IllustrationTransmission began to fail suddenly, resulting in a situation where the car would not accelerate in busy traffic.
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
What owners actually said
1,050 reportsIN THE LAST 4 YEARS I'VE REPLACED EMISSIONS SYSTEM BRAKES ROTORS AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM EXHAUST SYSTEM RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS VIBRATING SHAKING CUTTING OUT LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES AND EMISSIONS SYSTEM FAILED.
AL ENCENDER EL CARRO Y CALENTAR PARA SALIR EL VEHCULO ENCIENDE UNA LUZ Y EN MARCHA EL SOLO SE APAGA EN MEDIO DE LAS CALLES O CARRETERAS. LOS MECANISMOS LO CHEQUEO Y JUNTO AL SERVICIO DE SEGURO ELLOS SACARON LA CONCLUSIN LA TRANSMISIN CALIENTA LOS CABLES QUE VAN AL MOTOR QUE ESTO ES UN PROBLEMA DE FBRICA Y POR ESTO YO TUVE QUE R…
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AL ENCENDER EL CARRO Y CALENTAR PARA SALIR EL VEHCULO ENCIENDE UNA LUZ Y EN MARCHA EL SOLO SE APAGA EN MEDIO DE LAS CALLES O CARRETERAS. LOS MECANISMOS LO CHEQUEO Y JUNTO AL SERVICIO DE SEGURO ELLOS SACARON LA CONCLUSIN LA TRANSMISIN CALIENTA LOS CABLES QUE VAN AL MOTOR QUE ESTO ES UN PROBLEMA DE FBRICA Y POR ESTO YO TUVE QUE REBELDA LA TRANSMISIN POR $4.000.00 Y EL SEGURO ME AUMENTO DE $1000S A $ 4000S. NO PUEDO USA MI CARRO QUE PAGUE $20.000. FUI AL DILER DE LA NISSAN Y ELLOS ME DIJERON TENGO QUE PAGAR $165.00 PARA EMPEZAR Y DESPUS ME DIRN E CUANTO ME CUENTA EL TOTAL DEL ARREGLO. NO OBSTANTE CON EL DIAGNSTICO DEL INGENIERO DE MECNICA DEL SEGURO STATE FARM Y LOS 3 MECANISMOS QUE ESTUVIERON EN ARREGLO 1 DE MOTOR Y ELCTRICO Y TRANSMISIN. HE GASTADO MUCHO DINERO Y NO PUEDEN HACER NADA NI USAR MI VEHICULO. EN QUE USTEDES ME PUEDEN AYUDAR POR AMOR A DIOS?
OVER HEATS, COOLENT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT
STARTED UP DROVE FINE THEN WHEN I STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TURNED OFF WENT THROUGH GEARS COUPLE TIMES AND HAD TO DO THAT 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND SHIFT. I DROVE 50 MILES HOME NEXT DAY IT DID SAME THING AFTER DRIVING 1/2 MILE. GOES INTO REVERSE BUT WILL NOT GO OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR MOVING FORWARD.
VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO FROM TIME TO TIME, WILL HESITATE OR REFUSE TO CRANK/START. NOTICED A RECALL IN 2010 FOR ECM, WHICH IS DOCUMENTED TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN 2014. HOWEVER THESE EXACT SAME ISSUES ARE TAKING PLACE WITH THE VEHICLE NOW IN 2020, DOES THIS MEAN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED WITH YET ANOTHER FAULTY ECM…
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VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO FROM TIME TO TIME, WILL HESITATE OR REFUSE TO CRANK/START. NOTICED A RECALL IN 2010 FOR ECM, WHICH IS DOCUMENTED TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN 2014. HOWEVER THESE EXACT SAME ISSUES ARE TAKING PLACE WITH THE VEHICLE NOW IN 2020, DOES THIS MEAN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED WITH YET ANOTHER FAULTY ECM. THIS VEHICLE PLACES MY FAMILY IN DANGER WHILE DRIVING.
VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOTAL LOSS 7/12/2020. NOT AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK DAMAGED THE BATT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK DAMAGED THE BATTERY. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED BRAKE LINE AND REPLACED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SECOND FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO ANDERSON NISSAN (3842 AZ-95, LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ 86404) WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE BATTERY RELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO THE CONTACT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED ONCE AGAIN HOWEVER, THE BATTERY FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY DISCOVERED A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSIO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. *BF Consumer stated vehicle had recalls through it's history and believes front suspension and brakes were welded.
I HAS TO REPLACE THE 2 GASKETS ON THE OIL GALLEY GASKET IN THE TIMING COVER. IT COAT ME OVER 1000 DOLLARS AND I HAD A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA THAT HAD 5HE SAME PROBLEM AND IT COST BE THOUSANDS TO FIX AND I HAD TO JUNK IT BECAUSE IT SMOKED SO MUCH THEN VALVE TRAIN GOT F RIED..
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.