Illustration2012 NISSAN REPAIRED RADIATOR; 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER JUST LOST REVERSE. IT HAS 115,000 MILES. NISSAN SHOULD HELP WITH REPLACING REVERSE. IS THIS UNDER A RECALL?
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
40 reportsI HAVE PROBLEMS WITH CATALIC CONVERTER
WHILE PULLING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY MY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND GEARS WOULDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. I BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP & TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO FIND OUT THAT TONS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RADIATOR HOSE/CONNECTION GETS LEAK & RADIATOR FLUID IS SENT INTO TRANSMISSI…
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WHILE PULLING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY MY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND GEARS WOULDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. I BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP & TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO FIND OUT THAT TONS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RADIATOR HOSE/CONNECTION GETS LEAK & RADIATOR FLUID IS SENT INTO TRANSMISSION WHICH CORRODED GEARS MAKING THE TRANSMISSION SLIP OR NOT FUNCTION. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO NISSAN USA THEMSELVES AND GOT NO WHERE. I'M DISGUSTEDED THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL AND PEOPLE AREN'T BEING NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE IN 2005-2010 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER, &XTERRA. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONTIER. NEVER ONCE WAS I TOLD THAT AFTER OR BEFORE MY WARRANTY WENT OUT THAT THIS SPECIFIC PART WOULD MALFUNCTION. I'M CONTINUALLY TOLD IT'S MY FAULT FOR NOT GETTING EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DID HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE ISSUE AT HAND IS ONE SPECIFIC MALFUNCTIONING PART NOT THE AGE OR WARRANTY OF MY VEHICLE. THIS IS COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE AND THEY SAID "SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE." WE ALSO CAN'T BE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. I REALLY FAIL TO SEE WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL INSTEAD OF WARRANTY. DO RESEARCH AND FIND THAT NOT ONLY IN MY AREA BUT ALL OVER THE USA PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT MALFUNCTION OF THE SAME EXACT PART.. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE SPENT $5000 EXTRA FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT..
WE BOUGHT THIS SUV BACK IN 2005 FROM MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ISSUES LIKE A FAULTY PEDAL WHICH BACK ON THAT DATE WHEN IT FAILED, IT ALMOST MADE ME CRASH. THEY DID FIX THAT PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE SINCE THEY STATED I WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. NOW, MY CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD WITH 90K MILES AND THE TRANSMIS…
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WE BOUGHT THIS SUV BACK IN 2005 FROM MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ISSUES LIKE A FAULTY PEDAL WHICH BACK ON THAT DATE WHEN IT FAILED, IT ALMOST MADE ME CRASH. THEY DID FIX THAT PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE SINCE THEY STATED I WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. NOW, MY CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD WITH 90K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING TO MY RELATIVES WEDDING. I DID THE REGULAR TRANS FLUID SERVICE AND A FEW HOURS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN TO GET IT CHECKED. THEY WANT ME TO PAY OVER $5,000.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I ASKED THEM WHY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ONLY 90K MILES. THEY DID NOT GIVE ME ANY SPECIFIC EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. THEY ONLY STATED THAT "THIS TYPE OF PATHFINDERS HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS" AND THAT WAS IT. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE, THE GUY SAID NO. I AM LEFT WITH NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO PAY THE 5 GRAND TO GET MY CAR FIXED. THEY SHOULD NOT BE SELLING FAULTY CARS TO CONSUMERS!!! I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN VEHICLE EVER AGAIN!
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER OFF ROAD ON APRIL30TH 2016, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STALLED AND SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY, WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS AN EXTREME DANGEROUS LIFE THREATING SCARY SITUATION FOR MY CHILDREN ANY MYSELF. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS FORCED TO GET HE VEHICLE TOWE…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER OFF ROAD ON APRIL30TH 2016, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STALLED AND SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY, WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS AN EXTREME DANGEROUS LIFE THREATING SCARY SITUATION FOR MY CHILDREN ANY MYSELF. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS FORCED TO GET HE VEHICLE TOWED AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NO LONGER IS OPERATIVE, EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION HAS AND CONTINUED TO BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING INCIDENT ON APRIL 30TH, 2016.
