IllustrationFUEL TANK ON 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER DOESN'T READ RIGHT. YOU CAN RUN OUT OF GAS. *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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
186 reports2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER; FUEL GAUGE ISSUES. THE FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC, INACCURATE, OR INOPERATIVE. IN ADDITION, THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" IS 'ON' WITH DTC CODE OF P0461, P0462, OR P0463 STORED IN SELF-DIAGNOSIS. NISSAN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #NTB07-069A. *TR
FUEL GAUGE REPORTS INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. FUEL SENSOR DEFECTIVE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COME ON AS ADDITIONAL WARNING. SENSOR SYSTEM REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. *TR
FUEL SENDING/SENSING UNIT ON 2005 PATHFINDER 4X2. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO INFORM ON FUEL LEFT ON TANK. NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/NISSAN-PATHFINDER/TMVJFUGON9RD4EB8I. *TR
MANY NISSAN VEHICLES HAVE FAILED FUEL SENSOR UNITS. NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE OR TO ISSUE A RECALL. IT IS IS SAFETY HAZARD NOT TO KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YOUR VEHICLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN MORE THAN ONE DRIVER HAVE ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE. BY GOOGLING THE PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THAT MANY NISSAN OWNERS HAVE THIS FUEL SENSOR …
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MANY NISSAN VEHICLES HAVE FAILED FUEL SENSOR UNITS. NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE OR TO ISSUE A RECALL. IT IS IS SAFETY HAZARD NOT TO KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YOUR VEHICLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN MORE THAN ONE DRIVER HAVE ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE. BY GOOGLING THE PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THAT MANY NISSAN OWNERS HAVE THIS FUEL SENSOR BUG. SEVERAL NISSAN MODELS ARE EFFECTED. *TR
WE HAVE A SQUEAKING UNDERNEATH OUR VEHICLE AND IT SMELLS LIKE GAS. AFTER RESEARCHING IT ONLINE WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. WE ARE WORRIED THAT OUR VEHICLE COULD BE LEAKING GAS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FROM THE 2004 TO THE 2005 MODEL. OUR GAS G…
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WE HAVE A SQUEAKING UNDERNEATH OUR VEHICLE AND IT SMELLS LIKE GAS. AFTER RESEARCHING IT ONLINE WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. WE ARE WORRIED THAT OUR VEHICLE COULD BE LEAKING GAS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FROM THE 2004 TO THE 2005 MODEL. OUR GAS GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE COMES ON SO WE SUSPECT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE GASOLINE SMELL AND THE SQUEAKING. WE THINK THAT THERE MUST BE A HOLE SOMEWHERE THAT HAS OCCURRED FROM THE CONSTANT RUBBING OF THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. *TR
I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AND IT DIDN'T REGISTER A FEW DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED A MONTH AGO AND I WAS ALMOST 1,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY LIMITATION. SO BECAUSE OF THIS I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYWHERE FROM $400-$800, WHICH I DON'T HAVE WE'RE IN A …
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I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AND IT DIDN'T REGISTER A FEW DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED A MONTH AGO AND I WAS ALMOST 1,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY LIMITATION. SO BECAUSE OF THIS I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYWHERE FROM $400-$800, WHICH I DON'T HAVE WE'RE IN A RECESSION. ALSO WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO NURSING SCHOOL ONE MORNING THE 2005 PATHFINDER I WAS DRIVING JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDST OF MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN THE DEAD OF A COLD BLISTERING WINTER MORNING. LATER THAT DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE WHO GAVE ME A PRINTOUT TO TAKE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR THE FUEL SENSOR PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE APPARENT IN THIS MODEL AS WELL AS OTHERS. AGAIN NISSAN WASN'T WILLING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I PRAY THAT YOU GUYS CAN HELP US NISSAN OWNERS WHO HAVE INVESTED OUR HARD EARNED MONEY INTO A VEHICLE OF THIS TYPE WHICH BY THE WAY ISN'T A CHEAP VEHICLE, TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM BY ASKING NISSAN TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE FAULTY PRODUCTS THAT THEY'RE SELLING SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN ADDITIONAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM THAT IS TRULY NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND PROBLEM BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION. SO PLEASE HELP US MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS WHO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM GET CORRECTED THROUGH NISSAN ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO SINCE THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN OTHER MODELS AND PREVIOUS MODELS THEY SHOULD MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS THEY OCCUR. NISSAN IS A REPUTABLE COMPANY AND UNLIKE OTHER AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS THEY'RE DOING QUITE WELL SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO KEEP US AS CUSTOMERS HAPPY BY CORRECTING THEIR FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *TR
"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 CO…
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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 2000-2004 XTERRA MODELS AND A RECALL WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AFTER NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, POSING A GREAT DANGER. IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING 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
STARTING IN FEB. 009 WITH APPROX 53K MILES FUEL GAUGE STARTED ACTING AS IF THERE WAS NO FUEL AFTER FILLING UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER SAID FUEL SENSOR WAS FAULTY AFTER SEARCHING COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE APPARENTLY NOT THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE. SISTER IN LAW ALSO HAS A 2005 PATHFINDER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM …
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STARTING IN FEB. 009 WITH APPROX 53K MILES FUEL GAUGE STARTED ACTING AS IF THERE WAS NO FUEL AFTER FILLING UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER SAID FUEL SENSOR WAS FAULTY AFTER SEARCHING COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE APPARENTLY NOT THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE. SISTER IN LAW ALSO HAS A 2005 PATHFINDER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IS ANYTHING BEING DONE BY NISSAN TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. *TR
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE - WITH APPROXIMATELY 45,500 MILES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DTE READING INDICATED -----, AND ANALOG GAS GAUGE READ NEARLY EMPTY. HAVING FILLED UP THAT MORNING, I KNEW I HAD A FULL TANK. LOCAL PARTS STORE READ THE TRUCKS COMPUTER INDICATING A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT. AFTER INTERNET RESE…
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2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE - WITH APPROXIMATELY 45,500 MILES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DTE READING INDICATED -----, AND ANALOG GAS GAUGE READ NEARLY EMPTY. HAVING FILLED UP THAT MORNING, I KNEW I HAD A FULL TANK. LOCAL PARTS STORE READ THE TRUCKS COMPUTER INDICATING A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT. AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN PATHFINDER AND OTHER NISSAN SUV'S. WOULD LIKE NISSAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECT AND MAKE REPAIRS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *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.