PROPERLY DEFROSTED. THIS CAUSES CLEAR VISION ISSUES AND INCREASES THE PROBABILITY OF GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT, A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. FOR THIS REASON, I WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER INSTITUTING A RECALL TO REPLACE THE RADIATORS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CRACKED RADIATOR THAT CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,200.
MY PATHFINDER TAKING ANTIFREEZE INSIDE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID TURNING IT TO LOOK LIKE PEPTO BISMOL ALSO MY ENGINE IS TAKING IN ANTI FREEZE ALSO. THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES NOTE MY TRUCK STILL RUN BUT IT OVER HEATS TRANNY WORKS TOO I'VE PARKED IT FOR COUPLE YEARS NOW I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT TO THE POINT …
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MY PATHFINDER TAKING ANTIFREEZE INSIDE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID TURNING IT TO LOOK LIKE PEPTO BISMOL ALSO MY ENGINE IS TAKING IN ANTI FREEZE ALSO. THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES NOTE MY TRUCK STILL RUN BUT IT OVER HEATS TRANNY WORKS TOO I'VE PARKED IT FOR COUPLE YEARS NOW I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT DON'T WORK.
I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TO GET FUEL. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT START.. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN ELIZABETH CITY NORTH CAROLINA. AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INTERNAL COOLER IN THE RADIATOR BURST AND LEAK…
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I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TO GET FUEL. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT START.. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN ELIZABETH CITY NORTH CAROLINA. AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INTERNAL COOLER IN THE RADIATOR BURST AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE RADIATOR AND ANTIFREEZE HAD LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION. THE TECH EXPLAINED THAT THE ANTIFREEZE HAVE CAUSE THE INTERNAL COMPUTER IN THE TRANSMISSION TO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. HE STATED THAT THE FUSE KEPT BLOWING OUT. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $3000.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAD NO WARNING SIGNS AT ALL. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECH TO CALL NISSAN CORPORATION FOR FURTHER DETAIL. ONCE I CALLED THE CORPORATION, AN INVESTIGATION CLAIM WAS INITIATED. SHE TOLD ME THAT SOME WILL CONTACT ME BY MONDAY (10/24/16). SO NOW ITS LIKE A WAIT AND SEE GAME. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR HAD A WARRANTY ON IT UP TO 100,000 MILES OF UNTIL 02/2017. I DID EXPLAINED TO THE TECH THAT THE FAILED PART IN THE RADIATOR CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO GET DAMAGE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT TO MIX. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT TO MIX. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,687.
THE SUV HAS ALWAYS GONE FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALER AND THEY NEVER TOLD US TO WATCH OUT FOR THE RADIATOR PASSING WATER TO TRANSMISION, AND NOW THAT DEFECTIVE PART HAS PUT WATER IN MY TRANSMISSION IT AS DAMAGED IT.
RADIATOR RECALL FOR TRANS LINES LEAKING INTO RADIATOR CONTAMINATING COOLANT. AND NOW THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS CAUSING A LOUD KNOCK IN THE ENGINE FROM THE TIMING CHAIN.
ENJOYING OUR PATHFINDER ONE AFTERNOON AND WENT TO PASS A CAR AND IT WOULD NOT KICK INOT PASSING GEAR. WHEN WE STOPPED I COULD SMELL THAT IT WAS HOT, BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. AFTER LETTING IT COOL, I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND FOUND THAT GREY FROTH IN THE RADIATOR. A QUICK CHECK ON THE INTERNET LEAD ME TO ME WORST FEAR. I AM…
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ENJOYING OUR PATHFINDER ONE AFTERNOON AND WENT TO PASS A CAR AND IT WOULD NOT KICK INOT PASSING GEAR. WHEN WE STOPPED I COULD SMELL THAT IT WAS HOT, BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. AFTER LETTING IT COOL, I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND FOUND THAT GREY FROTH IN THE RADIATOR. A QUICK CHECK ON THE INTERNET LEAD ME TO ME WORST FEAR. I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF FLUSHING RADIATOR AND GETTING QUOTES. LOCAL AAMCO GUY SAID THAT TRANSMISSION IS DOOMED, AND THEY SEE A LOT OF THESE. $4,000 - 4500 TO REBUILD. SO MUCH MONEY FOR SUCH AN EASY REPAIR HAD I KNOWN BEFORE THE RADIATOR GAVE UP. NO MORE NISSANS FOR THIS FAMILY!
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.