COOLING LEAKS INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING VEHICLES TO STALL WHICH CAN CAUSE CRASH. NISSAN AMERICA ADVISE THEY ALL ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM. HAD NO RESOLUTION ADVISED THE WOULD REPAIR FOR $3000. THE VEHICLE HESITATE WHEN PRESSING THE GAS
RADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION. CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ALSO SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND NOW THEY SAY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT THAT CAUSES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT TO WORK.
THE RADIATOR COOLING SYSTEM LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED IT TO STOP WORKING SO I NEED TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $5400 FOR TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR IS $1000. I WAS IN MOTION WHEN I FIRST FELT A TRIMMER EVERY NOW AND THEN FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS THEN IT GOT WORST AT ANY SPEED OR SURFACE AND PLACES. NISSAN WILL NOT HELP ME O…
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THE RADIATOR COOLING SYSTEM LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED IT TO STOP WORKING SO I NEED TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $5400 FOR TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR IS $1000. I WAS IN MOTION WHEN I FIRST FELT A TRIMMER EVERY NOW AND THEN FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS THEN IT GOT WORST AT ANY SPEED OR SURFACE AND PLACES. NISSAN WILL NOT HELP ME ON THIS BECAUSE IT HAS 120497 MILES ON IT. I EXPLAINED TO NISSAN IF THEY HAD SENT OUT NOTICE ABOUT THIS I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MY CAR FIXED BEFORE NOW. I CAN NOT GET ANYONE TO HELP ME ON THIS. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT I AM NOT ALONE ON THIS SITUATION. CAN ANYONE HELP. I HAVE BOUGHT SEVERAL NEW NISSANS BUT I WILL BUY NO MORE AND I REALLY LOVED MY PATHFINDER.
ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. BEGAN WITH RADIATOR ISSUES. COME TO FIND OUT, THERE HAS BEEN MANY ISSUES WITH COOLANT MIXING INTO PLACES IT SHOULDN'T. THEN THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT OUT, AND NOW THE SAFETY NEUTRAL SWITCH AND VALVE BODY. VERY SHORT ENGINEERING AND PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY KNOWN TO NISSAN BUT NO RECALLS REPOR…
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ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. BEGAN WITH RADIATOR ISSUES. COME TO FIND OUT, THERE HAS BEEN MANY ISSUES WITH COOLANT MIXING INTO PLACES IT SHOULDN'T. THEN THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT OUT, AND NOW THE SAFETY NEUTRAL SWITCH AND VALVE BODY. VERY SHORT ENGINEERING AND PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY KNOWN TO NISSAN BUT NO RECALLS REPORTED.
AFTER RECEIVING A COMPLIMENTARY MULTI-POINT INSPECTION FROM THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP, MY WIFE TOLD ME THAT ON THE WAY HOME THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO NOT WANT TO SHIFT PROPERLY. WENT TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FOUND THAT THE DIPSTICK IS LOCKED INTO PLACE. DID SOME QUICK RESEARCH TO FIND OUT HOW TO CHECK FLUID LEVE…
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AFTER RECEIVING A COMPLIMENTARY MULTI-POINT INSPECTION FROM THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP, MY WIFE TOLD ME THAT ON THE WAY HOME THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO NOT WANT TO SHIFT PROPERLY. WENT TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FOUND THAT THE DIPSTICK IS LOCKED INTO PLACE. DID SOME QUICK RESEARCH TO FIND OUT HOW TO CHECK FLUID LEVEL AND THEN FOUND OUT ABOUT ISSUE WITH NISSAN PATHFINDERS RADIATORS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM. CHECKED RADIATOR AND FOUND FROTHING FOAM ON THE INSIDE OF THE PRESSURE CAP INDICATING THAT THE RADIATOR HAD FAILED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM WHY THE SECTION OF THE INSPECTION FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WERE CHECKED AS "OK". DID NOT RECEIVE AN ANSWER. ALSO, WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED BY NISSAN ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH RADIATOR IN OUR NISSAN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED SINCE THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD COST UP TO $3000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS UNDER THE AGREEMENT REACHED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL. THIS SITUATION COULD OF CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AT SPEED WHILE DRIVING OR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF LACK OF COOLING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP AT SPEED WHILE DRIVING.
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.