IllustrationTRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR. MY HUSBAND FOUND COOLANT IN THE TRANNY OIL AND THEN DID RESEARCH AND FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. OUR CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANNY OVER TIME. *TR
2005 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Pathfinder years
Owner complaints for the 2005 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
260–25K
5625–50K
20650–75K
29075–100K
318100–150K
60150K+
956 reports with mileage · 94 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 585 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 290 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 186 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports6 fire reports7 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
290 reportsMY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 55,000 MILES. I NOTICE A VIBRATION UNDER THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD LAST FOR 2-3 SECONDS EVERYTIME I WOULD DRIVE IT. I THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT IT, UNTIL IT GOT WORST. NOW THE VEHICLE STALLS AND VIBRATES MORE FREQUENTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAYS AND MAJOR ROADS. I WENT ON-LINE TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM A…
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MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 55,000 MILES. I NOTICE A VIBRATION UNDER THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD LAST FOR 2-3 SECONDS EVERYTIME I WOULD DRIVE IT. I THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT IT, UNTIL IT GOT WORST. NOW THE VEHICLE STALLS AND VIBRATES MORE FREQUENTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAYS AND MAJOR ROADS. I WENT ON-LINE TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THE CAUSE WAS FROM A LEAK FROM THE RADIATOR INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE SLIPPAGE AND THE VIBRATIONS. THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN A NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAVE GONE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUE, AS I HAD. THE ONLY THING NISSAN WILL DO IS REPLACE THOSE PARTS, BUT WE THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, ALTHOUGH IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER ISSUE IN RELATION TO NISSAN USING INFERIOR QUALITY OF PARTS. IT WILL COST ME $5,600 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX A NISSAN PROBLEM. *TR
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER S/N [XXX] . ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION DUE TO FAILURE OF OIL COOLER CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE READ OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE AND NISSAN WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIRS. I WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $5,149.00 BEFORE TAXES TO GET THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED. NISSAN KNOWS THIS I…
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2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER S/N [XXX] . ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION DUE TO FAILURE OF OIL COOLER CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE READ OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE AND NISSAN WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIRS. I WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $5,149.00 BEFORE TAXES TO GET THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED. NISSAN KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAID HE CURRENTLY HAS ONE IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME REASON, BUT THEY WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. TO MAKE MATTERS EVEN WORSE, THEY ARE REPLACING THE FAULTY PART WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. ISN'T THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET THIS PUSHED THROUGH SO NISSAN WOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKES? PLEASE CALL ME @ [XXX] . I WOULOD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP THE MANY PEOPLE IN MY SAME SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DENT ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE PROBLEMS WITH 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSED BOTH TO FAIL. ALSO, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. *JB
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR. MY HUSBAND FOUND COOLANT IN THE TRANNY OIL AND THEN DID RESEARCH AND FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. OUR CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY RADIATOR LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANNY COOLANT BUILT INSIDE THE RADIATOR. *TR
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAD NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT GETS WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT, BUT AGREED IT WAS NOT RIGHT AND TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY, HE PUT THE CAR ON T…
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TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAD NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT GETS WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT, BUT AGREED IT WAS NOT RIGHT AND TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY, HE PUT THE CAR ON THE ON COMPUTER AND GOT ERROR CODES BACK, CAR IS FINE.... I EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM AGAIN AND HE DECIDED TO TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. HE WASN'T GONE 10 MIN WHEN HE PULLS IN TO HIS GARAGE WITH TRAN FLUID POURING OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR. HE NEEDS TO USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AS THE FLUID IS SO HOT IT IS CATCHING ON FIRE. NOW AFTER ALL HAS SETTLED DOWN HE DOES GET ERRORS ON THE COMPUTER BUT NOTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE HAS YET TO TELL ME WHAT CAUSED IT EXCEPT THAT IT IS INTERNAL. THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS MODEL AND MAKE SOMEONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING. WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WOULD WE HAVE ALL GOTTEN OUT! *TR
RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX THE TRANS STARTED SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF O/D AT JUST OVER 40MPH (VIBRATING) AT ABOUT 99,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THE RADIATOR BUSTED AND MIXED WITH TRANS FLUID. HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED TWICE. AT A COST OF $1,058.00 IT WORKED FINE UNTIL 103,0…
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RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX THE TRANS STARTED SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF O/D AT JUST OVER 40MPH (VIBRATING) AT ABOUT 99,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THE RADIATOR BUSTED AND MIXED WITH TRANS FLUID. HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED TWICE. AT A COST OF $1,058.00 IT WORKED FINE UNTIL 103,000 MILES. IT JUST MADE A THUMP NOISE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO BAD IT BARELY GOT ME HOME. *TR
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT CONTAMINATION. RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION . MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH CAR. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER FAN, DRIVE SHFTS/UNIVERSAL JOINTS, BRAKES. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HAS FAILED AND COST ME MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CASH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTING SHAKING AS IF SHE WAS DRIVING OVER A GROOVED PAVEMENT. SHE DROVE HOME A PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACING BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING FLUIDS.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTING SHAKING AS IF SHE WAS DRIVING OVER A GROOVED PAVEMENT. SHE DROVE HOME A PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACING BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING FLUIDS. THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS WAS $5,900. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE GAS GAUGE HAD PREVIOUSLY STOPPED WORKING AND SHE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER TRANSMISSION/COOLANT FAILURE. AS I HAVE READ ON A NUMBER OF SITES (WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/.../NISSAN_PATHFINDER.HTML) THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THE RADIATOR FAILS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX WITH THE COOLANT WHICH CAUSES FAILURE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND COOLING SYSTEM. THIS…
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2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER TRANSMISSION/COOLANT FAILURE. AS I HAVE READ ON A NUMBER OF SITES (WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/.../NISSAN_PATHFINDER.HTML) THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THE RADIATOR FAILS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX WITH THE COOLANT WHICH CAUSES FAILURE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND COOLING SYSTEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT. LETS GET SOMETHING DONE. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO HANDLE THE SITUATION!!!! *TR
Official recalls
210V517000 · 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.
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.