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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 →
1,050Owner complaints

Model-year median: 97

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
156
2002110
200367
20041,050
2005837
2006561
2007328
2008
Compare all Pathfinder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
585Engine And Engine Cooling
290Fuel System, Gasoline
186Engine
144Electrical System
66
All reported categories
Fuel System, Other
61Unknown Or Other
40Fuel/propulsion System
31Vehicle Speed Control
31Air Bags
22Structure
14Equipment
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Steering
9Suspension
9Service Brakes
7Visibility
7Electronic Stability Control (esc)
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Tires
3Seat Belts
2Seats
2Wheels
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Service Brakes, Electric
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

186 reports
Clear category filter
108,435 miles · Jan 31, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

RE: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER ABOUT 2, 5 YEARS AGO, MY FUEL GAUGE READ 1/2 FULL OR ALL EMPTY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. CHANGING OIL RESET LIGHT INITIALLY, BUT IT CAME BACK ON. SHORT TIME LATER CAR FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF GAUGE AND LIGHT. CAR MECHANIC REPLACED SENDING UNIT, FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. SAID PUMP NEEDE…

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RE: 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER ABOUT 2, 5 YEARS AGO, MY FUEL GAUGE READ 1/2 FULL OR ALL EMPTY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. CHANGING OIL RESET LIGHT INITIALLY, BUT IT CAME BACK ON. SHORT TIME LATER CAR FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF GAUGE AND LIGHT. CAR MECHANIC REPLACED SENDING UNIT, FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. SAID PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPLACE SENDING UNIT. DEC/09 CAR FAILED TO START. GAUGE READ 1/2 FULL. MECHANIC SAID FUEL FILTER FAILED, BUT PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED SINCE FILTER IS INSIDE PUMP. JAN30,2010. AS I WRITE THIS MY TANK READS HALF FULL AND THE CAR WON'T START. IT IS DOING THE SAME THING IT DID THE LAST TIME. BEING STRANDED BECAUSE OF A FAILED FUEL PUMP/FILTER/ GAUGE/SENDING UNIT IS DANGEROUS. I CAN TRUST THAT A PART (THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE) ISN'T GOING TO FAIL ME. I WOULD ADD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, DESPITE APPROPRIATE SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE, (EVEN REPLACED TIRES) MY FUEL CONSUMPTION HAS BECOME VERY POOR. THE ISSUES ARE SOMEHOW CONNECTED. SEE ALSO BLOGS HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/NISSAN-PATHFINDER/TMVJFUGON9RD4EB8I ENTITLE "FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS". EVIDENTLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORLD-WIDE HAVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303441

45,000 miles · Jan 30, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

I AM GETTING OBDII CODES (P0463) AND "CHECK ENGINE" SIGN IS ON EVEN AFTER RESET. ONCE MY FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 3/4 AND I REFILL IT AFTER IT WAS CLOSE TO BE EMPTY I AM GETTING "CHECK ENGINE" SIGN ON PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT IT IS RELATED TO A FUEL TANK LEVEL GAUGE. I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT EXPERIENC…

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I AM GETTING OBDII CODES (P0463) AND "CHECK ENGINE" SIGN IS ON EVEN AFTER RESET. ONCE MY FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 3/4 AND I REFILL IT AFTER IT WAS CLOSE TO BE EMPTY I AM GETTING "CHECK ENGINE" SIGN ON PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT IT IS RELATED TO A FUEL TANK LEVEL GAUGE. I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT EXPERIENCING EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NISSAN DOESN'T COVER FAULTY PART REPLACEMENT FOR FREE. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT! THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303370

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

P0463 FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10302000

101,000 miles · Dec 17, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER NOW DOES NOT WORK. I RECEIVED A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COME ON, AND REALIZED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND NOTICED THAT THIS SAME ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296177

60,000 miles · Dec 6, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS AND WENT TO FILL UP. AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I TURNED ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DID NOT REGISTER THE FULL TANK. AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT/SENSOR AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COV…

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I HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS AND WENT TO FILL UP. AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I TURNED ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DID NOT REGISTER THE FULL TANK. AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT/SENSOR AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AFTER 30K MILES. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND DOING RESEARCH, I WENT ONLINE TO X.NISSANHELP.COM AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH, I CAME ACROSS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE OTHER MODELS AND A RECALL WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AFTER NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, POSING A GREAT DANGER. I HAVE READ THAT THE METAL IN THE UNIT IS FAULTY AND WILL CORRODE OVER TIME. THERE IS A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS HAVING THE PROBLEM IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YRS AND WITH AROUND 39K-49K. IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN PREVIOUS MODELS, AND IT WAS RECALLED, THE 2005-2007 XTERRAS, FRONTIERS, AND PATHFINDERS SHOULD GET THIS FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER!! WHY WAIT FOR ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATHS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM LIES IN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR RANGES FROM $300-600."*TR

NHTSA ODI #10294650

50,000 miles · Nov 21, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

DTE GAUGE READ ------ AND GAS GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY WITH LOW GAS LIGHT ON. SES LIGHT CAME ON. DTC P0463/ HAPPEN EVERYDAY. NISSAN PATHFINDER 2005. 52,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293122

66,670 miles · Nov 19, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 66,660 MILES. MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FOUND THE CODE P0463-FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT HIGH INPUT. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $500+ TO REPAIR ALTHOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS NISSAN VEHICLE BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE PARTS PLACED WHEN ASSEMBLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292969

82,723 miles · Nov 17, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS GAUGE AFTER FILLING TANK GAUGED STAYED AT 1/4 TANK NOTHING WORKED EVERYTHING READ -------- REPLACED FUEL SENDING UNIT SEEMS OK NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292569

60,000 miles · Oct 15, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. IT WILL GO FROM A FULL TANK TO EMPTY AND THEN BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10288555

60,000 miles · Oct 10, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE. SES LIGHT CAME ON, CODE P0463, FUEL LEVEL SENSOR HIGH OUTPUT. THIS WAS CAUSING MY FUEL GAUGE TO MALFUNCTION, COST ALMOST $600.00 TO FIX. ONLY SAFETY ISSUE IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN AN UNSAFE AREA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286979

Official recalls

2

10V517000 · 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

1

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)

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.