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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

40 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2021
Unknown Or Other

I got this vehicle from my parents which they bought brand new . So no other owners . When I got it was acting up and took to repair . They said my radiator was bad and had leaked radiator fluid . They thought could replace radiator and flush the system . I started looking at issues online . I found so many people with the same …

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I got this vehicle from my parents which they bought brand new . So no other owners . When I got it was acting up and took to repair . They said my radiator was bad and had leaked radiator fluid . They thought could replace radiator and flush the system . I started looking at issues online . I found so many people with the same problems . I also found that Nissan was aware of a faulty crack in radiator. Which is the exact problem I had . I already spent 1000 $ in repairs with radiator and flushing system . I Am now out that money and the transmission has been effected by this issue . Tried everything possible with flushing system . Unfortunately this crack was the problem that has now left me with a perfect car that needs a transmission. So disappointed that Nissan ignores all the issues that unfortunately happened after 100,000 miles . Especially when they claim to know the radiator crack is a faulty part . That crack destroyed a perfect vehicle . Nissan should be accountable of these issues especially when their faulty part not only needed a new radiator but leaked into transmission . I am still sitting with this car . Unsafe to drive and unsafe to sell .

NHTSA ODI #11428261

110,000 miles · Jul 12, 2020
Unknown Or OtherFire

VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOTAL LOSS 7/12/2020. NOT AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11338935

229,000 miles · Nov 30, 2019
Unknown Or Other

TIMING CHAIN FAILED WAS AT HOME IN DRIVEWAY AND IT FAILED

NHTSA ODI #11283028

110,000 miles · Jun 29, 2018
Unknown Or Other

WILL NOT GO OVER 30MPH...RUNS AND IDLES FINE BUT CUTS OUT AND BUCKS AROUND AT 1500 RPM ... WILL NOT COME OUT OF LIMP MODE

NHTSA ODI #11104632

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I DRIVE THE CAR AND PARK AND THEN WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR AGAIN IT DOESN'T START SO I HAVE TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO GET A JUMP TO START THE CAR AND STARTS RIGHT UP. I HAVE TAKEN TO NISSAN MANY TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.I GOT STUCK THE LAST TIM…

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I DRIVE THE CAR AND PARK AND THEN WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR AGAIN IT DOESN'T START SO I HAVE TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO GET A JUMP TO START THE CAR AND STARTS RIGHT UP. I HAVE TAKEN TO NISSAN MANY TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.I GOT STUCK THE LAST TIME AND IT WAS FAR SO I HAD TO LEAVE IT AT A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM AND NISSAN DOES NOT HONOR THEIR MANUFACTURE WARRANTY AND ALSO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD. I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO BUY BACK MY CAR BECAUSE I CAN'T EVEN SELL IT LIKE THIS AND I NEED A CAR TO GET AROUND I'M DISABLED ALSO. I'M TOTALLY DISCUSSED WITH NISSAN.

NHTSA ODI #11102572

156,000 miles · Apr 25, 2018
Unknown Or Other

MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER STARTED STALLING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS OFTEN HAPPENED ON BUSY STREETS AND IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURN THE IGNITION, AND THEN PUT THE CAR BACK IN DRIVE. SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE TO REPEAT THIS PROCESS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD, AND TH…

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MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER STARTED STALLING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS OFTEN HAPPENED ON BUSY STREETS AND IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURN THE IGNITION, AND THEN PUT THE CAR BACK IN DRIVE. SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE TO REPEAT THIS PROCESS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD, AND THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR US. I TOOK THE CAR TO HERITAGE NISSAN FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND WAS CHARGED $115 TO BE TOLD THAT MY ANTIFREEZE HAD MIXED WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I THEN LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY RADIATOR USED BY NISSAN IN SEVERAL OF THEIR VEHICLES, ONE BEING MY PATHFINDER. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A VERY OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AT HAND. HERITAGE NISSAN QUOTED ME A STARTING PRICE OF $5000 FOR THE REPAIRS NEEDED. REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY RADIATOR USED BY NISSAN. OF COURSE, MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NISSAN IS AWARE THAT THE RADIATOR CAN FAIL OUT OF MILEAGE RANGE OF THEIR WARRANTY. I AM NOW A SINGLE MOM WITHOUT A VEHICLE, PARTLY TO NISSAN'S NEGLIGENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11090094

165,000 miles · Nov 9, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND SPORADICALLY AS I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL JERK AND THEN SHUT OFF, LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING OR BRAKES. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE HARD TO START BUT WILL EVENTUALLY START AND THIS IS ALSO A RANDOM OCCURANCE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS IT SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL…

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WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND SPORADICALLY AS I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL JERK AND THEN SHUT OFF, LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING OR BRAKES. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE HARD TO START BUT WILL EVENTUALLY START AND THIS IS ALSO A RANDOM OCCURANCE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS IT SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #11044987

123,000 miles · Aug 5, 2017
Unknown Or Other

THE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, DESTROYING MY TRANSMISSION. THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARD AND SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE I DRIVING DOWN THE THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11013035

130 miles · Jul 19, 2017
EngineUnknown Or Other

MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, AFTER IT STARTED TO SMOKE LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. I TOOK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT OUT AND I WAS TOLD MY RAIDATOR BRUSTED IN MY TRANSMISSION. IT'S NOT DRIVE ABLE AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #11006463

16,000 miles · Oct 7, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

MY NISSAN PATHFINDER 2005 STALL AND WONT ACCLERATE I PUT A NEW ENGINE 3500 A NEW GAS PUMP350 A VALE BODY 2000 NOW THEY WANT PUT ANOTHER PART 1600

NHTSA ODI #10914492

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.