Power Train. Review the 231 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

4 reports

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Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2025

EnginePower TrainService Brakes

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Oil is getting into the radiator and causing a gray gunk build up in radiator and possibly the engine. I have had the car less than a 1 1/2 years And I've already had to have the same issue fixed 3 × first time. The heater hose blew out caused an air bubble in the radiator which caused us to have to burp the radiator Which is when we found it the first time had sent it to the mechanic. Had it flushed, had it fixed. it was fine or so we thought until about a month ago. Car overheats radiator fluid spews out everywhere. Fix the hose, add radiator fluid and start. The burping process again and out comes the gray gunk. Sent it back to mechanic had it flush had gaskets to the transmission cooler and Oil cooler fixed. Mechanic cannot find how it's getting into radiator. Break pads wear prematurely due to calipers constantly sticking. Rust is everywhere on frame, suspension, shocks undercarriage and body. Vdc/slip light will come on while driving causing the car to stall at any speed. Fixed those sensors 2 times since I bought the car in December 2023 from a used car lot. State I I've in has no laws to protect people buying from used car lots but they do for new cars even though new cars come with warranties. Should be the other way around protect the people who can't afford the 30000 dollar cars. There's a reason we go to used car lots. Paid 4500 after taxes and registration and have put almost 5000 into it. Nissan is aware of the problem just not enough to deem a recall.

NHTSA ODI #11656933

135,000 miles · Apr 18, 2019

Service Brakes

IF YOU HIT THE BRAKES WHILE IT IS RAINING OR AFTER GOING THRU A PUDDLE, THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. IF YOU HIT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY, THEY WILL LOCK UP. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR EIGHT YEARS AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSTANT.

NHTSA ODI #11197150

129,000 miles · Dec 9, 2017

EngineService BrakesSuspension

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I PURCHASED MY FIRST VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2016 AT KIA DEPOT OF SANTA ANA (NOW KIA OF ORANGE).. AND I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ONE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED BATTERY CORROSION. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS A LOUD THUD THAT FORCED ME OFF THE ROAD ON A BUSY STREET AND I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. TURNS OUT THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS COMPLETED RUSTED AND CRUMBLED AWAY FROM THE CAR - THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS RUSTED I DISCOVERED. THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR IS TOTALLY COVERED AND BEING EATEN ALIVE BY RUST - THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO ME, BY KIA, AS A "AS IS" CAR - HOWEVER, I REFUSE TO LET THEM HID BEHIND THAT. SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR, WHICH WAS SOLD TO ME FOR A TOTAL OF $12,592.00,MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $285.85- I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY SITTING IN NEW YORK AROUND THE TIME OF HURRICANE KATRINA - LEGALLY IF ITS FROM A DIFFERENT STATE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT TO ME & THEY DIDN'T. SO FAR I'VE HAD TO GET A NEW BATTERY, NEW BRAKES, EMERGENCY BRAKE IS GONE, NEW MUFFLER, NEW SWAY BAR, AC RECHARGED, AND JUST RECENTLY A PIECE OF THE LEAF SPRING UNDER THE TIRE COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF AND BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING - THESE GUYS SOLD ME A RUSTY NIGHTMARE AND THEY HAVE SINCE CLOSED UP SHOP. ALSO THE SALESMAN PADDED MY LOAN APPLICATION AND I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL - I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS THING FALLS APART ON ME AGAIN, I HAD MY 7 YEAR OLD NIECE IN THE CAR WITH ME THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CRUMBLED. I HAVE LEFT REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS - MY NEXT STEP IS A ATTORNEY. HERE IS A REPORT I FILED ON RIPOFF REPORT -HTTP://WWW.RIPOFFREPORT.COM/REPORTS/KIA-DEPOT-OF-SANTA-ANA/SANTA-ANA-CALIFORNIA-92701/KIA-DEPOT-OF-SANTA-ANA-SOLD-ME-A-RUSTED-OUT-CAR-THAT-WAS-IN-HURRICANE-SANDY-SANTA-ANA-CA-1312221

NHTSA ODI #11053617

50,000 miles · Feb 12, 2017

EngineService BrakesUnknown Or Other

NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE RADIATOR FLUIDS STARTED TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL COST $8000 DOLLARS TO FIX

NHTSA ODI #10954080

Official recalls

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

DP12004 · 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)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Power Train:automatic Transmission

Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter

Power Train