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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

What owners actually said

1,050 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2016
Engine

AT 96635 MILES MY OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. NISSAN TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS TO HAVE ITS TIMING CHAIN REPLACED WHICH BTW SUPPOSED TO LAST LIFE OF ENGINE. I'VE READ NISSAN KNEW ABOUT DEFECTIVE PARTS AND WAS NOT HONORABLE IN DOING A RECALL. WHATS THE POINT OF SWITCHING FROM TIMING BELT TO TIMING CHAIN IF…

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AT 96635 MILES MY OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. NISSAN TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS TO HAVE ITS TIMING CHAIN REPLACED WHICH BTW SUPPOSED TO LAST LIFE OF ENGINE. I'VE READ NISSAN KNEW ABOUT DEFECTIVE PARTS AND WAS NOT HONORABLE IN DOING A RECALL. WHATS THE POINT OF SWITCHING FROM TIMING BELT TO TIMING CHAIN IF I NEED TO CHANGE IT AT THE SAME APPROXIMATE MILEAGE. ITS COSTING ME $3000.00 TO GET IT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10892359

156,000 miles · Jul 12, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SENSOR: DTE GAUGE DOES NOT RESET. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT

NHTSA ODI #10884288

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2016
Air BagsPower Train

WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 40 MOST SPEED LIMIT IT FELT AS IF I WAS DRIVING ON SAFETY STRIPS ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE STRUDDER.

NHTSA ODI #10882490

140,000 miles · Jun 30, 2016
Engine

CAR DIED ON ME THIS MORNING! MECHANIC SAID TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS RADIATOR. PLUS COOLANT AND TRANNY FLUID LEAKED INTO EACH OTHER. SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE LAWSUITS AND MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ON. DEALERSHIP WONT FIX IT!

NHTSA ODI #10881829

171,888 miles · Jun 28, 2016
Power Train

WHEN OPERATING MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP AT SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH IN MOTION ON STREET'S AND HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ODI #10881218

94,598 miles · Jun 9, 2016
Power Train

WATER IN TRANSMISSION OIL DUE TO BAD TRANS COOLER WICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM W/ THESE VEHICLES BY NISSAN BUT WAS NEVER RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10873342

129,000 miles · Jun 4, 2016
EnginePower Train

CONTAMINATION OF TRANSMISSION FLUID ON 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. COLOR OF COOLANT IS PURPLE AND CLOUDY IN OVERFLOW AND RADIATOR. TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED SHUTTERING BETWEEN 35 - 45 MPH. SYMPTOMS BEGAN AT 130K MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10872537

125,000 miles · May 23, 2016
Power Train

COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID ARE MIXING! THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SKIP AND THE COOLANT IS MILKY/ CREAMY LOOKING AND I ADDED 3 QUARTS TRANSMISSION FLUID 7DAYS AGO AND NOW HAVE TO ADD MORE. THE COOLANT IS BEING PUSHED OUT OF THE OVERFLOW DO TO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT MIXING TOGETHER.

NHTSA ODI #10870456

146,000 miles · May 15, 2016
Power Train

THE DREADED COOLANT LEAKAGE FROM A FAULTY OIL COOLER CAUSES FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR.

NHTSA ODI #10865040

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2016
Engine

I PURCHASED A USED 2005 WITH APPRX 134,000 MILES. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING MONDAY FOR A CRACKED RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE SHIFTING ISSUES. 3 WEEKS LATER IT WAS GIVEN A DIAGNOSIS FROM A CERTIFIED NISSAN SERVICE SHOP AS "NEEDING TRANSMISSION REPLACES AS A RESULT OF COOLANT LEAK…

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I PURCHASED A USED 2005 WITH APPRX 134,000 MILES. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING MONDAY FOR A CRACKED RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE SHIFTING ISSUES. 3 WEEKS LATER IT WAS GIVEN A DIAGNOSIS FROM A CERTIFIED NISSAN SERVICE SHOP AS "NEEDING TRANSMISSION REPLACES AS A RESULT OF COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION FROM CRACK RADIATOR" I WAS ESTIMATED OVER $7000 WORTH OF REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE RADIATOR CRACKING AND LEAKING COOLANT.

NHTSA ODI #10864429

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.